On Topic? Cars, anyway: 55 MPH speed limit...

CharlesTheCurmudgeon wrote:
> "Steve" > wrote in message
> news
>> Hachiroku ???? wrote:
>>
>>>> Deja vu all over again. Most interstate limits were 70 mph before the
>>>> first round of insanity.
>>>
>>> 65,
>> No, it was indeed 70.
>>
>
> Depends on what state you were in. Illinois was 70 on interstates but 65 on
> all other highways

True, I was responding to the implication that there was a national 65
limit before the drop to 55. There was not- 70 was certainly allowed,
and probably higher than that in fact. I lived in a 70-mph state at the
time.

Nate Nagel wrote:
> You do realize that that means that your fictional 'stang engine would
> be turning around 6800 RPMS at your claimed top speed, right?


A 289 would do that... for a while :-) Seriously, with a 3" stroke and
lighter pistons than the larger-bore 302, it was a pretty good
high-winder right off the showroom floor. Sustained 6800- probably not,
though.

On 2008-08-05, Steve > wrote:
>
>>
>> In the center lane you should be doing the speed limit, and then anyone
>> passing on the right is wrong. However, it also kind of depends on the
>> density of the traffic, too.
>
> AGREED. People who are hard-line "no passing on the right, no driving in
> the left lane" often presume a rural or semi-rural setting.

wrong.

> In high
> density traffic, rigorous lane discipline that is a benefit at low
> traffic density becomes an outright hazard.

Wrong. It's deperately needed to avoid congestion.

> "We're all going to get
> there about the same time anyway, so pick a lane, stick with it, and
> quit darting in and out risking collisions."

The congestion is caused by people driving willy nilly in whatever lane.

Keep right except to pass.

On Aug 5, 2:51*pm, Steve > wrote:
> Nate Nagel wrote:
> > You do realize that that means that your fictional 'stang engine would
> > be turning around 6800 RPMS at your claimed top speed, right?
>
> A 289 would do that... for a while :-) *Seriously, with a 3" stroke and
> lighter pistons than the larger-bore 302, it was a pretty good
> high-winder right off the showroom floor. Sustained 6800- probably not,
> though.

Oh, I know. FIL has a '65 drag car and I got a very nice vintage Sun
Super Tach off of it because he wanted one that would actually
register his shift point. (the one he had in the car went up to 8K.
The one I picked up at a flea market was the same tach but registered
to 10K.) I seriously doubt most people have engines built like that
though - myself included. Oddly enough, we're also talking about a
289 there - but a Studebaker 289. If I can get it to wind to 6500 I
will consider myself happy.

nate