MTR CTY, an auto-related blog, posted a story about a driver driving top-down in blizzard conditions in Detroit. Subsequently, the story was picked up by Jalopnik and has since spread across the blogosphere. Typical comments have centered around how awesome it is to go out and do what no other person would even dare to do. The story made it to several of our forums and a little digging ensued to try and identify who this was.
As it turns out the person driving around with the awesome licence plate that reads “NURBURG” is laurensdejong, a member of our Upper Mid-West S2000 Owners forum. This is not the first time that he has made the news. In the past too, he has attracted attention although back then, he did not receive many charitable comments.
Safe or unsafe, it is one’s personal choice to drive their car any way they see fit as long as they are driving it within the line drawn in the sand by the law. While it probably caused some rubberneckers to get some exercise and blink their eyes in disbelief, we see no reason why they can’t keep their consternation to themselves.
In his own words, “For me, every day is a perfect day to drive with the top down. You don’t get to one thousand and seventy straight days with the top down if you think seven degrees Fahrenheit below zero is no good, or rain, sleet, or snow is no good“. Who could argue with that?
Here was a car guy, that was out and about having fun on his commute and that is the way we see it. What about you? Do you see it any differently? After all the storm had no name, so why keep the top up at all?
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Source: MTRCTY and Jalopnik who were in turn inspired by one our own.
Image courtesy of laurensdejong
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on Feb 21st, 2011 at 4:30 pm
I too, have driven top-down in the snow. On one great occasion, it was through Sequoia National Park, it was really surreal! The guy at the gate looked at me like I was nuts, but how better to get the full effect of those HUGE trees towering over the narrow 2-lane road than with the top down???
on Feb 21st, 2011 at 6:02 pm
I guess this isn’t too much of a shocker to me and many other guys in the Louisville, KY area because we have been riding with out tops down throughout winter and it’s a normal thing around here. Not saying that we don’t get the looks and weird reactions from people passing by, or even the occasional thumbs up and smiles. I guess in the end, I say “top down always”!
on Feb 21st, 2011 at 8:33 pm
@Mason (02 ap1) – never knew Louisville got as much snow as Detroit. This guy was driving through 10 inches in Detroit.
http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2011/02/xlarge_snow1.jpg
on Feb 21st, 2011 at 11:33 pm
A pair of glove is not an option but mandatory
on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 1:41 am
how the heck do you stay dry?
on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 8:05 am
You don’t, you just keep towels handy lol.
I live in georgia, so not many opportunities to drive top down in the snow, but I am top down %95+ percent of the time, so I’ve had my share of fun in the rain, and even some sleet lol.
And yeah… when it’s below freezing, gloves are really nice to have lol.
on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Hey, I’ve driven in early Spring and Late Fall with the top lowered and the heat on and throughly enjoyed it. This however is off the top! But at least he’s got a good set of snow tires on his S!
on Feb 22nd, 2011 at 4:18 pm
This winter we have gotten quite a bit of snow, but normally we don’t… But ill give the guy props… it takes a lot to drop the top when it’s below freezing… I was cruising the freeways in 19 degree weather with the top dropped.
on Feb 23rd, 2011 at 6:46 am
The S2ki community wants to know what his snow tire of choice is…
on Feb 24th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
This guy takes the cake, literally……..idiot of the year, he not only endangers himself, but others as well…..not cool at all!!
on Feb 25th, 2011 at 7:06 am
@Bigfoot: How exactly is he endangering himself and others? If he was out driving with the top up it would be the same as driving with the top down. He’s just driving. I don’t suspect you call everyone that drives in the snow an idiot, do you?
I give this guy props, enjoying the top down on any day is a refreshing experience. I myself have done many a winter day drives with the top down. Just dress accordingly and blast that heat.