What do you guys do when encountering the cornering "pretenders" or show offs?

[Ripped]

You probably know the ones I mean. They see a nice pro touring car, and they gotta show their $#it by tailgating you, then cutting in and out of traffic, or whipping by you.

Honestly I hate being tailgated, and bein cut off.

The rest of their crap, I don't care.
I mean, I don't want to see them crashing into another car, but I can't control other people's stupid driving.

Street racing, has never been an issue, because a nice big engine, properly tuned, shakes the ground. And a little bit of throttle while the clutch is depressed, between shifts, usually scares the crap out of them.

First time, I've had the car on the road for a good while, and I noticed that there is a lot of idiots out there.

[David Pozzi]

When I was younger I used to slam on the brakes when someone got on my butt. Now I'm older and wiser, I just drive slower and slower til they pass me, but the hardest thing to do is not speed back up and do it to them. That would put me in a bad spot if they hit their brakes and I rear ended them!

[rrunner68]

Yeah its tough not to show them, but I've always thought a good "it's not worth the gas to me to prove your car is slow" kind of sticker would be fun.

[srh3trinity]

It is like football, the great tailbacks have a great run score a touchdown and walk over to the ref and hand them the ball. No need to show off and act like you have been there before. It is bothersome when you run across these people, however, I haven't had that problem these last few years driving a boring SUV. I miss having an F-body.

[shmoov69]

Well, usually a nice 2-3 second rip of the throttle will back them off.....mainly because it sends the tires up in smoke and hits a nice RPM level at almost any speed. That usually makes people go "holy crap!!". Lol!!

[TonyHuntimer]

I don't really have these problems. I drive my car all the time...my only car. People don't even look at my car. The only slight bit of interest is usually a nod. About once a month I get the ultra-rare thumbs up. I'd like to think people don't try to race me because people are affraid of the ominous presence of my Camaro (J/K)...but I really think out of 1.5 million in the San Jose area...there are about two-dozen car-people.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/protouringcamaro-1.jpg

Maybe if it was red or some color other than white, I'd get more interest. Maybe white paint is good. :)

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com
Tony's Speed Shop -podcast

[Bow Tie 67]

I dont get much either, the black primer and huge dent in the quarter helps.

[406 Q-ship]

My Monte never got attention when it was root beer brown, dented, and vinyl top blown off. Now it is painted it gets a bit of attention from the ricky racer crowd, my Malibu not as much (Hmmmm). I don't waste the fuel or my time to run on the street anymore (too dangerous in the SoCal traffic).

[MrQuick]

Without exceeding the speed limit or driving reckless I like to stick em in traffic. Helps to have more power than they do but use your mind.

Vince

[XLexusTech]

when I had a Bike a few spare lug nuts would take care of this problem :-)

[Norwoodx55]

I seem to get a lot of people tailgating me and rolling up VERY close at a stop light. For the most part I try to ignore it, as if I am oblivious to them, but I am paying close attention.

[406 Q-ship]

when I had a Bike a few spare lug nuts would take care of this problem :-)

Only a complete idiot would tailgate a motorcycle with a car, unless you want the guilt of a dead motorcyclist on your conscience. I always give bike riders a wide room to maneuver.

[DFRESH]

This is a common occurence here in So Cal--I get hammered by everyone, and I mean everyone---turbo Benz's, Vipers, Ferrari's, (Not many Ricers however--get a lot of thumbs up from them actually) and especially, especially Vets. Most recent one, on the freeway, the guy had a really good looking seatcover when he came up next to me-guy came jumping on the throttle and then letting off---I dropped a gear and did a 3 second blip just for fun. My windows were down, this moron who started out on my right hand side, hammered the thing and shot like a missle out in front of me--since there wasn't a lot of realestate left, he crossed over the 4 feet of empty space between the carpool lane (double yellow lines) and jumped into that lane---meanwhile, spraying my car with every bit of crap that was in this dead area between the lanes---it took out my windshield (which is only 3 months old and nearly caused me to crash due to all the crap that was peppering me in the face and shoulders. Unbelieveable---it was a Hennessey Vet--fast car for sure--but man, what a meathead.

This is only rivaled by the people taking pictures of the car with their phones at speed---I realize their is a problem when their car is drifting up next to me and I look over to see them holding the phone up trying to click away. LOL---that always freaks me out---would love to see some of those pics and what my face looked like. Probably like Carl's did when I was doing the same thing to him on our Road Trip to Pleasanton.

Doug

[CarlC]

But I never SAID idiot ;-)

I just keep driving along like usual. I'm sure later on they call me scardy-cat, chicken, wimp, etc. Like David I'll lift off the throttle to tick them off and get them off the bumper.

[DFRESH]

But I never SAID idiot ;-)

I just keep driving along like usual. I'm sure later on they call me scardy-cat, chicken, wimp, etc. Like David I'll lift off the throttle to tick them off and get them off the bumper.

LOL---but, the picture of your car was a good one--and I am glad I risked our lives to have it.

Doug

[JEFFTATE]

I ignore them.
If they wanna' race on a track , where it's safe , and we have a timing system , then I'll race them..
Otherwise , I ignore showoffs on the street..

[preston]

I have some of the same issues from time to time. I ignore them most of the time, I am not interested in street racing for the obvious reasons, but I do relish it when a situation comes up where they are traffic trapped, or my exit is coming up, basically if I am in a position to run it up a bit and they can't race me, it can be satisfying to whip it out of there.


