Hi gents,

Abit of a random one...

I Test drove a road legal quadzilla buggy today (Not my cup of tea). In the space of about 5 miles I had fast food wrappers thrown at me from the car infront, deliberate very close overtakes, tailgating and general A-hole behaviour from other road users. I was not speeding or doing anything wrong so this makes me think that something else is going on.

Have any of you had similar problems with kit cars on the road?

I'm thick skinned so I dont mind abit of green eyed envy, but I dont fancy catching a coke can in the face at road speed.

Jay

Had a few glass bottles lobbed at me while cycling, one of which exploded on my top tube.

Literally every 2nd time I overtake someone on the roads around here they go mental and flash me like I'm a loon (I'm not).

People are idiots generally.

[Edited on 27/11/17 by coyoteboy]

While driving through ebbw vale at about 2am some random pissed up bloke decided to grab onto my rollbar as i passed by - he held on for 1/4 second then slipped over and bounced off the kerb. I watched him get up in the mirrors but didn't think going back to check was the best of moves going by first impressions.

Dave

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Originally posted by coyoteboy


Literally every 2nd time I overtake someone on the roads around here they go mental and flash me like I'm a loon (I'm not).



[Edited on 27/11/17 by coyoteboy]

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People are idiots generally

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I suffer a lot from 'punishment' attacks.
Unfortunately, I proceed at the speed limit (often not the towing/3.5T/ice/rain/night/class limit, but the car limit). This means that I see a lot of dangerous driving, with the wrong side of traffic islands being a favourite passing point. No, I'm not obstructing the road, there's usually a long, long line of vehicles I'm following.

'Punishment' here means the overtake, followed by a brake test. OK, so I anticipate this always, slow to a crawl as the idiot passes, avoiding an 'accident'. The idiot then accelerates away to tailgate the next vehicle.

The roads are no fun, there's no pleasure in driving (for me anyway). However, it's a necessary evil (and risk) to get the car to the circuit. The attitude of some road users (in their car, and I guess their life approach in general) is simply murderous. I wish it was treated as such.

There are some "interesting" road users out there. I see bad driving/road manners pretty much every day. Often people so desperate to overtake they do so dangerously then spend the rest of the journey in front of you having not really got anywhere quicker. Often those that are driving within the road rules and traffic conditions that see or receive the abuse from these people. I simply take pleasure in being in the right and try to make sure they can't do me any harm.

I would agree that most road users are idiots & always try to take this into account with my driving, I think the biggest problem, particularly at this end of the country (S.E.) is far too many cars in far too small a space, hence, congestion, frustration & idiotic manoeuvres to save about 1/2 a second off a journeytime!

However, when I'm out in the Furore, I am frequently treated to the most gentlemanly behaviour, people stop to let me out of junctions or to cross when turning right across traffic, on dual carriageways & motorways most of the time I only have to show myself in their mirrors (just supposing they've remembered where they are & are looking in them!) & most people move out of the way, I think they then expect me to go past flat out whereas I normally go by at or around the speed limit - must come as a disappointment!

I drive in to work every day down a stretch road that is actually 'the most dangerous road in Europe" - by number of deaths in the last 10 years. I see large numbers of people overtake by pulling out and very slowly passing -- usually meaning the manoeuvre takes them round the next blind bend/ over the hill into the dip that can hide a car etc. At least twice a year I have to avoid cars on the wrong side of the road who are obviously trying to overtake an artic at 50mph while in 6th. A couple of years back I was just at the point where I had moved so my left hand wheels were as far off the tarmac as I could safely go, decided that driving off the road into the 8ft drop to the field was better than the alternative head on collision, when the other guy decided he wasn't gong to make it, hit the brakes and into the back wheels of the artics trailer. He didn't stop, despite the left hand side of his car being torn off, and his bonnet flying past the screen of my car at about 2 ft away! I still can't believe that we didn't collide.

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Originally posted by russbost
I would agree that most road users are idiots & always try to take this into account with my driving, I think the biggest problem, particularly at this end of the country (S.E.) is far too many cars in far too small a space, hence, congestion, frustration & idiotic manoeuvres to save about 1/2 a second off a journeytime!

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I think a lot of abuse towards kit cars etc is jealousy tbh.

I've had water squirted out of the window of a pikeys transit going in the opposite direction,and also the Pissed up idiot running out and holding onto the rollbar passing through a town
I really did wish his foot/leg undr my rear wheel but unfortunately it didn't happen!

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Originally posted by russbost
However, when I'm out in the Furore, I am frequently treated to the most gentlemanly behaviour...

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When they try to race, that is just plain funny! Was coming back from Brands in the Furore after BTCC one time travelling in convoy with a friend in an R1 engined MNR, we'd just had a bit of fun thro' the dartford tunnel! & pulled up at the lights ready to join the A13 one behind the other, a Toyota Starlet pulled up next to us, it was a typical "furry dice & large exhaust" car as you'd expect from a Saxo or similar, he sat there revving the engine & looking across at us, when the lights turned amber he took off with loads of revs & wheelspin, we waited for the green then set off nose to tail (no wheelspin or drama!) & had both gone past him b4 we cleared the other side of the lights - I just wish I could have seen his face!

