Idea for a segment - American roads

[gti138]

Originally Posted by nannocrob

Hey is anyone good enough at "Google Maps/Earth" to find the Top Gear track. I've never been able to find it.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF...&t=k&z=13&om=1

Just search for dunsfold and the tracks right there.

[zenkidori]

there is a placemark and overlay for it already.
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthrea...p?Number=71551

[richri929]

oregon!

[BigDaveDogg]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

there is a placemark and overlay for it already.
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthrea...p?Number=71551

To add...I find wikimapia easy to link direct coordinates... http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=51.116...16&l=0&m=a&v=2

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by Red_Bull

Yeah, just like there was for Africa, Australia, Sth America...

It wasn't just that episode. It's been repeated a few times.

Like on the GT/430/Zonda segment:

"If you brought an American to a road like this, he would die of shock"
"No American that designed that chassis if knows a road like that exists"

When, in fact, there ARE plenty of roads like that.

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by Tobias

American roads are terrible. The surface of the moon is smoother than some major roads I've traveled. What little maintenance is done is poor. Potholes lay untouched for years and then are sloppily filled in and become bumps.

Every country/state/area has varying road surfaces.

I have been on some of the worst roads imaginable in South America and the Caribbean, and some of the best in Germany/Austria.

Most of the roads here in CT are great. 90% of the state routes are very nicely paved and a joy to drive.

The roads in about a 30 miles radius of NYC are awful, but that's expected. It's the same with any largely traveled metropolitan area.

Where in NY are you?

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by edkwon

exactly, whiners need to remove their blinders and realize that N america isnt the only one being excluded. its like the ppl who started threads why TG makes fun of america so much when they mocked their european neighbors much much more.

the endless childish attitude makes me embarassed to be an american.

what next complain that BBC news isnt covering enough american local news events? or that japanese game shows are exlcuding white ppl as contestants?

i think a lot of viewers lose sight and perspective that their watching a foreign show, and that when american programs touch upon foreign matters, they come off as a lot more ignorant and make equally tasteless jokes.

I think you're missing the point of the thread.

The idea is a segment to the likes of "Does America actually have any roads that can compare to Europe's?".

I really don't care about the America jabs on the show; most have some truth in them and are funny.

[mkiv808]

zenkidori, thanks for the awesome pics! We don't have the amazing scenery here or scary drop-off's, but we do have the twisties.

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by .cmd

Uh, not really.

It is a British show, and as such it makes sense that, for logistical purposes aswell as places that the intended audience can relate to more, that their is going to be a focus on European roads.
Also, the only other continent they've been to that's been shown so far, is North America. They've never been to Australia, or Asia or anywhere else, does that really sound like bias againts American roads? Australia also has amazing roads, as does any of the other continents, it just makes a lot more sense to have a British show based on places that you can relativly easily, and cheaply, get to from Britain.

Well, duh. I'm not saying it's bad they ignored American on the best driving road segment. Hell, it's tough to top those roads. Obviously they stuck with Europe because it's cheaper and more familiar to their core audience.

The bias I speak of are from comments on the show made about American roads. Plain and simple.

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by MattD1zzl3

At 120+ MPH, even slight freeway curves feel like a hairpin, and you always need to scan the horizon for traffic.

I mean look at that road segment, i looked at the aston racecar's speedometer, and they were getting up to the breathtaking speed of..... 27. Screaming in a straight line (which isnt always a straight line) at high speed is not boring driving, nor does it take any less skill, you need to have perfect situational awareness, incredible reaction time, good vision (scan for traffic and police) and a quick car .

This is the kind of racing that big-engined american cars were designed for, not racing a lotus on a bendy short circuit.

Figures, this coming from a Florida resident.

I have done auto-cross, road racing, and the drag strip. I find the drag strip to be the most boring by far.

I like my roads plenty twisty, thank you. I have owned a lot of high horsepower cars that can go very fast in a straight line, but it gets boring quick. Give me some sharp curves, elevation changes, and switchbacks any day of the week!

Oh, and uh, sorry for the repeated posts. I'm too lazy to compile all my responses in one post. I guess that fits.

