BruceWard

Braking shifts the weight of the car forward reducing the traction of the rear wheels.

I am sure that many of us have made similar mistakes. I took my escort around a wet corner too fast while in high school. My tires were not balanced I probably had three different kinds of tires on the car. Who knows how they were inflated, car maintenance was not important to my family. I slid across the other lane and into a dirt bank with the front left, a truck going the other direction crashed into the passenger rear.

The passenger in the truck had to go to the hospital. If someone had been sitting in my passenger seat they most likely would have been killed. I had not only endangered myself but everyone else on that road.

I hope to never do anything like that again. I believe that better maintenence but most importantly more responsible driving would have avoided that accident.

I do drive agressively on the road when other cars are not around, but restrain myself to keep it safe. For 10/10ths driving I wait for the next autocross.

FSAEracer03

[EDIT:] ^-- this guy has the right idea! Nice car too, mmm.

"Ok, I must admit that I'm all for having a little fun in our cars, even on public roads. However, to effectively do this, one must build in some margin for error. "

"For me, it's not the max speed that thrills me. For me, it's plotting my apex through a turn. On the street this usually means that I have the biggest smiles on my face during the exits and entries to highways."

AHHH Zoltan, WHEW... after the first post, I was going to post another "oh give me a break!" post. That's all I was saying. I don't push my car too hard on the street unless it's some country road back home at 4am, and even then I'm going to leave a margin of error. I just bought my first Porsche and I love her to death, do you think I'm really going to risk losing her? Oh F.... I mean, oh heck no!

Now let's get back to having fun with our cars and trying to help poor Marco out, ok?

Z-man

Kevin:
I am all for enjoying our cars, I just think too many people here think they can push their cars further than what is reasonably appropriate. The more you respect your car and it's capabilities, the more you will be able to enjoy it!

What 930 under resto posted just annoyed me. Probably annoyed Marco too. 930 gave him props for having "the ***** to have fun when not on the "track". " I wonder if 930 is willing to back that up with some fundage for Marco who now needs to repair his car.

So how about it, 930: care to put your $$ where your mouth is? Care to assist Marco with the cost of repairs?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta go find more pics on the internet of Tom R.
-Zoltan.

a.n.other

Ouch! I feel for you Marco - There are some excellent roads round there - if only they all had big run off areas and free from trees and lampposts and other road-users we could all have a lot more care-free fun!! At least it wasn't one of those roads in the hills with the awesome views but many thousand feet drop to a lot more than a bent bumper if you slip up!

Did you have the 'it will never happen' collision insurance option? - It's always a gamble whether to shell out the extra incase the unfortunate happens!

Good luck with sorting it out.

After first reading Bruce's message i though he had someone in the trunk rather than the passenger seat - but alas it was the in the truck!, no pulp fiction style trunk rides there!

BruceWard

I have had people in the trunk before, but no accidents and they were alive entering and exciting the trunk

Wouldnt want to try to fit someone in the 968 Cab trunk though.

RSflared72e

I wondered how long it would take before someone would weigh in with criticism of either sporty street driving or cursing. Didn't take long. IOW - yes, 930 Under Restoration, there's no point even hinting you drive your car like the sports car it is. You will be harshly criticized (not by me). If we all actually drove our cars as tamely as many pretend they do, we might as well all get Dodge Caravans as our sole vehicles. As far as the cursing, well, I'm sure he can express himself without it. He just didn't choose to do so - so what.

To Macwolffe - sorry about your mishap...

Luis de Prat

Z-man, I understand your position regarding "street racing" and the like, but IMHO if you read 930 Under Restoration's post for what it says, I don't think he meant what you're implying.

Taking an unpredictable turn in the middle of nowhere can be a scary experience at any speed and sometimes, even when we don't intend to race anybody, we push the car a bit beyond our driving ability and stuff like this happens.

It's nice that you care about others, but there's no need to chew this guy with only 160 posts out because you may have read too much into what he wrote.

Just my opinion FWIW.

Z-man

Point taken.

930: I may have over-reacted to your statements. Perhaps you can clarify what you meant? BTW: I think it takes more ***** to play on the track than on public roads, due to the fact that you're typically closer to the limits on the track. I'm an avid DE participant, so I was a little offended by your comment: implying that it doesn't take a lot of guts to drive on the track.

-Zoltan.

Luis de Prat

Are you kidding? Just the sound the cars make on the track gets me shaky...

MTM

I have a bunch of videos of this road. I'll upload them tonight after work.

Chris_924s

Thanks Matt.
I have driven some very snake-y roads in all weather conditions. when I see a 15mph turn, I heed that advice.

The key is "controlled" conditions. You can never guarantee anything a on open road. too many hazards. a track is designed to teach the driver the technical limits of themselves and that vehicle. Both are still variables.

I taught my kids, only go as fast as you are capable of controlling.

triscadek

Like Chris always does?

triscadek

I was laughing so hard I double posted.

MacWolffe

"That was probably your mistake

You probably should have stayed on the gas to maintain speed through the corner. That would have been your best chance of making it through if you went in too hot."

yeah i know, but that would have caused me to go over the double yellow, not a good thing when i see someone going up. btw. while i was looking at the damages i saw all these pple crossing the double yellow on the turn (kinda scares me). it was my fault, i knew i should take it easy going down even before i took off.

Adam Roberts

I screwed a turn up by making a turn arrow light at 3am.... I turned too hard.. saw I was going into the other lane.. then tried to correct but didn't know how.. . ended up fishtailing, hitting the brakes.. which made it worse.. going sideways and locking up all the wheels.. and the front tire hit the curb at 2-3mph. Luckily NO damage or anything. I could have hit the curb a bit faster and caused some serious damage...It shook me up enough to try to learn to control the vehicle in a better environment.


I personally think its fine to goof off just a little on public roads ( I didn't say the city.. too many variables.. and COPS!) I've heard it said over and over that these cars can be safely driven close to the limit on streets. I'd like to agree.

I found an old abandoned parking lot where I learned a lot about the handling of my car and driving in general.

Then a friend let me drive in a new section of his neighborhood that was under development ( just roads.. no houses... basically an Oval)

but in both of these places , I thought about what could happen to me if I Went off the road or spun out. That's one of the most important things there.

If you know where the limit is, and you've planned through what could possibly happen if you fail, screwup or do something stupid... then avoid it completely... you're most likely gonna' be OK.

Next time, think "There's a wall there.. I won't turn hard"
Cuts down a bit on the fun, but then again you get to keep your car in once piece