any good stretch of road in DC to test the limit?

[newdad]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone knows a good stretch of camera-less, cop-less road or highway in DC that's ideal to test/taste the limit a little. Not looking for racing or anything, just a couple of risk-free worry-free miles to get to know that part of the car better. Planning to do this early on Sunday, like 4-5 am.
Thanks!!!

[mzoom007]

[Faisal_in_Laurel]

can top out at Summit Pt. race track especially with the limiter removed.

[newdad]

okay... race track... not quite what i was looking for but might check it out someday. i was thinking more along the line of I395 or I66 or even Rockcreek Pkwy...
thanks anyway~

[luckyace]

Definitely dont do I66..I have gotten stopped at all kinds of weird hours on that road.

[oiseaux]

... years ago, there was a section of south-bound I-95 that had continuous rail (no places for smokey to hide) on both sides and it was the last mile before the first Stafford exit. I don't know if it is still configured that way, but that mile was a gentle downhill with a long flat and then a gentle uphill to the exit or underpass. A certain 1600 that I was familiar with made it to 115 before safely slowing for the Stafford exit. It wasn't possible every time since you wouldn't want traffic while exploring certain limits. I am not advocating it today. To repeat, I don't think such a place exists anymore around or near DC. I very much agree with others suggestions to go out to Summit Point for one of their driver schools. I did some years ago and never regretted picking up new skills for controlling, uhh, unusual vehicle attitudes safely.

Autocross is also extremely valuable for learning, maintaining and refining your driver skills. No chance of tickets, not costly and you can do it several times a year.

Don't do anything that would prevent NewDad from becoming GranDad. I was recently twice promoted to GranDad status and I can tell you that it was the nicest promotion that I have ever received.
Live long, drive well and prosper!

BimmerShifter since 1969; currently
'82 733i 5-spd

'93 850CiA

[///alpinepower]

[///alpinepower]

[Faisal_in_Laurel]

[///alpinepower]

[Faisal_in_Laurel]

blue ///M5. Blew past me like I was standing still (at around 60 MPH).

[newdad]

UPDATE: went checking out independance ave sw Sun morning @ 4:30, very quiet...tranquil. saw no cop in their usual hiding spots...
will check out constitution next Sun.

[newdad]

[oiseaux]

... on duty! JEEZ! Get a reality check!

BimmerShifter since 1969; currently
'82 733i 5-spd

'93 850CiA

[newdad]

friend, although i'm not sure what REALITY you want me to check, but i do know that i love myself too much to do anything stupid. seriously. cheers.

[longjc]

and the time to beat is 30 minutes; others have done it faster, but i don't know them and cannot verify their results. get on and off near bethesda/potomac so that you have the ramp advantage. Other parts of the beltway have tighter, more poorly paved ramps that will not allow you to carry speed.

[Keith]

I'm not trying to bust your chops or anything, just point out one or two VERY pertinent things it sounds like you haven't considered.. You mentioned doing this at ~4 am.

Doing this at night is **MUCH** more dangerous. If you are going 120 miles per hour AND your headlights will light up the road for 1/16 of a mile - you'll "reach the end of your headlights" in about 1.875 seconds (I don't know how far the headlights on an e32 will reach). Does that give you time to recognize the object in the road ahead, decide on a course of action and perform those actions? And if you HAD to stop, I don't think any E32 will stop (from 120mph) in less than two seconds without a healthy dose of external influence (e.g. brick wall).
That's not even considering things on the side of the road that your lights won't light up. I caught a deer in my grill once, while I was doing about 35-40 mph. It was running perpindicular to the path of my car. I caught the first glimpse of it when it was about 4 feet from where our paths intersected.

Keith

[Keith]

Ignore the references to the E32 in that message.

Keith

[///alpinepower]

[///alpinepower]