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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
View Poll Results: Have you driven in NT? | |||
Yes, but only at 130 due to new limit | 6 | 3.95% | |
Yes, I lived there (or close to it) and drove above 110 when I could | 9 | 5.92% | |
Yes, I went there to visit and drove above 110 when I could | 28 | 18.42% | |
Yes I went there but only did 100-110 as faster than that is dangerous | 0 | 0% | |
No, I have never been to NT but wish I had before the 130 | 96 | 63.16% | |
No, I would never go to NT, it is too dangerous with all the speeding maniacs on the road | 1 | 0.66% | |
No, I never go more than 20km from a Macca's carparks | 12 | 7.89% | |
Voters: 152. You may not vote on this poll |
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25-10-2010, 07:55 PM | #31 | |||
Former BTIKD
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
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25-10-2010, 08:13 PM | #32 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: coowonga
Posts: 1,654
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25-10-2010, 08:15 PM | #33 | ||
Falcon RTV - FG G6ET
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: In Da Bush, QLD
Posts: 31,838
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Lived in the NT in the early 70's, didn't try the limit out in those days as a B-61 all trailered up took 5 miles to get to 45mph &.... sometimes a similar distance to stop.
I did get a chance to drive an early 4 speed Tojo down the Barkley Beef Road and as I was gathering some pace the near side rear wheel came passed us and took off across the table drain. Was back up there in the early 80's for a few years and found 140kph to 150kph to my liking......... Had a purpose built Ute though! Saw (and heard) of some spectacular stacks, not just the usual caravans being blown off the tar by the triples either. One bloke I knew rolled his cruiser down the side on the Stuart near the "Beetaloo" boundary, he got tossed out on the last roll he said and the vehicle came to rest across his right leg. Luckily the ground was soft due to the 'wet',, he had to drink his own urine for three days till some bloke who stopped for a 'leak' spotted his overturned vehicle across the flat. That was the same week our young Pilot stacked the Cessna 179 Skylane into the Blacksoil swamp beside the Borraloola airstrip. He lived as well.
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BAII RTV - with Raptor V S/C. RTV Power FG G6ET 50th Anniversary in Sensation. While the basic Ford Six was code named Barra, the Turbo version clearly deserved its very own moniker – again enter Gordon Barfield.
We asked him if the engine had actually been called “Seagull” and how that came about. “Actually it was just call “Gull”, because I named it that. Because we knew it was going to poo on everything”. Last edited by Burnout; 25-10-2010 at 08:27 PM. |
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25-10-2010, 08:24 PM | #34 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: ...in the shed
Posts: 3,386
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25-10-2010, 08:25 PM | #35 | ||
When in doubt, GAS IT!!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lower Eyre Peninsula, SA
Posts: 3,018
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Yup, lived in the Alice for 2 years and used to cruise at 130-140 but when I saw a police car up ahead I'd always floor it and took much joy in legally passing them going over 170kph. My poor old 2L auto Cortina wouldn't go any faster than that, :( ............ and yes, travelling at those speeds certainly makes you pay more attention.
Bushbasher
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25-10-2010, 08:52 PM | #36 | |||
No longer a Uni student..
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW
Posts: 2,557
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Urban: 50km/h Rural: 100km/h |
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25-10-2010, 09:44 PM | #37 | ||
You can call me Chris
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 712
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hmm.. note to self - dont drive fast when you see an unrestricted sign...
Oops
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25-10-2010, 10:12 PM | #38 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NSW
Posts: 4,344
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All they drive is from their inner city house to the their office. Any long distances they have to cover they will fly. |
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25-10-2010, 10:22 PM | #39 | ||
Waiting
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Alice Springs, NT
Posts: 105
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My daily commute to work was 15 or so kms unlimited at usually 200+.
Hence the need for a WRX at the time (the legendary 99 model). On the rare occasion I took the XY out it would sit on about 110 mph+, on the straights of course. Now I can only do 130 . It takes me 5 min longer to get there.
