Road Rage....

[Peter Ward]

Pulling into a store's driveway today (having stopped with indicators flashing) I gestured to a driver leaving the same driveway that he go first, as I needed to negotiate the steep kerb at an angle to avoid scraping the nose of my (quite low) F-Car.

We waited.

He eventually got the message, pulled out alongside me stating "Learn ....... the road rules mate!"

I simply responded, "Mate, I know them, but have to go at an angle so I won't scrape the spoiler... couldn't do that with you there"

He then turned his wheel and feigned ramming the back end of my car by crossing over to my side of the road...much to the bemusement of the drivers in four cars now lined up behind mine....turned away at the last second....and drove off in his rust ridden Commodore shouting some more obscenities....

Leaving me thinking "what was that all about !!??"

Sign of the times?

[DavidU]

Pure jealousy Peter, don't worry about it.
I have to go very slowly over speed humps because the car is so low and I cop it often.

[Baddad]

Hi Peter, :)

Yes, I can understand where you're comming from. I have had similar things happen to me.;)

But I want to tell you about this incident.;)
Two young ladies (P plate) pull up at a railway crossing. Cars and red light intersection immediately after the level crossing. They wait for the red light to change. (no train yet):)
They had stopped where the boom gate would hit them if a train came.
(Okay I made it obvious)
I was immediately behind them. I stopped well short of their rear. Just in case of the remote chance a train came. Then they had space to back up.

The idiot in this was behind me gesturing to me to go forward and close the gap. :argue:
The lights and bells activated. The look of sheer panic on the girls faces was priceless. :eyepop: They backed out of the boom gate trajectory and gestured thanks to me.

The idiot behind me covered his face with his hand. :doh::o:stupid:
I'd say he was hoping the ground would open up and hide him.

Yes. I agree with you Peter, a sign of the times.

Cheers Marty

[Phoenix]

Yep... we are generally a courteous lot on foot - place us in our metal monster and for some they become one. Sorry about that Pete.

Cheers, nix

[Peter Ward]

Hey...what can you say?

Sympathy was not on my mind, but I wondered if that Bogan had any idea that rear quarter panel he was going to ram would cost him (or his insurer) more than the total net worth of his VK Holden....

probably not :screwy:

[lacad01]

Unfortunately some people's brains mysteriously vaporize the moment they sit behind the wheel of a car:shrug:

[AstralTraveller]

I had something fairly similar happen when trying to get into a driveway that was a bit narrow. I had to stop or either hit the fence post or the rear of the car in the driveway. No real agro but it was an issue for the car coming out because I was blocking his view of the road. He didn't like it but no one in their right mind tries to ram an old troopie with a shiny new car.

On the other hand I do wonder whether vehicles that cannot traverse standard driveways and speed humps in the normal manner really should be road registered? :shrug:

[supernova1965]

:poke::scared3: not an argument I hope:rolleyes:

[GrampianStars]

:rofl: no such thing as Standard driveways
& Concrete humps put on perfectly good roads :screwy:
should be able to sue whoever installs them on the road :thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

Good point, but neither are an issue with my car....it happily negotiates speed humps... but requires I actually slow down for them (to avoid spinal injury :) ).....and standard driveways, no-problemo.... Steep drive's just need a little caution to avoid that expensive crunching sound.

[mithrandir]

Sydney Buses sued Ryde Council over the "traffic calming measures" (ie speed humps and roundabouts) they put on a bus route and the damage they caused, even when the drivers were really cautious.

[sheeny]

He saw red!:P

Its a special type of insanity, road rage. It affects more people than are prepared to admit it.

The trouble is the road is full of all sorts: incompetent drivers, angry drivers, frustrated drivers, etc. Sounds like the dude you encountered was on the edge anyway... a red Ferrari was like a red rag to a bull!:P

The best you can do is try to take into account the other whackos on the road, make allowances and try to keep cool and not be part of the problem.

You done good, Pete!

Al.

