A lesson from my S2000.
Discussion
I had to go to town today, 25Km from home on good country main roads. It was a beautiful morning, 27C, about 30% fluffy clouds, taking the edge off the sun, the sort of day just designed for convertibles, so I took the S2000.
Business done, I headed for home about 10.30. If anything the day was even nicer, I was cruising along left hand at 10 o’clock, right elbow on the arm rest, fingers on the wheel about 4/5 o’clock, listening to my music, & taking in the sheer pleasure of being alive. No I was not “DRIVING”.
There’s a reasonable hill on the way, my wife’s Mazda 2 will kick back to 3Rd if asked to hold speed up it. It has recently been resurfaced with very dark black smooth, but with a coarse grippy surface. It curves right, then lefty near the top, with curves that would become fun above 125Km/H or a bit above. Some drivers slow just a little from the 100 speed limit.
So while I’m off with the fairies, discussing what a wonderful day it is, sitting on about the legal 100, with just enough throttle to maintain my speed up the hill, the tail starts to go out. This took me completely by surprise, as I was driving quite gently, & would have been going at least 20Km/H faster if trying to have fun.
I took off some lock, & adjusted my hands to a better driving position. By now the tail is a long way out, & still going with all lock removed. So what do I do? Well what I did was make the obvious idiot mistake of both backing off, & applying opposite lock. The tail snapped back the other way, what else could it do? Backing off, or opposite lock should have overcome my problem, doing both was asking for what I got.
About this time I noticed 3 cars coming towards me, going the other way. They all had their wipers on, but none were slowing, or trying to get out of my way, so the cars histrionics can’t have looked as bad from outside, as they felt from inside.
With my new knowledge of the wet road, I very carefully reduced the amount of opposite lock I was applying to each swing, but I had covered at least 100 yards fishtailing, before I had the thing totally straight. By now the wet road was obvious.
I think I had just caught the edge of a passing shower, where the damp road & dust was particularly slippery. Further on, it was not as slippery, where the dust was washed off the road. The tyres are 9 month old, top of the range Bridgestone’s, so I don’t think I should blame them.
Next time I plan on communing with nature, or chatting with the fairies, while driving, I’ll take one of the Triumphs. They don’t get so upset, if you don’t give them your full attention. Jealous little buggers these S2000s.
Business done, I headed for home about 10.30. If anything the day was even nicer, I was cruising along left hand at 10 o’clock, right elbow on the arm rest, fingers on the wheel about 4/5 o’clock, listening to my music, & taking in the sheer pleasure of being alive. No I was not “DRIVING”.
There’s a reasonable hill on the way, my wife’s Mazda 2 will kick back to 3Rd if asked to hold speed up it. It has recently been resurfaced with very dark black smooth, but with a coarse grippy surface. It curves right, then lefty near the top, with curves that would become fun above 125Km/H or a bit above. Some drivers slow just a little from the 100 speed limit.
So while I’m off with the fairies, discussing what a wonderful day it is, sitting on about the legal 100, with just enough throttle to maintain my speed up the hill, the tail starts to go out. This took me completely by surprise, as I was driving quite gently, & would have been going at least 20Km/H faster if trying to have fun.
I took off some lock, & adjusted my hands to a better driving position. By now the tail is a long way out, & still going with all lock removed. So what do I do? Well what I did was make the obvious idiot mistake of both backing off, & applying opposite lock. The tail snapped back the other way, what else could it do? Backing off, or opposite lock should have overcome my problem, doing both was asking for what I got.
About this time I noticed 3 cars coming towards me, going the other way. They all had their wipers on, but none were slowing, or trying to get out of my way, so the cars histrionics can’t have looked as bad from outside, as they felt from inside.
With my new knowledge of the wet road, I very carefully reduced the amount of opposite lock I was applying to each swing, but I had covered at least 100 yards fishtailing, before I had the thing totally straight. By now the wet road was obvious.
I think I had just caught the edge of a passing shower, where the damp road & dust was particularly slippery. Further on, it was not as slippery, where the dust was washed off the road. The tyres are 9 month old, top of the range Bridgestone’s, so I don’t think I should blame them.
Next time I plan on communing with nature, or chatting with the fairies, while driving, I’ll take one of the Triumphs. They don’t get so upset, if you don’t give them your full attention. Jealous little buggers these S2000s.
200bhp said:
Clearly you're a useless driver and should never turn your attention to any sort of driving career - You'll be rubbish 
Dont know what the roads are like over east but here in WA they go from smooth to "ice rink" at the slightest sign of rain.
I hardly drive quickly but the only time I have really got caught out in my S2000 was in WA after showers. Agree that after 6 months of sun in WA the first bit of rain seems to make the roads really greasy!Dont know what the roads are like over east but here in WA they go from smooth to "ice rink" at the slightest sign of rain.
k9l3k said:
The s2000 is a safe car to drive if you know how but definetly twitchy
I love always getting the back on the odd roundabout very easy to do . I floored it round a light turning coming of a roundabout 1 time easy turn and as I was going round and went to go to the inside lane the car
Was facing the the trees for while till I corrected it lucky enough but have done the same turning nearly everyday for last 4 years and never had that with my other rear wheel cars.
So yes they can be bit dodgy if you dont pay attention at what you doing
I'm not quite sure what you attempted to 'type'.I love always getting the back on the odd roundabout very easy to do . I floored it round a light turning coming of a roundabout 1 time easy turn and as I was going round and went to go to the inside lane the car
Was facing the the trees for while till I corrected it lucky enough but have done the same turning nearly everyday for last 4 years and never had that with my other rear wheel cars.
So yes they can be bit dodgy if you dont pay attention at what you doing
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