Ferrari Mailing List: Re: This is not a joke. Compare to contemporary cars, how did the 275 GTB Handle.

[Fellippe Galletta (fellippe.galletta]

On Sun, Oct 30, 2011 at 10:55 AM, Scott Saidel <Ferrarisimo [at] comcast.net> wrote:

On the street, weak brakes are scary to me.  I am privileged to drive many older cars - but the braking can be terrifying.  Last year at the Toy Rally, I was in a '66 Lambo 400GT 2+2 about 80th in line.  We were on the highway and the concertina effect suddenly hit.  It was no problem for the Slutmobile (Bill Hubbell's TT Koenig Testarosa) but when he hit the binders 40' in front of me, I dove for the shoulder.  Even at impending lock up I was three cars past him by the time I came to a stop.  There was just NO WAY to stop - only viable choice was to avoid.  Fortunately, I was heads up at the time, saw the brake lights coming and was aware that there was a gap on the shoulder side that I could safely move into.  

Damn!

My only vintage car/lousy brake story is a mid to late '70s Triumph (might have been '80s) I drove a few years back. Right away outside of the parking lot and onto the street I can tell the brakes were weak and I'd have to give tons of stopping distance. It was a bit nerve wracking to be honest because I didn't have confidence in avoiding a situation any other way than what Scottie described above.

The brakes never got noticeably better during the 15 minute drive. I learned how to drive on a '73 Beetle that never once felt this stressful.....it had weak brakes, but it always had them. :)
 
I'm not sure if the brakes were no good or if this was normal, hopefully the former.

I guess my point is: on the track - even when driving competitively - it is possible to adjust your skills to the equipment (although I readily admit to the "red mist" clouding my judgement more than occasionally resulting in an excursion or shunt).  On the street, where idiots and unpredictability abound - there is nothing better then a nice set of big cross drilled disks with ABS.

I'm waiting for the 1 lister to object to ABS for the street....he knows who he is. :)

FG