I want to comment but I'm afraid to do so.

We don't need war with Canada.

Mike

> From: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
> Reply-To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
> Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 15:23:03 -0400
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: AT speeds/rpm's
>
> Well Andrew, i do agree on that 75mph speed, but that's a State rule, some
> states are slow like hell and some are faster.
>
> Last year, between San Francisco and!!! Sacramento, I left the freeway
> because I could not cope with traffic, minimum speed was about 75 and every
> lane had a different speed, not necessarily the left lane!!!!!!!!!!! That
> is the main problem!!!
>
> On the subject of "freeway" speed driving in the USA or Western Canada!!
>
> Here is how I see American and Western Canadian driving/driver, ho well
> everybody except Californian, Floridian, and Quebec drivers.
>
> Most American drive very fast near City on between 2 close cities, on
> normal freeway and secondary road driving they drive like a turtle. That
> also good for western Canadian. My feeling is that you are afraid of
> highway patrol cops, and you have a lot of them!! (USA)I feel that in the
> states it's OK to drive faster on highway and not on smaller roads or
> secondary freeway/road, well that quite logic! But I feel that the
> difference between the 2 (freeway/small road) is very big.
> Last year I had to follow (with the westy) a convoy of car including; Ford
> Mustang and other big V8 car!! and big American SUV and pickup (At least
> you are proud enough to buy American made car and truck, and that I approve
> and admire at 100%!!!!!!!) on an smaller road at 40/45mph for 3 hours, as I
> was not able to pass them with my VW flat-4 beast. I find that ironic that
> American Car Company produce big bore V8/V10 cylinder car and truck and
> customer don't use the power they pay for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, It must
> have something to do with car culture!!!!!
>
> Maybe it is not "politically correct" to drive faster on a smaller road!!
> (Don't worry, I do understand the difference between a school zone or a
> town speed limit and an open space secondary road, I am not stupid.
>
> Last year I saw 1 Police in my entire crossing of Canada and he was eating
> donut!!! Not much in the US also, maybe 10 in a 3200 miles stretch from SF
> to Montreal.
> 6 years ago, I crossed Canada on my Kawasaki ZX11 (1100CC) warp speed
> machine at an average speed of 160/170kmh (105mph) (this bike would
> maintain 120mph for 8 hours a day, top speed of 180mph) without seeing one
> cop! Crossing time; 3 days 1/2!
>
> The main thing is that the right lane should be for slower vehicle and the
> left lane for faster one or passing in every country, unfortunately, most
> driver don't obey to those rule. Believe me when I say that on the German
> autobahn you need to follow those rules...
>
> If you ever come to Quebec be prepare to see crazy and fast driver, we
> simply don't really care about highway cops, speed limit as the average
> traffic is well over 75mph so they are having a hard time coping with
> everybody going at that speed. If it OK or not, I am not the one to judge.
> In my book, a careful, well trained and well equip driver should be aloud
> driving at high speed on the left lane.
> Me, I don't care, especially on my bike, I still have the nerve at 36 to
> get away when I see those red and blue flashing light, I still hit the
> pedal and off i go at 175mph. Well, I need something to compensate with the
> slow speed of the westy.
>
> By the way, I owe speed ticket/infraction on 4 different states; Maine, NH,
> NY, and another one I don't remember. So I drive carefully on those states
> now. If they catch me am up for the big fine!!!!! (I think they keep
> Canadian unpaid infraction for 10 years)
>
> So yes the westy is a bit slow for today standard, and for sure that sucks.
> But this van made me discover the road again, now I take the time to look
> and appreciate the landscape that surround me when I drive, I don't do that
> on my Honda CBX 900.
> You know what, I don't really care about driving at 60. I like it in many
> ways. It's safe and relaxing, many thing to see and I really don't care
> about people passing me or honking at me. I simply don't really see them as
> am enjoying the scenery with good music and nice company. (Quite lonely on
> a bike at 120mph for 3000miles)
>
> Well, that was my Wednesday dinnertime subject.
>
> Cheers, and have a nice Fourth of July. (and drive safely, he he he ;-)
> Ben
> http://pages.infinit.net/eurokit/
>