Pedal To The Metal
Fun story in Wired by Charles Graeber, on Alex Roy’s attempt to break the 22-year-old “totally illegal†record for driving from Manhattan to Santa Monica in 32 hours, 7 minutes. If you read the story (Adam, Matthew, rakkity) take the time to also watch the short videos.
god would i love to try that.. maybe not in the rain though. and without cops… damn. But have you seen footage of the gumball 3000, crazy stuff.
Comment by Matt — October 17, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
I’d take BASE jumping any time over riding in Roy’s car.
Comment by rakkity — October 18, 2007 @ 12:17 am
Fascinating, and written in a hyped manner appropriate to the subject. The clips convey what the words cannot. But “The Man” should stop worrying about cannabis and study whether adrenaline is addictive … I’d like to think even Quixote would cock an eyebrow, and just ’cause nobody died doesn’t make this any less obsessively, criminally, selfishly stupid. Which may not be the reaction the blogmeister probably expected from me of all people, but I find myself shaking my head, borderline shocked … Too bad so many obsessions turn inwards — turned outwards, all that money, drive and energy could accomplish great things.
Comment by adam — October 18, 2007 @ 7:42 am
But the spotter plane was a nice touch, and how often does one see the word “ectomorphic” in print … ?
Comment by el Kib — October 18, 2007 @ 8:19 am
The story brings to mind Tim Cahill’s writeup of his wild world record drive from Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay. Maybe Alex Roy will turn his talents to beating that record (whatever it was).
Comment by rakkity — October 18, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Speaking of the spotter plane…Some of the remoter parts of the American southwest (Utah? New Mexico?) use airplanes to spot speeders. I recall driving over schematic airplanes painted on the tarmac every mile or so. They were used by the police airplane overhead to time speeders. Wonder what Roy’s strategy would be against this.
Comment by rakkity — October 18, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Not surprised at all, Adam, but what I would have expected. And you could certainly argue the point, but as one who grew up in freer times and who chafes at all the insane rules and regulations (even the ones that benefit me), I’m happy that there are still people who fly around in yellow raincoats risking obliteration on canyon walls and those few who still manage to outwit traffic cops. As John Amato says, we’ve become a nation of bed wetters.
Btw, Matthew, I’ve replaced the engine in your Lexus with one from a 1955 VW Beetle.
Comment by michael — October 18, 2007 @ 3:49 pm