When you are turning onto a road with more than one lane in each direction, turn into the closest lane unless you can clearly see that all the lanes you will be crossing or occupying during your maneuver are clear. In some states, turning into the far lane is illegal. Do not turn directly into the inside lane when there is someone in that lane, especially if you can't find the accelerator pedal and instead insist on driving less than half the speed limit.
Quote from: nathanm on December 01, 2011, 11:31:06 AM
Do not turn directly into the inside lane when there is someone in that lane, especially if you can't find the accelerator pedal and instead insist on driving less than half the speed limit.
I do this to show I have power over you. My dog humps the other dog's head, I turn in front of you. It's nature.
You got scared by one of those creative drivers? The ones who value time over safety?
All turns from side streets onto multiple lanes must be made into the closest lane. Left or right turns. If that lane is filled, you don't turn. Once that lane is secured, you may then signal and move to the slower or faster lane. Failure to do that causes accidents.
Failure to understand that mainly commercial or newly trained drivers are the only ones to actually do that....is just naive.
We need more of those lane divider things they put in at First and Cheyenne after some dumbass turned into a bus doing exactly what you state.
Funny that they installed those at only that intersection. I guess turning accidents aren't important at the other downtown intersections that don't involve city buses.
Quote from: nathanm on December 01, 2011, 11:31:06 AM
When you are turning onto a road with more than one lane in each direction, turn into the closest lane unless you can clearly see that all the lanes you will be crossing or occupying during your maneuver are clear. In some states, turning into the far lane is illegal. Do not turn directly into the inside lane when there is someone in that lane, especially if you can't find the accelerator pedal and instead insist on driving less than half the speed limit.
You must have been driving on Memorial. ;D
Quote from: AquaMan on December 01, 2011, 11:43:41 AM
You got scared by one of those creative drivers? The ones who value time over safety?
No, they are just ignorant, overly impressed with their self importance, or on the phone.
Quote
All turns from side streets onto multiple lanes must be made into the closest lane. Left or right turns. If that lane is filled, you don't turn. Once that lane is secured, you may then signal and move to the slower or faster lane. Failure to do that causes accidents.
Failure to understand that mainly commercial or newly trained drivers are the only ones to actually do that....is just naive.
I see it way too often to restrict it to commercial or newly trained drivers or were you saying they are the only ones doing it correctly?
The latter.
Commercial drivers generally seem to know, understand and follow the rules of the road, especially early in their careers.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 01, 2011, 12:41:11 PM
You must have been driving on Memorial. ;D
Sheridan. Memorial was backed up. ;)
Quote from: AquaMan on December 01, 2011, 12:53:54 PM
The latter.
Commercial drivers generally seem to know, understand and follow the rules of the road, especially early in their careers.
It's interesting to watch traffic from 101st turning northbound on Memorial in the morning. East bound turning north goes to the right lane. West bound goes to the left lane.
I think I figured it out! Eastbound traffic goes for the most east lane on northbound Memorial and westbound traffic goes for the most west of the northbound lanes. It all makes sense now.
I love the ambush left turners at intersections like 15th & Lewis or 21st & Peoria. No reason to give anyone else behind you advance warning you are going to jam the left lane up waiting for a clear moment to turn left just drive up to the middle of the intersection then turn on your signal, if even then.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 01, 2011, 01:10:23 PM
I love the ambush left turners at intersections like 15th & Lewis or 21st & Peoria.
This is most awesome during the no left turn hours, and even more exciting when they slam on their brakes at the last second as if they forgot they were planning to turn.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 01, 2011, 01:10:23 PM
I love the ambush left turners at intersections like 15th & Lewis or 21st & Peoria. No reason to give anyone else behind you advance warning you are going to jam the left lane up waiting for a clear moment to turn left just drive up to the middle of the intersection then turn on your signal, if even then.
I thought those used to be no left turn intersections...
And, while we're on that, those of you who use the center left-turn lane on a five lane arterial as your own personal merge lane....well, a pox on you!
Quote from: Hoss on December 01, 2011, 03:12:16 PM
I thought those used to be no left turn intersections...
And, while we're on that, those of you who use the center left-turn lane on a five lane arterial as your own personal merge lane....well, a pox on you!
Merge-Unmerge (turn left). I'd rather that than another traffic light. There may be some specific cases where I agree though.
...so there was this sign on the Interstate that goes thru Milwaukee; upon later reflection it must have been left over from the previous winter,
because all it said was "Plow Left"
So....
Quote from: Conan71 on December 01, 2011, 01:10:23 PM
I love the ambush left turners at intersections like 15th & Lewis or 21st & Peoria. No reason to give anyone else behind you advance warning you are going to jam the left lane up waiting for a clear moment to turn left just drive up to the middle of the intersection then turn on your signal, if even then.
Concrete medians would have solved that! ;)
Quote from: nathanm on December 01, 2011, 11:31:06 AM
When you are turning onto a road with more than one lane in each direction, turn into the closest lane unless you can clearly see that all the lanes you will be crossing or occupying during your maneuver are clear. In some states, turning into the far lane is illegal. Do not turn directly into the inside lane when there is someone in that lane, especially if you can't find the accelerator pedal and instead insist on driving less than half the speed limit.
