So what's like to lock up a 2200# car in traffic?

[rdane]

Last time a similar thought ran through my weak little brain I was following a RS American I had just out braked into turn 2 but let pass figuring he knew more than I did. He was 5 mph faster in that big banked corner on worn Hoosiers. Just at the apex I was thinking...I could do another 5 mph here. Before I could finish that thought the RSA went sailing end to end through several 360s and up on the bank right in front of my bumper...where it caught fire and burned to a crisp. Luckily the driver was able to get out but his fire bottle, as well as several others didn't save the car. Cause of the fire? Brush under the car caught fire from the exhaust.

Next week I had a BIG halon system installed in my car.

But back to my moment of clarity tonight. Alex and I pick up the ride from the shop. I get to drive this one home since I bought lunch As the two shops that had it lately can attest it is a monster at 2200#s and 270hp at the tires and getting bigger every day. Old and hard tires at that. Enough of a monster that the shops had burned off 3/4 of a tank of gas "testing".

But I still get to drive home.

At the next light along comes a beautiful young lady in a new turbo. She can't decide which lane she wants as we leave. I finally decide to get on it a bit and decide for myself what lane I want. This car will easily spin the tires in 3rd gear if you are hard on it.

I then had another momentary lapse in judgement...isn't that how it always starts...and I stay on it when I grab 3rd gear. Car hops a bit and I think...it hooks up much better than before and I am gone. As in GONNNNNEEEE! Almost a Porsche GAWD myself in this car. As I break out of the tunnel I am thinking about the car breaking loose and how well I handled that..the balance, the skill, the, the, the other six lanes of fooking cars stopped dead ahead coming up at 100mph 50 yards away. Dead ahead now means something more real than ever before. And 100mph happens really, really fast in this car...lots of minor lapses in judgement tonight.

Soooooo? I lay on the big reads making them cry like a baby until the smoke is filling the air, release, snap turn between a semi....whoops...not as smooth as I would have liked... unweighted rear end...forgot about that sheet and off I go side ways now, peddle back on and brakes back on as well to keep from having rear end meet rear end dead ahead of me.

First time I have ever had a flash back of what actually is in the front of a light weight car? Really not much besides a full gas tank in this one!

Sheesh! Too much excitment for an old guy and sooooo, so stupid! Finally get it stopped side ways, parked between a couple of cars and a semi, no harm no foul other than my pride, flat spotting the tires and the gawker's wide eyed faces illuminated in my head lights a few feet in front of the '72.

Alex now shows up while the smoke clears and I back the 3.6 around and get back into my place in the stop and go traffic.

It is a slower drive home and I am now paying attention and wondering why I ever let the rear end get loose.....heavy footed gomer that I am.

Hate to have anything happen and the jackets not get delivered. Think I'll actually lock myself in the shop all day tomorrow. Next week I will have a bigger brain installed in my car

Can I get an amen?

[adomakin]

praise the lord! fast cars are great till you get out of shape. its that 'arsehole in mouth' feeling, you know, the feeling you get when you suddenly realise that you are in over your head! horrible.

well done for not bending it though


Andy

[Fishcop]

Life's full of these little experiences... it's what makes you value it

[Jim Smolka]

IMHO, one is only truly living if one scares the crap out of ones self at least once a week (min of once a month). Gets the old adrenaline going... Sounds as if this goal was accomplished for the week. What is in store for next week

Glad everything worked out OK

[oldE]

How long did it take to clean the seats?
Les

[Adam]

Lucky, lucky! Even reading that is pucker-inducing, Dane!

Nothing worse than wrecking somebody else's ride, too...

[Mark sP]

EEEK. Never mind the car. Glad to hear that you are OK.

[porschenut]

Aaaaaymay-en!

[ronin]

nuff said

[911teo]

Dane I am glad you are OK... maybe your ego is a little bruised....
But yesterday I had a similar moment....
I locked the fronts on 2 way 2 lane street. A silly (i am the silly one) driver with a BMW 325 on the coming lane didn't expect me to be coming up at him that quick and decided to turn left....
I knew I was going to hit him frontal as he was way too slow making the turn... So hard on the brakes... Mine are still stock... I lock the fronts, but I lock one more than the other... the car pulls left in a moment.. I am now facing oncoming traffic...
I release the pressure on the brake pedal and I am turning the wheel all to the right... The car snaps back and I miss the rear of the BMW by a foot...
I get to drive home this time... My angel is looking after me... But no more of this dumb ass stuff on the road...

[Drago]

Amen Dane!

