Cobra Jet
Well-Known Member
Please don't take this in offense at all - and don't take it as being reprimanded either - but please look at what I made bold out of your exact statement.
If this is your first rear wheel drive performance vehicle - again no offense - but before you hurt yourself, someone else OR total the car, please read up on these cars and/or how to recover a vehicle once traction/adhesion has been broke from tire to road.
It has nothing to do with tires - sure, some will say "oh they're summer tires"...
Again, look at the bold above. The Driver (regardless if you or someone else) caused the scenario to unfold.
Not only did you goose the car once, which caused your initial out of control event, but then you really goosed it again causing an entirely new sequence of events - not only did you goose it, but, you're doing it in bad weather conditions to make it even worse.
I don't care if it's a Mustang, or a Kia - doing what you did above is going to cause a catastrophe, period.
Rule #1:
NEVER give a vehicle more gas (acceleration) if you feel it break free (or breaking traction from the road surface). IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE GAS THE MOMENT YOU FEEL TRACTION LOSS HAS OCCURED. Sure newer cars have a lot of technology built in, but they are NOT fool proof. Traction control will only work to certain degree - it's not a save all and should never be relied upon as such - no matter if it's a $20k vehicle or a $120k vehicle. By giving the car more gas once you had performed an emergency manuever as you did (swerving into another lane IN BAD weather) only perpetuated the situation. At the point you swerved, you should have LET OFF THE GAS, period. Believe it or not, this same Rule applies in Drag Racing - if the car gets loose, don't goose (unless you want to end up in the wall or other lane)!
Rule #2:
ALWAYS maintain control of your vehicle. This means in bad weather - don't drive as if the road is dry, don't leave 2ft from you and the next car knowing full well weather conditions are bad and lastly - ALWAYS be prepared for what is going on in front and to both sides of your vehicle. Now, not directly in front, but be looking ahead of the vehicle in front of you. This gives you more than ample time to react IF there is a situation where you need to make an evasive maneuver. If only giving 2-3 feet in front of you, or even 6ft - that is not enough forward visibility OR room to make an emergency decision when needed.
Rule #3:
Mustangs are ass-light, front-heavy. Been that way since inception in 64.
A). For areas with the possibility of snow - regardless of tire type - DRIVE SMART.
B). Keep the rear end heavy during winter months - this means full tank of fuel, (3) 75lb bags of kitty littler or rock salt and a LIGHT FOOT on the gas!
C). If a manual trans, depending on rear gearing, start out in 2nd gear instead of first. FEATHER the clutch, don't pop it and don't start off the line like you're doing the 1/4mi.
D). LOWER TIRE PRESSURE BY 5-8psi. For those who 4x4 onto beaches or sandy areas - you already know if you run lower tire pressure you have not only a fatter tire pattern on the soft surface, but it helps to stay on top, rather than digging in and down. The same principle will work in snow.
E). Give yourself plenty of stoping distance. This is applicable to any vehicle in bad weather - it not only protects you, but also gives you ample time to slow down or stop IF the idiot in front does something stupid.
Many "seasoned" performance car owners will tell or offer this advice to folks:
Take a driving course that teaches vehicle recovery, evasive maneuvers, etc. It will not only help to understand the physics involved, but also help to know what to do, what not to do and how to recover from most types of scenarios - on both wet and DRY pavement. It's not to say it to say "told ya so", or that it's like telling someone they don't know how to drive - it's actually to help folks from a real educational standpoint that someday, if the event like your own presents itself, the driver will have that knowledge of safe recovery in what could be a panic situation.
Glad you're ok!!
I don't care if folks take the above and run with it, or if folks think the above is too much to read... But in the end, the last thing anyone wants is to damage their ride OR hurt themselves.
BMW used to have driving events around the country where they had genuine Race Driving Instructors that would take people on a road course and show them how to push the car to its limits while at the same time knowing WHEN to respect the car too. My best friend and I did this one year - and it was a really cool learning experience... Especially when you have someone telling you to keep your foot into it, then tell you when and how to brake as you're barreling into a corner at which point you're thinking "oh shit, gonna wreck"... and you're perfectly safe due to the Instructor knowing the vehicle's threshold.
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