This is one of my pet peeves that irritate the piss out of me, that and the people who sit in the middle of the intersection to turn left and wait till it turns red so they can turn.
Quote from: custosnox on December 01, 2011, 04:06:23 PM
This is one of my pet peeves that irritate the piss out of me, that and the people who sit in the middle of the intersection to turn left and wait till it turns red so they can turn.
They're actually waiting for the light to turn
yellow, but people hell-bent on running the red make it impossible to turn on yellow.
Quote from: custosnox on December 01, 2011, 04:06:23 PM
This is one of my pet peeves that irritate the piss out of me, that and the people who sit in the middle of the intersection to turn left and wait till it turns red so they can turn.
Hey, the rule is pull into the intersection to turn left. :-[
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 01, 2011, 03:25:54 PM
Merge-Unmerge (turn left). I'd rather that than another traffic light. There may be some specific cases where I agree though.
You're not supposed to drive any more than absolutely necessary in a center turn lane, for obvious reasons. Not that I'm above a low speed roll or anything.
Hoss, 15th and Lewis is a timed no-left-turn. I could swear that at least one direction of 21st and Peoria is still a permanent no left turn. Not that Tulsa drivers often obey the signs anyway.
My favorite is sitting in the left turn lane on a 6 lane intersection (2 left turn lanes, two straight ahead, and two coming from the other direction).
Then, make a right turn from that far left lane. Across the other left turn lane and the two straight lanes (and sometimes the right turn only lane!)
Another driving tip, don't pull into the intersection of 12th or 13th and Denver without looking both ways to make sure someone is not running a red light. 3 out of 5 times I go through those intersections someone runs the light. I had a new guy join our company and we were coming back from meeting with clients the other day. I told him to be careful at these intersections and just as I said that, here comes some chick on a cell phone plowing through a red light. He laughed and said you could not have scripted that any better.
I like it when a pick up or Van blocks my line of vision from turning....I really like it when the driver is a big fattie chomping down on a Big Mac or when a hottie is on her cell.
Quote from: Teatownclown on December 01, 2011, 11:35:17 PM
I like it when a pick up or Van blocks my line of vision from turning....I really like it when the driver is smoking a big fattie and chomping down on a Big Mac or when a hottie is on her cell.
Fixed it for you.
There's a whole crop of drivers out there who think driving is a secondary activity.
While we're complaining, I agree with all of the above, and would like to add:
People who stop at the end of an entrance ramp when getting on a highway. It's for MERGING, not stopping and accelerating from zero, which is far more dangerous. When I was in college, I used to see this all over OKC, not as much here. I have yet to see traffic in Oklahoma that is so packed solid and fast paced that you can't merge. Grow a pair!
People who stop three car lengths behind the car in front of them at a stop light, particularly in a turn lane, which then can cause blockages back upstream.
When driving on the BA, I always see people enter, and immediately dart to the left lane, only to drive 55 or 60mph. Why not go to the middle or right like you're supposed to? I do not get it AT ALL! I always drive a little bit above the speed limit and rarely find myself in the left lane, because it's always full of slowpokes.
Quote from: tulsa1603 on December 02, 2011, 06:14:35 PM
People who stop at the end of an entrance ramp when getting on a highway. It's for MERGING, not stopping and accelerating from zero, which is far more dangerous. When I was in college, I used to see this all over OKC, not as much here. I have yet to see traffic in Oklahoma that is so packed solid and fast paced that you can't merge. Grow a pair!
Oh, they have a good reason for it. They're too drunk/stoned/stupid to find the accelerator pedal, so they're only going 35 by the time they get to the merging area. The problem is that too many people on the highway will slam on their brakes or swerve into the middle lane to make room for such idiocy, so they get away with it eight out of ten times. The other two, they just stop.
BTW, I have never even once seen this happen in Arkansas, or any other state now that I think of it. (stopping at the end of an onramp, not slow merging; that's universal) It seems to be a purely Oklahoma thing.
Quote from: tulsa1603 on December 02, 2011, 06:14:35 PM
When driving on the BA, I always see people enter, and immediately dart to the left lane, only to drive 55 or 60mph. Why not go to the middle or right like you're supposed to?
It's an Oklahoman's God given right to drive in whatever lane they want to drive in.
It may have changed but a few years ago the only thing a slow driver in the "fast" lanes could be cited with is obstructing traffic. As long as they were going the minimum posted speed (if posted) it was otherwise not illegal to go slow in the "fast" lanes.
Quote from: nathanm on December 02, 2011, 06:31:02 PM
Oh, they have a good reason for it. They're too drunk/stoned/stupid to find the accelerator pedal, so they're only going 35 by the time they get to the merging area. The problem is that too many people on the highway will slam on their brakes or swerve into the middle lane to make room for such idiocy, so they get away with it eight out of ten times. The other two, they just stop.
Drivers in Oklahoma believe that merging into 65 mph traffic at 45 mph obeys all the laws of physics. It must be the educational system.
