23-11-2021, 07:38 AM
On the subject of overtaking, 40 and more years ago, with winding roads not able to accommodate 3 cars wide, short sight lines, large variation in vehicle speeds, and unenforceable speed limit, wild overtaking was a serious annoyance and contributor to a very high road toll. Now with 100 kph limit enforced using hidden cameras, unmarked mobile cars with radar etc motorists are very afraid to overtake . Trucks with a 90 kph limit accumulate very long tail in busy conditions as overtaking without exceeding about 105 kph is very protracted. And anyone out in a vintage similarly accumulates a tail (and sometimes a ticket) because followers are simply unfamiliar with overtaking and don’t despite the performance available.
Sevens are somewhat beyond hope but as a driver of very dated cars with poor acceleration I developed the technique of making a run at the car ahead whenever a straight was known to be approaching, then cancelling if it proved to be obstructed. The majority of drivers pull out then accelerate, no good in a Javelin or Super Minx. In the 60s dawdling ladies in Morris Minors obstructed the Seven. Being overtaken invariably stirred them to life and they then disappeared into the distance. At night it was best to just follow and use their lights.
Sevens are somewhat beyond hope but as a driver of very dated cars with poor acceleration I developed the technique of making a run at the car ahead whenever a straight was known to be approaching, then cancelling if it proved to be obstructed. The majority of drivers pull out then accelerate, no good in a Javelin or Super Minx. In the 60s dawdling ladies in Morris Minors obstructed the Seven. Being overtaken invariably stirred them to life and they then disappeared into the distance. At night it was best to just follow and use their lights.