Some time back, I noted with glee (here and here) that the NY-LA Cannonball record was repeatedly smashed during lockdown.
The Cannonball Race (UK version) runs from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland (and vice-versa), and its record too has come under pressure recently.
The response of the British Filth (that’s cops, not Guardian readers) has been typically humorless:
Thomas Davies, 29, drove from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland in September 2017, in what he said was the fastest ever land time of nine-and-a-half hours.
He is said to have flown through 50 cameras and past 15 police constabularies, and hit only one red light – all without getting a single ticket despite an average speed of almost 90mph.
But Davies, of Corwen in North Wales, is now on trial charged with two counts of dangerous driving in a specially adapted Audi S5 with a 4.2 litre VA engine and for having an additional fuel tank in his boot.
He is also accused of perverting the course of justice for using false registration plates, displaying false number plates to avoid speed traps, and kitting out his Audi with speed-trap detectors discovered in a police raid.
So here we have a situation where Brit Ultra-Woke F1 champion driver Lewis Hamilton is in line for a knighthood for driving very fast, while Our Hero above is getting crushed by the “justice” system for doing the same thing, albeit under admittedly different conditions.
As for the charges: every single one comes courtesy of legislation and regulation stemming from the efforts of the busybody Safety Nazis Of Britain (SNOBs) because They Know What’s Good For You and They’re Doing It For Your Own Good.
I know what they (and their US counterparts) are good for, and it involves stocks, whips, and nooses.
No doubt someone’s going to have a problem with this suggestion.
The takeaway from all this, of course, is that if you’re going to break some record that isn’t blessed by The Powers That Be, shut up about it. Which really sucks, as record-breakers deserve all the acclaim they get — just not from the Fuzz.
In spite of the obviously heavy-handed persecution by the Crown’s version of the Keystone Cops, innovative risk-takers will continue to “push the envelope” and risk all for their Moment of Glory. I agree, Mr. Davies deserves knighthood.
As with so many things, it’s all about context. In football (REAL football in America, not distaff European kickball), large young men collide with and knock each other to the ground. Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather have been known to repeatedly hit other people about the face and body. Dale Earnhardt frequently drove at speeds approaching 200 MPH. (Until he didn’t.) All these acts are strictly prohibited in the Real World. Hell, every time you’re Off To The Range, you do something that OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE* you’d probably be arrested for doing, even in Texas.
Anyway, if one breaks the law, even a bad, stupid, or evil law (much overlap), one oughtn’t be surprised to find The Law coming down upon their head. It’s usually the first step in getting such laws repealed.
* sorry for the caps; unlike Insty, we can’t italicize here for emphasis.
“* sorry for the caps; unlike Insty, we can’t italicize here for emphasis.”
I wouldn’t be too sure about that…
In fulfillment of the ancient Chinese proverb, I can go to sleep tonight with a clear conscience. Thankee.
Well, I feel deprived, then.
In another take, “If you’re going to break some laws, break them hard.“
“Perverting The Course Of Justice” is a reference to the route used by Mister Davies.
Makes perfect sense.
While he’s at it, Davies ought to expose the whole corrupt system to ridicule by producing a doctor — An Expert! to say that he identified as Lewis Hamilton while he was on the road, and the authorities are all nasty heartless people to be denying him his identity like that.
Late to the party as I am, might I suggest a proctologist?
The paradox I see is, back when the Interstates were first being built speed limits were 70 mph or in some western states there was no limit. if I recall correctly Montana’s was “reasonable and prudent for the road conditions”. But the safety devices on cars back then was pretty much just a lap belt.
On modern cars tires are an order of magnitude better, antilock 4 wheel disk brakes are common, padded interiors, airbags, alarms when you drift out of your lane, etc. Yet driving as fast as was routine back then is seen as irresponsible. I don’t get it.
Reasons that come to mind:
1. Modern cars–meaning anything in the last 20 years–are *so* much more competent at everything that by the time you realize you’re past YOUR competency you’re utterly fucked. They are don’t give nearly the warning they used to.
2. If you do the math (which I did about 10 years ago), between 1990 and 2010 (IIRC) the United States added 17% to the “lane miles” of road, but almost 100 percent (meaning doubled) the number of miles driven–a combination of more people driving and people driving more. The roads *really are* more crowded. Even in Montana.
3. It is not just the absolute speed of the drivers that is problematic, it is the difference between them that causes problems. Not everyone can afford top of the line precision driving gear, and not everyone would want if if they could, so you’d have people in Audis and BMWs trying to mix it up with tractor trailers, people pulling boats and campers, and people who just don’t like to drive fast, and you have problems.
4. Montana’s “Reasonable and Prudent” was, IIRC, shot down because some shithead in a rattle trap POS challenged it, and the court said it was “unconstitutionally vague”. Given Law Enforcement’s practice of differential enforcement (not only on the basis of race, but on the basis of Out Of State Plates), this is probably reasonable.
5. State and Local budgets.
But most importantly:
You have the right to push your limits and risk your own stuff. You do not have the right to make mistakes that put me and mine at risk.
You combine this with #2, and it means that *most* places in the US you’re not on the road by yourself anymore.
If you go out to Nevada, Utah, Idaho or Montana and find yourself an empty stretch of road you can drop the hammer and get after it. You’re REALLY unlikely to even *see* a LEO. If you’re doing 2x the posted limit you WILL get their attention, but if you couldn’t see them then you SHOULD.
Yeah, that’s why when Ed Bolian broke the record back in 2013 he stayed quiet for a year until the statute of limitations in all the various jurisdictions expired.
A Loophole! A Loophole! Lawbreakers must be violated!
Actually as some may remember, I am all in favor of the utilization of loopholes, because it means that someone has better reading comprehension than the Statists who write the overbroad, prior-restraining, unconstitutional laws we face today.
As the Australians say, “Good on ya, Mate.”