I did look in the Oklahoma drivers manual for this. The manual says something to the effect of accelerate to the speed indicated on the entrance ramp speed signs (yellow rectangles) and then use the additional "acceleration area" parallel to the main traffic lanes to get up to traffic speed. Unfortunately, those "acceleration areas" do not exist except for the shoulder on most Oklahoma expressways. I was taught (back in PA) to continually accelerate to match a hole in traffic in the thru lanes. People around here believe the yield sign pointed toward the acceleration lane means that the thru traffic will yield to you and make a hole no matter what speed you are going. Thru traffic has a duty to change their speed to let you into the main stream of traffic. I find it especially annoying to follow someone who briskly accelerates to about 40 mph, then stops accelerating while expecting to merge with 65 mph traffic.
REALLY WRONG!
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 02, 2011, 09:26:12 PM
Drivers in Oklahoma believe that merging into 65 mph traffic at 45 mph obeys all the laws of physics. It must be the educational system.
I did look in the Oklahoma drivers manual for this. The manual says something to the effect of accelerate to the speed indicated on the entrance ramp speed signs (yellow rectangles) and then use the additional "acceleration area" parallel to the main traffic lanes to get up to traffic speed. Unfortunately, those "acceleration areas" do not exist except for the shoulder on most Oklahoma expressways. I was taught (back in PA) to continually accelerate to match a hole in traffic in the thru lanes. People around here believe the yield sign pointed toward the acceleration lane means that the thru traffic will yield to you and make a hole no matter what speed you are going. Thru traffic has a duty to change their speed to let you into the main stream of traffic. I find it especially annoying to follow someone who briskly accelerates to about 40 mph, then stops accelerating while expecting to merge with 65 mph traffic.
REALLY WRONG!
I don't know how many times I'll come almost to a complete stop on the onramp, the start of it, so that the slow moving driver has enough space between myself and him so that I can get up to speed and get into traffic before I get caught back up to them. It never seizes to amaze me at how stupid so many drivers around here are.
I spend a lot of time driving each day all around Tulsa. Its worse than you can imagine as far as courtesy, laws and common sense. But somehow it seems to work. Its a combination of the dumb drivers all understanding each others "street rules" and the rest of us covering for them.
Quote from: Teatownclown on December 01, 2011, 11:35:17 PM
I like it when a pick up or Van blocks my line of vision from turning...
That's kinda what happened to the driver that rear ended me about a month ago. A big truck traveling in front of him turned and exposed by truck stopped because the car in front of me was waiting to turn left. We never saw the accident coming. Naturally, I jumped out my truck, fell to the ground writhing in pain, and demanded to speak to a lawyer. Oh wait, no I didn't. On a positive note, I think the impact, which was about 35 mph, actually helped some muscle injuries I had. Funny.
Quote from: guido911 on December 03, 2011, 12:58:20 PM
That's kinda what happened to the driver that rear ended me about a month ago. A big truck traveling in front of him turned and exposed by truck stopped because the car in front of me was waiting to turn left. We never saw the accident coming. Naturally, I jumped out my truck, fell to the ground writhing in pain, and demanded to speak to a lawyer. Oh wait, no I didn't. On a positive note, I think the impact, which was about 35 mph, actually helped some muscle injuries I had. Funny.
So that's why you talk to yourself.
Sorry, pretty sappy attempt at humor. Carry on.
Quote from: Hoss on December 03, 2011, 01:47:45 PM
So that's why you talk to yourself.
Sorry, pretty sappy attempt at humor. Carry on.
Not talking to myself, just needed a
good lawyer. As for talking to myself, there are psych reasons for this and my meds ran out. Self-deprecation rocks.
Quote from: guido911 on December 03, 2011, 02:16:30 PM
Not talking to myself, just needed a good lawyer. As for talking to myself, there are psych reasons for this and my meds ran out. Self-deprecation rocks.
Does that mean you have the ability to cross-examine yourself during trials? I'm guessing that's quite a draw in the courthouse...
;D
Quote from: Hoss on December 03, 2011, 02:28:29 PM
Does that mean you have the ability to cross-examine yourself during trials? I'm guessing that's quite a draw in the courthouse...
;D
True story. I have written tons of briefs over my career, mostly as part of the defense bar. About 4 months ago, a former colleague and friend filed a brief nearly word for word identical to one of those briefs. He even told me he was going to file one of my briefs against me before he filed it. I literally was arguing against myself--and my friend almost won. I think all the lawyers in the case knew what was going on.
Quote from: guido911 on December 03, 2011, 02:35:43 PM
True story. I have written tons of briefs over my career, mostly as part of the defense bar. About 4 months ago, a former colleague and friend filed a brief nearly word for word identical to one of those briefs. He even told me he was going to file one of my briefs against me before he filed it. I literally was arguing against myself--and my friend almost won. I think all the lawyers in the case knew what was going on.
As I have said before....
Roses are red...
Violets are blue...
I'm schizophrenic...
And so am I!
Don't forget to donate a toy or two to the Salvation Army! Or the Marines Toys for Tots! (They seem to be down this year.)
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 04, 2011, 10:18:17 PM
As I have said before....
Roses are red...
Violets are blue...
I'm schizophrenic...
And so am I!