People simply don't realise the performance available to many kitcars!

[Edited on 28/11/17 by russbost]

odd as I've owned a few kit cars and always only had nice comments, waves, thumbs up, shouts "NICE CAR!" etc the most scary aspect being people not actually looking where their going cos their too interested in your car

I'm surprised no one offered you a jacket testing a buggy like that in this weather that aside your really need a windscreen on any road car or wear a full face helmet with a visor, stones fly up all the time

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Originally posted by 907

Don't forget that one in four people that drive can't pass the number plate test.

What you might see as 500m of clear road they see 50m and after that its a blur.

Paul G

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The thing is that everyone thinks they're a good driver. To them whatever they do is good, and everyone else is wrong.


Lets take Mr 45. He drives at his speed wether in a 60 or a 30, even past a school at 3.30pm.
No need to rush like these mad overtakers. I get there just as quick.

Then there's Mr Left. He thinks he drives slowly and carefully around roundabouts so he uses the left lane, even when turning right.

There's Mr Quick. A gifted talented driver who narrowly missed an F1 seat. He an expert at using the full width of the road, even on blind bends.
He curses anyone that dares to be on the same road as him, even if they are faster.

What about Mr C, no not that C, this is Mr Cataract. He's perfectly ok to drive because the NHS won't operate till he starts walking into doors.



I bet you lot know loads more. Feel free to add.

Not forgetting Mr 4x4 - He drives his big "sports" 4x4 around country lanes as though it's an MX5, lurching around corners and crossing the while line because he doesn't really know where the nearside of the car is...

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Originally posted by 907
The thing is that everyone thinks they're a good driver. To them whatever they do is good, and everyone else is wrong.


Lets take Mr 45. He drives at his speed wether in a 60 or a 30, even past a school at 3.30pm.
No need to rush like these mad overtakers. I get there just as quick.

Then there's Mr Left. He thinks he drives slowly and carefully around roundabouts so he uses the left lane, even when turning right.

There's Mr Quick. A gifted talented driver who narrowly missed an F1 seat. He an expert at using the full width of the road, even on blind bends.
He curses anyone that dares to be on the same road as him, even if they are faster.

What about Mr C, no not that C, this is Mr Cataract. He's perfectly ok to drive because the NHS won't operate till he starts walking into doors.



I bet you lot know loads more. Feel free to add.

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
Not forgetting Mr 4x4 - He drives his big "sports" 4x4 around country lanes as though it's an MX5, lurching around corners and crossing the while line because he doesn't really know where the nearside of the car is...

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Originally posted by 907
The thing is that everyone thinks they're a good driver. To them whatever they do is good, and everyone else is wrong.

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Originally posted by 907
The thing is that everyone thinks they're a good driver. To them whatever they do is good, and everyone else is wrong.


Lets take Mr 45. He drives at his speed wether in a 60 or a 30, even past a school at 3.30pm.
No need to rush like these mad overtakers. I get there just as quick.


I bet you lot know loads more. Feel free to add.

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Originally posted by JAG


Plus most people have given up on overtaking - has anyone else noticed that?

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Mr. Sit in the outer lane regardless.

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Originally posted by JAG

Plus most people have given up on overtaking - has anyone else noticed that?

So when 'we' do it they get angry and wave their fists etc.... it seem to have become anti-social to overtake anyone these days.

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Originally posted by 02GF74

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Originally posted by JAG


Plus most people have given up on overtaking - has anyone else noticed that?

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I remember the days I was overtaking on the A40 in my MGB, now I have a car with 3x the brake horses and am unable to overtake - simply due to there being so much more traffic. This country may be borderline recession but that don't stop people buying and driving cars.

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The 45 everywhere used to be the worst offenders for me when I lived in Kent as I usually was on roads with all the limits from 30 to 70 on one road. Since I left though theres something else thats worse that seems common in Barrow and in Bristol but I never saw anywhere else i lived, driving right on the white line on the side of the road with no parked cars while there are parked cars on the otherside of the road.

I think a big reason why overtaking is more uncommon now is along with more traffic, visibility past another car is terrible these days. Cars are taller, wider, have smaller windows and often the windows are blacked out or shapes that mean you can't see through a car infront.

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Originally posted by David Jenkins
Not forgetting Mr 4x4 - He drives his big "sports" 4x4 around country lanes as though it's an MX5, lurching around corners and crossing the while line because he doesn't really know where the nearside of the car is...

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I did say "sports" 4x4! Things like the Range Rover Sport, which is built like a tank and has road-going wheels - useless on any patch of mud. They're just substitutes for small willies...