Glad to hear nothing was bent or broken...

[Hendog]

There's value in these stories. As I grow older I appreciate these since they give me a bit of a reality check without having to go through it myself. It grounds a person.

I've only had my Pcar for 10 mos, and these stories keep me from "experimenting" on the street. I'm waiting for the opportunity to hit the local autocross event to push my car and see where the limits are. The problem is, after I've become "one with the car" (ie much more seat time) I fear I'll be more confident in my street abilities ergo more risky adventures. Isn't that a "catch 22"?

Anyhow, gald to hear you ended up unscathed.

[rdane]

"There's value in these stories. As I grow older I appreciate these since they give me a bit of a reality check without having to go through it myself. It grounds a person. "

Exactly why I took the time to write this down.
It is easy to get the skills to drive the cars, DE, track days and the fun runs. Lot more car there than many of us will ever realize or need from 2.2 to 3.8. All of them can be a monster given the right conditions.

Not always possible for mortals to pilot these cars with enough skills to get out of the dumb situations we put ourselves in. I was lucky and dumb, which was really my point. Be careful out there, buckle your seat belt and engage brain before engaging first gear

Thanks for the kind thoughts as well.
.

[speeder]

Wow, that was a close call.

It can happen so easily on the street/canyon/highway, I've had several pucker-inducing, pedal-pumping, tire-smoking experiences w/ my 911. Funny thing is, every one of them that I recall was when I was driving w/ a group of other 911s, either playing catch-up or "spiking the ball in the endzone" when I dusted my companions for a minute, almost never when driving fast alone. Something about the extra adrenaline/boys will be boys/just having fun deal, even if only one other friend in a 911 is present.

I know of several other accidents and God knows how many close calls under these circumstances, some w/ very skilled drivers from this board.

Not judging, brother, anyone who knows me will attest to my heavy foot. I just try to always be extra diligent when I'm driving next to pals, especially big groups like our canyon drives or an R gruppe pow-wow, etc...

Glad that you didn't hit anyone or get hurt, (or worse), the scary thing is how quickly things can get kooky in these toys. Good post!

[rdane]

No worries Dennis, good comments.

The funny thing about this one was I had just entered into a one lane tunnel, a 1/4 mile or so long and a gentle sweeper you can see into from a good distance. Having been in light traffic I was really surprised to find heavy traffic in a dead stop as I exited the tunnel. 6 lanes of stopped traffic actually

My stupidity and inattention got me there. The car's weight and brakes just barely pulled me out of deep doodoo.

I don't play in traffic and this one was clearly a brain lapse that could have been much worse.

How many of us hammer an on-ramp before or after work? Think about this story the next time you start up a blind one.

[anthony]

Originally posted by Hendog
I've only had my Pcar for 10 mos, and these stories keep me from "experimenting" on the street. I'm waiting for the opportunity to hit the local autocross event to push my car and see where the limits are. The problem is, after I've become "one with the car" (ie much more seat time) I fear I'll be more confident in my street abilities ergo more risky adventures. Isn't that a "catch 22"?

For me getting to push my car to the limits on an AX course helps relieve the desire to experiment on the street. On an AX course I've pushed the car far further than I would ever want to on the street.

[MotoSook]

WOW Dane! Glad it turned out well. I too have been in such a situ..try traction with just two wheels!

A good reminder too all that we have uber cars...not the wifey's grocery getter..attention is required...

...and heck MAN!...you trying to get out of jacket duty?

[flyingplatypus]

Same thing happened to me in Decemeber, a little worse though. Me and my friend were driving (a little too fast) a nice curvey mountain road. I drove first on the way up, destroying his brand new (modified) cobra.

On the way back down the mountain, I was following too close, being an idiot. It was night so I couldn't see to well to begin with and following closely, I couldn't see a speed limit change sign, from 50 to 20. My friend cuts across the left lane to make the turn, and I going about 65 and changing gears when i see the 20 mile an hour turn.

Basically, I got a little freaked out and slipped the clutch and locked the tires and slided into the side of the hill. Luckily, I was at least a good enough driver to slow down enough to not kill myself.

[Jamie79SC]

Dane -

I-90 eastbound? Ah that road's a trap for sure. I remember blasting through there with a dozen Pelican nut cases one afternoon after a John Walker swap meet thinking "I hope there's nothing on the bridge." Did that thought make me slow down? Nah, you know me.

Next time it will - thanks for the reality check.

-Jamie

[rdane]

On ramp at Mercer onto I5 south at 7PM of all times! See ya all tonight at Redhook