Don't forget to donate a toy or two to the Salvation Army! Or the Marines Toys for Tots! (They seem to be down this year.)
Will do. And more for the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank. No child should go hungry at this time of year. And if any TNFer regular knows of a needing family, PM me.
Quote from: guido911 on December 04, 2011, 10:32:46 PM
Will do. And more for the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank. No child should go hungry at this time of year. And if any TNFer regular knows of a needing family, PM me.
If you want to do something specific/targeted, and don't get good leads from your note, I would strongly recommend talking to the Salvation Army. They have excellent "screening" process to ensure the situation is warranted. (Marines used to, for many years - don't know about today/last couple years - would give all the leftover Marine toys to the SA.)
And my comment about toys was NOT just for guido - he has said he is deeply involved and I believe him - that and this is to everyone looking for a great way to make a little difference in someones life and feel really good about it, without a really huge amount of time;
The SA ALWAYS needs volunteers to help with the Angel Tree and their Christmas food program. (I will be gone on distribution day in December or I would be there.) They can use continuous help every day through the entire Christmas season. Perfect opportunity to get out of the house and out of the 'significant other's' hair if retired, or excellent way to keep busy and get your mind off your troubles if laid off, or have some free time off if a student.
And yes, if you work the day when they hand out toys and food, you will see people driving up in large luxury SUV's to pick up stuff. Ignore them, if you think they are undeserving. (Some - very few - are gaming the system but many more are bringing relatives/friends/neighbors who don't have transportation.) There are plenty of very obviously in need that will really touch you.
Quote from: guido911 on December 03, 2011, 02:35:43 PM
True story. I have written tons of briefs over my career
I first read this as "written off tons of briefs over my career" and wondered what the hell it is that you're doing that leads you to so many brushes with death that you feel the need to deduct soiled underwear as a cost of doing business.
Quote from: nathanm on December 05, 2011, 12:03:53 AM
I first read this as "written off tons of briefs over my career" and wondered what the hell it is that you're doing that leads you to so many brushes with death that you feel the need to deduct soiled underwear as a cost of doing business.
Sounds like my first experiences driving in California and Mexico.
Quote from: dbacks fan on December 05, 2011, 01:47:21 AM
Sounds like my first experiences driving in California and Mexico.
Northern VA would qualify as well; driving I-66 at rush hour from the District out to Manassas is pure suicide..
I wrote off a brief once....
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 05, 2011, 09:04:47 AM
I wrote off a brief once....
I almost did once myself, about two weeks after I started driving (without a license, I was a rebel ::)). Protip: Don't drive cars with utterly bald tires around corners quickly in wet weather, especially when you have no experience behind the wheel. It can put you sideways across the road with your front end about 6 inches from going off a cliff.
Quote from: nathanm on December 05, 2011, 05:37:58 PM
I almost did once myself, about two weeks after I started driving (without a license, I was a rebel ::)). Protip: Don't drive cars with utterly bald tires around corners quickly in wet weather, especially when you have no experience behind the wheel. It can put you sideways across the road with your front end about 6 inches from going off a cliff.
I found that one out myself, just without the cliff. However, I did conveniently learn shortly after getting my license (was 15 at the time) that before you go flying down a road out in the middle of the desert, hitting at least 90, make sure it's a through street. Stupid dead end roads.
Quote from: nathanm on December 05, 2011, 05:37:58 PM
I almost did once myself, about two weeks after I started driving (without a license, I was a rebel ::)). Protip: Don't drive cars with utterly bald tires around corners quickly in wet weather, especially when you have no experience behind the wheel. It can put you sideways across the road with your front end about 6 inches from going off a cliff.
Funny you should mention bald tires....story time!
When attending Hale High School, friend had '57 Ford beater. Many Friday afternoons after school, we would go to Bill's tires (15th Sheridan) and buy 4 "new" old tires with almost all the tread gone. Went back to school, changed tires and then smoke the tires until ALL the tread was gone. Yeah, a whole lot of work for little return - changing the tires 4 times after putting the tires on to start with. But at that time, you needed "slicks" to make lots of smoke and screeching noises. After that, would go down Sheridan to the BA, the out to Broken Arrow as fast as it would go (about 115 mph top speed on that car), cruise Main street, making a lot of noise and smoke - trying to tweak the locals. Would then ride those tires until the next Friday, when we went to get another set.
Would make an impressive amount of smoke and noise.
Slicks rule!
heir, when did you graduate from Hale?
Quote from: dbacks fan on December 06, 2011, 01:13:22 PM
heir, when did you graduate from Hale?
Back before rocks turned to dirt.
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 06, 2011, 12:47:50 PM
'57 Ford beater. (about 115 mph top speed on that car)
Unless it was a retired Police Interceptor or hot rodded (not a beater), I think maybe the speedometer was exaggerating a bit. Remembering the handling and crashworthiness of cars of that era, it was probably good the speedometers did lie a bit.
They had a 312 v-8 with 4bbl that was pretty powerful. With the right gearing..... I loved that 57 styling. Both Chevy and Ford. Seriously unsafe at any speed though.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 06, 2011, 01:46:53 PM
They had a 312 v-8 with 4bbl that was pretty powerful. With the right gearing..... I loved that 57 styling. Both Chevy and Ford. Seriously unsafe at any speed though.
