170km in a Porsche 997 feels like….
I see that Ottawa police are up-in-arms about two citizens who succesfully pursured a rape suspect for about 20 minutes at, occassionally, a high rate of speed. The consternation arose when it turned out that, at times, the do-gooders touched 170km/h in their 2008 Porsche 997 (the current version of the 911). During the entire pursuit, the driver, “navigator”, and victim were in contact with a 911 dispatcher. The victim sat in the backseat and must have been no more than 5″ 5″.
The 997 owner came across the crime on his way to see a Kim Mitchell concert (he of the OPP hat); what could be more noble than missing “I Am A Wild Party” performed live to do your civic duty?
Speed limits haven’t changed since the dawn of time, but cars have become far more accomplished. Although the skills of most drivers haven’t kept up with a car’s technological improvements, the thing about the two computer systems (PSM and PASM) in a Porsche 997 is that annoying lapses such as wheel spin, or losing the engine-heavy tail around a corner at 100 km/h, are completely erased by the onboard computer. The 997 can certainly outperform any police vehicle in the same situation — no wonder Ottawa police say they “would have called off” the pursuit if speeds touched 170 km/h and they were the ones in the game. You have to know the highest speeds took place on HWY 417 and not a residential street — the accused rapist’s blue Pontiac Wave isn’t going to survive at 170 km/h in a 40 zone.
In the hands of a competent driver, 170 km/h in a 997 is probably more like 100 km/h in a normal car. This wasn’t the Cannonball Run. Hats off to Ryan O’Connor and his roommate, Matt Spezza (brother of Ottawa Senators star Jason Spezza) to have put the car to some good use.
The police had their roadblock set up, and got their man. All thanks to the brains in Stuttgart and a couple of Kim Mitchell fans.
MRM
(hat tip The Star)
Recent Comments