No this is not an anti drink driving campaign puff piece, I've got a far better horror story for that 'drive safe' message. I just want people to know that while some of us out there can actually drive their cars in all conditions, that there are some people who clearly do not fall into this category.
This past weekend here in Melbourne I organised the annual Toyota Owners Club of Australia (TOCAU) national meet. For the most part we were blessed with no rain and an amazing smattering of gorgeous Toyota’s from all eras.
The last day of the annual meet we took off for the hills, and while the conditions weren’t torrential, the roads were definitely wet, greasy and downright hazardous.
With a cruise population of about 25 cars, I thought the need to separate into two groups. Group A, consisting of a bunch of likeminded revheads, with experience and the capability to drive their cars to the best of their ability in all circumstances, and Group B, made up with a few of us who really just wanted to enjoy the day without mishap or angst. My first mistake was that I did not know at least 60% of the drivers, so I let them chose the group they thought would suit them the best.
Me being the organiser of the cruise, nominated a position toward the back to make sure no-one fell off the tail and got lost through the ‘twisties’ heading to Noojee.
So in no control of the ‘experienced’ drivers up the front, I trundled through the forest at a pleasant pace with my partner beside me, blipping the throttle into second just to keep things entertaining for me, touching apex’s, explaining understeer in theory and practically. Rounded a corner and saw hazard lights.
Someone’s pride and joy, a brand new ZRE152 Corolla Ascent had nosed into the rock wall in the side of the mountain.
10 blokes grabbed pillars, panels, and pulled the car out of the ditch and parked it. The driver shaken and obviously very embarrassed left the cruise from there and went home to explain to the family what had happened. Now why this stock as rock Ascent, with no Stability control, and clearly a driver with little skill was driving toward the front of Group A, still baffles me. This was his first time on a cruise with us, and most likely the last.
Hoping this would be the last mishap en route, and enough to be a reality check for everyone else on the road in the group, to take it easy, and just drive within your limits, an hour later in the stretch from Warragul to Korumburra, we round a bend and there’s more hazards, and a few members picking up pieces of body work from the sides of the road. A side skirt here, a wheel well splash guard there, things started looking a little scary. Then we saw the car. A tasty Black Corolla Sportivo.
I know this car, I know this driver, what happened?? It doesn’t matter. Clearly the driver had lost control, and kissed the wall. Kissed is an understatement, more like, the ‘wall’ dressed in black leather and studs, carrying a mace, jumped out from behind the trees, and raped his car from A pillar to posterior.
I would normally never doubt his driving ability, or that he doesn’t know his cars limits, but the incident over the weekend makes me think again about letting my girlfriend ride shotgun in his car.
People just need to tone things down when it’s wet. For one, its slippery as shit, but second, in the wet, there are no second chances. Once you’ve lost it, bringing it back is in the too hard basket for a lot of people. Being FWD, the temptation to get off the gas mid oversteer is hard to fight, but once your instincts have fooled you, there’s no coming back, you’re gone.
Bent panels are easily replaced and beaten back into shape, but broken bodies and damaged pride takes a while to heal, and while no-one was injured, I certainly have a new perspective on the mentioned drivers skill level, or ability to hold back. Now I love the guy dearly, but I don’t trust his driving anymore. Sorry mate.
So while many people harp on and on about how good their car’s setup is, or how quick they go around a track, or how much money they spent on upgrading suspension, or buying the best quality modifications, it all means donuts when you can’t drive within your limits. The cars limits are one thing, and knowing those limits is another. But readjusting your style, and stance, and attitude and ego is so important.
Make sure you check your ego as soon as you flip your wipers on. That’s your signal to brake early, 50% throttle out of corners, to make sure the person behind you is comfortable with what you’re doing and most of all, keep your car straight and safe for yourself, and everyone else around you!
So what have I learned from all this? Don’t trust anyone on the road, in the wet.
Be prepared yourself. Know your car. if you dont, then get your car on a skid pan, and drift the tyres off of it until you know exactly what’s going to happen when you lose control.
Finally, here's a great peice of advice from a friend, "I Read every corner like [I'm] a motorcyclist. Don’t just see an entry, apex and an exit, look for surface change and imperfections." Look for anything that may cause you to make sudden corrections and prepare. If you cant see them, or aren’t sure, slow down!
Be safe out there.
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I like what your mate says about driving like a motorcyclist by reading the road suface, but I thought that was what drivers were meant to do anyway! Sad but true that people need to be told these things...
ReplyDeleteI think some drivers just rely on the fact that they have 4 contact areas on the road, and assume that if one isnt gripping as well the other 3 will hold up just fine.
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