Alright, everyone can have a laugh at the newbie. I took the S out for lunch today and on this one right hand turn I took it wide since there is 3 lanes, I was goinging into the centre lane and decide to give her some gas then the rear just slide out. I tried to correct it but it swung around and I did a 180. I didn't hit anything and my panger and I just looked at each other and were glad nothing happened other than the spin.

I've learned my lesson, no gas in a corner and don't do that on S02's in - 4 celcius type weather I think I'll be jumpy this afternoon.

 

The S02's do become particularly hard in cold weather. Even in warm weather, in less-than-ideal traction conditions, you will find it's hard to keep the rear end planted when VTEC engages if you have much steering input... I did the same thing you did in fair weather when I first got mine.

 

No gas in corner!?!? Might as well sell the S! If you don't give the car gas while going around a corner, you aren't achieving maximum weight transfer which gives the rear tires maximum grip. But too much gas will cause the rear tires to slip, and gas too soon (even less than optimum gas amounts) can transfer your weight too quickly which will also cause you to lose grip. Smooth transitions of gas and brakes are what is needed for the most traction in all situations! Once your rear tires start to spin and you let off the gas, chances are you will spin. Always keep the gas on, ESPECIALLY while the rear tires are losing grip! It just comes back in so perfectly if you don't let off the gas or give it too much. Cold weather just means more FUN!

 

WHEW!!!
A tight turn such as a right one that you just did is particularly bad under the present Calgary conditions. As soon as you gave it that much gas, the LSD did it's job and locked up, causing the inside tire to spin. Once it's going, your back end lost half it's grab with the road and it's not hard from this point for the other side to let go. I can imagine the "pucker" factor at that very moment. If you had caught it immediately, you could have had a beautiful drift happening. Get your baby home and give it a great big kiss and tell tell her you're sorry.

suvh8r: Normally, your advice may be correct but not here. You've got to understand the conditions here. The temp is currently just below zero but downtown where this happened, the road surface due to the traffic volume has made it moist but still cold. SO's will never warm up enough in our current situation. He was making a tight, right turn at a street corner from the gutter lane to another gutter lane, very slow speed. At these temps and with this surface moisture, the weight transfer you speak of does didley squat. He did keep on the gas. It happened so quick that he had no time to let it off. An additional problem here is that it was not done on purpose so it was a surprise and unexpected, therefore, the reaction necessary to correct it didn't come in time. Yes, winter driving can be a lot of fun. I've been saying this all along but only if this kind of driving is planned and practiced.

 

I think xviper reads minds or something since that is exactly how it happened. I wasn't going fast. entered the turn gave it a bit of gas since I wasn't entering it that fast to begin with once in the turn the rear gradually skipped out. It was a smooth transition not snapping. I didn't let off the gas tried to counter steer but it just continued to swing around. If I had caught it, it would have been a picture perfect drift because it was so smooth. When I was spinning around it was like slow motion.

Yeah, my 2nd gear practice seems not as important anymore

 

Never mind the spin...what are you doing driving around with all of the gravel on the roads? This has been a "spring" of torture with the weather we have had....my car hasn't been out of my garage for at least eight weeks! Arggh!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by doodlebug
[B]Never mind the spin...what are you doing driving around with all of the gravel on the roads?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by doodlebug
[B]Never mind the spin...what are you doing driving around with all of the gravel on the roads?

 

Question for FormerH22a4: were you anywhere near VTEC engagement when this happened, or firmly on one or the other side?

Glad there was no damage or injury.


JonasM

 

Nope, not even close to vtec. I was at about 3500-4000rpms in second gear.