Change History

[quote=grant]I'd love to have access to a large parking lot just covered with maybe 2" of packed, cold, snow. what a car control clinic!

[/quote]

Back in Western PA, a very depressed part of the US, the local mall doesn't bother plowing the back parking lots anymore. I had a ball one Xmas a few years back in my Boxster. Just a ball!

One year, I had just purchased a Lexus IS250 AWD for my wife and wanted her to learn how to handle a car in snow.... so I pulled in and she refused to try it out. Just refused. I wanted her just to turn and brake hard... just learn. She was adamant, she was scared and didn't want to do it. Sure enough, about three weeks later back in Philly, she locked up the wheels and took out the entire side of the car. Good job Elizabeth. Her friends were upset with my strong reaction saying "it was just an accident".... I saw it differently...... The accident she had was in such slow motion that the anti-lock brakes didn't engage and just locked up.... I am convinced with just a little bit of practicing, she or anyone could have avoided the accident. Indeed, as we sat there waiting for the tow truck, plenty of cars came by the same curve without a problem. She grew up in Texas and snow was new to her....... hiding your head under a pillow does nothing and could be dangerous.

So...... my first day at a track, Summit Point, I had an instructor and we went on the wetted skid pad there. I immediately spun the car...... I sat there stupidly......... I said thought, "crap I know how to do this, I grew up on snow... with a beer in one hand, something burning in the other, and my knee on the wheel.... sliding in control through curves". I hit the gas and in short order, I was able to ..well almost... get the care completely around the circle in a power slide no problems. The instructor said something like "you must have grown up in the Midwest". Not bragging here, as any teenager growing up in a snowy area can do this instinctively.
Seriously, we were all good at this.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

[quote=grant]I'd love to have access to a large parking lot just covered with maybe 2" of packed, cold, snow. what a car control clinic!

[/quote]

Back in Western PA, a very depressed part of the US, the local mall doesn't bother plowing the back parking lots anymore. I had a ball one Xmas a few years back in my Boxster. Just a ball!

One year, I had just purchased a Lexus IS250 AWD for my wife and wanted her to learn how to handle a car in snow.... so I pulled in and she refused to try it out. Just refused. I wanted her just to turn and brake hard... just learn. She was adamant, she was scared and didn't want to do it. Sure enough, about three weeks later back in Philly, she locked up the wheels and took out the entire side of the car. Good job Elizabeth. Her friends were upset with my strong reaction saying "it was just an accident".... I saw it differently...... The accident she had was in such slow motion that the anti-lock brakes didn't engage and just locked up.... I am convinced with just a little bit of practicing, she or anyone could have avoided the accident. Indeed, as we sat there waiting for the tow truck, plenty of cars came by the same curve without a problem. She grew up in Texas and snow was new to her....... hiding your head under a pillow does nothing and could be dangerous.

So...... my first day at a track, Summit Point, I had an instructor and we went on the wetted skid pad there. I immediately spun the car...... I sat there stupidly......... I said "crap I know how to do this, I grew up on snow... with a beer in one hand, something burning in the other, and my knee on the wheel.... sliding in control through curves". I hit the gas and in short order, I was able to ..well almost... get the care completely around the circle in a power slide no problems. The instructor said something like "you must have grown up in the Midwest". Not bragging here, as any teenager growing up in a snowy area can do this instinctively.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

[quote=grant]I'd love to have access to a large parking lot just covered with maybe 2" of packed, cold, snow. what a car control clinic!

[/quote]

Back in Western PA, a very depressed part of the US, the local mall doesn't bother plowing the back parking lots anymore. I had a ball one Xmas a few years back in my Boxster. Just a ball!

One year, I had just purchased a Lexus IS250 AWD for my wife and wanted her to learn how to handle a car in snow.... so I pulled in and she refused to try it out. Just refused. I wanted her just to turn and brake hard... just learn. She was adamant, she was scared and didn't want to do it. Sure enough, about three weeks later back in Philly, she locked up the wheels and took out the entire side of the car. Good job Elizabeth. Her friends were upset with my strong reaction saying "it was just an accident".... I saw it differently...... The accident she had was in such slow motion that the anti-lock brakes didn't engage and just locked up.... I am convinced with just a little bit of practicing, she or anyone could have avoided the accident. Indeed, as we sat there waiting for the tow truck, plenty of cars came by the same curve without a problem. She grew up in Texas and snow was new to her....... hiding your head under a pillow does nothing and could be dangerous.

So...... my first day at a track, Summit Point, I had an instructor and we went on the wetted skid pad there. I immediately spun the car...... I sat there stupidly......... I said "crap I know how to do this, I grew up on snow... with a beer in one hand, something burning in the other, and my knee on the wheel.... sliding in control through curves". I hit the gas and in short order, I was able to ..well almost... get the care completely around the circle in a power slide no problems. The instructor said something like "you must have grown up in the Midwest". Not bragging here, as any teenager growing up in a snowy area can do this instinctively.

Peace
Bruce in Philly