I knew I should have driven the Jeep!!!
#3
Ya, so I decided......the nice Dad that I am......to leave the Jeep at home this week on my journey out of town for my part time job.
Why :?:
Victor takes his driving test on Thursday and needed a vehicle he stood a chance of passing in.
It wasn't bad when I left home at 4:45 this morning to catch the Ferry to Gibsons - some of you guys remember the Beach Combers and Molly'* reach. Well that'* just down the street from where I am now.
But when I got off the Ferry on the other side, it was a snow blizzard with about 2 inches of snow.
The road was well salted and sanded.
I quickly got into the lead.......cause like most, I hate to follow in salt spray.
Drove for over an hour in very bad conditions.
Good ol Betty was doing great.
I was almost to work and made a right hand turn onto a 4 lane divided highway (50 mph)
I was merging and slowed down to about 30 mph
It did well and the back end held tight with those Blizzaks gripping like claws.
The problem was the front end traction was not there and it oversteered BAD
As soon as it slid over into the far left lane where the snow was fresh and not packed from traffic, there was no control.
I hate that feeling. You're heading towards the center dividing concrete barriers and those couple of seconds seem like a lot longer.
It hit at about a 45 degree angle.
The front drivers side wheel took most of the impact. I know I'll have to replace the new bearings again this spring. :(
The wheel is off by a couple of degrees and badly needs another alignment. Damn, I just had an alignment a couple of weeks ago.
The front bumper corner and underside of the left front fender is bent. Amazingly the spoiler is fine.
It should buff right out.
Why :?:
Victor takes his driving test on Thursday and needed a vehicle he stood a chance of passing in.
It wasn't bad when I left home at 4:45 this morning to catch the Ferry to Gibsons - some of you guys remember the Beach Combers and Molly'* reach. Well that'* just down the street from where I am now.
But when I got off the Ferry on the other side, it was a snow blizzard with about 2 inches of snow.
The road was well salted and sanded.
I quickly got into the lead.......cause like most, I hate to follow in salt spray.
Drove for over an hour in very bad conditions.
Good ol Betty was doing great.
I was almost to work and made a right hand turn onto a 4 lane divided highway (50 mph)
I was merging and slowed down to about 30 mph
It did well and the back end held tight with those Blizzaks gripping like claws.
The problem was the front end traction was not there and it oversteered BAD
As soon as it slid over into the far left lane where the snow was fresh and not packed from traffic, there was no control.
I hate that feeling. You're heading towards the center dividing concrete barriers and those couple of seconds seem like a lot longer.
It hit at about a 45 degree angle.
The front drivers side wheel took most of the impact. I know I'll have to replace the new bearings again this spring. :(
The wheel is off by a couple of degrees and badly needs another alignment. Damn, I just had an alignment a couple of weeks ago.
The front bumper corner and underside of the left front fender is bent. Amazingly the spoiler is fine.
It should buff right out.
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: dekalb illinois
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you got off lucky it good have been alot worse
im glad to hear that your ok
good thing no one rear ended you right afterwards i have seen that happen alot
im glad to hear that your ok
good thing no one rear ended you right afterwards i have seen that happen alot
#7
This is the first time I've ever hit a barrier this way. the last time was head on
I was truly impressed with the amount of force that was absorbed and how little relative damage was done.
I swear when it hit the barrier that the front to the car bounced up over a foot as it deflected off the concrete. The barrier didn't even budge.
I was truly impressed with the amount of force that was absorbed and how little relative damage was done.
I swear when it hit the barrier that the front to the car bounced up over a foot as it deflected off the concrete. The barrier didn't even budge.
#9
Yes, those words were ringing in my ear the whole drive back to my Hotel room tonight from work.
It was a hair raising ride.
There is a reason why I don't drive my Firebirds...or SSEi in the winter.
The snow was falling in big wet clumps and built up about 2 inches deep on the road. No sand on the road. Around here they only use a salt spray at night to combat black ice for morning commuters because it usually melts by 10:am
But where I am working now is 10 miles up along the base of the Mountains along Howe Sound Inlet.
As I left the Mill, I was following a van and stayed behind him the whole way with plenty of room in between us. First we passed two cars that had spun out in the ditch. The whole highway has a 60 kph (40 mph) liimit. I was doing 20 mph.
Even then I had to tip toe on the throttle and was always on the edge of spinning with the back end doing the wiggle waggle.
Had to pull into the left had lane and pass a large transport truck that was stuck, spinning many wheels, trying to get started on a slight upgrade. He had to stop for another car in the ditch.
I was amazed at how well my Blizzak snow tires could push the Bird even when I had to stop in the same spot.
Oh, I miss my Jeep. :(
It was a hair raising ride.
There is a reason why I don't drive my Firebirds...or SSEi in the winter.
The snow was falling in big wet clumps and built up about 2 inches deep on the road. No sand on the road. Around here they only use a salt spray at night to combat black ice for morning commuters because it usually melts by 10:am
But where I am working now is 10 miles up along the base of the Mountains along Howe Sound Inlet.
As I left the Mill, I was following a van and stayed behind him the whole way with plenty of room in between us. First we passed two cars that had spun out in the ditch. The whole highway has a 60 kph (40 mph) liimit. I was doing 20 mph.
Even then I had to tip toe on the throttle and was always on the edge of spinning with the back end doing the wiggle waggle.
Had to pull into the left had lane and pass a large transport truck that was stuck, spinning many wheels, trying to get started on a slight upgrade. He had to stop for another car in the ditch.
I was amazed at how well my Blizzak snow tires could push the Bird even when I had to stop in the same spot.
Oh, I miss my Jeep. :(