I won't say they couldn't go that fast but remember that "powerful" at that time was around 200, maybe 250 Gross Brake HP for that displacement range. The cars were lighter but even the mid 50s had a fair amount of frontal area and drag coefficients that would be unacceptable today.
I recently ran across some traffic accident pictures my dad took in the 50s and maybe early 60s. He did a lot of road traveling then. Those cars simply exploded on impact. We look at crunched (but mostly still in one chunk) wreck today and ask how anyone could survive. I look at those pictures and know that they didn't. Thank goodness they DON'T build them like they used to.
Looks like my guess at 250 HP for the Police Interceptor wasn't too far off.
http://youtu.be/pCra5HpVk1c
OK, I'll start it. How do you make a Chevy V-8 sound like Ford? Pull two spark plug wires. ;D
(In reality, Ford has had some good sounding exhaust systems on their performance cars like some of the Mustangs. A bit of gurgle at idle and then strong through the RPM.)
Sometimes I think that if it weren't for the sound of the exhaust and nostalgia nobody would buy an American performance car these days.
Quote from: nathanm on December 06, 2011, 04:21:59 PM
Sometimes I think that if it weren't for the sound of the exhaust and nostalgia nobody would buy an American performance car these days.
There aren't really that many choices. Some are performance only in optional trim.
Mustang (I wish they had made it with IRS, might have been the first Ford I ever bought if I could see out better.)
Dodge Challenger
Vette
Camaro
Viper (still being produced?)
Buick Regal (wants to be but they won't bring the big engine from Opel to the US)
Cadillac (I can't remember the model but they have one)
These are the mainstream models that normal mortals might be able to afford to buy but probably not insure. Anyone feel free to add to the list.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 01:20:10 PM
Back before rocks turned to dirt.
Well, the school wasn't built until 1959, so had to be after that....
Very late '60s, very early 70's.
Quote from: nathanm on December 06, 2011, 04:21:59 PM
Sometimes I think that if it weren't for the sound of the exhaust and nostalgia nobody would buy an American performance car these days.
This gets subjective now.
My 4 door American made has more hp, better handling, breaking, traction control than most 2 door sports cars did less than 10 years ago.
I'm not really sure how many American Made true sports cars are still made. ( two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability)
Corvette...
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 06, 2011, 05:02:30 PM
Well, the school wasn't built until 1959, so had to be after that....
Very late '60s, very early 70's.
I lived in the known part of the Universe then, east of the Mississippi River. ;D
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 02:00:38 PM
I won't say they couldn't go that fast but remember that "powerful" at that time was around 200, maybe 250 Gross Brake HP for that displacement range. The cars were lighter but even the mid 50s had a fair amount of frontal area and drag coefficients that would be unacceptable today.
I recently ran across some traffic accident pictures my dad took in the 50s and maybe early 60s. He did a lot of road traveling then. Those cars simply exploded on impact. We look at crunched (but mostly still in one chunk) wreck today and ask how anyone could survive. I look at those pictures and know that they didn't. Thank goodness they DON'T build them like they used to.
Ooops! Sorry; I messed up. It was a '59 (two headlights). It was the 352, with manual on the column. I thought it was 3 speed, but the following page says only 2 speed.
Usually took about 12 minutes to get from Hale to BA main street. Also, went from Hale to East Central (in the pursuit of girl friends). Out at 3:30, and if we got to EC by the time the bus left (usually about 3:38), they would ride with us. Otherwise had to meet them at their home - luckily, they lived two houses apart.
Down the page a little;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_Ford
Yeah, pretty crazy, but NEVER did it drunk! Lost track of friend after high school, but heard at first reunion that he had spent some time in prison for something - don't know what....
Quote from: dbacks fan on December 06, 2011, 01:13:22 PM
heir, when did you graduate from Hale?
Didn't mean to ignore you - answered in a reply to RA. Did you go to Hale?
Quote from: Townsend on December 06, 2011, 05:04:12 PM
This gets subjective now.
My 4 door American made has more hp, better handling, breaking, traction control than most 2 door sports cars did less than 10 years ago.
I'm not really sure how many American Made true sports cars are still made. ( two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability)
Corvette...
None, counting the Corvette....
(Couldn't resist...)
Quote from: Townsend on December 06, 2011, 05:04:12 PM
This gets subjective now.
My 4 door American made has more hp, better handling, breaking, traction control than most 2 door sports cars did less than 10 years ago.
I'm not really sure how many American Made true sports cars are still made. ( two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability)
Corvette...
I am more than willing to include Sport Sedans as well as 2 door cars. My '95 BMW 540i, 4 door, (obviously not American although some BMW models are assembled in South Caroling now) is a somewhat of a performance car. When I bought it, every insurance company except one (Farmers) wanted the same premiums as for a Corvette.
