Well, first of all: Hello! I’m a newbie who is really impressed with this forum. I read 100s of entries over the past couple of months and must say that I’ve learned a lot. Still could not find an answer to something I’m wondering about, so here it goes: After three months of waiting, I’m finally getting my Z next week. Now, I was born and raised in Germany and - as such - when it comes to faster cars, I’m very much used to the ‘no-speed-limit’ Autobahn. I read a lot of the threads on speeding and tickets and radar detectors, and due to a combination of (ticket) fear and reason, I will probably be a prudent driver (most of the time). But enjoying the really high speeds, I know it will be hard.

Okay, so my question is: WHERE do you go if you really want to push it? Where CAN you go (legally)? I always thought Montana did not have a speed limit but I was wrong. Are there race tracks anywhere that are open to the public? Or do they even sometimes close down a stretch of the highway to give drivers an opportunity to go a little bit faster? Or do I really have to take my Z with me to Germany next summer (where I would probably blow the engine)? Any advice? I’d be grateful!

 

Germany to Montana. I feel so sorry for you. I would die. Take it to a race track / drag strip / autocross ... Or get a V1.

 

well there are a couple of options, but they will cost you some money. One option for going fast would be to go to a nearby drag strip. If you arent familiar with what that is, its basically a fairly long stretch of asphalt where u try to test out ur reaction time, launching skills, 0-60mph, and 1/4 mile times. So you can get up to about 105-110 on that for a couple of seconds. This may not seem so interesting to u, but there is another alternative which i am trying to get involved in but seems fairly pricy. This is going to a circular road track. Its basically a large circular raceway where u can go as fast as u have the ***** enough to go. However this requires good track brakes, a helmet, it costs about $150-$250 to get about 2 full hours of track time (in terms of admission tickets). I am no pro on this (actually the opposite) but this is what i found from my research.

 

I've got a friend from Montana, and technically, they do have speed limits, but from what my friend says, they're really just there to make the state officials happy. He speeds there all the time and hasn't gotten pulled over. I'm not sure how official these claims are, but that's what he said.

 

if you get pulled over just hand them your german license and act like you dont understand much english. One of my friends happens to be in usa from germany on a student visa and thats what he does to get out of them.

 

welcome.... and good luck in finding an autoban here ...when you find it please let all of us know where

 

A friend of mine from Israel had a rental car. He got pulled over for speeding and when the cop asked him why he was speeding he told him that his rental car has unlimited milege. The cop laughed and let him go .

 

Having driven in Germany, I must sadly report that nowhere in the US will you find public traffic that is so mindful of the law to permit you to SAFELY travel public roads at high speeds like German Autobahns! People typically are mindless of the (Texas) signs reading: LEFT LANE FOR PASSING ONLY and poke along in the left hand lane without heeding their rear view mirrors!
My suggestion for quenching your thirst for autobahn performance - though not EXACTLY like autobahn performance, is to enroll in a local drivers education event at a track, or sign up for one of the local "open road race" events held in the middle United States. At a track, you can safely push your new Z to it's limits in a safe manner without endangering the public. It is a good way for you to find yours and your car's limits. {Plug here: Come join the Z Club of Texas September 12th when we host a dirvers education event at Hallett Raceway in Tulsa Oklahoma? Details at www.zcluboftexas.org } Alternatively, some in the club are into open road racing. Last spring's event in west Texas between Ft. Stockton and Sanderson Texas along hwy 285 will provide you with two runs along a 63 mile stretch for you to travel at whatever speed class you are entered in. The highways are closed off to the public, and the event is a sanctioned event with car inspections for safety. Big Bend Open Road Race is but part of a National series that runs in Nevada, and Nebraska just to name a couple of states besides here in Teas. See www.bbor.com
HTH!

 

Thanks so much for your suggestions, Guyz, particularly ChinaClipper! That was the kind of stuff I was looking for. And, YES, if I ever do speed and get caught, I will pull the “Me coming Germany no English speaking good” routine. Legally, however, you’ve got to get a state license after 30 days in the US.

 

OMG, I've been in lots of states, and Tx is the only one where people actually pull over to let faster traffic by!

Truthfully, you need to go to a track day somewhere to satisfy your lust. Sorry.

 

2003z, that is a nice looking z, i think the rims really complement the color and car