Things you wish you could say

[Nabiki]

And this just in from the twitterverse

Anyone in Illinois????? I’ve traveled these route for a couple decades so far. Know them well! Ice is NOT fun…..
View attachment 2953908

Here’s the link:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1479891110558265344

Interesting coincidence... I was just watching a video on how to drive in icy conditions. It's not something that I'm accustomed to, and is something I am likely to encounter at my new place. I hope I don't have to drive in those conditions, but it never hurts to be prepared.

 

[Kiki]

@electrycmonk We need a number.

 

[electrycmonk]

Interesting coincidence... I was just watching a video on how to drive in icy conditions. It's not something that I'm accustomed to, and is something I am likely to encounter at my new place. I hope I don't have to drive in those conditions, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Almost every year, on the first snow, Dad & Mom would take us out to Meijer’s massive parking lot in the late evening.

Over in the open area they would each take a few runs of stab-n-steer. Then a few do-nuts, but, they always would put it into a skid and practice pulling out of it “with the least amount of effort and throttle as possible.”

So when I got to the age and had the spare time I too started this practice every year.

When I drove 18 wheelers, I also did a scaled back version of this practice to be ready when I started to loose traction….

I still do this most years.

 

[electrycmonk]

@electrycmonk We need a number.

(Scratches head) Huh? Did my cut n paste fail?

 

[Kiki]

(Scratches head) Huh? Did my cut n paste fail?

Jersey number.

 

[electrycmonk]

Jersey number.

Well… that’s gonna leave a mark, eh?

 

[Hayden Goseek]

Over in the open area they would each take a few runs of stab-n-steer. Then a few do-nuts, but, they always would put it into a skid and practice pulling out of it “with the least amount of effort and throttle as possible.”

Great idea because it's counter intuitive. I did that also.

 

[R2elk]

Interesting coincidence... I was just watching a video on how to drive in icy conditions. It's not something that I'm accustomed to, and is something I am likely to encounter at my new place. I hope I don't have to drive in those conditions, but it never hurts to be prepared.

The shorter the wheelbase of your vehicle the easier it is to lose control.

 

[electrycmonk]

Great idea because it's counter intuitive. I did that also.

One has to be very careful and respectful of the parking lot… doing donuts adnausium will get you in trouble quick. However, one time… back in the late 90’s I did get “pulled aside” by a Denton LEO during a major snow/ice storm.

Imagine the officers surprise when pulling over a 1987 4WD Subaru turbo wagon that was lifted and many bumper stickers …. When we talked I asked him if he had gotten his snow legs yet during this shift…. As soon as realized my Michigan parents driver training…. He relaxed his shoulders and said, “please don’t do anything stupid.” I replied, “Of course not, I still have astronomy labs at the old missle base to teach and y’all would never let me live it down.” He honestly laughed as he started walking back to his car.

I sure wasn’t gonna talk about my previous years stunt proving my airtime from a natural ramp (cresting at middle of intersection) on a fresh night snow headed back to the dorm after midnight…. Only one other set of tire prints crossing this intersection… I looped back and hit the intersection at the actual speed limit 35. Pulled into the parking lot on that corner. Walked out there to see the tracks easily showed I got all 4 wheels airborne- for a short distance… when and did it a second time a bit faster, slightly to the left of 1st run.
Discovered I had cleared about 10-12’ distance of airtime for the rear tires. Front were longer distance.
Last try… was the max speed I had previously tested on dry nights earlier in the semester. 52mph….

This time the rear tires cleared over 30’ distance. Suspension did not bottom out. Front bounced once. Success!

Long standing joke that I would say that this car’s seen more air time then the FAA would admit to….

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Great idea because it's counter intuitive. I did that also.

I did it, too, in Colorado and New Mexico. Got to know what your car and tires will do on ice. I had one car that would track absolutely straight no matter what, on ice. Could not make it skid, serpentine or donut. Terrified me to think of driving it over Wolf Creek Pass when you NEED it to take curves! I could visualize it going perfectly straight over the edge into the abyss. Got rid of it.