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25-10-2010, 10:27 PM | #40 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 468
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25-10-2010, 11:03 PM | #41 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,077
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26-10-2010, 12:07 AM | #42 | ||
Wirlankarra yanama
Join Date: May 2006
Location: God's Country
Posts: 2,103
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We lived in Darwin from 2003 to 2004, during a period where the NT highways had an open speed limit (i.e. no speed limit).
I have legally driven thousands of kms at very high speed, my Road King at +160km/hr regularly from Humpty Doo to Adelaide River or Jabiru. My mates Hyabussa at +260km/hr or my Land Cruiser at +160km/hr traveling to Alice Springs or Camooweal. I think I have some experience at high speed driving. The NT had a unique situation which allowed for open speed limit: (a) a requirement to travel long distances in a reasonable time and the NT has limited alternative travel options available (b) a very good highway, wide, well maintained, graded and extensively cleared of obstruction on both side of the highway, flat terrain with long straights where viability is not an issue (c) sparse population (d) extremely low traffic volumes on the NT Highways (e) generally good and predictable weather conditions, no fog, no snow and little rain for most of the year (f) a parochial government, fiercely independent and willing to tell Canberra to "get stuffed" Except for (f) all of the above items exist today. Beginning in 2007 the NT government removed the open speed limit and placed a 130km/hr limit on the highways. This was done to normalise road speeds across Australia (in reality there was huge political and financial pressure from Canberra's politicians and bureaucrats to remove the open speed limit). As far as I know NT was the final place on Earth with an open speed limit (despite what the NT opposition says there will never again be legal open speed driving in NT.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Driving at high speed was a buzz , but then it became ordinary. High speed driving did bring some unintended consequences : (1) Concentration V's Being Alert. You're traveling at high speed 160km/hr concentrating on the road ahead and someone overtakes you at +200km/hr. This scares the crap out of people. (2) Distance perception. Traveling at 160km/hr and the oncoming car is also traveling at 160km/hr. You're closing in one each other at 320km/hr! All of a sudden what you thought was a overtaking gap isn't. (3) Vehicle performance. It requires more energy for cars to accelerate/overtake whilst doing 130km/hr and accelerating to 150km/hr than it does from 110km/hr to 130km/hr. It takes longer to overtake and you're on the opposite side of the road longer. (4) Increased Speed means greater braking distances and vehicle instability increases too. (5) Increased fatigue. Many research studies suggests that increased speed required increases to your concentration which in turn increases fatigue. (6) The unexpected happens faster. The buffalo crossing the highway has right of way, your reaction times are significantly less. (7) Driver behavior and attitude. From my experience, even with an open speed limit, most people in the NT drove at 130-140km/hr. I found that driving in Europe and the USA too, that fast drivers drive at 130-140km/hr or 85mph. Perhaps these speeds are what the human brain can comfortably cope with? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Question: Would 130km/hr work outside NT? Answer: NO and for a number of reasons. In my opinion it would not be possible because almost every road I've traveled on (and I've travel extensively) would fail on points a,b,c, d and e. In plain terms nearly every Australian road would need substantial improvement. Our better motorways and highways have too much traffic on them, Sydney-Newcastle freeway or M1 Brisbane-Gold Coast would have in relative terms 10,000 times the traffic volume per hour than that of NT. I would have to say that driver behavior was better in NT than it is here in Queensland and much much better than when we lived in Sydney. There would need to be improvements in driver behavior, perhaps training people to cope with higher speed driving is necessary. Australia's aging population would be be a problem for increased speed limits. The need for government to be seen to be protecting us from ourselves would not assist the high speed movement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know I've rambled on a fair bit, thanks for your time. |
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26-10-2010, 07:15 AM | #43 | |||
Guest
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Gods Country
Posts: 16,258
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26-10-2010, 07:34 AM | #44 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: coowonga
Posts: 1,654
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no rambling there mate, i reckon you nailed it. when i lived there, the CLP were in charge. the chief minister around that time was Marshal Perron who was quite a car enthusiest, which helped. i guess Clare Martin (ALP) can be thanked for the decision http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1780096.htm |
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26-10-2010, 07:58 AM | #45 | ||||
Moderator Ford Coupe Club
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Vic
Posts: 3,905
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Great post by cheap (Post #42). Great insight by someone who has lived there. Rep points to you mate!!
