Most fun I've had driving to work...last Friday!

Posted Originally on the 944 Turbo forum... Now I know that many don't "approve" of letting it hang out some on the road (save it for the track), and for the most part I agree... But if you live in Houston and get on south beltway 8, sometimes you just gotta! Last Friday I was crusing to work, as always heading south on the beltway, went through the toll booth at Westheimer, and at the next on ramp a white 996 gets on behind. Just two Porsche's cruising along is pretty cool, but he kept on my bumper while we navigated through traffic untill we got to 59, then the traffic thins and the road opens in the morning. I proceeded to get in it some and speed up, just a little faster than the usual 80mph I typically travel, he sped up as well and the fun began. No, it wasn't a race, just a couple of guys in their cars having fun zipping down the concrete, making a ride to work tolerable. We wound em up to about 120 average and the trip down to 45 went by in a flash. I think we topped it out around 135 on the beltway, and I kept up with him shift for shift, although he seemed to get out ahead a little bit when we first took off...but once the boost came up... Needless to say that was a fun drive to work. When I had to get off the beltway, we were door to door, giving eachother the thumbs up. Hope to see that 996 again...

Not sure what kind of reaction you expect to get here (or anywhere) but I for one will NEVER drive at that speed on public roads (including highways, beltways, etc.). I save it for the track and it's the reason I go to the track as often as possible--to feed that inner speed demon as well as learn to control the car in various situations. You may be a fantastic driver at that speed but it isn't you that can make the mistake, it is the other driver(s) as well. 135 is EXTREMELY unsafe on the highway. If you loose control (or somebody causes you to) you don't have retaining walls, run-offs, or sand pits. Instead you have those innocent people travelling at safe speeds that don't expect the 135 speed demon to go flying by and don't know how to react. Ever see people try to pull over for an ambulance moving at a descent speed? It's like a pack of geese. Some ot the left, some to the right, some zig zag. Hopefully you get the point. O.K. off my soapbox now. Be safe. We don't need another tragic death of a renlister (or anybody for that matter).

Nice, I always enjoy such similar encounter. 996 are easier to drive when fast and more stable.

Littlejt1: Not kool and exceedingly dangerous to yourself and others.

Well, I was posting this here to try and get in touch with the driver of the other car. Again, and I must make this clear (I didn't have to on the 944 board, as most there know me), I never drive at those speeds on the road, always save for track...but again, there was no traffic where we "let it out", and we weren't "racing" just cruising at high speed... I appreciate the sentiments, and I agree, as I usually keep my speed in check, but once in a while you get lost in the moment, and finally you look down and you're up over 120 before you know it. Just relating a fun experience...hey, I'm a middle aged guy, pretty conservative...but my inner child was out playing last Friday!

on any clear day many of the roads in North America are more than capable of handling those speeds imo. driving smart is driving smart; driving fast isn't necessarily stupid.

I have to agree completely. I would be VERY suprised if everyone on here has not touched 120 in their wonderfull machines.. you can hit 120 just getting on the freeway sometimes. And as well with the opinion about the roads, a clear day, no traffic, wide open, let 'er rip!

Glad to hear some of you share the same sentiments! As I said, I was driving fast, not reckless...and to those naysayers, you'd certainly have to be familiar with the stretch of road to make a judgement call...IMHO. It's flat, str8, and speedy!

I guess it comes down to judgment with regards to road conditions, traffic, visibility etc etc. As long as you don't let your cojones take over your brain and you can aford the fine/jail term.