Lost control of 35is !
- Thread starter JustCruzin
- Start date
For those who end up in a bit of a 'tank slapper' I'm afraid that's down to a lack of talent! When the rear end of a RWD car starts to go the intuitive reaction is to come off the gas. Unfortunately, this results in deceleration, rear to front weight transfer, lighter rear end and a more aggressive slide. This is classic lift off oversteer. Of course, as you come off the gas you turn into the skid. This brings the back end back in line but, unfortunately, the back end is now light due to coming off the gas and swings too far the other way. Queue rapid grab of a handful of opposite lock and away we go again - the classic fish tailing experienced.
The correct procedure is to keep your 'foot in' and just use the steering to correct the slide. Brave stuff and, unfortunately, this still results in going wide and on narrow British roads still results in a visit to the scenery. The next best is to feather the throttle, i.e. not come fully off the throttle but, by using both throttle and steering, bring the car back in line. Again, brave stuff and still not enough room on standard British roads to get away with it most of the time. So the real trick on the road is to come off the throttle but flick the steering with opposite lock and just as the rear end starts to correct, flick it back straight again thereby catching the slide perfectly without destroying Farmer Giles' best fence or hedge and keeping your P&J out of harms way as well as protecting your NCB. This requires immense skill and a lot of practice.
Paying for time on skid pans is one way of doing it but the most enjoyable way I have found is to book on a rally experience driving course and use someone else's vehicle on a safe off road track to give it welly without too much embarrassment. Believe me it is one of the best ways to enjoy yourself with your clothes on
The correct procedure is to keep your 'foot in' and just use the steering to correct the slide. Brave stuff and, unfortunately, this still results in going wide and on narrow British roads still results in a visit to the scenery. The next best is to feather the throttle, i.e. not come fully off the throttle but, by using both throttle and steering, bring the car back in line. Again, brave stuff and still not enough room on standard British roads to get away with it most of the time. So the real trick on the road is to come off the throttle but flick the steering with opposite lock and just as the rear end starts to correct, flick it back straight again thereby catching the slide perfectly without destroying Farmer Giles' best fence or hedge and keeping your P&J out of harms way as well as protecting your NCB. This requires immense skill and a lot of practice.
Paying for time on skid pans is one way of doing it but the most enjoyable way I have found is to book on a rally experience driving course and use someone else's vehicle on a safe off road track to give it welly without too much embarrassment. Believe me it is one of the best ways to enjoy yourself with your clothes on
JustCruzin
Member
Garvin said:Believe me it is one of the best ways to enjoy yourself with your clothes on
So you drive topless......?
On the Porsche track day, that was exactly what you did. Steering with the throttle on the low friction track, great fun and gives a lot of confidence in the car control as well.
Obviously there are limits, and the lower the speed, the better the control is. Anything over 30 in a bend was game over.
Obviously there are limits, and the lower the speed, the better the control is. Anything over 30 in a bend was game over.
By the seaside...
ronk said:
They are fantastic mine has transformed my car. Not only corner exit but entry also. And much more predictable feeling. If you can afford one get one
ronk said:
I have a M factory (dont confuse this with the BMW M brand) its a helical type diff and i love it the diff cost £600 + new oil and output shaft seals and prop and drive shaft bolts say £750 tops. As long as you can reuse the diff bearings. I fitted min myself and gave the rear end a overhaul new bushes RTA limiting kit adjustable camber arms + new tie rod ends and front control arms. It probably cost me about £1100 + the coilovers and all the other bushes about 2k but everything is now new uprated and feels very tight where do you stop!!!! I would think you could buy the diff and get a garage to fit it for around £1k
A quaffe diff is more money but are supposed to be very good. I have never tried them to compare them. But i am very happy with mine.
pvr said:ronk said:
Your wife probably thinks you are on drugs when you mention LSD ...
Mine had a worried look when i was talking about getting one!!
JustCruzin
Member
ronk said:We are both old enough to remember LSD when is was popular with some people in the sixties!
Just for the record I had not taken LSD when I lost control
JustCruzin said:ronk said:We are both old enough to remember LSD when is was popular with some people in the sixties!
Just for the record I had not taken LSD when I lost control
Sure that would be mental ! :lol:
Have you had the car checked out for any potential fault, or driven it since your scare? Seems otherwise to be the hallmark of oil spilt on the road, as with black ice you are a mere passenger when you lose control on stuff like this. You did well to retrieve it without crashing, or causing damage to the car.