Do you have self control on the streets?

[danmkiv]

Well last night was an interesting and scary experience for me. I usually drive my car moderately, and occasionally like to blast around turns and push the limit a little bit when no one is around. I don't usually speed, its just an outburst here and there. I might have pushed my luck last night around a corner, when I usually have control of the car. I took the corner in 2nd gear which was a little too much power and it drifted pretty hard (usually I have the steering wheel already in the opposite direction to compensate the drift). A goddamn possum ran out in the middle of the road and I over corrected to try to miss the thing so I swung HARD in the opposite direction and so basically I started to do the back and forth thing until I finally stopped. I saved myself from spinning all the way around, but it was still very scary. I thought for sure I was going into the concrete median. The first thing I thought was 'wow, im glad i didnt wreck'. I really hope I didnt damage my car in any way. I didnt hit anything, I just swerved back and forth, jolting pretty hard.

I don't want to give the impression that I drift around the streets, but this was just one time that got me. I came from owning a BPU TT supra, so I think I sometimes underestimate the car's potential to get away from me.
Anyways, have any of you had experiences like this where your car got away from you on the street?

Also, my car steers straight and turns fine --do you think there is any damage that could have happened to the car?

[dansciol]

Nah, it will be ok.
You gotta keep your foot on the gas to control that side to side motion.

[dondare]

Don't swerve to miss animals. Just hit 'em straight for a humane death.

[Effervescent]

"A goddamn possum ran out in the middle of the road and I over corrected to try to miss the thing so I swung HARD in the opposite direction and so basically I started to do the back and forth thing until I finally stopped. "

Question: Did you take Driver's Education?

Driver Ed 101 is to NOT take evasive actions to avoid hitting small animals. Many an accident has been caused by trying to avoid squirrel. 9 times outta 10 they fare just fine anyways.



-Eff

[Sco0terzsl]

This happened to me not too long ago. I picked the car up about a month and a half ago and felt pretty comfortable with my knowledge of the car's habits. Needless to say I got a little squirely and almost plowed into a tree (stayed on the road, but there were trees with my name all over it). Don't feel bad about it, I'm sure half the people on this site have done the same thing, they just don't say it. I drive legally 98% of the time, however I do like to go out in the country and open the car up a bit to enjoy myself. Just learn from your mistakes, and remember a car is 3000 pounds of metal... if you mess up that's a lot of shit to hurt you.

[builder]

Don't hurt me, please!

http://www.plantanswers.com/possum/possum2_lg.JPG

Always put your safety before the safety of small woodland creatures

[///w3fl3x]

I've done the same going around a corner is second gear. But it was kind of wet when i did it. Fished tailed for good bit before i got control again.
Always keep the foot on the gas and not the brake once it breaks loose.

I drive like a granny (to a point) when it's wet out now. Especially since my tires are almost bald and it's winter.

[MP525i]

good thing nothing happened and you and your car are safe.

freakin' woodland animals!! especially the possums (sp??). they are such weird little creatures.. coming home from my g/f's house one night, i saw one taking a crap on the side of the road. laughed all the way home.

-mike

[Effervescent]

That pic is really funny! :evil2

I countersteer while letting up on the gas. Do you remain on the gas?:help

-Eff

[rmani]

Glad to hear both you and the possum are OK. :)

[Effervescent]

I have a theory that young people now were pretty much raise on fwd and don't get the early driving experience/practice in panic situations (where most go back to what they originally learned...without realizing it).

Older folks, according to my theory, who grew up on older rwds (like Chevelles with huge engines in my case) get lots of that kinda drama under our belts.

Just a theory.

-Eff

[Oak]

I never steer out fo the way of animals. A few weeks ago I hit a deer with my BMW. The car didn't even flinch, but it wasn't as pretty afterwards. A cow or horse would be the only animals I would try to evade as they are deadly to front seat occupants.

[Bimmer325]

once, i hit a pole cuz i thought drifting in an empty parking lot in the snow would be a cool idea. nope.

