The other day we drove from Salt Lake City to Wendover, NV. Take a look at the satellite view of the route. The big white spot, outside of Wendover, is the salt flats, where they race cars. There’s a section of I-80 about 50 miles long that’s perfectly straight, new and in great shape with very little traffic.

2009 Infinity G37x (Nissan Skyline)

My wife acquiesced to my request to have fun with the car. With the only traffic a mile or so ahead, I clicked the transmission into sport mode and lit the afterburners. I’d had the cruise control at 88, the speed limit is 75. I’ve talked with a highway patrol officer in Wendover (at the blackjack table) who said they really don’t pull people over unless they’re going over 100 out there.

The car leapt from 88 to 120 in a heartbeat, a few seconds at most. At around 125-130, it started to labor a little. I kept it floored. We were doing about 130 when we passed the semi-truck. The car is electronically limited to 147. When I hit 140 my adrenaline told me to let go. It took surprisingly long to go from 140 to back under 90, and a little longer for my heart rate to return to normal.

I don’t drive my car fast all the time, but do enjoy spirited jolts now and then. 140 is now the fastest I’ve been in a car. My brother’s hot rod ’66 Mustang had taken me to 135 many years ago behind the airport and I’ve been to at about 138 in a BMW on the German autobahn.

P.S. Don’t try this at home.