Drafting on the racetrack is acceptable and benefits racers, but it’s just plain stupid on the highway. Period.
What happens if the lead vehicle suddenly needs to stop? What if you’re in dense traffic? Now other people
are at risk all because you want to imitate Dale Earnhardt Jr. I have seen cars literally destroyed because they
slammed into the rear of a semi they were “drafting” behind. While the truck sustained little damage, the
unfortunate people in the car lost their lives. Drafting is dangerous and of no benefit to regular drivers. Leave
this dangerous practice to racecar drivers, where it belongs.
Pulling a Fishtail
The other day I was waiting at a stoplight and heard the most annoying noise
you can imagine. This guy was driving a small pickup truck, and he gunned it as
he turned the corner. It was on a wet road surface so the rear wheels spun and the
rear end of the truck fishtailed with him smiling behind the wheel as he
lumbered down the highway (sped off would not be an accurate statement
because the truck had a small four-cylinder engine in it). What happened if the
truck spun out in that crowded intersection? What kind of damage would he
have done to his truck and the other cars? If there was snow on the ground and
he had hit a curb that was hiding under that snow, he would have pulverized the
suspension and drivetrain (not to mention the wheel and axle damage he could
have sustained). I have seen vehicular undercarriages literally destroyed from
this type of abuse. Bad practice; stay away from it.
Well, that does it from me. ‘Til next time, keep rollin’!