Lost control, what happened? What to do next time?

[RobM77]

[quote=cathar]
NB, I've only been "surprised" by oversteer 3 times, and all 3 were in my MX-5. 2x lift off in the dry, 1x overcorrection with tank slapper in the wet. In the Seven and 928, I've had many more oversteer moments, but never unprepared.
/quote]

Interesting - what would you put that down to? Better handling traits or better feedback?

[cathar]

Thinking about it, it's maybe that I had to rag the Mx5's engine much more than in the other two cars, and being higher in the power band gives more engine braking?

On the other hand, the other cars' engines probably have more engine braking lower in the rev range anyway.

Maybe it simply was a case of having less respect/fear. I drove the Mx5 at 9/10ths more often then the other cars.

-Marin

[nicedude1976]

how funny, had also 2 unexpected slides in my ex mx5, not that dramatic as below 30mph, but also not pushing.
an mr2 hasnt done thing like that to me
how i love reading how "well balanced" mx5s are....

[cathar]

NB, I was definitely pushing it in the cases I mentioned.

[Alfanatic]

Don said:

alfanatic said:

The car which I couldn't handle was ... drum roll... a 1996 Opel Kadett.

I remember them! Excellent entertainment...cousin had one. It might have been shit but it was a hoot to drive!

haha!! I wasn't keen on the car at all. Nice engine and brakes (I had a 140iS hatchback. Was it called an Astra here?) but the handling was very stubborn. Again, probably didn't help that at the time I got it I still had the old RWD GTV parked and ready for the weekends. The Kadett did all it could to resist oversteer and then all of a sudden it would just let go. I never did quite get the hang of it. Steering also felt very springy and heavy (no power steering) as though it was running a huge castor angle. They may have been set up differently in SA, for local conditions or something. In its defence, the only times it bit me where when I provoked it. I had a few emergency situations in that car too and it looked after me perfectly well then.

[JPG]

I have lost it once on the road in just over 2 years of driving. Tight LH, downhill corner, flattening as it goes round. Went in a bit fast in my Imp, and put the steering on a bit quick. There was a bit of water on the road, and the back started to come round. I was able to catch it using opposite lock- I put that down to the skid control course I did.

As an aside, my Dad told me about the time that he braked hard, in a straight line in an 1800 Marina. It span 180 degrees. With no steering input.

[RobM77]

JPG said:

I have lost it once on the road in just over 2 years of driving. Tight LH, downhill corner, flattening as it goes round. Went in a bit fast in my Imp, and put the steering on a bit quick. There was a bit of water on the road, and the back started to come round. I was able to catch it using opposite lock- I put that down to the skid control course I did.

So you didn't lose it then?

[Vaux]

JPG said:

I have lost it once on the road in just over 2 years of driving. Tight LH, downhill corner, flattening as it goes round. Went in a bit fast in my Imp, and put the steering on a bit quick.

Cool - haven't seen a Hillman Imp for years.

Edited by Vaux on Thursday 31st May 10:16

[900T-R]

Don said:

At least if you suffer a talent shortage in one of these the car will try and fix it for you...

Although if and when that fails, you may find yourself heading for a much bigger accident...

[Slowly Slowly]

ywouldi said:

Coming across a roundabout in Bedford today in the wet,

What is the "correct" thing to do in this situation?

Ben

Practice, practice, practice, go back in the middle of the night when it's wet and keep practicing until you get it right.


It works for me.

[hugerr]

R_U_LOCAL said:

...if it's oversteer caused by excessive speed, then the sudden weight transfer towards the front can actually make the situation much worse.

Surely, there won't be a sudden weight transfer to the front? There is no major deceleration going on -- no braking and no engine braking. The only forces acting to slow the car are the drag and small frictional losses.

The weight transfer will move forwards, obviously, but only to a balanced position. It is very unlikely to unload the rear sufficiently to make the situation worse, and is probably the simplest and safest 'get out of jail free' mode for anyone not skilled and practiced in advanced skid control techniques.

Probably...

Hugh

[noumenon]

RobM77 said:

Sounds like you over-corrected, which is a common error with oversteer corrections.

Exactly. The majority of people instinctively steer the right way. There is a magical pause when you have corrected the slide. This is the point at which your brain will stop screaming "F*** F*** F*** F***" and start thinking "Oh, hello, I think we've caught that". This is the point where you have to get the front wheels straight or end up in a tank slapper. Very few people ever get that right without practice.

Another thing most people don't relalise is that if you release the steering wheel, the car will dial in the corrective steer itself.

Get yourself on a driver training or drifting day. The MX5 is a great car and there's lots of fun to be had as well as essential skill for when it gets out of shape on the road.

[GreenV8S]

noumenon said:

if you release the steering wheel, the car will dial in the corrective steer itself.

some cars will, but not all. For example on my V8S you can feel it trying to help, but without driver input the steering doesn't move nearly far or fast enough to do anything useful. I'm also highly dubious about advising people to let go of the steering in an emergency - not that you were specifically, but I think there was an implied suggestion.

[noumenon]

GreenV8S said:

noumenon said:

if you release the steering wheel, the car will dial in the corrective steer itself.

some cars will, but not all. For example on my V8S you can feel it trying to help, but without driver input the steering doesn't move nearly far or fast enough to do anything useful. I'm also highly dubious about advising people to let go of the steering in an emergency - not that you were specifically, but I think there was an implied suggestion.

Good points. The mx5 in question will, it's one of the nice things about the car. Letting go isn't great as it can sometimes be difficult to find centre when taking the lock off. Best to play with it on a drifting or practice day first. Personally, I only ever use it as a lazy way to drift.

The best steering technique, imho, is hands at quarter to three. Turn until your arms cross, then take the lower arm, place on top and opposite and then take another turn of lock. It means you can always get it back to centre with absolute certainty.

Another thing a lot of people don't realise is how much difference a light touch on the wheel can make. If you hold tight and hit a bump, you transfer the shock to the car, which can send it sideways. If you're holding lightly, the shock is absorbed by the twitch of the steering you just let happen.

Instruction and practice are wonderful things. I've come a long way, but will always, always get more whenever it's available.