[Meister]

Enroute to a business appointment across town today, I was looking for a worthy challenger when I spotted obvious muscle a half block ahead. Closing rapidly, I broke into a grin when I read S 55 on the left side of the gleaming black trunk's rear face, AMG on the right. All switches to combat mode--he's going to be a handful.

He ducked right, for the exact freeway onramp I was headed to. This is going to be interesting. As he made the sharp 120 degree right turn to enter the acceleration lane I quickly checked left and verified no immediate traffic and no gendarmes in sight. I decided this was the time to let him know in no uncertain terms I was a player. Auto-sticking to first, I made an aggressive, opposite lock, entry onto the ramp. I saw his head jerk as he saw the Hemi, at a remarkable angle to the roadway, roasting the rear tires then straightening and launching at him.

As Murphy would have it, moderate traffic had one vehicle in the lane just ahead of the Merc, another in the second lane, leading our pack of 4. Well there goes any hope of a blow-by on freeway entry.

Hanging back six car lengths, I was his virtual shadow as the AMG deftly moved through traffic. Once he had open road ahead for 1/4 mile he nailed it. Anticipating his move I launched first and picked up a length on him, then drifted slowly back to my original spacing, before having to brake hard to maintain spacing as he had found no opening at the end of our acceleration corridor. After another mile of shadowing through traffic I split right around forward traffic as the Merc split left. My maneuver gave me the clearer lane, and I ended up in front, with the shadow ballet repeated once again, but now reversed.

1/8 tank, perfect! I may not (certainly should not) be able to beat this guy but he's gonna learn something about a 300C Hemi today.

It was now my turn to slip into an open lane and I immediately nailed it. He obviously did as well, though it appeared that initially I pulled him slightly. He had made that up, plus some, when traffic, once again, dictated a less robust pace. At that point he moved to the right lane and drifted back. I checked mirrors a few more times--no AMG anywhere in sight. Dang, he must have turned off. That was fun while it lasted. OK, A/C on, cruise mode.

All of a sudden, a full mile later, I was startled to see in my rear view mirror a black missile 10 lengths back, one lane to my right, and coming like the very hounds of Hell were chasing him. I muttered Oh Sh__!, nailed it, reached for the A/C button to kill it but traffic ahead and a very sharp, for a freeway, right hand sweeper dictated that the steering wheel was a more appropriate location for my right hand for the left jink, right turn maneuvering required, so I never got the A/C killed. While still in the right sweeper the S 55 sailed by on the right, with decent opening. sh__! His power was obvious, but what a cheap way to take a scalp!

He slowed, I dutifully cruised up on his right door and rendered the thumbs up, but my heart wasn't in it. As I thought more about it I decided that, in hindsight, a salute wasn't warranted. He had a car that should clearly clean my clock, though amazingly enough it hadn't seemed dominating in our two power pulls, and he shouldn't need to resort to a cheap ambush to take the k.

If I call this a loss, it will be my first in 11 months in this great car. I was fully aware that spec sheets would have me nowhere close. But given that the S 55 driver felt it necessary to sucker-punch me, I'm calling foul. Screw you, Jack!! Come back and fight like a real man! :AR15firin

 

[fatchance]

That was funny. Great story.

 

[HEMEEE]

Hey Slick, sounds as though you needed your WingEEE!!
And it seems like you should be calling "fowl" rather than foul... that's a chickenstuff way to bring the challenge to a conclusion! Fun read :wink1:

 

[Mr.DJ]

Great read...thanks. :fing02:

 

[Ahbizmal]

Funny... Highlight of the day so far.

 

[Meister]

Hey Slick, sounds as though you needed your WingEEE!!..

Did I ever. Had my trusteee WingEEE been checking six for me I'd have at least gotten the A/C switch turned off and had my mach up a bit before he caught me! :silly:

 

[Northern Rider]

Next time -hit the toggle labelled "AFTERBURNER":banana:

 

[II kings 9:20]

Good read, takes guts to play with any AMG, The E55 obliterated the Magnum SRT8 4.4 vs 5.2 to 60! but the Magnum beat it in the slalom by more than 3 mph. Next time try racing him around some orange barrels, you'll smoke him. Oh, btw, the Mag also bested the AMG and S4 in braking by 2 and 1 foot respectively and by .2Gs on the skidpad.

 

[vvv90]

I'd still like to find out if the rumor about the compressor being disengaged during WOT is true.

That way we won't have to take our eyes off the road if we suddenly need to react and worry about losing power if the A/C is left on.

 

[Meister]

I'd still like to find out if the rumor about the compressor being disengaged during WOT is true...

That question has been on my short list for a while, v cubed. I had a Euro-spec 735i some years ago, and at WOT the A/C was cut out, timing was advanced and mixture was richened.

 

[kevenj]

I'd still like to find out if the rumor about the compressor being disengaged during WOT is true.

That way we won't have to take our eyes off the road if we suddenly need to react and worry about losing power if the A/C is left on.

