Today I had a moment...

[docevi1]

...which was damned fun!

With the weather been a nice crisp day, and a mate who has never experienced the Marlin Roadster I suggested we head up the A686, which runs from Hexham to Penrith (he'd never been).

I knew it was and would be cold so put on a t-shirt, a thick jumper, a fleece, rain jacket, hat, hood and 2 pairs of gloves. He wore a hoody and a t-shirt despite me saying to "wrap up very warm".

Anyhoo, off we toddled and at Alston we decided to head down towards Kilope mining wheel & home via Allendale, however I missed the turning. No worries thought I, I was on this road t'other day and we'll take the same road I did then into Nentheads.

As we turned into the road we realised it was possibly a bit daft as there was a bit ice, but no worries, there was no snow anywhere near. Boy was I wrong.

There I was driving down this road which was 3" in snow with only two tracks for company, back end twitching out at every opportunity and on every corner, wheels regulary spinning up in a straight line and fairly steep hills to get up, a fairly nervous driver not to mention Phil who was quite worried.

Anyway, we continued down the road with Phil taking a movie for me as I don't really plan on doing that again, and then he took a few pictures and then a most interesting thing occurred, we encountered a steep hill into a 90deg corner. Thankfully the 90deg corner was gritted an it was in the village we were heading to, but the hill wasn't.

This hill was probably about 150foot long and was very steep, very steep indeed. Phil was nervous (as was I) so I explained that about the rollover bar and to duck should the worst happen, don't think I was helping his nerves much . I applied the brakes (we were only in 1st anway) we started to slide (as expected) but started to gain momentum as the idle on the car was faster than we were braking. The back swung round and we started down the hill sideways. so much so I was actually looking out of the side of the car desending at a fair rate.

At this point a resident turned up on the corner and his son jumped out and stood watching as we slid. I managed to straighten the car up with a touch of accelerator to spin the rear wheels and full opposite lock and then proceeded down the hill at least straight.

There was no stopping us, nothing at all would stop our desent, I had the front wheels locked (to try and build up a little blockade as I read on here) and similary the handbrake locking the rear wheels but was releasing this to ensure our straight descent as needed. Suffice to say Phil was quite worried and silent but we made it down ok.

At the bottom the two blokes were looking so I stopped and said "I wouldn't go up there mate, it's fairly slippy"

I apoligised to Phil as I was nervous but knew the capabilities of my car and had "control" (i.e. I knew it wouldn't stop and had to control the descent the best I could) to which he replied "thats alright, I now know I should enjoy every single day of my life to the full, I thought we were going to die".

I had fun in first gear at 10mph




The movie I have is here (right-click save as please) Near the end, just before you get a picture of sky when Phil asks "do you know where you are going?... No, not now" he went quiet until we finished the road (another 1/4 mile or so) . Sorry Phil!

And who says light, rear wheel drive cars can't go over snow. I won't test the theory again mind!

edit:: and I should point out, we had the roof off util about 30mins after this event when he asked if I would mind putting it up as he was getting a bit cold.



>>> Edited by docevi1 on Tuesday 21st December 19:19

[900T-R]

KITT said:

Still the weather people recon the SW will get some snow for Christmas

6% Chance of that happening here, according to the Dutch weather people

[danhay]

Just like to say that the ability to keep your head and take the right corrective actions when things have moved outside the realms of normal driving (no matter how slow the speed!) is to be thoroughly commended.

I learned a lot about car control driving a RWD Marina in the snow...about the only time it would oversteer!

[minimax]

docevi1 said:

To be fair the movie isn't really showing you what was happening as the back end kept stepping out and Phil wasn't the greatest camera man due to his nerves especially towards the end. It's more for amusement purposes and to show the snow than for "wow that was a fantastic movie". I didn't really want to bin my car

I have to say stefan, I'd have been absolutely belting my mini over those roads! but then you know what i'm like! looks like you had a good time, was it snowing in gyetsheed like?

[docevi1]

there hasn't been any snow here hence why we went out, but there was plenty up in Alston (on that road). Came as a bit of surprise as we hit it.

I might have gone a bit quicker if Phil hadn't been there, but well, that was fairly quick for me either way and the most interesting bits came after that video finished Always the same really.

[hertsbiker]

strangely enough, had you put the car into reverse, and spun it up.. you'd had slowed down quicker than using the handbrake ! I've tried this trick - it works a treat on a Sierra P100 pickup. Not quite sure of the physics? anyone able to guess why it works?

[pzero64]

docevi1 said:

"do you know where you are going?"

That question following the nervous/excited laugh – brilliant

Great video.

[docevi1]

hertsbiker said:

strangely enough, had you put the car into reverse, and spun it up.. you'd had slowed down quicker than using the handbrake ! I've tried this trick - it works a treat on a Sierra P100 pickup. Not quite sure of the physics? anyone able to guess why it works?

ah but with Marina 'box isn't that great (never was due to bad design apparently) so assuming you managed to get it into reverse in the first place, it would pop out if you put too much power through, i.e. enough to spin the wheels. I reverse very slowly to ensure this doesn't happen

[pentoman]

Nice video..... looks a bit nutty driving that around in the snow!

Russ

[wendyg]

I think you're bonkers, but I don't imagine that comes as any surprise to you!

[markmullen]

hertsbiker said:

strangely enough, had you put the car into reverse, and spun it up.. you'd had slowed down quicker than using the handbrake ! I've tried this trick - it works a treat on a Sierra P100 pickup. Not quite sure of the physics? anyone able to guess why it works?

Did that in a company Almera diesel once to avoid a "black ice, going straight down sliproad onto rush hour M62 at 5 mph sideways" type moment when some helpful twat had left the hosepipe at the services running onto the road on a sub zero January morning. It made a bad noise so I tried double declutching without the blip and it went in, nailed the gas and let the wheels spin backwards until I got some traction. Can't think it did much for the clutch or gearbox but it saved my sorry ass.

[beaconbouy]

pwig said:

A) that video is more dull than a cardigan B) Your car sounds like a Dingy

Sounds more like a Rover