[JD2439975]

Which is kind of scary considering what they just sat behind the wheel of.

[Ric]

I've encountered a few road ragers over the years. When your on a motorbike it becomes a very scary situation.

When my life is at stake I just back off and they can have as much road as they want to enjoy their little power trip.

[AstralTraveller]

I suppose I should have expected a nice reasoned response. I never catch anything! :fishing:

Did I read somewhere that Tendulkar has a _raised_ Ferrari so he can negociate the local roads??

[Nesti]

I've been addressing this exact same issue of late. Two weeks ago I was riding my bike up Welshpool Road into the hills for training. I counted no less than 16 smashed bottles along the 4kms from the base of the hill to the top. Mind you, in the bicycle lane I might add. Did someone just "accidentally" drop them at regular intervals?!

This isn't actually an issue pertaining to just motor vehicles or bicycles, nor is it soley traffic related, it's an issue of our modern society...western society mainly. It's as though a good portion of society actually want conflict.

In the last 4 trips to Thailand I have not once seen a single road rage tantrum...nothing! Bangkok for all its traffic jams, noise and smokey air is heaven compared to the hostility on our roads. Phuket driving is indescribable in parts, but still no rage.

So why is it that over there someone can pull out in front of a vehicle and that's a part of life, yet here if you pull out 100m ahead they yell "ramming speed" and bang the drum faster.

There's also a level of stupidity, by this I actually am talking about lack of intelligence. In Peter's scenario, he had to wait...wouldn't someone waiting make you question, and think? (I once had a VL Group A...front air dam was very low).

I watched people at the broken down traffic lights the other day after the storm...It was like watching that computer game 'Frogger'...not much courtesy and I've got a 4x4 so I'm first.

[Baddad]

Hi Peter, :)
Just having thought about it a little: I think its a case of that "tall poppy syndrome". Some people can not accept that the "Tall Poppy" deserves to have what they have not. It often manifests itself as pure unadulterated jealousy.

You gotta' be prepared for that, driving an elite Italian job.

Tell me Peter, because its red does that make it go faster than drab colours? :lol:

Cheers Marty

[RobF]

Its getting to the stage we're I almost dread driving home now - something I really dislike about Brissy getting bigger and meaner. Some idiot always cuts in front if you leave a decent gap between car in front, or rides your bumper in traffic (as if you can go any faster). Or races between cars where 2 lanes merge. Nothing worse than arriving home after a hard day with a bad taste in your mouth because someone else was short tempered. You try not to let it affect you, but a bit does somehow.

I was in Hobart recently, and kept getting suspicious everytime someone stopped for me to cross a road (by foot). Part of me suspected they were just wanting to run me down :lol:
They kept SMILING at me too......

[Phoenix]

I hope you have better luck than I Peter. Some dill hit me from behind many moons ago and totalled their car while doing a fair bit of damage to mine. He was uninsured. Through the courts I got about $10 a month from him for about 7 years! Woohoo!

[Peter Ward]

Happily my insurer would cover such an event....

BTW in regard to an earlier post....to quote Kevin B Wilson....of course it's fast...mine a red one fella! :D

[Terry B]

I don't think you would make it up my drive. 3 cattle grids and a railway line. No tar.:D

[Peter Ward]

Agreed. No argument. :lol:

[Nightshift]

Nope.......

[Peter Ward]

Humm....OK..regardless of colour, many cubic inches of Detroit V8 has it's advantages.

....but the suspension geometry didn't seem to work well (on Macquarie pass) for the (new) HSV owner who wanted to chase (tailgate) my (16 year old) F-car up said hill....

Disclaimer.
Do not try this in a Morris 1100
Trained professionals not-filmed on closed road.
No speed limits were exceeded (advisory's...well, pretty much ignored)
No animals were injured
The pies Robertson Pie Shop are quite good.

