Going sideways on a small roundabout...

[munter]

So had my first sketchy moment in the MR2 this morning on the way to work. Accelerating gently off a small, but very busy main roundabout the back end lost it and I found myself going sideways at 30 mph into oncoming traffic

Managed to correct things (maybe a little too much) and ended up sliding the opposite direction - at least towards the curb/lamposts! Finally got some grip back to the front tyres and carried on. Certainly woke me up thats for sure!

Driving on I was a bit puzzled because although it's a bit damp this morning its not raining and besides the rainsport 2's are nearly new and have been excellent all round. Then I noticed an oily trail on the road pretty much going from where I had my slide for about 3 miles... looked like another vehicle had a oil leak or was spilling something nasty. Given just up the road there is a lot of construction work going on it's likely to be just that.

No surprise that we had a major traffic jam yesterday across the whole city when a truck jack knifed. Probably related. Phone call to the council when I got into work, doubt they'll do much but at least its reported.

Just goes to show you can think you're a reasonable driver but you can never take even the road surface conditions for granted.

P

[kevin..in]

in a word Diesel many a biker has come to grief with spilled diesel, watch out at bus stops, roundabouts and pretty much anywhere HGVs manouver, on a bike you know its diesel because you can smell it as you hit the tarmac

[SuperRedMR2]

The rainsport 2s are awesome aren't they?!

I see rainbow colours on the road on the way to work every morning whenever its been raining. I just ease off as its going to be a mistake doing anything marginally briskly.

[pk_090]

Fun on the 2nd go though isnt it, i found one on a roundabout the other day, and had to take the roundabout multiple times, for some reason.....

[kevin..in]

Fun on the 2nd go though isnt it, i found one on a roundabout the other day, and had to take the roundabout multiple times, for some reason.....

you upcoming "I've wrapped my MK1 round a lamp post" thread will be no laughing matter though!
spilled fuel is to be avoided at all costs

[Lauren]

I'd advise you get some tuition.

An auto mid engined car isn't the best for control. The reason you ended up as you did is because you tried to turn into the slide but you didn't do so quickly enough so put on too much steering lock to compensate. You also likely jumped out of the throttle at the same time, further compounding your issues.

Mark had a white Auto SC, this is what he did:







I admit, I go sideways all the time in my AE86 and I did used to do it a fair bit in the MR2, but mid-engined cars aren't really good for this as you simply cannot hold the kind of angle you can in say a car like the AE86.

Be careful out there, but maybe think about doing a trackday and geting some tuition. Better to hacve an idea of how to get yourself out of a situation.

[kevin..in]

did most of that polish out Lauren?
even with some experience on a track diesel will bite you quicker than you can respond

[munter]

Thanks for the thoughts - nice to know that I'm not the only one to have almost been a victim of diesel/oil spill on the road!

Lauren I think a trackday isnt a bad idea - perhaps not so much from the racing angle but getting a feel for the car on it's limits. What kind of insurance increase will I likely see from adding the odd track day to my policy? I do have an old set of pepperpots with tracked tyres on them so all set in that regard!

Thinking through the event again I don't think I could have done much more about it really. I did keep the throttle on and didn't go crazy on the reverse lock but it did catch me unaware so my response would have been slow. Given the total lack of adhesion to the road for quite some distance there must have been a fair bit of oil/diesel on the surface. I really wasnt going very fast at all!

Anyway no harm done to me or the car which is the main thing!

P

[Lauren]

It didn't I'm afraid, Kevin. Mark then went and bought another auto SC! That one still lives!

I've been on slippy diesel before. It may be very slippy, but if you know what you're doing you've got a fair chance to respond. You will be much better prepared than if you don't know what you're doing if you know what I mean!

I like going sideways which is exactly why I prefer front engined rear drive cars.

[Lauren]

Thanks for the thoughts - nice to know that I'm not the only one to have almost been a victim of diesel/oil spill on the road!

Lauren I think a trackday isnt a bad idea - perhaps not so much from the racing angle but getting a feel for the car on it's limits. What kind of insurance increase will I likely see from adding the odd track day to my policy? I do have an old set of pepperpots with tracked tyres on them so all set in that regard!
P

I'm glad you survived! Yes, good idea to get some training. I learnt a hell of a lot doing trackdays and a bit of racing in my time. It just gives you a safer environment to explore the limits of the car. I think the auto will hamper you though.

I've never bothered insuring any of my cars when I take them on track.

[pk_090]

I found that having experiance with Front engine rwd cars helps, ive driven beemers mx5's and nasty nissans with locked diffs, and they are all fun, and i agree it does take alot more work to drift the aw11, i almost feel it dosnt have enough power, it has enough to kick the ar$e end out, but nowhere near enough power/has was too much weight over the rear to keep it out. The fact the weight is at the back does help with the kick as the engine weight just acts as a pendulum swinging around.
Alex

[un1eash]

Ive lost control twice in the mk1 in 7 years of ownership, once due to ice and the other me being silly. Its a concern i have with getting my next car, if i go the Elise route i'll be getting an advanced driving course done asap. The Z4 and 350Z i had were more forgiving with there stability control systems but i'd be on my own in an Elise.

[pk_090]

I went in a friends exige S the other week, it was bone dry and the grip blew my mind. It was on R888's and asked my mate why it was like in the wet, and his face went pale just thinking about it.
Alex

[elbon50]

I went in a friends exige S the other week, it was bone dry and the grip blew my mind. It was on R888's and asked my mate why it was like in the wet, and his face went pale just thinking about it.
Alex

Perhaps the answer is to use a different tyre on track on wet days Alex

[Driftlimits Performance]

I disagree with you lauren there. If you're not quick enough on the counter, then you go all the way round, no matter what lock you have on. If you counter too much she'll tank slap the other way. So you countered quick enough just too much.

[Lauren]

I wasn't there, Luke, so it's impossible to say with absolute certainty, but the general rule of thumb is, if you do get into a tank slapper is that you've slightly delayed getting the opposite lock on, though there is albeit a small window of opportunity with a MK1 MR2. Hence why people tend to over compensate by putting too much on and then end up in the inherent tank slapper and often spin off and hitting something further down the road.

[Driftlimits Performance]

but you've contradicted yourself.

I disagree with the first half of what you said. But agree with the second.

Tank slapping is down to too much correction.
A spin is due to too slow on the correction.

[Lauren]

but you've contradicted yourself.

I disagree with the first half of what you said. But agree with the second.

Tank slapping is down to too much correction.
A spin is due to too slow on the correction.

Okay, agree with that.

A spin is also due to simply too much speed.

My point was that generally when people get into these situations that it is still possible to be slow to put lock on and then still get into a tank slapper. Of course if you are beyond the 'window' of saving it and put lock on too late you will spin anyway. Or, if you are just going too fast you are going to spin anyway. I don't think I've contradicted myself, it is not absolutely black and white IYSWIM.

[Driftlimits Performance]

no true that there are many variables.

[MrLuke]

I think the biggest reason people get into tank slappers in mr2s is they lift off. They then regain grip when they still have lots of lock on and the car fires the other way.

as in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfrDRul7S38

However I would still agree with both Lauren and Luke.

If you are too slow to add lock then you usually over correct in your panic to catch the car leading to a tank slapper. But if you are really slow to correct then you will spin, also if you are going too fast then no matter how quickly / much you correct you will still end up backwards.

All in though if you completely lift off its probably going to end in tears.

Keep your foot in