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Now in particular the cars are so much more suitable than they were 20-30 years ago. Quote:
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26-10-2010, 09:10 AM | #46 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 667
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+1 for the argument around 130-140kph being a comfortable 'faster' speed that most people tend to settle into on the right roads. I found this to be true overseas as well. It keeps you interested, you cover the miles well, but it allows just that bit up the sleeve for an emergency stop or evasive move that sometimes occurs. All the 200+kph talk is good for bragging rights down at the pub but its not really all that relevant even on excellent divided roads. A quick blat to 200 is one thing, but to settle on that speed and do it for an hour or more on end SAFELY is another.
For me, its the much better 'flow' of traffic in a de-restricted zone that appeals, not the opportunity for outright speed. People settle into their chosen speed grove, the faster cars can overtake, and it breaks down the infruriating freight train nose to tail conga line of traffic that we always see on our highways today. |
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26-10-2010, 10:22 AM | #47 | ||
Noobie
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 525
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+2 for 130-140 being an appropriate speed for our open roads. I lived in the states for a few years and found that without speed cameras (at the time), most people settled at around 80mph with the odd person going a little faster to overtake. It's actually a joy to travel long distances on good roads at an appropriate speed. I've driven from Key West to Canada and visited 40 states in my time in America and I miss the easy driving over there. Australia is a massive, sparesely populated country and needs a more realistic speed limit. 130kmh would be better, with some latitude given to drivers who are overtaking trucks and so forth. Cameras cause drivers to focus solely on the speedo needle. The increasingly shocking driving behaviour we see in Oz now is a direct consequence.
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26-10-2010, 10:38 AM | #48 | |||
You can't stop the signal
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Behind a computer at work
Posts: 1,624
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Good to see there are some "like" minded people.
I've never driven in the NT, but there is a certain town in NSW 3ish hours from Melbourne which I've driven to a fair few times. Once you get into NSW the road is pretty much dead flat, dead straight (occasional turn), with a clear 50m both sides of the road, and pretty quiet. I generally bump up the speeds due to point’s b, c, d, e from above. I generally sit around 150 and am a lot more attent than what I was in the previous 2 hours sitting at 100 in the nanny state. This is without stopping either. As guys have said that feels comfortable. Quick but not too quick in a road car and on a public road. When another car comes the other way, drop the speed down a bit so it's safer. But that said I'd only do that in the AU. A 100kph is sketchy enough in my daily (90's laser). I also reckon it takes a certain mind frame to do it as well. There are plenty of guys I know that I wouldn't trust doing the posted limit of 100. The biggest point is drive to the conditions. This is why many people in the NT only drove at 130 even though they could go faster. However this is something which many people driving do not realise. Just because the speed limit is X, doesn't mean you have to do X Cheers
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26-10-2010, 10:44 AM | #49 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 292
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Here's something interesting. A mainstream, non-motoring journalist endorses Mercedes' safety expert on the the desirability of higher speeds on freeways:
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/a..._well_nod_off/ Andrew Bolt's blog has a large following. |
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26-10-2010, 11:28 AM | #50 | ||
Wirlankarra yanama
Join Date: May 2006
Location: God's Country
Posts: 2,103
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One other item I forgot to mention and that is fuel consumption.
