Aratinga
09-12-2005, 12:33 AM
I know we're not supposed to post about kills, but... this doesn't involve an RX-8, and I was not driving. I hereby go on record as advising the b/f, who was driving, to NOT race the '05 STi...
We were in Sylvia, the '04 black GTO, coming home from Target at about 8PM. We were on Grand Avenue, a main thoroughfare with undulating hills and long sweeping curves between long stretches of straights. Speed limit is 45-55 MPH depending on where you are. Traffic lights are pretty far apart, with a few clumped close together where strip malls congregate.
As we headed home in very light traffic, we noticed an STi in a Tit-grey-like color on the right next to us. The kid driving it was checking out the GTO, and I knew what was about to happen. At that time we were both going about 45 mph and the kid dropped a gear and started to pull away. I grabbed John by the arm as he went to do the same and said, "Don't you dare!" He was, shall we say, less than happy with me.
But as we approach the next stoplight, which was red, there was the STi in the lane on our right -- waiting. No other cars ahead or behind us, just another stoplight one block up, followed by a long gently-uphill straight. I had to laugh at the scenario... two middle-aged baby boomers in a reincarnated RWD 60s American-V8 musclecar with a load of groceries in the trunk listening to Jimi Hendrix on XM, opposite a late teens/early 20s kid in a Japanese AWD turbo rallycar listening to loud hip-hop. No revs or even glances were exchanged, but we all know what had to happen when the light turned green.
The STi got the early lead of about one carlength-- I figured because he's a better launcher with AWD, but John claims he didn't launch the GTO hard because he was waiting to see what the kid would do. No smoking or squealing of tires from either car -- but needless to say, the race was on. The next stoplight turned green early so both cars were flat out as they started to climb the hill in second gear. John kept the GTO right on the STi driver's flank. I was just holding on to the Oh-SH*T handle for dear life, watching the STi next to me and not daring to look over to the speedo. When we hit third the GTO started to pull on the STi and really came into her own. We were nose to nose -- and then the road started to curve to the right.
I'm sure the STi driver thought John would back off in the curve; he don't know John. The GTO clung perfectly to the corner and continued to gain ground, even though we were taking the longer radius on the outside lane. At the top of the curve the road straightened and leveled out -- and then we could see a single car up ahead in the STi's lane. Game over.
It was a very well-matched contest, and I was quite impressed with the Impreza's ability to hold its own, up a hill no less, against a 350HP V-8. We both decelerated smoothly down and quietly joined a group of cars traveling at the speed limit further up the road. Never in my life has 50mph felt so SLOW. I imagine we must have hit about 120mph or better somewhere near the top of the hill.
At the next red light, we went our separate ways... GTO in the left-turn lane, STi turning right. John revved at him, and he squealed his tires around the corner. Now I'll have to check the Subie forums for a GTO kill post, and set the record straight.;)
Disclaimer: I do NOT condone this dangerous and irresponsible behavior. John will be appropriately punished for engaging in this illegal activity. Don't street race. My question is -- what am I supposed to do next time???
We were in Sylvia, the '04 black GTO, coming home from Target at about 8PM. We were on Grand Avenue, a main thoroughfare with undulating hills and long sweeping curves between long stretches of straights. Speed limit is 45-55 MPH depending on where you are. Traffic lights are pretty far apart, with a few clumped close together where strip malls congregate.
As we headed home in very light traffic, we noticed an STi in a Tit-grey-like color on the right next to us. The kid driving it was checking out the GTO, and I knew what was about to happen. At that time we were both going about 45 mph and the kid dropped a gear and started to pull away. I grabbed John by the arm as he went to do the same and said, "Don't you dare!" He was, shall we say, less than happy with me.
But as we approach the next stoplight, which was red, there was the STi in the lane on our right -- waiting. No other cars ahead or behind us, just another stoplight one block up, followed by a long gently-uphill straight. I had to laugh at the scenario... two middle-aged baby boomers in a reincarnated RWD 60s American-V8 musclecar with a load of groceries in the trunk listening to Jimi Hendrix on XM, opposite a late teens/early 20s kid in a Japanese AWD turbo rallycar listening to loud hip-hop. No revs or even glances were exchanged, but we all know what had to happen when the light turned green.
The STi got the early lead of about one carlength-- I figured because he's a better launcher with AWD, but John claims he didn't launch the GTO hard because he was waiting to see what the kid would do. No smoking or squealing of tires from either car -- but needless to say, the race was on. The next stoplight turned green early so both cars were flat out as they started to climb the hill in second gear. John kept the GTO right on the STi driver's flank. I was just holding on to the Oh-SH*T handle for dear life, watching the STi next to me and not daring to look over to the speedo. When we hit third the GTO started to pull on the STi and really came into her own. We were nose to nose -- and then the road started to curve to the right.
I'm sure the STi driver thought John would back off in the curve; he don't know John. The GTO clung perfectly to the corner and continued to gain ground, even though we were taking the longer radius on the outside lane. At the top of the curve the road straightened and leveled out -- and then we could see a single car up ahead in the STi's lane. Game over.
It was a very well-matched contest, and I was quite impressed with the Impreza's ability to hold its own, up a hill no less, against a 350HP V-8. We both decelerated smoothly down and quietly joined a group of cars traveling at the speed limit further up the road. Never in my life has 50mph felt so SLOW. I imagine we must have hit about 120mph or better somewhere near the top of the hill.
At the next red light, we went our separate ways... GTO in the left-turn lane, STi turning right. John revved at him, and he squealed his tires around the corner. Now I'll have to check the Subie forums for a GTO kill post, and set the record straight.;)
Disclaimer: I do NOT condone this dangerous and irresponsible behavior. John will be appropriately punished for engaging in this illegal activity. Don't street race. My question is -- what am I supposed to do next time???