I am thinking of something more exciting than the average family sedan people mover. Back in history, I would include GTO, 442, Buick GS series and mid 80s Grand Nationals, Chevelle 396, 427, 455, Nova 397 and I actually even saw a Nova 427 once, Dodge Chargers, Cudas, Plymouth Satellite, Road Runner, Ford Torino, and a couple of AMC models I don't remember at the moment. They all had their strong points compared to the other choices at the time.
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 06, 2011, 05:13:18 PM
Ooops! Sorry; I messed up. It was a '59 (two headlights). It was the 352, with manual on the column. I thought it was 3 speed, but the following page says only 2 speed.
Usually took about 12 minutes to get from Hale to BA main street. Also, went from Hale to East Central (in the pursuit of girl friends). Out at 3:30, and if we got to EC by the time the bus left (usually about 3:38), they would ride with us. Otherwise had to meet them at their home - luckily, they lived two houses apart.
Down the page a little;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_Ford
Yeah, pretty crazy, but NEVER did it drunk! Lost track of friend after high school, but heard at first reunion that he had spent some time in prison for something - don't know what....
One of my Jr High School friend's parents bought a used 58 or 59 Police Interceptor from the township. My friend's dad was one of the town commissioners. My friend's mom drove civilized though, at least when I was in it.
Very late 50s was part of the cubic inch race. Everyone was upping their engine sizes.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 05:16:29 PM
I am more than willing to include Sport Sedans as well as 2 door cars. My '95 BMW 540i, 4 door, (obviously not American although some BMW models are assembled in South Caroling now) is a somewhat of a performance car. When I bought it, every insurance company except one (Farmers) wanted the same premiums as for a Corvette.
I am thinking of something more exciting than the average family sedan people mover. Back in history, I would include GTO, 442, Buick GS series and mid 80s Grand Nationals, Chevelle 396, 427, 455, Nova 397 and I actually even saw a Nova 427 once, Dodge Chargers, Cudas, Plymouth Satellite, Road Runner, Ford Torino, and a couple of AMC models I don't remember at the moment. They all had their strong points compared to the other choices at the time.
About 1980, Ford made a Fairmont with a turbocharged 4 that always sounded kind of interesting. It was such a light car, it should have gone-scat-like-a-turpentined-cat.... that means fast.
AMC models were Javelin with a 390, Rebel with a 360 or 390. Javelins were very cool and fast. The post 67 Novas had the 396 as well. Most were imprinted onto telephone poles.
The only truly scary fast car I ever drove was my brother's 1968 Plymouth GTX with a 440 ci monster engine. Torqueflite auto was crisp and the gearing was in the range of 373 iirc. He says a 426 hemi was the only thing faster at that time. Hurt my stomach!
Ford? Fix Or Repair Daily.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 06, 2011, 06:56:08 PM
AMC models were Javelin with a 390, Rebel with a 360 or 390. Javelins were very cool and fast. The post 67 Novas had the 396 as well. Most were imprinted onto telephone poles.
The only truly scary fast car I ever drove was my brother's 1968 Plymouth GTX with a 440 ci monster engine. Torqueflite auto was crisp and the gearing was in the range of 373 iirc. He says a 426 hemi was the only thing faster at that time. Hurt my stomach!
Ford? Fix Or Repair Daily.
455 GTO (1968) scared the bejeezus out of me in highschool. Four-speed BW tranny with a Hurst shifter. Fastest thing I ever drove. Surely not meant for taking curves.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 06, 2011, 06:56:08 PM
AMC models were Javelin with a 390, Rebel with a 360 or 390. Javelins were very cool and fast. The post 67 Novas had the 396 as well. Most were imprinted onto telephone poles.
The only truly scary fast car I ever drove was my brother's 1968 Plymouth GTX with a 440 ci monster engine. Torqueflite auto was crisp and the gearing was in the range of 373 iirc. He says a 426 hemi was the only thing faster at that time. Hurt my stomach!
Ford? Fix Or Repair Daily.
A Navy friend had a Mopar (Plymouth or Dodge, I don't remember) with a 440 (Hemi?). The car was purple with peeling paint. I was fast but I think the peeling paint was due to a paint defect more than the speed and acceleration of the car.
Quote from: Hoss on December 06, 2011, 07:30:43 PM
455 GTO (1968) scared the bejeezus out of me in highschool. Four-speed BW tranny with a Hurst shifter. Fastest thing I ever drove. Surely not meant for taking curves.
Depends on how it was set up. A lot of kids put skinny tires on the front and monster tires on the back. Those cars went straight.
I had a 1969 Buick GS 350. Essentially the same chassis but this one only had a 350 cid engine with about 280 HP (old HP ratings, not net). My brother drove it on a standing start lap around Hallett in under 2 min. I think it was 1:58. It didn't have disc brakes, only power 4 wheel drums. They were good for about 1/2 of a panic stop from 70MPH so he had to start shutting down for the really sharp corners early. On the hairpin to the front straight, he had the back end hung out about 20 degrees or so but held it to make the final push to in front of the timing/scoring building. The only car faster that day was a Datsun 240Z that was semi prepared for autocross. It ran about 1:55 with 2 different drivers. My Buick had regular radial tires, Heavy duty shocks, the optional rear sway bar and airbags in the rear springs for trailer towing. Otherwise, box stock.