[MattD1zzl3]

Not to say that i dislike bendy roads at all, but i find very-high-speed freeway driving to be the most fun.

Drag racing is boring because its more a test of the cars ability then the driver, if you can shift properly and not lose control, then the rest is up to how much power you can put down on the road and how light you are.

[Peter3hg]

Originally Posted by MattD1zzl3

Not to say that i dislike bendy roads at all, but i find very-high-speed freeway driving to be the most fun.

Drag racing is boring because its more a test of the cars ability then the driver, if you can shift properly and not lose control, then the rest is up to how much power you can put down on the road and how light you are.

You need to fnd some proper roads then. I have driven over 100mph many times in the Polo and it is just as boring as doing 70mph, somhow I doubt 120 is any different. I have been a passenger at over 130mph and it was nothing special. There is absolutely nothing rewarding about driving fast, it takes no skill, whereas nailing every corner on a windy road is an amazing feeling even if you barely break 60mph on the way.

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by MattD1zzl3

Not to say that i dislike bendy roads at all, but i find very-high-speed freeway driving to be the most fun.

People who do that around these parts are known as 'dangerous jackasses', but they must find it fun if they keep doing it. Everyone gets off on a different style of driving.

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

I think you're missing the point of the thread.

The idea is a segment to the likes of "Does America actually have any roads that can compare to Europe's?".

I really don't care about the America jabs on the show; most have some truth in them and are funny.

If you are starting the thread to point out to non american forum members there are lots of great driving roads in the US (and believe me, ive driven on many of them), thats fine, im just saying i dont see the point of such a segment on the show.

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by Peter3hg

You need to fnd some proper roads then. I have driven over 100mph many times in the Polo and it is just as boring as doing 70mph, somhow I doubt 120 is any different. I have been a passenger at over 130mph and it was nothing special. There is absolutely nothing rewarding about driving fast, it takes no skill, whereas nailing every corner on a windy road is an amazing feeling even if you barely break 60mph on the way.

Agreed 100%.

I have hit 150MPH on public highways (1994 Toyota Supra TT). I have hit 120 in my C6, but I'm not as brave (stupid) as I was. I have hit just over 130 at Lime Rock (road course).

Once you've done it a few times, it really does get boring. There's just nothing to it. When I was more juvenile about my driving it was the bee's knees, and I had not yet matured enough to appreciate the finer nuances of driving.

It's also extremely dangerous not only to yourself, but to other people on the road. Driving 40-60MPH on twisty backroads is much safer, as long as you stay within your element.

If you really want to push it, nothing is more fun than a road course. You get the high speeds AND the turns in a controlled environment.

Originally Posted by edkwon

If you are starting the thread to point out to non american forum members there are lots of great driving roads in the US (and believe me, ive driven on many of them)

Nope, that wasn't the point.

Originally Posted by edkwon

im just saying i dont see the point of such a segment on the show.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[BigDaveDogg]

^^Whoa, multiple replies on one post. Nice.

[mkiv808]

Originally Posted by BigDaveDogg

^^Whoa, multiple replies on one post. Nice.

8)

[Mach1]

I'd love for those three British elitists to come to Cody, Wyoming. I can see it now: Clarkson screaming, "Power" as he hits a 2,000 lb. buffalo with a Lamborghini, Hammond falling 1,000 feet in a Morgan by driving it off the Beartooth Highway, and May complaining about American beer at the Irma Hotel bar. I'd also love to see them deliver some anti-American jabs in a state where it's legal to open and conceal carry firearms.

It's too bad they weren't here last summer during the Hells Angels World Run.

Chief Joseph Scenic Highway on the way to Beartooth Highway



Maybe they could try to pet one of these!

[Zwaplat]

Mach 1, get that shotgun out of your backside and stop talking like you're the man.
You obviously didn't get the point of the whole show.

[Mach1]

I know the point of the show. You can't take a joke, and I don't keep anything up my backside, but this is in the trunk (boot). Tell the truth. You wouldn't like to see James May have an intellectual conversation with some Hells Angels??