smythie

 

^But Tony, surely they'd have some computer-related technology that gives a precise reading of the time? When I drive over those white markings, I can feel there is something under it (wires, sensors?). Presumably that can be linked to equipment in the plane. 

The article doesn't go into specifics but I would hope it'll be more precise than a Highway Patrol officer sitting in a plane with a stop watch round his neck going "one potato, two potato, three potato..."  

For the sake of the infringement notices holding up in court you'd think they would be using something a bit more reliable and accurate. Like you say, the document doesn't go into details, just mentions a "timing system"



As for something being under the paint markings, don't forget that the paint markings themselves will have a thickness on top of the surface. I might just have to wander out that way one night....

This was tried 10 years or so ago on the Mid Western Hwy out of Bathurst. Wasn't effective then, even in the slightest. I'd be surprised if it will be effective now. All someone would have to do is question the accuracy of the officer running the stopwatch and it would be run out of court. Ref: hand timing in athletics. Inconsistent at the best of times. And that's with well practiced timekeepers who are not moving in relation to the reference points that they are timing athletes against. You can bet that the "highway patrol officer" they have in the plane operating the stopwatch will be inexperienced in getting (reasonably) repeatable times, probably only timed his kids at the track and wondered why the electronic timing "was a second or two out". The officer also has to deal with a fair bit of parallax error not being on the scene at the timing points. Then the officer has to deal with a not necessarily smooth ride in the plane. In short, I reckon their accuracy will be at best +/- 5% but it could easily blow out further than that

My current PP2's had no trouble in the wet in October last year on my annual pilgrimage. Passed plenty of bikes and a couple of (slowly driven) porsches. I was driving slower simply because it was wet though but no moments that I can remember, including a very leaf and stick littered run down reefton. They also did bloody well in the damp patches last Saturday when Audrey was following Sam and Paul on the Putty

 Mods going bad? yeah, just wait till they get sloshed and log onto a forum and see what happens    Troubleshooting on the old VL years ago, had the dizzy out and in a few times. One time I managed to get it a few teeth out on the cam. Didn't want to start after half a minute of cranking. Pulled it out and got it back in the right spot. Cranked the engine again and BANG! Blew the arse out of the muffler. Hindsight revealed it had dumped a heap of unburnt fuel in the exhaust with the ignition timing way out and when I tried starting it (with the timing right again) the heat of the properly burnt exhaust gases ignited it. Ears rang for an hour. Parents and brother came running up the yard to find out if I'd killed myself. Dogs went off their brains. The half hour drive into town to fix the exhaust required ear plugs Good excuse to get the headers and 2.5" exhaust though   

have tried the Advan V103 and Michelin Pilot Preceda 2 on my Gen 4 (215/45R18). I'd rate the Advan a touch better though prone to be louder. Wore quicker too. But at $325 vs $400 for the (now discontinued) Michelin I reckon it was much better BFYB. Have read some fantastic prices for the new Michelin PS3 too though they were for less obscure sizes than the one Subaru lumped the Spec B with