ALMOST LOST IT
Discussion
This morning in my griff 500 I was on a straight wide country road doing 60-70 and in fifth gear with my foot flat on the floor accelerating with moist road conditions and a 1 mile mile straight ahead and no other cars. The back end suddenly gave way and had to correct it quickly but just caught it with no drama and no over correction. But bloody scary at that speed.... in fifth gear!
Too higher gear so as soon as the wheels broke traction they spun up much quicker? just my guess but if say you had been in 4th you wouldn't have needed as much throttle to go as quick. Although did have mine sideways at 60 when floored it in a tunnel with the revs high in the range, gets the blood pumping 
There are plenty of these stories that have ended in tears.
Remember a standard 500 produces peak torque at around 3500rpm, so watch out in damp conditions, even in 5th gear, remember there's no traction control or ESP to sort you out.
You were lucky this time.
If your reading this thread and you havn't had a sideways experience YET, and you havn't had any training, suggest talking to the lads at ridedrive.
Remember ......
1. we don't want anyone getting hurt in their TVR
2. we don't want any more 'lovely' Griffs going to the scrap yard.
I'm not saying...don't have fun in your TVR, just have safe fun.
Remember a standard 500 produces peak torque at around 3500rpm, so watch out in damp conditions, even in 5th gear, remember there's no traction control or ESP to sort you out.
You were lucky this time.
If your reading this thread and you havn't had a sideways experience YET, and you havn't had any training, suggest talking to the lads at ridedrive.
Remember ......
1. we don't want anyone getting hurt in their TVR
2. we don't want any more 'lovely' Griffs going to the scrap yard.
I'm not saying...don't have fun in your TVR, just have safe fun.
I feel that you were too far up the gear range for the speed and conditions you describe.
To me 5th gear in a TVR is overdrive and will not power control under these circumstances. Good for motorways, A roads etc.
jonny tvr said:
60-70 and in fifth gear with my foot flat on the floor accelerating .... in fifth gear!
I would've been in 3rd-possibly 4th under those conditions (presuming the oil is at a good temp).
As Steve Heath once said, what's so wrong with dropping a gear. That way you can make a lot more use of that big amount of torque these V8 engined TVRs offer- and be possibly more in control of those rear wheels
simpo two said:
I'm not convinced Kenny - if you drop a gear you'll have more torque at the wheels and be more likely to lose traction - which is why in slippery conditions you normally change up sooner.
Exactly. The gear selected wasn't the problem here - the foot flat on the floor was.
oggs said:
seasider said:
Tegriffic said:
seasider said:
Paul V said:
gets the blood pumping
Don't think it would be blood pumping i'd be worried about Sort of thing you might induce by insisting on taking on bikers, if you're that way inclined.
Morning Oggler, you called Gayme yet
Edited by seasider on Friday 1st September 08:45
Superkartracer said:
simpo two said:
Been there too!
0.1 second: Foot off gas
0.2 second: Steer as appropriate!
0.1 second: Foot off gas
0.2 second: Steer as appropriate!
Foot off gas?
my thoughts exactly...that was my first ever mistake in a griff, taking foot smartly off throttle at 4k plus rpm induced an instant loss of traction at the rear (engine torque on these is greater than the tyre grip)
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