You young guys that never had to put up with drum brake fade should be thankful for modern brake systems.
Edit:
There weren't any real race cars there that day. It was a company picnic.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 08:53:32 PM
You young guys that never had to put up with drum brake fade should be thankful for modern brake systems.
Didn't even have to be a fast car to have drum brake fade, and god forbid if you got them wet. Hated adjusting drum brakes.
Quote from: dbacks fan on December 06, 2011, 09:50:08 PM
Didn't even have to be a fast car to have drum brake fade, and god forbid if you got them wet. Hated adjusting drum brakes.
Roger on the wet brakes. Adjusting drum brakes was a pain. Get it wrong and one or more wheels would cause it to pull. The self adjusters never kept the pedal at the right height but would keep the clearance from getting so much that the pedal went to the floor. That is unless you had a cup failure in the master cylinder. Single piston master cylinders before 1967 added to the thrills.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 09:55:23 PM
Roger on the wet brakes. Adjusting drum brakes was a pain. Get it wrong and one or more wheels would cause it to pull. The self adjusters never kept the pedal at the right height but would keep the clearance from getting so much that the pedal went to the floor. That is unless you had a cup failure in the master cylinder. Single piston master cylinders before 1967 added to the thrills.
'61 Chevy wagon was a joy in that way. Especially when you had 12 to 14 of your closest friends in with you.
Drum brakes - that's why they invented Park in the automatic transmissions. As in "put it in park"....
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 06, 2011, 10:03:02 PM
Drum brakes - that's why they invented Park in the automatic transmissions. As in "put it in park"....
I thought that was to imitate the sound of bad snychros.
Don't worry, they are going to make transmissions out of water, so you just pour it into gear. The only thing worse was the 'crash box' gear boxes.
Quote from: dbacks fan on December 06, 2011, 10:19:14 PM
Don't worry, they are going to make transmissions out of water, so you just pour it into gear. The only thing worse was the 'crash box' gear boxes.
Ever drive a Dynaflow in a 4000 lb car with only 150 HP? 1954 Buick Special. It was not a small car like the 1960s Specials. I just happened to look it up today, 122" wheelbase.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 10:15:51 PM
I thought that was to imitate the sound of bad snychros.
Does that, too, but it will stop the car when the brakes don't work. Kinda rough on the tranny.....
And now for something entirely different.... again.
YouTube is such a wonderful thing! You can get anything you want...at Alice's Restaurant.... oh, wait - different movie. Jeremiah Johnson in parts;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FerH_4NMJUY
Too grainy...will stick with the DVD, but damn... everything is out there!
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 10:24:28 PM
Ever drive a Dynaflow in a 4000 lb car with only 150 HP? 1954 Buick Special. It was not a small car like the 1960s Specials. I just happened to look it up today, 122" wheelbase.
52 Chevy with Powerglide was closest I ever got to that. Then 57 Chevy. Didn't get into a Buick until 63 Skylark.
51/52 Skylark is a sweet car that I would love to have now. Kind of pricey, though. Good looking tail end on it.
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 06, 2011, 10:29:12 PM
52 Chevy with Powerglide was closest I ever got to that. Then 57 Chevy. Didn't get into a Buick until 63 Skylark.
51/52 Skylark is a sweet car that I would love to have now. Kind of pricey, though. Good looking tail end on it.
Turboglide was the Chevy tranny close to the Dynaflow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboglide
Early 50s Buicks had terrible brakes. I would only want one as a collecter's piece.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 10:36:10 PM
Turboglide was the Chevy tranny close to the Dynaflow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboglide
Early 50s Buicks had terrible brakes. I would only want one as a collecter's piece.
There is an old 54 Oldsmobile for sale on one of my traffic patterns in Broken Arrow. Well worn, but rebuildable. Would put a Cummins diesel and Allison tranny in it, then put some better wheels/brakes/suspension on it. Then get an old vintage travel trailer to pull with it. Like in the Lucille Ball movie....
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 08:53:32 PM
You young guys that never had to put up with drum brake fade should be thankful for modern brake systems.
Having experienced a bit of fade with ventilated disc brakes, I can only imagine. I also once wore out the synchros on a late-80s Honda. That shouldn't be possible, given that I've speed shifted the one I still have more times than I've used the clutch and it's synchros all still mostly work. (second is getting worn, but the others are fine) For a while I made it my mission to only use the clutch from a standing start. Turned out to be a very useful skill when I went out to the car one day and found the clutch fluid reservoir bone dry. Made me wish I had a cable actuated clutch instead of the hydraulic crap.
The weird part is that I never found a leak.
Quote from: nathanm on December 06, 2011, 10:44:43 PM
Having experienced a bit of fade with ventilated disc brakes, I can only imagine. I also once wore out the synchros on a late-80s Honda. That shouldn't be possible, given that I've speed shifted the one I still have more times than I've used the clutch and it's synchros all still mostly work. (second is getting worn, but the others are fine) For a while I made it my mission to only use the clutch from a standing start. Turned out to be a very useful skill when I went out to the car one day and found the clutch fluid reservoir bone dry. Made me wish I had a cable actuated clutch instead of the hydraulic crap.
