Date:         Thu, 1 Apr 2004 14:14:10 -0800
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: center of gravity and handling in wind / Stay Out of the Wind
Comments: cc: jklun@EARTHLINK.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

John wrote:
>> Please do not ever draft an 18 wheeler without
asking permission first
from the driver of the truck.


There are several good reasons not to tailgate
big-rigs, but permission isn't one of them. I usually
have the opposite problem: truckers tailgating ME!

Whether in my Westy or my '92 Mitsu Econobox daily
driver, a casual glance in my rearview mirror all too
often reveals a looming, bug-infested chrome grill and
a giant Peterbilt or Freightliner emblem, as the idiot
driver drafts my rear bumper for a couple miles before
passing. And I should ask PERMISSION before tailgating
in my Japanese tuna can!?

The courteous, safety-conscious, dutiful truckers you
describe are from a bygone era, and the remaining few
are a rapidly dying breed. Most truckers anymore are
evidently a bunch of careless, over-caffeinated,
speedball jockies unable to compute a simple safe
following distance.

I like the gravel idea--perhaps I'll start carrying a
full bucket in the front passenger seat, and dump it
out the window at drafting big-rigs ...

Jeffrey Earl



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