With my Land Cruiser sitting on a steady 100km/hr I can repeatedly get 925-950 km range. But traveling at 160km/hr the truck simply guzzles, little more than 500km range. High speed means more friction means more fuel. Some simple maths. 900 km @ 100km/hr means no stops = 9 hours 900 km @ 160km/hr means 1 stop (say 10 minutes/stop) = about 6 hours + an extra 145ltrs of fuel Over very long distances is where higher speed makes an difference but it comes at a cost. Cheers |
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26-10-2010, 11:51 AM | #51 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,077
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My datto can go from Hervey Bay to Airlie (900km +/-) at an average speed of 108km/h (2 weeks ago in fact) in just under 9 hrs with no stops at all. If I had been able to legally average 130km/h it would have been 8 hours with a break and maybe 10 litres extra fuel. It comes down to horses for courses, your LC is a far more appropriate vehicle for the bush than my datto whereas the datto is a high speed road vehicle. Going fast in a 4WD just because you legally can is about as silly as driving a datto across the Simpson desert....... |
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26-10-2010, 12:04 PM | #52 | ||
Mopar/No Car
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Down the Obi..
Posts: 4,648
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That's one thing I found in the brief time I had a Ford Laser as a work car in Darwin - At 160kph, the little 4cyl is revving like a whipper snipper and using about 20L/100, which meant I was flat out getting between servos on the Stuart Highway... This was replaced with a VE Commodore that's barely off idle at 160 and probably more fuel efficient than at 110...
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26-10-2010, 01:10 PM | #53 | |||
"FEED IT"
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Morayfield...
Posts: 674
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Nah mate its just a little town, not much there...
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26-10-2010, 01:17 PM | #54 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 667
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I'd question the merits of doing 160kph in a 4WD in anything other than the most modern road-going versions (e.g. Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5). You'd be right on the envelope of the vehicle's design parametres at that speed. If something were to go wrong......
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26-10-2010, 02:14 PM | #55 | |||
Regular Member
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Posts: 468
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26-10-2010, 02:35 PM | #56 | |||||
Captain Malcolm Reynolds
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 3,830
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Although how a horse, king's or otherwise, could put ANYTHING back together again is beyond me.
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Currently: 2014 Mazda6 GT (Daily) and 1999 Mazda MX5 (Fun Car) Previously: 2001 Ford Escape XLT; 2010 MC Mondeo; 1984 FD LTD; 2001 AU2 Falcon Forte; 2005 LS Focus Zetec; 1988 RE Colt; 1982 RB Colt; 1974 KE20 Corolla Quote:
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27-10-2010, 10:09 AM | #57 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 292
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A footnote to my post #49 above.
Among the comments on the blog post is this: "...rumour going around within DoJ that, following the next election in Nov, the Government is considering reducing the current speed camera tolerance from 3km/h to 2km/h as it is estimated this will generate around an extra $40million a year in revenue." To which someone has replied: "I can guarantee that won’t happen. The manufacturers of the cameras say that the cameras have a certain tolerance for accuracy. Cutting the ‘official’ tolerance to 2km/h leaves them open to court challenges on that basis." FWIW, here is my take. Technology improves all the time. All that needs to be done is to prove to the courts that a tolerance of, say, 2km/h is reliable. If that means replacing all the cameras, software and computers, it could still be a great money spinner. Even if the upgrade cost $40m., it would pay for itself in a year. Not as good as buying a pokie machine that pays for itself in hours, but not bad. Not bad at all. |
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27-10-2010, 11:08 AM | #58 | ||
AFF Whore
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: In between gas stations
Posts: 2,246
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Although not high speed related, I was going through a school zone today at the requisite 2k's under the speed limit becuaseifyougoanyfasteryoullkillsomeone, and found that I was watching my speedo like a hawk the majority of the time due the the fact they can find you for going 1k over, and it only takes the slightest bump of the accelerator at those speeds.
Surely this would also apply to open roads as well? I have cruise control so I tend to set and forget, however on the downhill sections this seems to creep just past the limit and I'm forced to brake. I really do agree that we should focus on infrastructure and some 'lateral' thinking, rather than focusing on the the draconian mindset of "if I keep making the penalties harsher it will make a difference". |
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27-10-2010, 11:15 AM | #59 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NSW
Posts: 4,344
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The way speed is policed in this country is ******.
It's all about money making. We need to stand up for ourselves, it's going too far. Every week they seam to be thinking up new ideas to fine more people... NOT to stop crashes. |
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27-10-2010, 11:20 AM | #60 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NSW
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