Drifting saved my life

[Stuart]

Well, not really, but allow me to explain

After a torrid 7 hour slog at work ( ) Tanya and I made our way home. With sub zero temperatures and freshly fallen snow, the roads were a bit greasy. We made our way through a small village and the road starts to unfurl, rather like a large snake. True to my comparison, the bloody thing bit!

Before the crest of a bridge, only a small hump back one, I must have squeezed the throttle or turned into a little too sharply (could have been black ice but safer to assume pilot error). I could feel the front end grip 'go' immediately and thus, at 30ish mph, I had to apply quite a lot of lock to correct our jaunty angle. We were now quite merrily tank slapping our way up and over the bridge which was fun. Enough lock applied in both directions to mean it was quicker to spin the wheel, let go and grab it again when you thought it was about right. Once the other side of the bridge the car settled momentarily before skewing off in a slide again. We had already travelled about 60 yards wagging the 1800kg Volvo's tail. Tan and I were silent throughout. Part of me was delighted I hadn't already crashed. Part of me was well aware that we were still sliding side to side and approaching a notorious bend. Awesome!!

Nothing for it but to really try to feel the steering and I also started to cadence brake in a bid to get more grip over the front tyres. I'm not really sure how, but it worked. 110 yards in total before we regained control and both started to laugh so hard. It was such a buzz. I can honestly say that the little bit of skidding at Norfolk Arena put me in good stead. I didn't freeze or panic like I would have done. I suppose I had experienced similar slides before and at a unconscious level, I knew what to do.

More luck than judgement I think but I wish I had it on camera all the same.

By the way, Tan thinks I'm a legend now

Go careful guys and remember, drift=good

[ScoobieWRX]

You were so cool throughout that not even your sphincter oscillated....Nice one!!

[Bladerider]

I got told off by Karen tonight.

Was on the way home down the backroads from my parents and after doing about half a mile on one lock "camber surfing" she asked me to pack it in !!

Needless to say I ignired her and carried on for the last 3 or 4 miles when conditions allow. Not as hectic or exhilarating as yours Stu but fun none the less - 40+ degrees in a Bimmer estate still feels quite decent even to me !!

J.

[Bladerider]

Just had a thought.

Maybe Tan should sit in with you at Norfolk !!

Like I keep saying, its only a bit of calmness you need and then you're sorted !!

J.

[Daniel]

drifting ftw
nice one Stu, sounded like lot of fun i was straightline drifting all the way to work this morning, as you say once you've done it a few times it does become a bit instinctive

[Gerry H]

Get an Evo! Oh gawd, did I really say that?

Anyway, Liz and I had a TT match last night and looked out of the window to see an inch or two of snow had fallen in less than two hours. I know the Volvo is crap on ice and I'd rather carry Liz there than use her new Honda so off we went in the Evo, AYC and all.

Have to say I'm really impressed. At 10:00 on our way home, the roads were very obviously sheet ice but the thing was superb, you just wouldn't know there wasn't good traction. I gave it a little squirt a couple of times just to check there really was bugger all grip. Cars coming towards us were creeping along while we were doing the speed limit.

Driver aids is king

[Tommy]

I had a similar situation a couple of weeks ago when we had very light snow that turned to 'bobbly' ice overnight.

I was going STRAIGHT on a dual carriageway with enough throttle to keep 30 mph when, out of nowhere, the rear starts a huge arc to the right! Absolutely no idea what caused it and the scary thing was, my 3 year old boy was in the back. Only two swings for me - sounds like you had a few more Stuart.

I saved it but I'm quite certain I wouldn't have if it hadn't been for the experience gained from all the wet trackdays last year.

[Ben]

Nice work - seriously though sounds like a close run thing and yes your driving experiences must have saved your bacon

[Safety_James]

Good stuff!! The roads have been a little interesting. Sadly have seen quite a few cars tap each other on the journey to and from work, even at 5-10mph on black ice.

For the past few days with the ice/snowy conditions we have had to continuously drive round the circuit till about 10.30 breaking up the ice/snow before the days could run safely.

Have had more wet practice on circuit than dry so far this year, proves quite interesting in the M3

[RX7]

Cool stories guys, I am hoping to take mine out over the weekend for a bit of skidding