Fellas, the drag racing stories are not bad, but what about driving skill? Does anyone have any stories about machin' through the twisties? In a drag race, especially with cars that have traction control and an automatic, in many ways, the only thing that separates the winner and looser is the size of their wallet.

My 99 C280 Sport is a dog in a drag race, but I've always done very well with playing with other drivers in the twisties, especially where driving skill is far more important that raw horsepower.

I had a V8 Camaro oversteer back and forth, coming out of a hard downhill right hander, where I was able to carry more speed through the corner. He was on my arhse coming into the corner and I was several car lengths in front of him coming out. I even got a nice nod at the next intersection from a surprised Camaro owner.

So, let's hear the stores from those that "killed" despite having a pure acceleration disadvantage...

 

69 views and no replies. I guess everyone is a card carrying member of the NHRA...

 

heh heh i like takin curves in my pavement scrapin' w210, better than drag racing....

 

haha im all for the mtn road turns, i have lots of lots fun memories, i just made some new ones last weekend going down mtn hamilton racing a bike..twisties= great drag=loser

 

Don't know that I would race anyone through curves. Gets a bit more dangerous when you're depending on their driving ability through more than a straight line. This boat did win Novice in an autocross from which my signature picture below was taken.

 

In the US, street racing IS drag racing. Light to light. "Twistes" racing is for Europe.

 

Call it whatever you'd like Charlie Brown... Curves, twisties... So, are you saying that us US'ers don't have any corners to play on?

 

Boy, I bet you could have some serious fun, carefully playing with your car's ability for power on oversteer. Is she a handful at the limit or fairly predictable?

 

Predictable once you get a feel. She handled much better than I tought 4400 lbs would handle.

 

We call it Canyon Running in California, and you dont do this with people you dont know. Thats how bad accidents happen. Especially if your out there with some one who has no clue how to drive, and whats the limit of where their skills ends.

 

I agree. I only play with my friends that have equally expensive vehicles that they do not want damaged. I cant mess around with civics and other vehicles of that sort. No disrespect though.

 

My 1987 Mustang GT with 44,000 original miles on the clock ownz in the twisties

 

the only other kind of racing i do is on the interstate when i see something worthy like a bmw or a porsche or something of that nature... every once in a while ill mess with some kind of but not very often, i usually look over and laugh....

 

I'm not talking about getting stupid (passing on corners, etc..). Just a little spirited driving. I'm not 16 anymore if that's what you were thinking. I've had fun with lots of drivers where we played follow the leader, trading off every so often. I don't do this with ahole drivers, just fellow enthusiasts.

However, what's the difference between some spirited canyon driving and 100+ on the freeway? It's all dangerous if you really think about it, as accidents happen anywhere and any time.

I'm always conscious of weather, traffic, etc... I have a family, so I wouldn't want to see anyone hurt any more than you.

 

i thought drag racing was supposed to be in a straight line!!

 

Just my 2 pennies.

1) Not all of us are blessed with twisty, curvy, up and down hills, up the coast roads like you guys on the West Coast. What about the guys in Chicago or New York or Phoenix, bout the best they are gonna do is horse around on sweeping corners on the interstate.

2) This will fire up some debate, but drag racing is the only sport with instant results. Who here has not popped on the Indy 500, Daytona, or a F1 race, onlly to find yourself daydreaming, or switching the channel 2 hours later. Drag racing rocks. You stomp your car, I stomp mine, whoever has the most power will be obvious in a matter of seconds. You really couldn't post a "kill" story about twisties as road racing/long range curve driving would take several laps or many miles to actually determine who has the better car.

3) Road racing by it's very nature is inherently more dangerous. Yes, it does require more skill, and honestly, thus the lack of interest by many on the forum. We would rather pay to play on the straightaway. You throw a car into a corner at high speed and you had better hope a) you have good tires b) there is no water coming over the road c) no fluid leaked on the road d) you know your vehicle AND the road you are on e) there is noone coming at cha. Failure in any of these get you some of life's great answers real fast....like is there a God or not.

Most drag races on the forum are over before they begin. The REAL good ones (car are evenly matched) get up to bout 120 and then are done. I have never heard of someone saying, "I lined up with this guy and we took it up to 185 and held it there" Of course things can happen when at speed on the highway or street. Just much different than twisters dude.

You just are not gonna find that many fans here.

 

What's wrong with being an NHRA member?

 

:p :v

 

Good to see another MB owner out on an autocross or track. I autocross and track my CLK 55 as well. Don't really mess around in the street. I can push my car to the limit on the track and if brakes fail or tires fail, I just spin out into a grassy patch instead of into a guard rail or another car.

 

As I mentioned earlier, I autocross (also known as Solo w/ SCCA) and track my car. Autocross is really fast and tests all aspects of your car (breaking, cornering, speed, etc). Course is usually under 1 min to complete and each car runs 5 times to determine their fastest time. Autocross usually costs about $20-$30 so it is relatively cheap to particpate with many classes as well. However, SCCA has another type of autocross that combines drag racing as well! Here is an excerpt from their site...it sounds pretty cool:
"SCCA ProSolo combines the excitement of drag racing and the skill of Solo on side-by-side, mirror-image autocross courses. Lining up at the familiar “Christmas Tree” start, drivers compete heads-up in various classes by combining their fastest times from each course. After class competition is completed, all ProSolo events feature the top drivers from each class, competing head-to-head in a variety of single- elimination, handicapped Challenges."
http://www.scca.org/Solo/ProSolo.asp?IdS=00DFC4-5C89370&x=050|050&~=

 

I love the twisties and I think about that often when someone pulls up next to me and give me a dirty look. "Yeah, you might beat me in a straight line, but I'll tear you a new one in the twisties" I do this to people all the time at 1604 and Bab**** where there's a two lane going into a one. I get em off the line really quick and lose them in the twist cause their Camaro or Rustang can't handle it. I love that road too. It's given me a lot of practice in taking corners.