Driving today from Steyning A283 to Shoreham flyover and on to the A27 towards Brighton (if anyone knows the road).
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi? ... r1=&addr2=
&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=50000&multimap.x=402&multimap.y=269
(Look just to the left of where it says Mill Hill in the centre of the map)
On the A283, was stuck behind a BMW Mini Cooper S-Works with chequered graphics and 225 (BHP?) written all over the back, there was a slow lorry in front of him. The Mini has often been deliberately in the wrong gear, popping and crackling on over-run. At the flyover, the Lorry heads up the long ramp onto the A27, and the Mini and I have to wait for someone coming round the roundabout.
Both of us then head up the dual-carriageway ramp which has a quite sharp but long and constant left bend, then a straight, then a very sharp shorter left bend where the road goes from 2 lanes to 1 and joins the A27 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ we are climbing all the timeâ┚¬Ã‚¦
So the Mini guns it into the first bend (which I have driven a 1000 times) and then brakes slightlyâ┚¬Ã‚¦ Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m following him at first, but as he brakes I move out to the right-hand lane and keep the car accelerating slightly â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I think I was in 3rd gear by then. As I said itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s a very sharp but constant corner.
I have to go the longer way round, but we emerge dead level onto the straight â┚¬Ã‚¦.. and a 100 yards or so ahead is the lorry;
The Mini and I are now able to accelerate hardâ┚¬Ã‚¦ we doâ┚¬Ã‚¦. AND ITâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢S DEAD LEVEL ALL THE WAY!
As we near the lorry, he has to back offâ┚¬Ã‚¦. But Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m running out of road (as it goes 2 into 1 on the fast-approaching next bend) , so I have to choose â┚¬Ã‹Å“GOâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ or â┚¬Ã‹Å“LOSEâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢!
â┚¬Ã‹Å“GOâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ - I fly round the lorry, and just clipping the white lines on the A27 I accelerate hard up the hill, leaving the Mini as a speck which finally emerges from behind the lorry when both are safe on the A27.
So â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ we can assume the Mini-driver is a pussy
, as the Mini would be able to destroy the E30 round a hard corner like that, BUT however good the drivers were (or not) the E30 is as quick in a straight line (at least in 3rd gear type situations, which letâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s face it is the classic overtaking situation).Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m very pleased when the old girl trashes the young-guns.
Btw itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s a standard engine 325i 1989 cabbie, but with nose-down slightly lowered suspension.
I had the top down, I had shades on, I looked cool.
Does anyone know of a BMW Mini-forum where I can post this?
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