Yee Haw!

For the first time in more months than I can remember, I took a drive in the 914 which was at least partly just for the hell of it. For far too many months I have either avoided driving it (too cold out and heater not yet restored) or just ran to the local grocery store and back. Depending on which one the round trip was all of 18 miles max. 

 Well, once again I was out for food...seems with the COVID pandemic that is almost my only outing from the house...but this time I needed to go to one which, in theory at least, is somewhat closer...about six or seven miles. However, this might be deceptive in terms of time. While I can get to either via the state highway, between the gentle curves, potential Highway Patrol presence, and traffic, it is not always a joy and a pleasure. BUT...there is an alternative...a road named Clinton, though not for the US President of the 1990s. The name pre-dates his fame by many decades, and refers to a long defunct community which may, or may not, have been a hooch making haven in the days of Prohibition. This to takes me, as does the highway, to the town of Jackson, but a bit further south...in fact right at the cross street to the other main highway bisecting Jackson, and ending right at that grocery to where I was headed. 

 I hesitated as I left the driveway and then, what the hell, just went for it. The temperature, for the first time in months, was in the high 60s Fahrenheit, the sun was bright, there was no wind, and not a cloud in the sky. Nor was there another car going in my direction to slow me down. And so I “let the beast have its legs.” 

 Now the four cylinder 914 is hardly a powerhouse. As detailed in much earlier blog entries, with only 85 HP acceleration is not exactly a thrill, and while the top speed might exceed 105MPH the car is hardly fun or happy at that velocity. It is mildly powered VW based, roomy and practical sports car with all that meant in the late 60s. At 85 it is fun and it will cruise happily at that speed anywhere and for days at a time. But get it on a curvy road and...oh my what a different and lovely little beast it is. Corners like a slot car at speeds which are simply exhilarating. I just can't help laughing to myself as I hurtle into a 30MPH turn at 55 with just the slightest brush of the brake pedal to settle the suspension and then SNAP through it so quickly I am out almost before my brain registers that I am in. 

 And again 

 And again 

 And again. 

 The top speed I hit on this swooping, curvy, but not excessively tight road is perhaps 70-75, and most of the time I was doing five or ten under that, yet my “time to town” was probably a good three minutes faster on that route than almost anyone else would make it. Google Maps says it is 8.9 miles via Clinton Road, and that it takes 16 minutes to drive it. That is an average speed of 33 MPH. What world are they living in since the speed limit is 50? But of course almost no one can average 50 with those curves and hills. But since I make it via te highway in ten minutes driving more sedately (though that is 1.2 miles shorter, and though I did not time it, I am sure I made it in no more than that time...an average of 53.4 MPH and maybe I was even under that. At any rate it was the most fun I have had in a car since this pandemic started, including my last “on track” outing at Laguna Seca in the Siata. 

 God, I love that car.