In your interpretation of this scene, was Marty trying to outrun the Lybians or time travel away from them?
If you say he's outrunning them, why is he headed directly for the photo booth?
If say he's time traveling away, why is he gunning for 90 and then why is he shocked what happens?
I'd not noticed it before no matter how many times I'd seen it, but there's a bit where Marty accidentally turns the time circuits on when trying to escape from the terrorists.
So, he wasn't trying to time travel, just outrun them by going as fast as possible.
That's how I took it too.
But then it seems odd that he's aiming directly for the photo booth thats up on some curbing.
Maybe to swerve at the last moment, and lead the pursuers into it.
Like how in the Blue Thunder helicopter LA river chase Murphy heads for the bridge pylon and then turns at the last moment to get the pursuing police helicopter to crash into it.
Marty is just trying to get away from the terrorists, blindfolded. He happens to time travel in the process, and I think that he doesn't notice the booth because of his extreme panic. If the boy had the intention to drive to the past, then he wouldn't give a sentence about outdoing the Libyans. Even with preparation, anyone would be shocked to suddenly land three decades into history. It's the type of event that a person needs to witness to believe.
shareI never considered that Marty might be trying to hit the time travel speed , ever , until i read your post .
I noted more that 90 was considered getaway (or max) speed by Marty.
I only realise as I type that he has just seen the car do 88 so thats where he's getting the number
Getting up to 88 in a parkling lot is pretty impressive now I think about it. same for the town square later on , but they didnt have a choice of venue for that one.
It was pretty clear he was just trying to outrun the bad guys. The rest is just movie fun without any real logic.
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