Wet roundabouts....
Discussion
Last night I was dropping a friend home in the Chim and it was raining for the first time in a while. Approached a roundabout to turn right and although I wasn't going quickly (and was only in 3rd) the back end stepped out which I caught but slightly over corrected but got it the second time and left the roundabout perfectly and completely nonchalantly....all at no more than 20-30 odd mph I admit.
I couldn't help but feel a bit smug, i'm not a driving god but have learned a lot since having my TVR. As we left the roundabout we carried on with our conversation like nothing had happened! Passenger was also female (I reckon most girls would have been less than impressed!) and didn't even flinch! i reckon she was secretly impressed
I know cool story etc.
I do bloody love my Chim...maybe the fact I can't sell the bugger isn't all bad!
I couldn't help but feel a bit smug, i'm not a driving god but have learned a lot since having my TVR. As we left the roundabout we carried on with our conversation like nothing had happened! Passenger was also female (I reckon most girls would have been less than impressed!) and didn't even flinch! i reckon she was secretly impressed
I know cool story etc.
I do bloody love my Chim...maybe the fact I can't sell the bugger isn't all bad!
I've never understood it when people say their Chim has 'stepped out' or been a bit twitchy when completely unprovoked. When driven normally and allowing for the conditions mine is just as sure footed and predictable as any car I've driven, if not more so. Granted, standing water has always been a bit nervy but on damp and wet roads it's absolutely fine.
On the other hand if I drive like a bit of a tit it will have its fun and games, but even then I've got to stab at the throttle like a muppet. Not having a go or anything but did you lift off or jab the throttle?
On the other hand if I drive like a bit of a tit it will have its fun and games, but even then I've got to stab at the throttle like a muppet. Not having a go or anything but did you lift off or jab the throttle?
simonej said:
I've never understood it when people say their Chim has 'stepped out' or been a bit twitchy when completely unprovoked. When driven normally and allowing for the conditions mine is just as sure footed and predictable as any car I've driven, if not more so. Granted, standing water has always been a bit nervy but on damp and wet roads it's absolutely fine.
On the other hand if I drive like a bit of a tit it will have its fun and games, but even then I've got to stab at the throttle like a muppet. Not having a go or anything but did you lift off or jab the throttle?
Thinking back I probably just give it a bit of throttle sooner than I should have, i.e. while I was still turning and hadn't straightened up. I was all very slow and unspectacular really! Agree with you though, the whole "TVRs are widowmakers in the wet" is a bit hyped but obviously you just drive to suit, I wouldn't drive my Chimaera in the rain in the same I might something RWD and bland say. On the other hand if I drive like a bit of a tit it will have its fun and games, but even then I've got to stab at the throttle like a muppet. Not having a go or anything but did you lift off or jab the throttle?
I agree with the predictability comment though, i've never been "caught out". You can always feel whats going on. Standing water is definitely a bit twitchy though! and white lines in the wet on the motorway i've found.
simonej said:
I've never understood it when people say their Chim has 'stepped out' or been a bit twitchy when completely unprovoked. ...
I agree, it isn't that they do that "when completely unprovoked", it's that it really takes so very, very little to provoke them 
The times I have called her a f
g bc and then patted the dash, and said "that's my girl" is almost uncountable.TVR's are often compared to a highly strung woman.
The difference is, as you well know; your TVR will do exactly what you tell it, no matter how stupid that may be, and it won't hesitate so much as 1/100th of a second before doing it. And that is nothing like any woman I have ever known.
I think the duke was perhaps more towards expressing his pleasure at finding that he could control his car without drama on those occasions when his instructions are perhaps the tiniest bit too 'literal'
People often say that TVRs are simple, basic cars with very little technology. That's true, with one exception.
These cars were fitted with an extremely advanced system that actually detects the driver's confidence level. When that confidence exceeds a pre-defined limit, the system sends a message to the ECU which responds by making the car do something terrifying.
Mine certainly works, and it sounds like the OP's does too!
These cars were fitted with an extremely advanced system that actually detects the driver's confidence level. When that confidence exceeds a pre-defined limit, the system sends a message to the ECU which responds by making the car do something terrifying.
Mine certainly works, and it sounds like the OP's does too!
Road surface has a lot to do with it.
On most roads I can accelerate reasonably hard around a corner in the rain with no effect at all.
However, there are three patches of road where I know the road surface is terrible and it will step out at the rear in 3rd at even 15mph with only very small amounts of throttle. One is where buses regularly do a U-turn out of the bus station and another is on the exit to a well-used junction where people are constantly turning out and accelerating up a hill.
If I didn't know those particular bits of road and backed off over them, I reckon I could have been caught by surprise. Must be even worse for bikes ! And the bad part is that the surface looks completely normal. You get no visual warning at all.
On most roads I can accelerate reasonably hard around a corner in the rain with no effect at all.
However, there are three patches of road where I know the road surface is terrible and it will step out at the rear in 3rd at even 15mph with only very small amounts of throttle. One is where buses regularly do a U-turn out of the bus station and another is on the exit to a well-used junction where people are constantly turning out and accelerating up a hill.
If I didn't know those particular bits of road and backed off over them, I reckon I could have been caught by surprise. Must be even worse for bikes ! And the bad part is that the surface looks completely normal. You get no visual warning at all.
Round abouts have a lot of rubber dust on them. When wet with rain they become as sliperly as an icy road. If you have the nerve, it can be good practice in a TVR for opposite lock "Fangio/Loeb" steering and drifting. Don't try this on fast multi lane roundabouts such as South Mims or Stansted!
Agreed Smarty. Somewhere we should have a private slippy roundabout to practice on, dry and wet. We could learn a lot about slippy handling and correction, torque versus rpm gears etc. It would build confidence 100%+. Good safe fun on track days and sprints. Is there one somewhere we could use. Perhaps TVRCC could provide one??!!
Off to Shuttleworth now. Great day for Cambs gathering.
Off to Shuttleworth now. Great day for Cambs gathering.
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