American Autobahn: The Road to an Interstate Freeway With No Speed Limit - Hardcover

Rask, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0966913604 ISBN 13: 9780966913606

Publisher: Vanguard Non-Fiction Books, 1999

Synopsis

After 12 years of research, plus thousands of miles driving Germany's Autobahn , Rask, a lifelong automotive and racing enthusiast, exposes half-truths and myths about the speed factor in traffic accidents in America. He analyzes the combination of safety and speed on the Autobahn and offers an exciting new direction for America's interstates that would make speeds of 100 mph or more commonplace on open stretches of rural freeway, with far greater safety than ever imagined at 55 mph. Includes b&w photos of highways and vehicles. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

About the Author

Mark Rask is a lifelong automotive and racing enthusiast. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and a German language certificate from the University of Eichstaett, Germany. After twelve years of research, plus thousands of miles driving the Autobahn and interstate, Mark has written a tour de force--a book that will forever change how we think about the automobile, driving and safety. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

From the Back Cover

Each year thousands of people are killed on this nation's highways- many more injured and disabled. The reason for this continued death and suffering is an attitude of ignorance and apathy that allows federal and state safety programs to be either ill-conceived, ineptly handled or nonexistent.

AMERICAN AUTOBAHN takes a tough but enthusiastic look at the state of American highway safety, exposing the half-truths and myths about the single most misunderstood factor in traffic accidents today- Speed.

AMERICAN AUTOBAHN analyzes the dramatic combination of safety and speed on the German Autobahn and offers an exciting, new direction for America's interstate that would make speeds of 100 mph, or more, commonplace on open stretches of rural freeway beyond the year 2000- with far greater safety than ever imagined at 55 mph.

AMERICAN AUTOBAHN will challenge everything you thought you knew about saving lives on the road.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

This was paradise. The BMW simply ate up the miles--ah-- kilometers.

The steering and suspension allowed me to sweep the car through long, drawn-out curves at top speed with no wheel wander, precisely placing it in the center of the lane. After a half hour at this speed, I felt comfortable and relaxed, taking in an occasional glance at the lush, green hillsides that the Autobahn cut through with double-time efficiency. But there was one thing missing. Catching up with myself, I popped a cassette into the deck. For most, fulfilling a high-speed fantasy like this would probably cause them to rock to the classic strains of Springsteen's Born to Run or a hundred other rock-and-roll road songs.

I drive to a different, more timeless beat, adding to the exhilaration of driving over 100 mph by taking Beethoven's music and Schiller's poetry to a new level they probably never dreamed of: Laufet, Brueder, eure Bahn. Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen! (Run, brothers, down your roa! d. Joyfully, like a hero to victory.) In their homeland, I had finally achieved what I had long been searching for: A road and a government that permitted me--playing by its rules--to drive as fast as I wanted.

from Chapter Three...

Edition details

• Publisher: Vanguard Non-Fiction Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0966913604
• ISBN 13: 9780966913606
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Stehrenberger Mark
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 296