Strangely enough I often feel that people drive even slower than usual around my car. My theory is that they feel like my car is so outrageously Baaaaad that they, like left laners, just feel its their personal responsibility to impede my driving. I can't really explain it. Maybe it just feels slower in a big power rough driving vehicle that always seems to be lugging or revving compared to my daily driver Cadillac automatic that just loves to cruise at slow speeds.

[dadto2jays]

I have raced on the street but is not something I do anymore. I enjoy cruising and getting the tumbs up sometimes is really hard not to feel the need that you have to show them..

[Rhino]

but I really think out of 1.5 million in the San Jose area...there are about two-dozen car-people.


That's interesting. California has always seems like utopia for gearheads. Also, over the past few years I've spent a decent amount of time in Santa Cruz. There seems to be a very healthy car culture there. With it's close proximity to San Jose, I would have expected them to be similar.

[mc84_zz4]

I used to have a hothead, and would poach them at the next stoplight, waiting just for the moment, they would roll the windows down, to talk about a race, and I'd light my tires up, leave them coughing in a thick cloud of smoke, then I'd just slow poke it down the road.

But nowadays that would be considered street racing, and our town has a zero tolerance for that, so I just watch them go by thinking, where is that cop I just saw 10 seconds ago?....

[79PonchoUK]

I used to have a hothead, and would poach them at the next stoplight, waiting just for the moment, they would roll the windows down, to talk about a race, and I'd light my tires up, leave them coughing in a thick cloud of smoke, then I'd just slow poke it down the road.

But nowadays that would be considered street racing, and our town has a zero tolerance for that, so I just watch them go by thinking, where is that cop I just saw 10 seconds ago?....

In the town...yeah.

Over here, there are millions of traffic lights that are in the middle of nowhere. I can't resist shutting down the other hotheads that think because their car is 100kg lighter, it has a power to weight ratio of 209837208934709279027bhp/ton.

[Randy67]

I just ignore them, especially at traffic lights. I drive too much as it is and when they take off at the light, I usually look at them and think, what is their problem? In a hurry?

Now I did have a little fun with a TSX this week, he was ahead on some curvy roads and I noticed he would speed up a bit into corners, trying to show off a bit (I'm in my Dakota R/T). So I just stayed with him (a few car lengths back) with no sweat. He didn't like that very much, I guess he thought pickups couldn't corner very well.

[93Polo]

The best thing is to try to ignore it and keep a safe distance but I do know that we don't always do that.

Just a thought on this if you get on it for a second and the other guy gets in an accident, you could be charged with racing and anyinjuries that the other guy caused.

I remember a story in Tennessee that was all over the forums a few years back, where a Viper and something were side by side. The Viper came of the light quick but rolled out of it after a very short run. The other guy didn't, hit and killed someone. The Viper was charged with deaths caused by the other driver. It only takes one witness and a prosecuter that wants to get you, to be in a big legal battle.

[Ripped]

Sometimes, I wish there were more cops around.

I did get a laugh, one day about a year ago.

I was coming off the downslope of a long freeway bridge.

I could see this guy coming from behind me a mile away.
I was doing the speed limit.

I just assumed the guy was going to fly by me in the passing lane.

Nope.
An idiot. There are no cars around, but he flys up to my car and rides right up on my ass, tailgating.

I am fuming, :( but I ignore him.

About 30 seconds later he changes into the left lane, and goes flying by me.

I am thinking, good riddance, idiot!

Then I see a white SUV tailgating him.

I am thinking, oh look, ANOTHER IDIOT!

Nope, it was an ummarked cop....:machine:with the lights soon flashing.

If my horn was wired up, at that time, I would have saluted him :)

[Tony_SS]

It's hard and it pisses me off too, but I ignore them.

[Scott Parkhurst]

I will post here that I ignore all of them and would never do anything else.

[Jim Nilsen]

I just laugh and shake my head back and forth to say No No.

It can be looked at as entertainment of a different kind and very humorous at that, which is why I laugh at it and with it.

It is kind of flattering that someone thinks the car is a RACECAR and wants to see it go, but to think that I am going to race them in something not up to the challenge or the place is something for them to have to ponder , not me. If they want to show up at an event I would give them a ride and they can watch all they want.

[CHRIZ28]

Definatly, best thing to do is just ignore them, but it is very difficult sometimes. Several years back, me and a friend were in my modded '00 Z28 just out driving around when this guy in a beat up white (insert crappy import here) I don't remember what it was, but it was rough, not even riced... just.... ****ty. We stopped at a light side by side and the guy in the passenger seat yell's "Lets go!". i just shook my head, we were right in the middle of town, cars/cops everywhere! So, light turns green and she (his girlfriend is driving) takes off. Well, he does it once more on the next light, and I just shake my head no. Turns green, she gets after it.. but this time the next red light she plows into the d/s rear of a F-150! Spins the truck around and luckly noone was hurt. You should have seen that idiot slam stuff around and heard that little engine revving as fast as it could sitting there. HAHAHA That's why you don't do it!

Chris

[NOT A TA]

I've been driving The 14 Car daily and all I get is thumbs up, nods, waves. No other drivers wanting to run it or acting stupid around it. Since I took the numbers off recently I don't feel like a celebrity anymore. Prior to that all I saw was cell phones in windows while people took pics. I'm kind of enjoying drawing a little less attention without the numbers on the car.

[tommycomfort]

Well, as some saw the damage to my 66 at the Motorstate Challenge, I had a careless idiot about 6' off my bumper so I let off and scooted over as much as possible. He gunned it and clipped me. Guess this is the case where I should have just gassed it and left him there... I'm still fuming about the incident!