If you could (easliy) post a drawing showing the force vectors this would be a very accessable explination of what actually happens, but this didn't start out as a physics lesson. In any event, the point is that at low speeds the tires burn off the energy of a spin quickly. It takes a lot of rotational energy to get the car to rotate a full 360 degrees in the first place (assuming that the driver is correcting for the slide), and it's not easy to generate that much rotational enery accidently ... unless of course something like ice is involved. I think if you accelerate to 15 MPH, then at steady throttle throw the steering to full lock, and once in a full slide just release the steering wheel, the car will not pivot a full 360 degrees. I'd go out and try it, but my results wouldn't count for much becuase my suspension isn't stock.

 

Me too.

I think that's the only advice that matters. Driving schools are fun, and they give us a place to practice the stuff we don't want to have to deal with on the street. The rest of the thread may or may not have some interest for some people.

 

Yes. At low speeds it is easiest to break the rear loose with throttle input, but you won't usually get enough rotational energy to loop the car on dry pavement. But in the wet, going about 25 mph, it's not all that hard to use abrupt throttle input followed by hard braking to loop the car a full 360.

 

My guess is road condition. Where I live, there is this intersection that is always tricky to turn to. Spun out twice on it. Not 360 but more like 10. Point is there are roads that are slicker than others.

 

Not just slickness. If the road is going downhill or if the corner is off camber, that will reduce grip.

 

That's why I think the OP was probably going faster than he realizes.

Funny that off camber turns should come up. My last really big spin was facilitated by a down hill dive into an off camber turn. I totally misjudged the amount of traction I'd have in the turn, went in too hot, and then got on throttle too hard too soon. LOL, not suppose to do that at the Evolution Schools, but I love to slide the car around so much that sometimes I just can't help myself.

 

Just to make sure people know what we are talking about:

"On camber" means a banked turn like NASCAR. The car presses into the road and gets extra grip.

"Off camber" means the opposite. Like trying to drive around the outside edge of a corner with a very steep crown. The car pulls away from the road, reducing grip.

Uphill and downhill are obvious, but what's not so obvious is that you actually have extra grip when going uphill but less than normal grip while going downhill.

At the crest of a hill you have even less grip -- sometimes none at all if the car jumps. Where the hill bottoms out you have lots of extra grip.

 

Like trying to corner while driving on the outside of an orange!

 

 

Excellent refresher course on a few of the dynamics inherent motion you guys. It has been a long time since studing physics but I always enjoy relearning concepts that focus me back to some of the aspects that help me focus on keeping my S a healty S.

OP - please try not to take anything posted here too personal. For the most part, I believe everyone involved is well intentioned and know the exact feeling you experienced at some point during our respective driving "careers." By just acknowledging that you intend to seek professional instruction, along with your recent discovered awareness has already indicated your wisdom and you are and will be a better driver because of it. I wish I could have been so lucky to miss a few solid objects when I first acquired my 911 many years ago.

Have fun and drive well.