Demonizing the Demon (Again)

Guest Post by Eric Peters

People who are jealous of their right to own firearms know how important it is to mercilessly stomp even the slightest suggestion that their right to own a gun be restricted in some manner, no matter how trivial.

Because the principle at stake is critical.

If it is acceptable to chip away at a right because of this – then surely that will follow. It is like the income tax, which people were assured would apply only to “the rich” when it was first proposed.

Now, of course, it applies to everyone.

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Because the principle of taxing people’s earnings was accepted. Once accepted, it was hard to make a principled argument against taxing anyone’s income.

Which brings us to Larry Vellequette.

This guy – a writer for Automotive News – is having a conniption fit over the Dodge Demon.

He believes it is too powerful, too fast; that it is irresponsible for the government to allow people to own it.

And yes, it is powerful – 840 hp.

And it is extremely fast – capable of a single digit quarter-mile run.

But his argument amounts to the same argument used to peddle the income tax – as well as attempts to enact “sensible” restrictions of the right to possess firearms.

Does anyone need 840 hp?

Does anyone need a rifle that holds more than one bullet?

A current-year V6-powered family sedan is quicker and faster than most Ferraris and Porsches were back in the ‘70s. How many families need such performance?

Is it not . . . dangerous?

Any modern sport bike is at least as quick as the Demon – and they are priced such that almost anyone can afford to buy one.

No air bags, either.

Vellequette “…take(s) great issue with the nearly treadless Nitto drag radials that come standard on the $86,090 Challenger SRT Demon.” He sweats their single-minded design, which – though DOT street legal – makes them not-so-great in wet and wintry conditions.

Well, why not also “take issue” with the “summer” ultra-performance tires that are just as single-minded and compromised and also commonly available as factory equipment on numerous other cars?

And have been for years?

Vellequette quotes the paperwork that comes with the Demon: “Drag tires are not recommended for driving in wet weather conditions where there is a risk of hydroplaning.” He also mentioned the very short tread life, a function of the soft compound used to make the tires.

The same warnings accompany “summer” tires – as well as other purpose-specific equipment. Why no warblings from Vellequette about that?

Wait.

He also “took issue with the Demon’s launch control” – an electronic feature that numerous other performance cars also have and which does exactly what it sounds like it does. It uses the car’s electronic systems – in particular, the traction control – to modulate the engine’s power delivery for the smoothest/quickest launch and maximum acceleration.

It is a safety system, designed to keep the car under control vs. fishtailing all over the road.

Vellequette regards this as “unconscionable.”

I find his ignorance even more so – almost as much as his condescension.

Vellequette  does not think it should be “allowed.”

Instead, he favors “ . . . a two minute delay before the launch control would be fully engaged. “ That way, the driver could launch the car in an uncontrolled manner.

This guy – an automotive journalist writing for a publication called Automotive News – does not understand what launch control is. Much less how it works. His worry is that with launch control, “consumers” (loathsome word, suggestive of Jabba The Hut-like creatures gorging at a trough) will be able to “unleash the Demon’s full horsepower every time they pull up next to a Corvette or a Tesla.”

Well, Larry, here’s some news for you: The Demons’ full horsepower is fully available with the launch control off. The system merely optimizes the rest of the car to take fullest advantage of it. It is designed specifically to limit wheelspin – which is the enemy of acceleration – in order to keep the car pointed straight rather than going sideways.

In other words, the car is safer with the launch control engaged.

Vellequette’s editors apparently don’t know this news, either.

PS: The Corvette also has launch control. As do most modern high-performance cars. Larry apparently doesn’t get out much.

He goes on to bemoan “… amateurs who endanger the motoring public every time their manhoods (are) challenged at a stoplight.”

Sounds like Nancy Pelosi talking about firearms, doesn’t it?

And he is just as dangerous.

If the principle that a car more powerful/faster than people “need” (that “need” to be determined, one assumes, by experts such as Larry Vellequette and his like within the government) isn’t stomped to below pavement level before it gets a chance to grab traction, it is as inevitable as the income tax and every other such infringement that, before long, we won’t be allowed to drive anything more potent than a Prius.

Send Automotive News mail. Most especially, Larry Vellequette’s editors.

It’s time they got an earful from us “consumers.”