MK-I MK-II MK-III MK-IV GULF MIRAGE J-CAR LOLA
| Notices | Hi member,
welcome to GT40s.com! If you've never posted on the forum maybe give it a go by introducing yourself in the Introduce Yourself Here forum. Also, think about becoming a Forum Supporter at GT40s.com. Becoming a supporter will allow you more PM space, an avatar, and the money is used to keep GT40s.com running.
Enjoy the forum!
Welcome to the GT40s.com, the World’s Largest GT40 resource.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, view pictures, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, Join Our Community Today!
Why not start with your first post today and become an active part of GT40s.com now! And, if you find you enjoy GT40s.com think about becoming a Forum Supporter. | | The Paddock Off Topic forum where anything goes! |
01-12-06, 10:05 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Johngt40 CURRENTLY BANNED 
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 86 Grad IIT Chicago MJR. Mathmatics/Physics GT40: Il.
Posts: 454
Rep Power: 0  | Driving your GT40 on public streets? I will be getting my car next month. And I'm curious if current owners are afraid of driving there car on the street. Being the car is so low, Are you constantly worried you are going to hit a pot hole or botttom out your car and damage the front clip..or afraid of somone not seeing you becasue you are so low. Does this take the fun out of driving the car on the street? What is your biggest
concern?
regards Oliver |
| |
01-12-06, 10:15 AM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Keith1 10 tenths 
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England GT40: Nein
Posts: 1,914
Rep Power: 26   | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? Hey Oliver! I'm sure you won't have that problem, no-one would dare mess with you on the streets man. Anyway, they wouldn't need to see you they'd hear you coming from miles away.... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif[/img] |
| |
01-12-06, 11:29 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Mark Clapp 4 Tenths 
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kansas City, Missouri USA GT40: Mark I (South Africa)
Posts: 450
Rep Power: 11  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? The car being low is a concern especially for large, wide speed bumps (for trucks). On the road its "driving buddies" that want to ride along side and gawk and eventually swerve into you. I try to stay on the open highway out of traffic and keep a nice space all around. Other than that, I've driven it on the street as much as I can over the last 5 years. |
| |
01-12-06, 11:51 AM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | huntsen 5 Tenths 
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: High Wycombe, U GT40: Factory-built G
Posts: 532
Rep Power: 11  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? Hi Oliver,
Your question is very relevant. Problems when driving can come from a number of sources:
1. Gawpers, who rush up from behind on the motorway, then slow down suddenly in your three-quarter blind spot while someone uses a mobile phone to take a picture. Makes lane changing very hazardous. Solution? Drop back from the vehicle in front, drop down into third and floor it. Nothing keeps up with that!
2. Speed bumps with inadequate warning can be a horrendous source of damage to the underneath of the front clip. Also, French provincial streets, with a big dip between the crown of the road and a side turning. The only answer is to be very, very careful. A big obstruction will break out the whole undertray below the air intake. Ferries and the Eurotunnel are usually very considerate and allow us to use the lorry deck, which is somewhere near road level on land.
3. Truck drivers, because we are below the line-of-sight of their mirrors, particularly the nearside ones (and off-side ones of Continental trucks). Also SUVs, 4wd Chelsea Tractors and most cars driven by women.[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flamer.gif[/img] I fitted a set of very loud airhorns, and have often had cause to use them to warn people who haven't seen me. I always blast people who sit indicating in an inner lane while they decide to pull out, and watch their front wheels vey carefully for signs of their moving across.
4. An interesting problem often happens at roundabouts, when we may be below the top of the Armco, making it difficult to see on the approach whether it's clear to enter. Similarly, T-junctions and turnings which are not at right angles. Because we have very limited vision aft of abeam, entering a road at an acute angle can be a matter of hoping!
People have fitted rear-view TV and supplementary rear view mirrors, but they are no substitute for driving defensively and expecting fellow road-users to act idiotically.
The stupidest road hazard is the owner of a mildly souped-up Golf GTi or small BMW, who carve you up to try to provoke a race. They aren't worth even bothering with.
All this doesn't mean that GT40s aren't great fun to drive on the street. Most people's reactions are very positive - little boys jump up and down, other drivers give a thumbs up, girls swoon and the best bit is a reflection in a shop window.
Vain - moi? |
| |
01-12-06, 01:20 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Johngt40 CURRENTLY BANNED 
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 86 Grad IIT Chicago MJR. Mathmatics/Physics GT40: Il.
Posts: 454
Rep Power: 0  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? Wow! Great Responses!
