Could have sworn I...

[oatz]

...was facing the right way when I went IN to the roundabout, so how come, now I'm half way round, I'm facing backwards...!?

Ah yes. That'll be my first 'TVR [plus] slightly damp road surface [plus] roundabout [plus] slightly showing off' experience. Not bad seeing as I've owned the car for 18 months!

No harm done. Have to admit feeling slightly silly [plus] slightly exhilarated all at the same time. Weird. My only thought as I was turning the car to face the right way again and smiling casually at the small boy on the pavement who'd rushed over to have a look, was: 'can't wait to get on to PH and announce the loss of my 'TVR roundabout cherry'!

Let's be careful out there!

[UKBoB]

You [plus] me both mate. Firstly, glad to hear you did't hit anyone/anything Just how hard were you kicking the pedal?

I went out to dinner, had a pint and took a right hander onto a straight (after dinner that is, I dont play cars while im eating) and must have been about 95% straight when I gave it some welly and woooahhh, car slides one way, fed a little lock then out goes the other side. Caught it both ways with gentle snatching and that was it.

What upsets me (and I say upset as I take driving seriously, its all new to me) is that its happening more and more, almost every time its wet.

Now about that pint. There is go faster juice in beer for sure. Im left feeling ever more respectful for the TVR, both less and more certain of it at the same time, and again - pleased that the gentle reminder was there again to learn from.

I know some of you do intentionally powerslide on roundabouts, Id like to learn similar car control skills myself, but it IS an eye opener each time you loose it in the wet at first, even if only just a little! Safe driving everyone

[TimW]

UKBoB said:

almost every time its wet.

You are getting cockier and cockier untill it catches you out for sure.!

[oatz]

UKBoB said:

Just how hard were you kicking the pedal?

Not too hard, but enough to bring about a full 180 degree spin. I'm doing a longish journey in the S tomorrow so 'nuff respec' from now on.

[UKBoB]

TimW said:

UKBoB said: almost every time its wet. You are getting cockier and cockier untill it catches you out for sure.!

Hmm.

Last time, I was on a very gentle bend in a 30 zone, playing with the accelerator after Austec remapped (practising my popping and banging routine ) in 2nd gear definitely not being cocky, just playing a little, and I just lost the arse end.

This time, I did give it some welly, but when I say 95% straight, Im only guessing that wheel was turned half an inch, I was going pretty much 100% straight.

Praps I was being cocky on both counts, cocky being *anything* except very careful driving... in the wet.

[UKBoB]

oatz said:

Not too hard, but enough to bring about a full 180 degree spin.

Did you try and catch the car, the second you felt it going? Would you say that had you been faster/better at catching it, you might have been able to do so successfully? Enjoy your journey today bud

[oatz]

Happed v quickly and wasn't trying for it so no didnt catch it. WIll be taking it nice n easy today!

[GreenV8S]

If you're going to practice this (pick your time and place carefully cos you'll get no sympathy if you take somebody else off with you) best to do it in a low gear with plenty of revs, up hill. You will soon get the feeling for steering into the slide and balance the throttle to control the slide and bring it back into line. Same basic principle works in other situations too, but this is the easiest one to catch and the best place to start.

[oatz]

Good advice. In the Spring I'm going to North Weald airfield to do the 1st Lotus driver training course. Was supposed to go this summer but the head went in the car the day before!
I've read the reviews of the day on here - looked pretty good.