Semi stopped near bottom of the hill. Much smoke.

Two gallons of water too cool of brakes, now thats funny!

 

No, the speed limit is 60mph for passenger vehicles, for vehicles over 26,000 lbs it is 35 mph on Eisenhower, 45 mph on Vail. Yes, Colorado has looked at raising the limit to 65 mph. However, we have too many idiots driving in Colorado, esp. those who like to bash into trees in the winter who don't grasp what slow speeds are for in the winter. There are already enough accidents caused by speeding 4-wheelers on I-70 in the winter, we don't need to encourage them.

I've been told that it will hurt them and I've been told it won't.

those parking areas are also the reason why Colorado has put up those DO NOT EXIT IF YOUR BRAKES ARE SMOKING signs. One maroon tried to exit at Georgetown a few years back.

 

I didn't know about the goergetown incident, did he survive?

 

don't recall if he did or not, I know he killed a bystander and sent some people to the hospital. When you come off G-town hill, he hit the ramp, laid on his horns, cleared the intersection, then hit the concrete retaining wall beside the Diamond Shamrock. This was about 5 ro 6 yrs back.

 

Video somewhat related: http://www.wimp.com/frictionpower/

Friction welding is possible, but I dunno if the temperatures achieved in brake/drum contact is enough to achieve it. I'm no expert by any means, so I'll leave the debate to the experts.

 

A bit of advice for those who haven't done any mountain driving, and don't understand what the hills can do to you.

Just because the speed limit is 45 on Vail Pass doesn't mean that it is safe for you to go that fast. You may need to go slower because of your load. That is why they have graduated speed limits on Wolf Creek Pass. It is posted that if you are - I believe it is 75K - then your speed limit is 11 mph instead of the 25 for lighter loads and 45 for the 4 wheelers. (There are actually several speed limits posted, all depending on your weight)

Had a flat bed pass me going down the hill from Eisenhower a few months ago - loaded with rolls of chain link fence. He blew by me doing about 45-50 in a 35 mph zone......and he was riding his brakes all the way. I passed him going up Vail, and wondered if he would make it to the bottom of the hill without killing himself. Sure enough, shortly after I start down the hill, he blows by again. I passed him just before the last elevated section. He was on the shoulder, looking at the smoke pouring out from his tandems, and scratching his head in wonder.

I've heard that God protects fools. Guess it was his lucky day.

 

Jarhead, I see a lot of those guys as well, watched one this morning on Eisenhower. Guess he thought that since I was doing 55 mph off it that he could as well, one difference, I was empty running full jakes and never touched my brakes til I was ready to exit at Silverthorne. He was loaded, lots of smoke. Seems we have a truck fire at least twice a week on the west side of town from trucks coming off Genesse too #### fast. Hence the reason CSP has been doing a major crackdown for the last week, limit is 35, they will give 10 if they think your empty, if they see a seal on the back of a van, you better be doing 35 or you'll get a ticket.

 

I saw another one today myself. Going west down Vail Pass, it was a cone zone, single lane for about 6.5 miles. 45 mph speed limit. No big deal. There was a big truck limping through Vail when I got there that was POURING smoke from the trailer tandems.

THINK people. If you are having to ride your brakes going down a hill, YOU NEED TO DOWNSHIFT A GEAR OR TWO!!!!!! You need to realize this situation early enough so you have enough brake to slow you down sufficiently to down shift. Once they get hot, it's too ###### late!!!

Also, remember, you can always grab a higher gear if you start out too low. But if you start out too high, your next attempt at dropping a gear may be your last. And with winter coming on, it is even MORE important to get it in the right gear. TRUST me, you REALLY don't want to be in too high of a gear when the roads are covered in ice and snow!!!

Personally, I wish CSP would crack down even more, and work Vail was well. Too many idiots and newbies out there who are dead set on killing themselves and causing as much collateral damage as possible.

 

In my experience, the noobs aren't nearly the problem the overconfident 3-to-7-year drivers are. And guess what? I'm right in the middle of that experience spread. But not overconfident. Still pretty cautious. I'm addicted to moving air.

 

I agree with you Injun. That is about the time some of the driver's start thinking they "know it all," and "have it all mastered." Most of the newbies, particularly if they are not from a mountainous environment have plenty of respect for those mountain passes.