I expect the lookers and the cars cathing up to you and slowing down. This i'm used to with my Shebly. Here in the states, I think my biggest concern is pot holes. These are holes in the street that will dip your car. And for sure with 4 inces of clearance I will have to choose my driving route carfully and with the knowlege of the roads. Another obsticle is that I have a right hand drive and I'm used to the left hand drive in my car. I will have to use my outside mirror exstensivly. I can see were ths SUV"S will be a big problem and the goof ball people that don't pay attension while talking on the cell phone. I look foward to all the thumbs up and gaukers because it's a good feeling that you have somthing everybody appreciates.
Regards oliver |
| |
01-12-06, 01:47 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | b6gt40 2 Tenths 
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 246
Rep Power: 7  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? Oliver,
I have offered my car for you to drive on the street and you only live minutes away.....are you afraid of me? |
| |
01-12-06, 01:56 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | ahirsbrunner Administrator 
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago, IL USA GT40: RCR-40 #24
Posts: 478
Rep Power: 8  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? One of my concerns was having to pass on a two lane road (my US car will be RHD also). You have to poke out most of the car into the oncoming lane to see if it is clear. I may install a forward looking camera in the LH mirror if this turns out to be a real problem. Or just don't pass :-(
Al |
| |
01-12-06, 02:13 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | mustanger Rookie 
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: sweden GT40: gtd 5,0 ho weber trickflow
Posts: 21
Rep Power: 4  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? the gt isnt as low as u think i have 127 mm ride hight wile my lowered 69 mustang is 100 and i never hit anything . but u have to think before u climb up the side walks |
| |
01-12-06, 03:40 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | 10 tenths 
Join Date: Jun 2002 GT40: San Francisco Bay Area California USA
Posts: 1,884
Rep Power: 25  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? Gettin gas is the real fun. The best one yet was a 30s something wife jump out of the passenger side of a SUV and RUN over to me grab her breasts and declare "THAT IS PURE SEX"
About that time her husban walked over and said "is it real?" I get that one a lot.
So she says " Are you fuckin kidding? You're an idiot! pump the gas we gotta go.
As he walked back to their SUV she says to me "God I wish I could have a ride."
Should have. Didn't
Some time I go out just to get gas.
My advice about driving on the street is pretend you are on a chopper. You'll be fine. |
| |
01-12-06, 04:29 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | aladinsane Lifetime Premier Supporter 
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: So Cal, USA GT40: Tornado
Posts: 746
Rep Power: 14   | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? Howard,
Not sure if I understood, Was it you who said "are those real"........ [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banana.gif[/img]
Driving in slow freeway traffic, I once had a girl bare her breast against her passenger side window all along displaying her excitement with a pierced tongue, that was fun [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] |
| |
01-12-06, 05:01 PM
|
#11 (permalink)
| | Johngt40 CURRENTLY BANNED 
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 86 Grad IIT Chicago MJR. Mathmatics/Physics GT40: Il.
Posts: 454
Rep Power: 0  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? I guess another big concern is the P@%@Sy facter. When i drive my Shelby I mostly get looks from men..BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THE CAR IS. Women really don't care. The GT40 looks as agood as any major sports car so the women like it. Plus it also shows your wealth..Only if they know. I guess my wife wont be riding in my car because if it attracks to many looks by women, she won't like it.Ahhh who care!
Regards oliver |
| |
01-12-06, 05:30 PM
|
#12 (permalink)
| | Mark Clapp 4 Tenths 
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kansas City, Missouri USA GT40: Mark I (South Africa)
Posts: 450
Rep Power: 11  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? My car is RHD and I've always meant to take my dog for a ride. At first glance here in the US, it would look like he is driving! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] |
| |
01-12-06, 06:56 PM
|
#13 (permalink)
| | aladinsane Lifetime Premier Supporter 
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: So Cal, USA GT40: Tornado
Posts: 746
Rep Power: 14   | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? [ QUOTE ]
......because if it attracks to many looks by women...
[/ QUOTE ]
Boy Oliver, there you go and burst my bubble. All this time I thought it was me not the car [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif[/img] |
| |
01-13-06, 05:23 AM
|
#14 (permalink)
| | Jim C Gold Supporter 
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRAL GT40: RF 105
Posts: 521
Rep Power: 9  | Re: Driving your GT40 on public streets? I have a workshop in a factory complex in Sydney Australia.
I had a costomer car (a GT40) at my shop for about 2 months getting work done.
There is a High school down the road & the kids are always taking a short cut through the complex.
Normally those girls dont give you a look but for those 2 months the just couldnt stop looking.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh when my gt40 is finished I will have all that to look forward to.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banana.gif[/img] |
| | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is On | | |
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:35 AM.
|