Did you find that your “traction sensing” improved? I did, just by reading. Yes, Baruth said he can’t give it to me, but he did.

I’m all apexed out.

You mean like how to drive 80mph through a school zone at 7 AM without getting caught? Can’t wait.”

Well, rather like Parts I and II, sure, you can do it, but eventually statistics will get you. If you are really lucky you just lose your license and pay a huge fine. If not you hit somebody else and get to have more sex than you really ever dreamed of.

I asked God for this and I think I finally got it. I am happy and grateful.

LOL!

I’ll never again be able to take seriously anything JB writes.

I sympathize. But I really have a problem with JB’s high speed antics in traffic. If JB actually hurts an innocent doing some of that crap, he should man up, plead to felony reckless endangerment, and take the sentence given. No seven figure lawyer need be involved.

And I can’t for the life of me understand why so many people who apparently have a giant stick shoved up their collective a** are actually interested in reading a site like this!

The outrage level is somewhat comic. It reads like a Prius drivers’ convention aching to subject Mr Baruth to their recently downloaded “Waterboarding For Dummies.pdf” from the Gitmo website.

Of course, these same people would be appalled if harsh penalties were applied to other, common driver idiocies. Jail the lane changing, suv-chattering mom who splats the motorcyclist she “didn’t see”? For them, no way.

I cross the double-yellow literally *every* week day on my way to work–every single G-D day–and endanger precisely NO ONE in doing so. Why? Because I can easily see that there’s no one in the other lane; because the speed limit on that stretch of road is ridiculously low; and because, in that area, the piss-poor design of the road means that staying completely within my lane at any speed up to five mph below the limit means that I’ll pass uncomfortably close to vehicles parked along the side of the road. If anything, by crossing the double yellow (when traffic allows) I’m making that stretch of road *safer*.

I live in the Baltimore/DC area, routinely exceed the posted interstate limit by 20mph or more (typically being passed while doing so), and feel pretty damned conservative doing it most of the time. Why? For one, because it means I’m keeping up with traffic. For another, because I have some skill, and I’m doing it in a well-maintained, sharp-handling car while paying very close attention…rather than in a top-heavy SUV while talking on a cell phone and eating a hamburger. Don’t buy it? Join the commuter rat race around here for a couple of weeks and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. No joke: If it meant 10 fewer SUV-driving morons on cell phones during my daily commute, I’d gladly accept 10 Jack Baruths, any day of the week. At least they’d be paying attention to what they were doing, and have some appreciation for the kinetic energy they command.

I’ve seen some really stupid, reckless driving in my time…and I don’t think the JBs of the world are the ones doing it. For every person who, like Jack, is honest about the way things work out there in the real world, there are a thousand who would never ‘fess up to anybody, but who nonetheless do the same exact sh**. And odds are they do it dangerously, with much less skill.

Oh, and for those of you making the “don’t encourage lawbreaking” argument…why stop here? I’d suggest that you get out your crayons, color up some signs, and start protesting video games like “Burnout Paradise.” Do it right now. Ever seen the game? It blatantly encourages you to crash into other cars and obstacles while driving at insanely high speeds though crowded city streets. No consequences. Honestly, you might even get an idea of how to do those kinds of things in a a real car, if you paid enough attention. It’s terrible. Turrrrrrrible!

Once upon a time I thought that the European stereotype of the dumbass, hypocritical, puritan American was a crock…but more and more I realize that it’s grounded in reality. “You’re endangering my family!!” he bellows…all the while inhaling a quarter-pounder, making erratic lane changes, and blinding oncoming traffic with his brights while simultaneously failing to signal turns in his three-ton SUV (sorry, forgot; he’s protected by his Jesus fish!).

