Got any speeding tickets in your Seven?

[Road Ready]

http://pics3.city-data.com/trn.gif My experience with getting a speeding ticket.

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My last speeding ticket was some time ago. I didn't have the kind of internet access that is common today. I showed up at the courthouse with a repentant attitude and a checkbook. Standing there in line in the Buncombe Co. courthouse with maybe a hundred others offenders, sharing our stories, a 'fixer' came down the line of people. He may have had a list of who's offense could be fixed and how, but I don't really know. What I do know is that he scribbled some stuff on the document that I had in hand and sent me up to the office of the county clerk. I paid some money (I don't recall if the check was accepted, they might have demanded cash of cash-equivalent).

 

From the standpoint of the county, reducing the load of the court was worth giving a lot of people a break. Perhaps scaring them was enough. I didn't see any points on my record, nor was there an insurance penalty.

 

Maybe four decades ago, I got stopped on South Carolina State Road 11. I had been speeding. I was polite. The trooper gave me a ticket ($80.00 if I recall correctly) and demanded cash right then and there. Fortunately, I had that much on me and gave it to him. I never saw any insurance repercussions or anything. When in SC these days, I carry cash, just in case. You don't want to not have the cash and get hauled in to meet Boss Hogg or somebody.

 

I've never driven over 110. I wanted to test my car. It was one that my son and I had built in our garage; a 50th anniversary edition Caterham. I selected a long grade near where we live. I used the 25/70 between Marshall and Weaverville. I knew that a trooper sometimes sat at the bottom to catch speeders. I think he lived just off the bottom so it was very convenient for him. I figured that if he was there, he'd be looking for speeders coming down, not going up. I put the pedal to the metal going up to hit 110, then backed off. At that point I'd satisfied my curiosity and the aerodynamics of the car were working against me so I slowed down and sedately headed home. There was nobody around so I figured the worst that could happen was that I'd get busted (a very low likelihood) and have to show up shamefaced in court or perhaps stood in line so the fixer could fix me. Nowadays, I suspect that that function is handled by one of the attorneys that you will soon be hearing from.

 

When driving the Seven, I typically stay much closer to the actual speed limit and select roads with curves, the kind of roads this region is blessed or cursed with. Driving my regular car, I'm sedate and cautious around town, but I still find myself having to back down on the highway. It's never a good idea to be the fastest one on the road. Second fastest is way safer.

 

Drive smooth. Be calm. Be careful.

[yellowss7]

Take it to the track. It's legal and safer. Most everyone is going the same way, no one is texting or talking on their phones. Most drivers are aware of the rules of the road. There is usually run off room not trees or poles, if you do happen to run out of talent.:jester: You only have to look out for Kitcat. :svengo:

[SK400]

Niiice.. I was about to say that there are other dangers on the track, especially in NJ in July... some throw rocks at you to make sure you keep your distance, others lose parts in front of you when you least expect it to add to the suspense, and there is wayyy to much fun in the paddock