;)

[Loupy31]

I have read this thread and I must say for an "intelligent" group of people, You guys are so far up your selves its amazing you can walk let alone drive.
I think IIS should dedicate a special forum for you guys.
And Now we have Peter, Can you tell us all why is it you get so much pleasure be-littling others that dont drive what you drive, I think you should put more effort into your customer service than braging about that red heap you own.

[Peter Ward]

Humm...have I wronged you in a previous life?

What is your problem with a little light hearted banter between a (drab colour) American muscle car and a bright red (clearly faster) F-car owner?? Cheesh. Chill out.

BTW, my "daily drive" is a very conservative station wagon :P

[Peter Ward]

Oh bugger...I just realised "loupy31" must drive a Morris 1100

I drove one as well, 35 years ago.

I'm truly sorry. It's a fine piece of British engineering.

[Loupy31]

God you are so funny, I better lie down my sides are splitting

[Peter Ward]

No, I really did own a Morris 1100.

Spent a good deal of my youth fixing: wheel bearings, blown head gaskets, CV joints, sheared front axle, more CV joints, leaky radiator, always trying to balance the SU carbies....but it had a great 8 track stereo (after market).

Always had a can of WD40 on hand...for the distributor, in case it rained...the car simply would stop...odd for such a fine piece of British kit.

Actually...I lied. It wasn't a good car.

[TrevorW]

One can only hope these type of people eventually enter the Darwin awards

Nesti I'm with you littering sucks I even wrote to the Premier once saying bottles should be banned as they cause more damage than can's (no response)

You'll be surprised what you can do in the backseat of a Morris 1100

[GrahamL]

Easy fix Pete buy a decent trailer and hitch up back to the wagon and tow that traffic hazzard out to some nice flat asphalt , or track where its not going to slow up peeps in the dusty old Comodore going to get bread and milk down the 7/11 ... :) everyone wins :)

[Lee]

Unfortunately yes I feel - a general lack of courtesy and manners. Along with them went common sense, respect and responsibility.

[Peter Ward]

Drive in movies? :D

[TrevorW]

It was me a mate and 2 girls watching (sort of) "Billy Jack" (1970's) at the drive-ins brings back fond memories.

That's the thing about cars they are a part of our life a lot of memories are directly related too them

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[marki]

Used to have a Morris 1000:). We called him Noddy though the only thing that the back seat was used for was trying to push him up the hill I used to live on as he couldn't do it on his own. Noddy died tragically whilst trying to execute a barrel roll in an old drain pipe:P. Now those were the days.

Mark

[Miaplacidus]

Rage generally seems to be the fashion now. It's getting so you daren't honk your horn lest someone launch a spanner through your wind-screen. I wonder whether it's psychosexual, whether some people are actually feeling some perverse pleasure in allowing a mounting anger to develop. I see some people deliberately working themselves up into a lather of seething hatred, and no matter how apologetic or contrite the other person might be, you can see they don't really want to hear it, but are only wanting to reach some climax of violence.

Me, I prefer Zen. (And that stuff that goes on in the back seat of a Morris...)

[OneOfOne]

A couple of years ago I pulled into the servo to fill up. All of the bowsers were full and another guy had pulled in just before me so I beckoned for him to choose which ever queue he wanted by waving my hand from left to right....he just sat there. So I moved into the shortest queue and as I pulled in, the person came back from paying and drove off...so I moved up. At this point, the guy "waiting" honked at me and abused me "what are you doing, I was next". He then pulled into another bowser next to me and abused me again, calling me ignorant etc. I said that this isn't a bank and you should just join a queue. He would have been about 50 so he doesn't have inexperience as an excuse.

I have yet to tell anyone this story and have them on his side!

[Peter Ward]

I bet you were thinking "dipstick", as you were concerned about his vehicle's oil consumption :)

[sjastro]

What's with the avatar change Peter?
To appease the have nots?

Steven

[rat156]

At least it's not a Marina...

