[st4]

As you are all aware, I am now a disqualified driver for the period of 20months discounted from 24months for contravention of section two of the RTA namely driving at 138mph on the M74.

I was convicted of this on Thursday 10th at Lanark Sherriff court, and was meant to be in court the Thursday before (the 3rd) for my pleading diet. However, the case was continued.

A driving disqualification was an inevitability so I decided to head out one last time on a nice day to take some pictures, and the good weather was on Sunday and in Argyll....

I decided to make use of the driving time I had left, as the net was closing in on me and it would be rude not too

Loch Lomond at Sunrise


_DSC0878 by [email protected], on Flickr

I headed back up the A82 to where it all began, where I took my first image I got published and have sold.

Inverglus @ Loch Lomond


_DSC0884 by [email protected], on Flickr

And the powerstation here too


_DSC0893 by [email protected], on Flickr

This hydro station uses the excess power it makes to pump the water back up, to generate power from when its needed at peak time. Actually I think they are all like that.

Its a Rubbish road to get here, but the views and tranquility make up for it. The odo read over 20 miles, so without a lift I cannot do this by bike as its too far to carry all my gear.

I decided to NOT head up Glencoe, the weather looked more ominous that way, but turn back and head for Loch Long and maybe over the rest and bethankful pass


_DSC0927 by [email protected], on Flickr

Here is the wonderful view from the Arrochar hotel, ok, I am on the beach and I parked up next to a Porsche turbo. Both have something in common other than being from Studgart, and that is the ability, and in my case a realised ability, to get you booted off the roads for a chunk of time.

From here, you can take a lovely run over the A83 and come off at the signs for Dunoon and follow the route through the Argyll Forrest.

Here is the view at Strachur...


_DSC0940 by [email protected], on Flickr

And further along the route to Dunoon you get this view


_DSC0972 by [email protected], on Flickr

The roads an absolute belter, albiet I wasn't pushing as I am very chastened and the fear of invoking the wrath of the law is too much to take. But you can still enjoy driving at 60 and even below. I've gone along here over 90 in my days and its a popular bikers route, and the bobby cars were out nabbing them.

Don't speed, you will be caught and the police 330d was doing a roaring trade in FPNs.

A popular run of mine is to Colintraive, and its an easy one from Dunoon.

Here is the hero shot, of the hero of the day


_DSC0981 by [email protected], on Flickr

The cars being taken off its cherished plate, which will be put on retention for my next car. I've decided its best to sell it, the car would deteriorate without being driven and also depreciate. Its most sensible to cut my losses and take a reasonable offer of £11700 for it, save it and see whats out there.

I'm in two minds about the C class. On the smaller roads up here its a godsend, and not just because I drive in a spirited way, but the smaller size means its less oo errr when something is oncoming the other way or a little over the white lines. But, its not a comfortable car particularly, its engine is not that refined and the trim (not the spec) is a tad lousy but it is solid and robust but its very utilitarian.

Given once I get my driving privildges back, I won't be cornering with as much vigour, the things that my car is bad at will irritate more and the things its very good at it will not get the oppertunity to impress.

I'd love a shooting brake, but I will not be able to afford one. I don't want a 4 clyinder car particularly if I can help it so an E350 estate (or saloon) would be fine. But the insurance will be steeper, so it could be another 204, but I am aiming for the E class again.

Colintraive was pleasant and I sat on the beach and mulled things over, as I knew this was the last time I would be here (by myself anyway) for a long long time. And that is a galling thing, I liked being able to go here when I wanted.

I hung around at Loch Eck for a bit hoping as the evening would draw in, the water would calm it....it did not and I never got my reflection shot I wanted


_DSC1011 by [email protected], on Flickr

I headed back and took one last sunset at St Catherines


_DSC1020 by [email protected], on Flickr

Total MPG for the trip


_DSC1026 by [email protected], on Flickr

And a farewell to probably the best car I have ever had.

