I Almost got Killed !!!
07-29-2002 | 07:27 PM
#22
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 32,529
Likes: 4,150
From: bolton
1.) Driving any car at it's limits when you are unfamilair with it is likely to cause problems. This gets more interesting when most cars manufactured today are FWD. The transition to RWD is non-trivial. Throw in the fact that with 1100 miles. you probably just got out of break in and hadn't explored the VTEC much yet.
2.) Water can always have an interesting effect on traction. A little wetness is actually worse than a lot, especially if it has been dry for several days. A thin layer of moisture lifts the oils from the road surface. Under the right circumstances it can be slicker than snot on a glass doorknob.
3. ) The S2000 tends to exacerbate item 1 just because the performance is so good. This is compounded if the driver ( i don't know anything about you vancouver, just geussing) doesn't have a lot of experieince either. I can strongly recommend you take your car to a local autocross and explore it's limits in a controlled space. After a while, you know the feeling of the rear-end taking a walk on it's own. After that the instinct to catch it will come easier.
4.) all that said, with thirty years of playing with toys, I found myself slightly caught out after a rain about a week ago. I was pushing down a highway on ramp a wee bit quick. Brake-loaded the fronts to make the 50 degree turn at about sixty and got into the throttle. ooops
the rear stepped out and we were headed around. Some quick counter steer and I finished the turn full english. My 13 year old thought I did it on purpose to razz him. my sphincter told me otherwise........ ( deliberate use of trailing dots)
2.) Water can always have an interesting effect on traction. A little wetness is actually worse than a lot, especially if it has been dry for several days. A thin layer of moisture lifts the oils from the road surface. Under the right circumstances it can be slicker than snot on a glass doorknob.
3. ) The S2000 tends to exacerbate item 1 just because the performance is so good. This is compounded if the driver ( i don't know anything about you vancouver, just geussing) doesn't have a lot of experieince either. I can strongly recommend you take your car to a local autocross and explore it's limits in a controlled space. After a while, you know the feeling of the rear-end taking a walk on it's own. After that the instinct to catch it will come easier.
4.) all that said, with thirty years of playing with toys, I found myself slightly caught out after a rain about a week ago. I was pushing down a highway on ramp a wee bit quick. Brake-loaded the fronts to make the 50 degree turn at about sixty and got into the throttle. ooops
the rear stepped out and we were headed around. Some quick counter steer and I finished the turn full english. My 13 year old thought I did it on purpose to razz him. my sphincter told me otherwise........ ( deliberate use of trailing dots)
07-29-2002 | 07:33 PM
#23
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,414
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Learn how to drive the car. I did specific testing on a wet deserted road to judge the grip from the tires, how the car behaves, etc. My conclusion is that the tires grip hard, even in the wet, but given the power available above 6k rpm, it's not difficult to break them loose.
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07-29-2002 | 10:01 PM
#29
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax
Aside from the regrettable speech impediment...
I'm now sorta glad I have my WRX. The AWD sure helps in the rain. I'll let my older, wiser, more experienced driver father drive the S2000. I'll drive when it's nice out. Under the speed limit. In the driveway. And the car's not turned on.
I'm now sorta glad I have my WRX. The AWD sure helps in the rain. I'll let my older, wiser, more experienced driver father drive the S2000. I'll drive when it's nice out. Under the speed limit. In the driveway. And the car's not turned on.