Cheers
Stuart

[Peter Ward]

Nah....just my obtuse sense of humor.... :)

[Nightshift]

I agree, wow, just because I said red wasnt the only fast color Peter decides to trash my car, and by comparing it to a HSV commodore which is a spaceframe car, isnt race designed or bread and has nothing to do with Corvettes, goes to show you what he knows about cars, I have never once said anything negative about his car. Peter, if your going to compare your euro toy with other peoples cars, please have the common sense to know what you are talking about. P.S. Corvettes have never been built in Detroit, they are currently being built in Bowling Green Kentucky, do your homework before insult people.

[erick]

:d

[supernova1965]

Took longer than I thought but it was pretty predictable can't you guys get it together and play nice:welcome::thumbsup:

[Louwai]

Mine is Blue & Silver Pete, & I'll bet you it's faster :P

[rat156]

Umm...

I think that you missed the point, entirely.

Peter was not trashing your car, he was trashing the HSV Dunnydoor. He was merely pointing out that a huge V8 doesn't make up for supple handling. If you're upset by that, then please take a chill pill, this is a light hearted discussion.

Now, If you're going to say "I have never once said anything negative about his car", then don't contradict yourself by following it with "Peter, if your going to compare your euro toy", as I think most reading this would agree that "Euro toy" is a disparaging term.

Unless of course, the whole post is a cunning example of how quickly the a normal discussion turns to rage, in which case, I missed the point, entirely.

Cheers
Stuart

[TrevorW]

Hey guys if we are comparing lets all adjoin to the change rooms then we will seperate the men from the boys

:P:P:D:question::screwy::shrug::eye pop::thumbsup:

[adman]

? forum rage

[supernova1965]

Hey lets all have a laugh there is a good joke in General Chat even if I do say so myself:thumbsup:

[Nesti]

Y'all driving little girls' cars...time to step-up to real vehicle.

(Picture attached)

$6.30 to fill the tank (Premium too, very posh!). No parking worries and no speeding fines. I can fit 4 bags of groceries in the bin and under the seat.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES!!! :D


Never thought I'd get to brag about my scooter :rofl:


PS. this really IS my car BTW :lol:

[erick]

Open top too! (and sides, and rear!) :D

[Analog6]

I now drive a big yellow Kia Pregio van. I mean, it is huge and bright yellow, no way you couldn't see it. I've lost count of the number of times people pull out of streets and driveways in front of me when I am barrelling along at 60kph, so that I have to slam the brakes on to avoid them.

What is it, they have a car and I'm in a van (and a woman moreover, it is most often men who do it) so I should give way to them? Road courtesy went out the window a L O N G time ago, I'm afraid. (I've held my licence for 40 years now with only 2 fines ever, and one parking ticket)

[Nesti]

Can you believe Yamaha actually gave me a free fuel card...LOL...it's embarrassing enough just filling up the tank with loose change from my pockets let alone handing over food stamps! :lol:

[Nesti]

Congratulations...seriously...that' s pretty damn good. :thumbsup:

[Jen]

:eyepop::eyepop::eyepop: OMG well i guess he was having a bad day hope he didnt do too much damage :rolleyes:

[GrampianStars]

My first Speed Racer
http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/images/history/simca_06.jpg
Way back when......... :question:
Oh.. and Kids got permits at 15 in SA :thumbsup:

[kinetic]

921 posts of pure gold Brian.
You are wasted in a place like this :)

Steve

[Peter Ward]

They started production in Flint Michigan, then moved to Missouri and later Kentucky. The parent GM remains in Detroit...is this not correct?

By the way, I never once referred to your car, other than a general comment of "american muscle has its advantages"....albeit doubtful colour :)....as to why you'd be upset over the handling of a HSV...a car you clearly don't own...is beyond me.

