I just did 167 mph on Highway 167
(more on that later). The experience was surreal.
It was Monday afternoon at about 1 pm. Highway 167 is a 2 lane country highway, straight for about 50 miles, unlimited visibility. I will NEVER try that kind of speed if I had to also contend with curves, so a straight run was of paramount consideration.
I was out for the speed sensation more than the acceleration rush. I reached 167 mph on 6th gear at approximately 5,800 rpm. Too tense to look so I'm not sure about that. I could feel the car yearning to go faster (I have the Dinan chip so it will go above 155), but the tunnel vision scared the devil out of me. The road was coming towards me in gops even though I was looking strictly at the distant horizon. I eased off the gas and took a few minutes to coast down to 100 mph. (Better be safe than never be able to write you all about this). My companion tried to take a picture of the speedometer at 167 mph, but he couldn't keep his hands steady because of the speed (and he told me he was scared also). He had a couple shots of the speedometer at 140 mph though.
I can tell you that, perceptionally, 167 mph was A WHOLE LOT faster than 140. I did not have tunnel vision problems at 140, which I reached and mainted for stretches. Now I don't know if I'd ever have the nerve to go close to 185, which is supposedly the limit for the M5. From the feel, I have little doubt that it can get there. Driving-wise, the car was very stable and truely pulling strong at 167 mph. The road grip was devine with very little lift. However, at the end of the run, my adrenaline level was so high my hands were shaking while my heart was pounding away in my throat. I did an U-turn and my companion drove back.
Now Highway 167 is God's gift to M5s, or cars of that ilk. It lies on the east side of Yosemite on a primarily east-west direction. It goes straignt from Mono City (at the western tip of Mono Lake) towards Nevada, skirting the north shore on Mono Lake. It's elevation is roughly 6,000 ft so it does sap a few horses from the engine. But it doesn't get very hot there either, so the chances of heat-buildup related tire blow out should be lower.
It is a 2 lane, VERY, VERY, lonely country road off Highway 395, and I would not expect to see CHPS there. If they were, you can see them from miles away (both directions). It is straight as an arrow, and WIDE, WIDE open, with almost unlimited visibility. There are a few humps on the road, so I would suggest you make your runs after you reconned the road first. In any case, if any of you guys can get there and would like to see what your beast can do, I can think of few places that offer this combination of curve-free, cop-free, traffic-free heaven for 50 miles.
While I was out for speed and not acceleration, you certainly can do anything you want there as the road is so empty.
So go out there and enjoy you beast, it's an incomparable car. Know your limits and BE SAFE!!
167 mph on Highway 167
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