Robert Keezer wrote:

>Bringing back 55 or 60 is going to save a lot of
>fuel.
>Especially for the non-aerodynamic vehicles with
>large displacement engines ,  and there are a lot
>of those.
>
>

This lesson was hammered home for me a few years ago. We were visiting
in-laws in the Idaho panhandle area for Thanksgiving. When we headed
home a snowstorm was kicking up its heels. We were driving our 93 E150
high top van conversion with the 351, the 4 spd OD automatic, and the
electronic lockup torque converter. We normally run about 65-70 mph and
get about 12 mpg on that return trip. In the snow storm we could only
safely do about 35 mph. I did the mileage calculations when we got home,
we had gotten over 18 mpg! That van has never ever seen higher than mid
to low 13s except that one time, but then I never drive it slowly
either. Despite its more aerodynamic body style, the high top makes it a
huge wind brake on wheels, just like the VW. Intellectually you know the
concept, but it is pretty stunning when you actually see the direct
results of slowing down. Of course 35 mph is not going to be an
acceptable highway speed, not even in a high top diesel westy :-)    but
the experience put a very real number to the concept for us.

As for the speed kills thing, this I have a harder time with. Bad
driving kills, speed magnifies that. I feel much safer going 140 on the
track than I do going 40 in town. Your average driver has no clue how to
control a car at speed, but we give em 2 ton vehicle and a license, and
let em out on the freeways. That combination kills for sure. Our current
system is basically a form of natural selection. I am always surprised
by how few people are killed out there.

--
Marc Sayer
Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer (APDT member #062956)
Board member - Western States Great Dane Rescue Association
Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane Rescue Inc.
Springfield, OR USA

My Homepage - http://gracieland.org

Deaf Dane Rescue Homepage - http://gracieland.org/DaneRescue/

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