[VLOCT]

Originally Posted by skandyhere

Quite a mirage, that country, I say... great roads, lovely open spaces, powerful cars, but infested with lifeless automatics and drivers choked by a stringent speed limit enforcement (the penalties for breaking of which inevitably lead one to regret!). Truly, safety first there, and that's a kill-joy. In my experience, the opportunity to enjoy a good drive in the States does not come too often. Not being judgmental or critical, but just an observation...

Even so, I have no doubt that snaking a Corvette a few mph over the limit on those roads must have been really SOMETHING, though! What was the speed limit?

I'm sorry, is this a serious post? Are you saying that in a national/state park where there are thousands of people at any point in time, should perhaps have 80 mph as speed limit! Safety is kill joy?

There are plenty of 55 mph roads around the park, meaning most people are driving closer to 70 mph (115 kph) on those roads. On a busy two lane that's plenty fast in any place in the world. The highway speed limits in most of the southern US is 75 mph, again meaning most people are doing 87 mph (~150 kph). Yah, that's sure is slow.

Just wondering, what exactly is your driving experience in North America. I've only lived here for 20 years. I've got news for you. Human beings are more important than cars.

Your obvious sarcasm aside, there are thousands of miles of lonely roads/twisties in NA where you can sustain very high speeds continuously, bordering on the dangerous in fact, for novices.

Your post reminds me of sport riders who think 150 mph on a straight highway is skill but, when asked to join us for some twisties, start crapping in their pants every time a 40 mph curve shows up, and finally ups and quits when suddenly everyone else has disappeared over the horizon.

[Dodge_Viper]

Amazing landscape vistas! Great photos VLOCT. Thanks for sharing. Your Corvette looks beautiful . Looking at the roads I feel like ripping the rubber apart .

BTW what is there at Fire State Park?

[VLOCT]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Amazing landscape vistas! Great photos VLOCT. Thanks for sharing. Your Corvette looks beautiful . Looking at the roads I feel like ripping the rubber apart .

BTW what is there at Fire State Park?

Thanks Viper. The park is essentially a show case of such natural formations. I only covered a small portion of the park due to time constraints. You see whole families having picnics and such around the park obviously, only possible during the winter/spring months.

You can continue to the other side of the park and then follow Lake Mead, formed by Hoover Dam, back to Vegas.

[skandyhere]

Originally Posted by VLOCT

I'm sorry, is this a serious post? Are you saying that in a national/state park where there are thousands of people at any point in time, should perhaps have 80 mph as speed limit! Safety is kill joy?

There are plenty of 55 mph roads around the park, meaning most people are driving closer to 70 mph (115 kph) on those roads. On a busy two lane that's plenty fast in any place in the world. The highway speed limits in most of the southern US is 75 mph, again meaning most people are doing 87 mph (~150 kph). Yah, that's sure is slow.

Just wondering, what exactly is your driving experience in North America. I've only lived here for 20 years. I've got news for you. Human beings are more important than cars.

Your obvious sarcasm aside, there are thousands of miles of lonely roads/twisties in NA where you can sustain very high speeds continuously, bordering on the dangerous in fact, for novices.

Your post reminds me of sport riders who think 150 mph on a straight highway is skill but, when asked to join us for some twisties, start crapping in their pants every time a 40 mph curve shows up, and finally ups and quits when suddenly everyone else has disappeared over the horizon.

Looks like I ruffled your feathers a little, Sir. Not necessary; take it easy, this is barely a subject to get into a boxing ring for, now. Let me clear it by saying I'm not a speed addict myself, and I'm not advocating speeding, much less suggesting that having fun on the roads is more important than human life. Thanks for the 'news' anyway.

I was saying that though the auto scene in that country looks fantastic with their entry level cars looking like our luxury ones, it's not all too common to find the roads that let you have 'epic fun'. Law and safety norms there ensure that your regular driving and epic fun do not generally mix too often, and too well. Even the switchbacks have a distinct, local, lowered speed limit than the straights in the many places that I've driven in the Eastern US. Now, most people do 70 mph on 55 mph roads you say? The way to buy a ticket to license revocation! I did mention that it wasn't criticism or complaint, but an OBSERVATION that safety comes first there, and therefore 'fun' takes a backseat (rightly so). Hence the reference to a mirage. Lastly, let me admit that I too get a little overly emotional, much as you seemed to do in your reply, about people who think the roads are racetracks while mindlessly putting people to danger.

Just my two cents given my 'adequately' plentiful driving experience in the US though I'm not going to start a bigger-than-thou contest here despite your irrelevant question about how much driving experience I have in the States. Let's keep this impersonal and not interrupt the flow of your travelogue that actually did start off pretty well. As we're mid-course through the thread, I've got news for you: others are perhaps far more interested in the story you have to tell than in distractions like this one. Cheers!

[gubbi555]

Brilliant landscape and an even brilliant ride that you got there.Another movie my cousin mentioned that was shot here was the Mission Impossible III if you remember,the opening scene.I was always under the impression it was at the Grand Canyon but was later told that filming over there was prohibited.A special mention about that signage - Enticing!

[VLOCT]

Another Saturday, incredible weather perfect for some open top driving in an incredible place. Well, I headed right back to the park to get some pics of the areas I missed the first time.

Hopefully, you guys enjoy these. The amazing vistas are really in flames.

[VLOCT]

Continuing this amazing discovery..

[A M]

So its the GXP this time. Which one did you enjoy more on the twisties? I know its not fair to compare the 'vette and the Solstice but still..

Whats with the impressions on the rocks? Fossils..??

[VLOCT]

Originally Posted by A M

So its the GXP this time. Which one did you enjoy more on the twisties? I know its not fair to compare the 'vette and the Solstice but still..

Whats with the impressions on the rocks? Fossils..??

This being a state park, there are limitations to pushing the envelope. Still, tighter the twisties, the more fun GXP gets, not that the 'vette is any kinda slouch. I prefer the 'vette on wide open spaces with sweeping curves where, the afterburner is on all the time and the jet just keeps going and going and going.

Thanks for checking out the pics. Cheers.