[IchLiebeBMW]

I am a conservative driver, but every once and a while I will have some fun with the twisties. :devillook Im glad you were able to avoid the possum and the wall. Driving instructors say if there is something in the road like that, of coarse avoid it if its safe, but sometimes things come on you too quick and you just have to hit them.

[6i9]

You underestimate the car's twitchy E30 rear trailing arm suspension. Don't worry, I did too, and wrecked. Glad to hear you and the car are okay

[Daved]

"Self control" is my middle name :devillook

lol j/k

[danmkiv]

"A goddamn possum ran out in the middle of the road and I over corrected to try to miss the thing so I swung HARD in the opposite direction and so basically I started to do the back and forth thing until I finally stopped. "
Question: Did you take Driver's Education?
Driver Ed 101 is to NOT take evasive actions to avoid hitting small animals. Many an accident has been caused by trying to avoid squirrel. 9 times outta 10 they fare just fine anyways.
-Eff

Yes I took drivers education, and I did learn that. It just did'nt help when he ran out in front of me like that while I was in a bit of a drift. I didnt really have time to think to myself to just keep on going, my brain made a decision in a fraction of a second. Its a little different when you are in the situation. Next time I'l try to condition my brain to just keep on truckin.

I have driven high hp RWD cars ever since I started driving so I'm pretty use to the way they behave. There is just that 1 out of many times that could potentially be screwed up -- so everyone be careful!

[bennyfizzle]

possum's up here are definiteley not "small animals" by any means lol, i've seen a couple that are easily could come up to my knee and weigh about 40-50 lbs lol, and i'm 6'3"...

[Chifo Jr]

Small animals or illegals beware!

[TinmanF1]

my ex-gf (my actual gf at the time) swerved to miss a squirrel or something small like that and ended up driving into a deer. freakin' ridiculous.

I didn't ride with her much, subsequently.


L8

[Eddy@ApexRaceParts]

ha. she dodged a squirrel and then hit a deer. excellent

[PrestoMB]

^funny^ "dodging squirrel to end up hitting a deer"

[FierySphere]

I mean no disrespect, but investigate the driving school opportunities in your area.
I slightly biased here, as I instruct about 1-2 weekends a month, at car control clinics, driving school, racing schools or private driver coaching.

There is no better money spent than on improving your driving skills and habits. If only to give you the skills to avoid the cellphone-talking, SatNav reading road-users ('cause they sure ain't driving), small animals and poor roads we suffer each day.

[Effervescent]

high hp RWD cars ever since I started driving so I'm pretty use to the way they behave. There is just that 1 out of many times that could potentially be screwed up -- so everyone be careful!

Gotcha.

And my theory comment wasn't so much directed at you. You seem to have the whole drifting/sliding countersteering thing in your blood...more of a general comment on fwd drivers being surprised when a rear kicks out every now or then.

-Eff

[black_box]

try to avoid doing that at night, usually fewer animals to jump in front of you and better visibility overall. When I first got my car it seemed like everything jumped in front of it at night. 1 black cat, and three squirrels that were so close I checked the front bumper and tires for goo.

[LinearX]

once, i hit a pole cuz i thought drifting in an empty parking lot in the snow would be a cool idea. nope.
The truth comes out.. :devillook

[Bimmer325]

lol doug! where are ya! well, you have always known the truth...:eek:

[dakar318]

i wish i had power to spin tires......

[BM5W]

You underestimate the car's twitchy E30 rear trailing arm suspension. Don't worry, I did too, and wrecked. Glad to hear you and the car are okay

What is it with the E30 suspension that is different from an E28 or 2002? I grew up driving a 2002 and E28s. On occasion, I would gas it a bit around a nice 90 degree corner near my house. I recently acquired an E30 and tried the same thing... you know, just a touch more throttle to make the back end step out a bit and then quickly catching it with some counter steer. Well before I knew it the car came around much further than the E28s or 2002 would. I corrected, but overcorrected and ended up spinning about 270 degrees in the opposite direction before coming to stop.

Are E30s known for being like this or did I just lift off the throttle to quickly?