Via Instapundit, comes an article in the SF Chronicle about driving 55 miles per hour and saving gas. Suffice it to say, that I'm very familiar with the drive that the editors made, especially the 60 mile treck from San Francisco to Tracy. And to compare the two different directions on speed alone is completely disingenous. For one, there is a pass between the origin and destination. Over this pass, the eastbound descent is more gradual, and allows for less braking (much less braking) and a better recovery of Potential Energy. The westerly descent is steeper and typically requires greater breaking.
Perhaps even worse...it's a pass, it's the altamont pass...and if you've ever driven over the Altamont pass you are completely aware of the fact that there are what O a gazillion windmills over the pass. And that wind travels from west to east...Hmm, could it help that oh say for one way they got a pretty substantial tailwind, and the other direction a substantial headwind? I suppose they have no clue about how drag is computed, well they probably do, but seeing as velocity (comparitive velocity to the liquid) is squared the difference of a substantial head vs. tail wind would be quite significant. Suffice it to say, this staff writer, and his editor, are completely off the mark.
Posted by Joel at October 22, 2005 11:20 AM | TrackBackDoing 55 on the 5 through the Cental Valley is also quite dangerous unless you're in a very visible vehicle. I've done over 90 for miles and miles when I had a lead and a follow car.
Posted by: TLB at October 27, 2005 12:20 PM (Permalink)