Top speed--where to test?

[csieminski]

In the efforts of gathering your all's opinions, I am posting perhaps the dumbest poll ever.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who occasionally wishes to drive his or her car (BMW) as it was meant to be driven--at autobahn speeds. According to the owner's manual, the top speed of my new 535i automatic is 142 mph. Today I came upon a sparsely-traveled wide open highway and found that my car can go an incredibly stable, unflustered and quiet 130 (the previous owner installed H-rated Michelins, so I did not want to press further).

However, going that fast on any kind of public road is both highly illegal and dangerous, especially under certain conditions. But I don't know of any tracks near me that allow one test out their car's capabilities this way.

Do any of you know if these exist throughout the U.S.? And I thought it would be nice if as many of you as possible could participate in my silly poll.

Thanks

[Ace$nyper]

very simple TRACK notice i used all caps as doing this anywhere esle is stupid you'll risk yours and others lives on a track its safe controlled and really does it matter anything above 100 on the highways is just a waste and as the poster above pointed out a great way to lose your license

[redhed]

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a closed track. If you decide to take yours out on a public road or highway to test your speed, please be aware that, depending on what state you live in, speeds in excess of 20 miles over the posted speed limit can result in the immediate loss of your license and your car being impounded. If you are ticketed going more than 20 miles over the speed limit, your options are very limited, even if you hire an attorney. You are most likely going to get license points and insurance points at that speed. Also, if you are ticketed in a work zone, even if you manage to get the charges dismissed, you still have to pay the fine for speeding in a work zone, which is around $250.00.

[NINÅ]

Originally Posted by Ace$nyper

very simple TRACK notice i used all caps as doing this anywhere esle is stupid you'll risk yours and others lives on a track its safe controlled and really does it matter anything above 100 on the highways is just a waste and as the poster above pointed out a great way to lose your license

Would you like to buy some punctuation?

[csieminski]

Hey, everyone has their own unique writing style.

I can understand how 20 over can be labeled "wreckless endangerment" or a similar charge, although I was once alleged to have been traveling 65 mph in a 45, and no such charge was made. Simply $75 and two points. Many others in my courtroom had been stopped on a similar section of road, and were alleged speeds between 62 and 70 mph, without such a charge. I can imagine with so many Americans traveling 85 mph in a 65, or 75 in a 55, it's unrealistic for police to cite drivers that way all the time. However, something like 45 through a slow-paced neighborhood posted at 25 might warrant such a charge, or excessive speeds coupled with other erratic driving behavior.

And I wholeheartedly agree that anything over 100 or even 90 is well out of line on all but the longest, smoothest and most isolated sections of road, and even there such judgement is questionable. (Yes, sometimes even MY judgement is questionable).

That's why I posted this query; to discover how others feel and explore safer, more socially acceptable options for pushing the envelope.

[ec437]

I suppose I would do it on the public roads if conditions allowed, except that I have yet to find a road within 150 miles of here with conditions that would ever allow.

[KC Ron Carter]

I have seen 165mph on the road in Oklahoma, Sunday morning on a 4 lane empty hiway. Just testing my tuning on the tow mule.

But I have seen over 150mph many times on the Dyno.

[DinanM3_S2]

I would personally never go for a top speed trial on public roads. One of the most unsafe things you can do in a car. Not to mention the threat of monsterous tickets. Dado, from dtmpower.net and the teckademics movies got a $75,000 speeding ticket for doing 200+... He got it reduced to a mere $10,000... Find a track.

[Menu dei Motori]

come to germany to test it on the motorways!

if i can go topspeed i do so.
and that´s every day!


it´s cheaper bring your car over hear to test than getting a 75.000$bill

[csieminski]

$75,000 or even $10,000 is horrendous. I hope they apply that money to at least raising the quality of the roads in that area (that's something that can always use improvement).

You all may recall that part of my initial query was WHERE such tracks as some of you mentioned are located. As others have noted, a competely vacant, wide-open and well-maintained road in the middle of nowhere could almost be considered like a track--in the complete absence of any other motorists (including law enforcement).

However, I don't think anyone has argued against the fact that this is, at the very least, still HIGHLY illegal. I am looking for an option that is legal, but only slightly less convenient than the occasional spur-of-the-moment speed trial on a public road. Shipping my car to a German autobahn for this is quite inconvenient!

I think a track is the only answer (and I don't mean a 1/4 mile-type drag strip, of course). Input regarding this is really what I, and hopefully others, are looking for.

[redhed]

Find a local auto-parts supplier or place that customizes cars and ask them where the nearest test track is. You could probably call your local police or sheriff's department and ask them, too. They use tracks to teach defensive driving skills, so they would know. Your local DMV might know, also. Heck, it probably wouldn't hurt to google "Car testing tracks" or "auto proving grounds" or something like that.

[slyhog-22056]

Maybe dumb question, But I have a dumber answer, according to some of the idiots I work with first find 2 good floor jacks, raise the car and remove the rear tires, reinstall the lug bolts and lower the car onto a RR crosstie. Then get in and let er rip. Remove the tires because you really dont know the speed rating of your tires and a little out of balance would be disastrous.