# Driving really really fast in the US
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 7, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171 "2004-01-07T06:54:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/1 "2004-01-07T06:54:14Z")
The GQ thread about driving on the Autobahn prompted me. I want to drive my car fast. Really, really fast.
Is there anywhere, in America, that I can legally do this? For free. Preferably on the East Coast. :\>
(PS… save the “omg how dangerous” replies for someone who may read them.)
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### Author:  [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/2 "2004-01-07T06:59:12Z")
Don’t know about _legal_ places on the east coast, but if you’re willing to make a trip to Nevada, there is the [Silver State Classic](http://www.silverstateclassic.com/) which is run on a wide-open Nevada highway. That HAS to be a hoot!
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### Author:  [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/3 "2004-01-07T07:05:38Z")
Sure. There are no speed limits on private roads, at least not necessarily. One type of private road is a racetrack. Many towns have racetracks, and I suppose they might let you try your car out there.
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### Author:  [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/4 "2004-01-07T07:09:30Z")
The problem with private roads is that they’re far too often dirt/gravel roads, at least in this area. We have the [NASCAR RIR](http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/rir/), but I’m not sure if they’d be keen on letting me try.
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### Author:  [@conczepts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conczepts)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/5 "2004-01-07T07:12:22Z")
What type of car do you have? Just curious.
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### Author:  [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/6 "2004-01-07T07:13:57Z")
Do you guys have unrestricted roads?
Bearing in mind I haven’t seen this in a while, there are some roads in my home Australian state of New South Wales which, instead of a black-numerals-in-a-red-circle-on white background speed limit sign, have a black circle with a slash through it (a bit like the no smoking signs). This isn’t exactly a speed-limitless piece of road, but close to it. The sign means the default speed limit is 110km/h, but if a cop pulls you over for exceeding it, he will need to show reason why he believes your speed is dangerous for the prevailing conditions.
The Stuart Hwy in the Northern Territory, OTOH, is a truly limitless piece of road.
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### Author:  [@Civil\_Defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Defense)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/7 "2004-01-07T07:14:21Z")
Nothing raceworthy, mind you, but a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
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### Author:  [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/8 "2004-01-07T07:54:07Z")
An acquaintance of mine races his souped up car a couple of places. I think every now and again a group uses an airport runway for that kind of thing.
Hey, ya know those guys with silly lowered Honda Civics and 50% sticker coverage who sometimes gun their engines in the grocery store parking lot late at night? They might actually be helpful for you here! 😃
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/9 "2004-01-07T08:23:16Z")
I thought I once heard that Montana doesn’t have speed limits…?
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### Author:  [@zoltar7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoltar7)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/10 "2004-01-07T10:53:42Z")
You could check out the [Sports Car Club of America](http://www.scca.org/), particularly the [Solo Trials](http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo1/index.html).
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### Author:  [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/11 "2004-01-07T13:04:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rjung \*
> \*\*I thought I once heard that Montana doesn’t have speed limits…? \*\*
Montana used to have the ruling that your speed should be “reasonable and proper” to the road and the conditions. AFAIK, there were places that had set speed limits - I can’t see “reasonable and proper” working in a school zone, for example.
Now, however, Montana has a [speed limit](http://www.mdt.state.mt.us/speed_limit/) of 75 mph for cars on the interstate.
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### Author:  [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/12 "2004-01-07T13:09:40Z")
The reasonable and proper signs were generally posted on major highways a good length out from the cities.
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### Author:  [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/13 "2004-01-07T15:21:12Z")
Most 1/4 mile tracks have a ‘street night’ which would allow you to accelerate really fast leagaly for about $20. You could also reach close to 100 MPH depending on your car, but only for a few seconds.
There are autocross events held in large empty parking lots where you can push the cornering limits of your car leagally and safely for only ~$20 but top speed is usually only around 60 MPH. Many of these clubs sponser track days where the speeds are much higher but the entry fees are close to $200.
[http://www.cartct.com/index1.php?center=home.htm](http://www.cartct.com/index1.php?center=home.htm)
[http://www.autocross.com/autoc/neclub.shtml](http://www.autocross.com/autoc/neclub.shtml)
I don’t know of any place where you can leagally drive top speed in a more or less straight line other than the already mentioned silver state classic.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/14 "2004-01-07T15:28:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Do you guys have unrestricted roads?
I don’t think so. In the United States all public roads have a default speed limit set by state law. Speed limits are absolute maximums and there is no appeal to conditions.
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### Author:  [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/15 "2004-01-07T15:54:57Z")
I see many signs that say “Speed limit on unposted roads: 25 mph.” But I think that’s mainly around new subdivisions where they just haven’t gotten around to posting yet.
The thing that gets me is the sale of speed in car commercials and other ads. Where the hell are you going to use that speed in America? In short thrills of passing on a two-lane road, or hitting 100mph for 5 seconds on a lonely highway until you see a car coming the other way which may be a cop so you slow it back down?
There is no place to use that speed. Is it just the knowledge that you COULD? Hell, I’d buy a car if I knew it COULD fly.
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### Author:  [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/16 "2004-01-07T16:18:17Z")
This reminds me of the age-old conundrum -
If a car hits 150mph on a long, isolated stretch of road, and there is no-one to see it … is the car really speeding?
😉
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### Author:  [@markdiscordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdiscordia)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/17 "2004-01-07T16:36:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Civil Defense \*
> \*\*The problem with private roads is that they’re far too often dirt/gravel roads, at least in this area. We have the [NASCAR RIR](http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/rir/), but I’m not sure if they’d be keen on letting me try. \*\*
We also have [Southside Speedway](http://www.southside-speedway.com/contact.asp), which I’m sure will be more than happy to rent you some time, as the NASCAR sideshow stuff they normally do is out of season and they have to make money somewhere.
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### Author:  [@Flash-57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flash-57)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/18 "2004-01-07T17:19:43Z")
Well, there’s always the salt flats in Utah. Experimental cars can go up to 500 MPH.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/19 "2004-01-07T19:12:05Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by peritrochoid \*
> \*\*Don’t know about _legal_ places on the east coast, but if you’re willing to make a trip to Nevada, there is the [Silver State Classic](http://www.silverstateclassic.com/) which is run on a wide-open Nevada highway. That HAS to be a hoot! \*\*
Yes it is! BTDT, and I have the T shirt from the Green Lantern to prove it.
Months of preperation, fitting the car with roll cage, full harness, aux speedo (accurate up to 200 MPH) getting fitted for a driving suit, helmet, and all the rest.
None of this prepares you for when you realize that you are going 160MPH+. The rocks at the edge of the road look very hard at that speed.
Ninety miles took about 36 minutes.
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### Author:  [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-really-really-fast-in-the-us/223171/20 "2004-01-08T19:41:08Z")
Not to mention the fact that at around 175 mph most cars without extensive ground-effects engineering become unstable, and are liable to suddenly launch themselves into the air.
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