I should add that my brother has a Range Rover as he lives way up north in Scotlandshire, but his has all-weather tyres to cope with winter snow. My nephew is a gamekeeper near Aberdeen, and his car is a real Land Rover that gets used to climb up the sides of Scottish mountains on ridiculously rough tracks (I've been with him once, and nearly got knocked out when my head hit the inside of the car - at about 4mph!). In other words, genuine 4x4s, used properly.

The 4x4 comments ring a bell with me!

At my kids school there's ladies (sorry if that's a sexist comment) driving big £££ Range Rovers. They drive poorly and park even worse! In reality they never go anywhere near any mud and a Fiesta (or similar) would do exactly what they require.

What about my friend Mr green. Toyota Prius

Around my area nearly every minicaby has one. I think most have had their batteries replaced with eveready's.

Some days I get the urge to fit blue LEDs behind my grille and in the windows and give some people the fright of their life. I'm not sure on the legality of my "show lights malfunctioning" vs impersonating a police officer

Hey! I resemble these comments, not sure which one, but I'm sure I can fit into one at some time or other.

When in the kit, I would say for the most part I get good vibes from others, I have had the odd racer, pushing me, even some that were much better on accel and top end speed, so I tend to let them go by me now. I know my reactions are not as sharp as 20 years ago and I like to get home in one piece.

It's the journey, not the fastest, in my head.

Adrian

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Originally posted by SteveWallace

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Originally posted by 907
The thing is that everyone thinks they're a good driver. To them whatever they do is good, and everyone else is wrong.


Lets take Mr 45. He drives at his speed wether in a 60 or a 30, even past a school at 3.30pm.
No need to rush like these mad overtakers. I get there just as quick.


I bet you lot know loads more. Feel free to add.

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There is also Mr speed limit minus 10. Not really sure why they do it, maybe the're related to Mr getting KPH mixed up with MPH.
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When out in the kit, the good comments and looks seem to massively out weigh the negative/aggressive ones. Even quite yobbish looking kids in dodgy areas seem ok. I tend to stick closer to the speed limit in the Viento than in my normal car in built up areas and this does provoke the occasional tail gating. That's normally cured by not lifting when going around the next tight corner and watching what happens when they try to do the same.

I have noticed that indicating now seems to be regarded as an optional extra. I've lost count of the number of times idiots cause confusion and near misses by not indicating on roundabouts any more.

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On one occasion I drove through a local village (big village, more like a small town) and went past a small car with 5 teenagers in it. They pointed and laughed at my odd little car - but they were jammed into a smoky old Corsa with go-faster bits on it...

There have been a couple of occasions where I've come up behind a slowish car, set up to overtake and they've accelerated. After that they drove like absolute tossers, liable to end up in a ditch; one had his wife/girlfriend in the passenger seat, the other had the whole family. After watching their driving for a couple of minutes I chose a different route at the next junction. I wouldn't have wanted either sets of passengers to have been involved in a crash because their driver was an idiot, and there is always the risk of being accused of road racing by the police. The best bit was watching the woman in the second car berating her other half - hopefully because of his awful driving!

One the other hand, I have been waved at to overtake on quite a few occasions - there are still some nice people around.

As for indicating... don't get me started!

And I've just been out shopping, and remembered the other two...

Mr "they've only just gone red" - at some junctions in Ipswich I count to 2 or 3 after my lights go green, because there's near certainty that someone will go through their red light. Today it was an HGV oil tanker who did it, and nearly got another lorry in his side.

Mr "my indicator's going so I can drive off the slip-road at 40mph into 70mph traffic" - very common one this. I've even seen it done in front of an HGV doing its max speed, no way of swerving as the outside lane was full, emergency braking, followed by the longest blast on the air horns I've heard for years! I reckon that all the car driver could see in his rear-view mirror was radiator...

Oh dear - I sound like a miserable old git with all this moaning - but in reality these days I just drive defensively and keep a laid-back attitude, with the constant expectation that some pillock will do exactly the wrong thing while I'm driving along. It's the only way to keep sane and to survive.

^^^

David - indicating!

My brother in law recently bought a 2nd hand BMW. He got really quite upset when he showed me as I asked him if it had come with indicators

i wont get started with driving in london then...

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Originally posted by Robbaa
i wont get started with driving in london then...

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Originally posted by David Jenkins


One the other hand, I have been waved at to overtake on quite a few occasions - there are still some nice people around.

!

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Originally posted by 02GF74

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Originally posted by David Jenkins


One the other hand, I have been waved at to overtake on quite a few occasions - there are still some nice people around.

!

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Was this the wave where finger and thumb touch?

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Cant say I get much negativity in the kit car around the Central belt and Scottish borders roads, i do like it on an open straight ish country road with some German barge behind tailgating then you reach the twisty bits.

Half way into a corner they bottle it and hit the brakes as I just sit at a constant 60 never lifting or braking. I actually saw one guy crash into a hedge behind me panic braking.

Well im glad its not just me being paranoid. Never have a problem when im out in the family car, then as soon as I jump into something abit different I attract all the pond life.

Jay