Yes it had its faults, firm ride, poor trim but it was fun in a way no diesel estate had any right to be, cost naff all to run and insure (until I did that stunt on the motorway) and was very practical. My only gripe was on long runs and motorways that I do quite a number of miles on it was a bit hard and uncomfortable but still tolerable.

I'd recommend a 204 to anyone, and I'd probably get one again, but I'm aiming for that 212 as the comfort will be better for my law abiding motoring future. And the extra space will be nice.

 

[Noodles]

I am going to miss your posts a lot.

That is a harsh penalty for just cruising on very well made roads. Like so many others I fell the UK has gone to a system since the 80s that is a wild swing to being way to heavy handed on the M roads. You and I know when they were built there were no posted limits on most of them.

Here depending on a persons driving record there may have been jail time involved and a felony criminal record involved at that speed.

I am guessing your barrister did all he/she could to mitigate the penalty, but I know they have really cracked down on driving offenses since I left the UK in the 80s.

 

[st4]

Thanks...

Its similar here, had I been a previously convicted of a serious motoring offence or had a criminal record, I too would have been jailed. It was touch and go that I was not, as my lawyer advised such a high speed could get me jailed and its so much faster than the norm.

However, the lack of aggrivating factors, not DUI, co-operation with the law and light traffic good weather helped mitigate a bad situation from a disatrous one.

The only reason we have posted limits on the Mways was a tempory measure to save fuel in the oil crisis...but, its a lot busier now and they never went away.

138mph in a 70 is as we know severely taking the p155 so in that sense the penalty is ok. but its a long time and I will miss driving, a lot.

 

[Noodles]

I am pretty sure I would have at least gone into the county jail and have had to call my wife to bail me out for $500-$1000 out while waiting for the legal process to fall into place.

The outcome in my state would have been at least 6 months to a year revoked. Revocation is considered more serious than a suspension and will really toss the next insurance premiums into a whole new level of pain. A huge fine and of course legal fees go without saying.
One state south of us in Illinois the cops are supposed to haul anybody going more than 30mph over the limit off to jail. It rarely happens. The cops are lazy and write it as 25 over so they do not have to fill out an arrest report.

Please come and visit the site even if you are getting rid of the E class estate. I understand why. Car ownership and upkeep is so expensive there that you can save a ton of money by getting out from underneath the car for 20 months.

 

[st4]

I've got no-one to drive the car, other than my father, and reckon in my time off the road it will depreciate by around £3k-£4k and to insure him to drive it is £800pa and I'd need to do that twice.

Your system sounds quite similar to ours, you can get short bans in England and Wales of 56days etc and a lesser charge of careless driving which is a few months. They reserve dangerous driving for more serious transgressions of the law for things like what I have done.

I'll drop by the site and the UK sites from time to time. I'm buy another Mercedes, another 204 or maybe a 212 and maybe even a petrol motor, which this site has a lot of info on.

 

[Noodles]

It is good to hear you will drop in when you can.

When I was living in Surrey my 15 year old brother took my mom's Buick Century Estate(yes my father decided to import it to the UK) out for a joyride. Not once, but twice and got busted both times. The second time it almost cost my father his work permit.
Needless to say my brother was told he would not even get a learners permit until he was 18 due to his wild actions. I think they actually went easy on him.
I did learn to drive in the UK and also took driver's ed in the US and the way it is done in the UK is much safer.

 

[st4]

Its quite strict on DUI and speeding, but the French are very vicious on motoring transgressions. Don'y even consider speeding there.

Here is a case of a speeding driver getting a 3yr ban, no jail though

Banned driver caught speeding at 165mph tells court: 'I'll still drive, catch me if you can' - Mirror Online

 

[xrayaz]

Sorry to hear your story mate - my heart goes out to you. Don't know what I would do without a car for even a week.

Feeling your pain
Michael in Arizona