[Octane]

Steve,

I concur (and, have said this before), Brian rocks. : D

H

[avandonk]

I have never suffered from road rage. It was a bit more like road exasperation!. I was tootling home at about 4AM at the speed limit a bit pissed when a car came up behind me and put it's headlights on high beam. This car then moved to within about 200mm from my back bumper. I just put the 1979 Ford LTD (400hp fully worked) in first and planted the throttle. As it changed into second at 67MPH and then proceeded down the road in second gear until it changed from second to third at about 97MPH and then proceeded to accellerate to about 130MPH I decided to back off as the pipsqueak commodore was nowhere in my rear vision mirror.

As I pulled into my driveway about ten minutes later five police cars surrounded my vehicle just like in the movies. It seems that inadvertently what I thought were just your average hoons were actually police in an underpowered unmarked police car.

One young constable kept asking his superiors 'can I drive this car back to the station please?' The sargeant in charge said 'I think this car is far safer just left here.'

It is very strange when you are busted like this and all the police want to do is look under the bonnet of your car.

Their comment in court was 'the defendants car made our commodore which was valve bouncing in all gears look like it was standing still!'

It is far safer tweaking optics than fast cars!

Bert

[Peter Ward]

:rofl:My god, Bert! I had no idea your were such a hoon :)

[Nesti]

Bert, please elaborate/clarify the following;
1. "a bit pissed"
2. The approximate year that this happened

Is this an excerpt from your James Dean years?

Cheers

[avandonk]

Ok Nesti my reading was 0.24.

The year 1990

I told the breathalizer operator that I worked with the bloke that invented it. He did not believe me until I explained how his machine worked.

I was most probably closer to about 0.15 rather than 0.24. I had a cup of tea and a yarn with the police. They were all shocked at the high reading as I was quite lucid.

The law though is whatever the machine reading is you go down for it!

I just had to wear it!

Nesti I have done far more than this minor bit of DUI. Would you believe inverted flying between the trees! Flying over cars on a motorcycles with lots of skin removed.

At least I had a go at life and I am still doing it.

The most spectacular of all getting married twice!

Although some people feel sorry for both my ex wives.

bert

[avandonk]

I could not resist the challenge as you are a hoon at standstill in your car Peter. That is why this bogan lost his cool.

Think about it. Just by being there in your car stationary you have out hooned him!

Bert

[Nesti]

1990!!! I thought it would have been 70s or 80s...oh-my, I never would have pegged you for the rebel.

Reckon we need to hear a few more of these stories.

[Peter Ward]

Interesting insight... grey-headed hoons are clearly a problem for Gen Y :lol:

P.S. Decided to move my avatar forward in time.... 458 Italia...hummmm

[avandonk]

Peter I borrowed a 1953 Ford single spinner to go to the drive in about 1969. When we left the drive in we just idled out. We did not have to prove a thing! The low thrrum of the sidewacker is still music. Being cool is easy. Do not follow the crowd.

bert

[DavidU]

:lol: Bert is a Dewd !!!!

[TrevorW]

Peter what about the Ferrari Californian

[DavidTrap]

Congratulations Bert on bringing this thread back down to earth with an entertaining story - I don't care how much poetic licence is involved in your story, maybe it's completely true - I had a great laugh reading it.

The "bickering" between posters stopped dead in it's tracks, and they didn't even notice!

Well done

David T

[telecasterguru]

Laugh.

[avandonk]

If I told you the full story it would take a few books. If you are interested in the more lurid bits, it would only be a few pages.

What Peter started with this thread is the apparent stupidity of others.

It all depends where you are viewing it from.

I have been fortunate enough to have had a very full life. I do not have many answers. Just more questions.

All I know is to face life with every bit of knowledge you can attain.

Beware of false prophets. That is one of JC's not mine.

Bert

[avandonk]

It is absolutely true. Dinks!

Bert

[Peter Ward]

No...not good...I believe they simply confiscate them in W.A....along with Lambo's

I'm actually very happy with the 348GTS...it's the last of the breed you can actually tinker with yourself...hence the many hours I spent under my old "Morrie" in my youth, have in fact, been immeasurably beneficial with my mid-life crisis F-Car :) ...as to whether I get into 458, not anytime soon, but....you can dream.