I don’t agree with everything JB says. I’ve never driven twice the speed limit with other vehicles in close proximity (though I have done it out in the “middle of nowhere”). But I honestly don’t see the harm in TTAC’s publishing his articles. And I can’t for the life of me understand why so many people who apparently have a giant stick shoved up their collective a** are actually interested in reading a site like this!

jrderego should have his response bumped up to an editorial rebuttal. Too many loyal and pissed off readers might miss it where it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TclJW9v2dLU&NR=1

Passing on right, check. Spotters aiding in police detection, check. Evading police by rapid concealment and exiting of vehicle, check (Well… sort of. I guess as well as you can hide a FordGT!). Turning left off exit, fail.

3/4. 75% In Jack Baruths school of driving!

My sentiments exactly. This sort of brand suicide reminds me of a company named General Motors…

1) You’re at 1,737 words. RF lets us have 800, no more. Edit it down.

Looks like you’re at roughly 2,400 and counting for this particular feature. Jrderego’s ‘response’ would seem to be a response to the series, not this particular installment, the Part number notwithstanding.

That said, Mays was the single greatest ball player I ever saw . . . and I only saw him when he was old and a shadow of his glory days.

I wonder if you have considered the damage to the TTAC brand and your personal reputation that is being caused by the publication of these Baruth articles. It seems like you had achieved some Mainstream Media (MSM) credibility, with your recent TV appearance and some inclusion in other media.

Now, anyone who wants to discredit you as an automotive industry commentator can just say “Aren’t you the guy who published those irresponsible stories about how to speed on public roads. I’m sure your opinions about____are equally irresponsible.”

Is it worth it? All of us who dug The Gumball Rally in our youth are grown with kids now. Baruth is a clown who thinks he’s cool, nothing more. By associating your brand and reputation with him you are marginalizing yourself (you may disagree with that but time will tell.)

What suffers most of course is your ability to advocate your point of view (which I largely disagree with) on a national stage. Perhaps that no longer interests you.

There is still time to save your reputation. Apologize for these articles, admit your error in publishing them (like you did with the boycott) and never give this bozo another word on your site (he has his own site, he can post his stuff there.)

I hope you consider my advice but I doubt you will. Good luck regardless.

Holy crap, you’re right… it’s more than twice as long as your piece. I didn’t even notice. Maybe that’s because it was twice as entertaining.

Other than that it was pretty interesting. I like to drive my turbo Miata like that AT THE TRACK.

1) You’re at 1,737 words. RF lets us have 800, no more. Edit it down.

2) I feel like there was room in there to mention my Phaetons a little more. When you spend that kind of coin, you really want your cars to take center stage, yo.

The Route 129 photo and accompanying story are now pretty old. The fact that it’s a 2004 Boxster S with a temp plate might have clued some on you in, but I should have made that more clear. The “Dragon” is now heavily, heavily patrolled.

Re: crossing the double-yellow. I do it any time I can see the clear exit of the corner and I’m in my own car. (Which is to say, if I borrow a car or am driving a press loaner, I won’t do it unless I have a spotter.) If I can’t, then there’s no benefit to taking the line anyway. Simple as that.

I have no patience for self-righteous, victim-wannabe motorcyclists. I spent tens of thousands of miles on sportbikes and as a result I won’t be fooled by the hype. The “enemy” of sportbikers isn’t SUVs, soccer moms, cell phones, yellow-line-crossing, or al-Qaeda. It’s their (our) own stupid selves. The vast majority of sportbike accidents happen without outside assistance, plain and simple.

For the record, it’s easily possible to get a Boxster S to 90+ mph between many of the corners of the Dragon. I was called out on this claim a few years ago on another forum, so I provided video. I won’t do that again; the reaction was positively Claybrookian.

Similarly, due to those factors, their emotional responses are overactive.

No, the worst drivers in the world are those not paying attention. I’ve seen more women yapping on their phones, but more guys reading, shaving and playing the guitar (no joke). Equal numbers of men and women appear to be texting. Just my crack scientific observations…

The internet is full of people who are smarter and know more than you, so beware of careless sarcasm.

I have seen no evidence to support this fact.

Also, my sarcasm is carefully hand-crafted from the finest materials: Righteous Indignation, Moral Highground, and a dash of Uninformed Superiority.

I take offense that you would suggest otherwise.