luck or skill?

k9handler · 10-03-2003, 11:47 PM

Below is a graphic of what happened to me on the way to work yesterday morning. I am not very good with the graphics so don't tease me too much.

I can't help but think how this could have gone wrong...and thet I am really lucky to escape without any damage or injuries since there was morning traffic present (07:30 am). The only thing I really have good to say is I do feel thet since I have spun the car on the track and at Autox events before it helped me stay somewhat calm and not to panic. Could this have been avoided? Yep...I was going just a little too fast for conditions.

This a duplicate post from GruppeB Forums

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

"The force is strong in that one..."

Did you just throw your underwear away when you got home?

As Jackie Gleason would have said it, "That there's an attention getter..."
Ryan

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

i once had a similar stroke of luck with a Renault Megane 1800 Diesel during heavy traffic when i was doing75mph on a flat piece of highway joining another 3lane highway
i made a perfect 360 inbetween traffic and ended up exactly on the left lane of the other highway. people honking their horn al around me.
i thought nobody would believe me at work, but somebody from work was like 150 feet behind me and witnessed the whole thing...

in the words of Elvis, i was all shook up

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Check your rear tires closely for wear. I spun my car like that about 6 months after I got it. It had just rained a little bit and I turned on to a road at about the same angle as you. As I sped up and shifted into second the rear tires broke loose.

I did a 540 spin and landed in some grass (very lucky). Later I inspected my rear tires and they were worn more than I had realized. Because of the camber on the wheels the wear was a little more to the inside of the tire and since the car sits so low I had not noticed.

Needless to say I went out the next week and bought tires

k9handler · 10-04-2003, 01:47 AM

Jerry, I did go out and inspect the tires for wear...no signs other than normal for tires with 5000 miles on them.

Ryan, yeah the force was with me on this one...and I am not looking forward to any sequals.

dean · 10-04-2003, 03:21 AM

Did you let off the gas hard in the corner? That would do it

k9handler · 10-04-2003, 03:40 AM

Dean, I was not on the gas in the corner at all...I braked before the turn and was allowing the car to just flow through the corner, once the rear started to go I steered into the slide and drifted as much as possible until the rear just went too far to control. I then used the brakes to bring it around and used the steering to avoid the guardrail as in the diagram.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

I was going just a little too fast for conditions

You just discovered the primary reason why Porsche went to differentially sized tires.

Using the same skinny tires all around is great fun, but not fast.

Jim Smolka · 10-04-2003, 04:22 AM

Glad you are OK.

If you were not on the gas then enterance speed was too fast.

In the rain, the whole trick is to be smooth. First complete all braking before the turn. Then gently turn in and apply a small amount of throttle through the turn. Avoid any sudden inputs with the steering wheel. As you exit the curve apply slightly more throttle

Vipergrün · 10-04-2003, 07:20 AM

Wow, scary situation! I had a little slide action the other day transitioning from an off-ramp to the main road. There was a heavy mist and the road was pretty damp. When I felt the back end kick out, I steered into it, then blipped the throttle to get the weight back over the rear tires and it worked out fine.

I'd say you are pretty *lucky* you didn't munge both sides of your car.

Be careful out there!

-B

KevinP73 · 10-04-2003, 08:14 AM

Having seen what some people can do in far less demanding situations, I'd have to say that there was enough skill involved to be a positive influence on the event. I have little doubt you looked about with your best PeeWee Herman "I meant to do that" look. Glad to hear you escaped without any damage.

masraum · 10-04-2003, 08:22 AM

Wow, it's great that you and the car are not bent. The only thing that I can think (besides going slower) is that being in the gas a little might have helped since in our cars getting in the gas some transfers more weight to the rear and gives more traction. I think coasting is the low impact equivalent of braking since there is some amount of engine braking.

Dantilla · 10-04-2003, 08:32 AM

Skill, man. Pure skill!
That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

TSNAPCRACKLEPOP · TSNAPCRACKLEPOP's Garage

wow, what a fantastic looking car, i love the yellow, and the contrasting gray ground effects!! so you got off fast and avoided a ticket great work!!

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

I did a similar thing a couple of years ago. In my instance there was a driving November rain and the road surface had layers of fallen leaves which makes the surface very slick. I was running some older Dunlops at the time when the car spun. There may have been just enough oil on the offramp that you described to just allow the rear of your car to break loose. I went out and bought Bridgestone SO-2's shortly after my spin and haven't spun since (knocking on a huge log).

surflvr911sc · surflvr911sc's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by bigchillcar
"The force is strong in that one..."

Did you just throw your underwear away when you got home?

Are you kidding?? I'd be wearing those shorts everytime I drove from now on, stains or not!

Glad you got through this one and hope there won't be another. I'm sure skill was a big factor. Be safe!