I assumed that this was the case, maybe i should not have. My 1968 Imperial had this feature so I know the technology exists

 

[magnuman]

Meister,
Next time you can forget about the A/C switch and devote your full attention to dusting the opponent. I pulled this out of the Shop Manual, under the fuel injection section. No undeserved "edges" for any opponents, IMO. Cool story!!
"WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE MODE
This is an OPEN LOOP mode. During wide-open-throttle operation, the following inputs are used by the PCM:
² Inlet/Intake air temperature
² Engine coolant temperature
² Engine speed
² Knock sensor
² Manifold absolute pressure
² Throttle position
When the PCM senses a wide-open-throttle condition through the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) it de-energizes the
A/C compressor clutch relay. This disables the air conditioning system and disables EGR (if equipped).
The PCM adjusts injector pulse width to supply a predetermined amount of additional fuel, based on MAP and RPM."

 

[Lik2race]

Next time -hit the toggle labelled "AFTERBURNER":banana:

That's a good name for it...

 

[Meister]

Meister,
Next time you can forget about the A/C switch and devote your full attention to dusting the opponent. I pulled this out of the Shop Manual, under the fuel injection section. No undeserved "edges" for any opponents, IMO. Cool story!!
"WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE MODE
This is an OPEN LOOP mode. During wide-open-throttle operation, the following inputs are used by the PCM:
² Inlet/Intake air temperature
² Engine coolant temperature
² Engine speed
² Knock sensor
² Manifold absolute pressure
² Throttle position
When the PCM senses a wide-open-throttle condition through the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) it de-energizes the
A/C compressor clutch relay. This disables the air conditioning system and disables EGR (if equipped).
The PCM adjusts injector pulse width to supply a predetermined amount of additional fuel, based on MAP and RPM."

Great find, magnuman! Thanks much.

 

[vvv90]

Meister,
Next time you can forget about the A/C switch and devote your full attention to dusting the opponent. I pulled this out of the Shop Manual, under the fuel injection section. No undeserved "edges" for any opponents, IMO. Cool story!!
"WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE MODE
This is an OPEN LOOP mode. During wide-open-throttle operation, the following inputs are used by the PCM:
² Inlet/Intake air temperature
² Engine coolant temperature
² Engine speed
² Knock sensor
² Manifold absolute pressure
² Throttle position
When the PCM senses a wide-open-throttle condition through the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) it de-energizes the
A/C compressor clutch relay. This disables the air conditioning system and disables EGR (if equipped).
The PCM adjusts injector pulse width to supply a predetermined amount of additional fuel, based on MAP and RPM."

Woohoo!! Way to go Magnuman....Next time I go to the track I'll keep the air on the whole time.

 

[MikeB]

Uhhh, this is something we're to marvel at?

Not intending to--but knowing that it might--start a flame war I'll pose this question: does anyone else out there feel that it's incredibly irresponsible to race on a freeway with other traffic?

Really, I'm no saint myself. I speed. I've even raced. But every time I've done it, it's followed shortly thereafter with that sinking-feeling-in-the-pit-of-my-stomach that a slight miscue on my part or the part of someone else could have taken out an innocent non-participant. In reading this post, I can't help but think that such a thought ever crossed your mind.

 

[vvv90]

Not intending to--but knowing that it might--start a flame war I'll pose this question: does anyone else out there feel that it's incredibly irresponsible to race on a freeway with other traffic?

Yes, only everybody.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/8973-word-all-you-who-street-racing.html

Really, I'm no saint myself. I speed. I've even raced. But every time I've done it, it's followed shortly thereafter with that sinking-feeling-in-the-pit-of-my-stomach that a slight miscue on my part or the part of someone else could have taken out an innocent non-participant. In reading this post, I can't help but think that such a thought ever crossed your mind.

Then what's your point?

Teach by example.

 

[DESIREE]

I assumed that this was the case, maybe i should not have. My 1968 Imperial had this feature so I know the technology exists

DANG!
My 1981 K-Car had that technology! I installed it.
Boy did that refugee from a cesspool need it.

 

[MikeB]

Yes, only everybody.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/8973-word-all-you-who-street-racing.html




Then what's your point?

Teach by example.

You're right . . . what I'd encourage is a little bit of introspection. I've gotten more mature in my attitude toward these things as time goes by (or maybe I'm just an old fogey :biggrin: ), but what I've learned is this: the winner of a "street race," particularly if it takes place on a crowded freeway, is generally determined not by who has the faster car or who is the better driver, but by who is willing to take the greater risks. Ultimately it's a losing game.

 

[vvv90]

The winner of a "street race," particularly if it takes place on a crowded freeway, is generally determined not by who has the faster car or who is the better driver, but by who is willing to take the greater risks. Ultimately it's a losing game.

You are so right it's not even funny!

There's been so many times where I've been "challenging" someone and they'll weave, or go off on the shoulder, or whatever, JUST TO BE IN FRONT....as if that means they won.

Those are usually the guys driving loud Civics....I tend not to waste my time because they're so immature they can't handle losing and then get dangerous.

This is where I completely draw the line and just let 'em go. If they want to be in front fine.....I just let them know it's because I'm allowing it, not because they think they have a faster car. And that equates to a short burst of power with no traffic and then I'm done. I proved my point.

If they want to go off driving like a ass crying in thier momo steering wheel that's their choice. I will have no part in it.