Botang Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 135MPH DRIVER IS BANNED Dec 21 2004 A TEST driver was clocked at 135mph during a 13-mile pursuit by police on one of the country's most notorious roads. When Anthony Franklin was caught, after weaving in and out of traffic, he claimed his bosses had told him to drive the Audi A6 4.2litre Quattro 1000 miles in a day. The fleet tester told Perth Sheriff Court that he had left Oxfordshire at 8.30am and was planning to drive to Aviemore and back. Police clocked him near Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire, but struggled to keep up with the £43,000 car, which has a top speed of 156mph and can go from zero to60mph in six seconds. Police said he appeared to have placed the trade number plates flat inside the car so they would not be picked up by speed cameras. Franklin, who had been working for fleet managers QEK Global Solutions for three weeks, said: 'It is a very powerful car and it accelerates very quickly. 'I was told I was expected to complete the job in a day. It seemed impossible. 'I don't believe the manner in which I drove was dangerous. 'I was extremely alert. I am sorry for the offence I committed. I can't say I didn't enjoy the car .' Franklin, 33, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, accepted he was driving at 135mph but denied that he was driving dangerously. He was found guilty, banned from driving for two years and fined £400. Sheriff Robert McCreadie said: 'It borders on disbelief that you could be driving at such a high speed on such a dangerous road like the A9. Daily Record Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Ooops! Is this good or bad publicity for the new A6?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 Aye, might have got away with a 6month / 12 month ban had it been another road but the A9 is a killer road is some places, not wise to boost along it at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted December 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 I liked this bit [ QUOTE ] Police clocked him near Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire, but struggled to keep up with the £43,000 car [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 SixDegrees / R32 North, you live in that neck of the woods don't you? A9 is an outstanding road but never experienced it in winter and probably don't want to after reading comments mentioned from yourself and others previously. Left holiday cottage in Inverness to return home to Bedford at around 6am one Sat summer 2003 and went for it... but still didn't break 100 despite perfect conditions, minimal traffic and daylight (we had printed out a list of all the fixed-camera-sites before departure btw). Imagine the openess of the Edinburgh Aviemore stretch must turn it into an ice rink at this time of year? Audi Test Pilot Ian C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 [ QUOTE ] When Anthony Franklin was caught, after weaving in and out of traffic [/ QUOTE ] I think this probably has a lot to do with the ban duration. The beak might have been a bit more lenient on an empty road perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossG Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 One of my friends drove to Pitlochry today - which is just 50 odd miles north of Perth. he was comemnting to me that there was a disproportionate amnount of traffic cars and speed traps between Perth and Pitlochry - and he is a Policeman!! The problem with the A9 is that it is a wide sweeping two way road. On a clear morning with no traffic it could be driven very very quickly - but the weahter conditions on it can be awful - and very changeable, and there is a significant amount of traffic using it. A nayural gait on it is 80mph - although even this speed is just too risky with the amount of cops on. But then again - its accident rate is awful and the cops are deadly serious about slowing people down. Oh - and if he was caught within the last few days the chances are that the temp was nearly freezing and there was snow about - because there certainly was this morning - so chance are he was being a trifle silly for the conditions Still, a TWO year ban? I don't know what I would do if that were me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32North Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 [ QUOTE ] SixDegrees / R32 North, you live in that neck of the woods don't you? A9 is an outstanding road but never experienced it in winter and probably don't want to after reading comments mentioned from yourself and others previously. Left holiday cottage in Inverness to return home to Bedford at around 6am one Sat summer 2003 and went for it... but still didn't break 100 despite perfect conditions, minimal traffic and daylight (we had printed out a list of all the fixed-camera-sites before departure btw). Imagine the openess of the Edinburgh Aviemore stretch must turn it into an ice rink at this time of year? Audi Test Pilot Ian C [/ QUOTE ] I live just outside Edinburgh, but travel along the A9 sometimes when I'm heading to Perth / Dundee. Don't even bother with it when its winter cos its exposed, bad visibility, steep swooping sections, etc etc...... as you say on a nice clear, perfect conditions type day its a fine road but when the weather turns its Tarmac Hell !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 I've done 105 on that stretch - but agree it's a bit much to hurtle along it at 135mph. Granted, it was busy when I did - but I still reserve 135mph for the M1.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 [ QUOTE ] Granted, it was busy when I did - but I still reserve 135mph for the M1.. [/ QUOTE ] Thats strange, I thought the speed limit was 70 mph ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted December 21, 2004 Report Share Posted December 21, 2004 You take the p£ss, you get what's coming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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