The weird part is that I never found a leak.
Oil mites. They get into the reservoir and can drain it in just a couple of hours. They breed extremely fast and are little drinking machines.
Had a friend with 61 Rambler American that had mechanical clutch - steel rods bent and twisted around as linkage. Just before the last link, there was a rubber coupling that cushioned everything. It was about 1.5" wide x 3" long, about 3/8" thick. It looked like a section of sidewall cut out of a tire (nylon belted tire), but it really was the piece that was designed for that. It broke, so - you guessed it - took an old bias ply tire (from Bill's, I think) and cut a section out of the sidewall and fixed it. Perfect repair.
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on December 06, 2011, 10:42:43 PM
There is an old 54 Oldsmobile for sale on one of my traffic patterns in Broken Arrow. Well worn, but rebuildable. Would put a Cummins diesel and Allison tranny in it, then put some better wheels/brakes/suspension on it. Then get an old vintage travel trailer to pull with it. Like in the Lucille Ball movie....
Olds had the hydramatic transmissions. The Rocket V8 was an Olds only engine as were other GM division engines until something like the 70s. Engine and tranny may be OK for a small to medium travel trailer. Olds brakes may have been better than Buick's but if you want to pull a trailer around, an upgrade would make sense.
Quote from: nathanm on December 06, 2011, 10:44:43 PM
Made me wish I had a cable actuated clutch instead of the hydraulic crap.
I had a clutch cable break on my 81 Buick Skylark. I forget how many miles but it was well over 100,000.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 06, 2011, 11:31:17 PM
I had a clutch cable break on my 81 Buick Skylark. I forget how many miles but it was well over 100,000.
First manual I learned on didn't have a slave cylinder; it was a 1963 3/4 ton Chevy pickup. At long lights there was no way I was holding that clutch in (3 speed on the column).
I've had mechanical, hydraulic and cable clutch linkages. They have all failed. My cable linked Trooper failed downshifting on the BA, my hydraulic Datsun failed slowly and gave me some warning. Even had a bus whose mechanical linkage failed and left me stranded. But the worst was my 56 Chevy. I slid on gravel on Reservoir Hill into a ditch. Went airborne coming out of the ditch, hit the ground and attempted to downshift before I hit a tree. The linkage had broken, though all I remember is the pedal flat on the floor, I swerved and commenced rolling the car about a dozen times. It was a BelAir coupe retrofitted with a Corvette 327/300 and a 3spd with overdrive and .411 rear end. The doors popped open and were promptly smashed to about 6inches in length as we turned over, and over. Nothing much usable left of the car except 4 seriously shaken souls.
Could have been the recalled Firestone 500's, the gravel or the fact that I had been driving about 70mph seconds earlier. They were dangerous cars for a lot of reasons.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 07, 2011, 10:52:00 AM
I've had mechanical, hydraulic and cable clutch linkages. They have all failed. My cable linked Trooper failed downshifting on the BA, my hydraulic Datsun failed slowly and gave me some warning. Even had a bus whose mechanical linkage failed and left me stranded. But the worst was my 56 Chevy. I slid on gravel on Reservoir Hill into a ditch. Went airborne coming out of the ditch, hit the ground and attempted to downshift before I hit a tree. The linkage had broken, though all I remember is the pedal flat on the floor, I swerved and commenced rolling the car about a dozen times. It was a BelAir coupe retrofitted with a Corvette 327/300 and a 3spd with overdrive and .411 rear end. The doors popped open and were promptly smashed to about 6inches in length as we turned over, and over. Nothing much usable left of the car except 4 seriously shaken souls.
Could have been the recalled Firestone 500's, the gravel or the fact that I had been driving about 70mph seconds earlier. They were dangerous cars for a lot of reasons.
Couldn't have been the gravel or speed. Had to be the crappy tires. :D
You were lucky that you didn't get to demonstrate the piercing effects of solid steering columns that went straight from the steering wheel to the front of the car which were so popular then. Remember the shock films in Driver's Ed? I started to get sick and had to leave.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 07, 2011, 10:52:00 AM
I've had mechanical, hydraulic and cable clutch linkages. They have all failed. My cable linked Trooper failed downshifting on the BA, my hydraulic Datsun failed slowly and gave me some warning. Even had a bus whose mechanical linkage failed and left me stranded. But the worst was my 56 Chevy. I slid on gravel on Reservoir Hill into a ditch. Went airborne coming out of the ditch, hit the ground and attempted to downshift before I hit a tree. The linkage had broken, though all I remember is the pedal flat on the floor, I swerved and commenced rolling the car about a dozen times. It was a BelAir coupe retrofitted with a Corvette 327/300 and a 3spd with overdrive and .411 rear end. The doors popped open and were promptly smashed to about 6inches in length as we turned over, and over. Nothing much usable left of the car except 4 seriously shaken souls.
Could have been the recalled Firestone 500's, the gravel or the fact that I had been driving about 70mph seconds earlier. They were dangerous cars for a lot of reasons.
I'm betting it wasn't the tires....
Shoulda' got a lawyer!
The real problem was my 16 year old ego.