Tamoras can spin!!!!!
Discussion
It's happenned! A 180 degree spin on a dry roundabout! Luckily no visible damage?
I'd just been for a test drive in a Boxter S (no other reason than I had a mailing from Porsche GB). It was OK, quite comfortable but not very fast.
Anyway I was driving home, reminding myself how much better/faster the Tamora is. Everything's was going well when I got near home so I thought I'd have another blast along the dual carrigeway to the next junction and back.
I came down the slip road onto the large empty oval roundabout. I'm in second and still going a fair speed when a Clio enters in front of me. He's still ahead of me so time to decide, either back off or go round the outside. I decided not to back off! I went past him easily then came to the last bend before going up the slip road. Then I made my mistake. I lifted off and the back end came right round. I turned in but is was too late! The next bit seemed like slow motion! The front wheels went up onto the roundabout. I came to rest facing the wrong way with the Clio stopped nose on to me!
To be fair the Clio driver didn't get mad, he didn't even laugh! He just sat there with his hazards on until I restarted and turned round. Fair play to him!
So why did I spin? Going too fast I guess? Lifting off upsetting the car's balance? My new 18" wheels/tyres had only done 100 miles so weren't run in? I was on 18" wheels instead of 16"?
Anyway, I've been going faster around bends in the Tamora than I'd ever dared go in my previous 4.0l Chimaera. So at least I've learned a lesson without any damage. As good as the Tamora is you've still got to be careful. And I was sure I was somehow related to Senna/Prost/Schumacher! Come to think of it my mother's maiden name was De Cesaris! Enough said!
Cheers...... Andrew (http://alt.150m.com/ first attempt at website!)
I'd just been for a test drive in a Boxter S (no other reason than I had a mailing from Porsche GB). It was OK, quite comfortable but not very fast.
Anyway I was driving home, reminding myself how much better/faster the Tamora is. Everything's was going well when I got near home so I thought I'd have another blast along the dual carrigeway to the next junction and back.
I came down the slip road onto the large empty oval roundabout. I'm in second and still going a fair speed when a Clio enters in front of me. He's still ahead of me so time to decide, either back off or go round the outside. I decided not to back off! I went past him easily then came to the last bend before going up the slip road. Then I made my mistake. I lifted off and the back end came right round. I turned in but is was too late! The next bit seemed like slow motion! The front wheels went up onto the roundabout. I came to rest facing the wrong way with the Clio stopped nose on to me!
To be fair the Clio driver didn't get mad, he didn't even laugh! He just sat there with his hazards on until I restarted and turned round. Fair play to him!
So why did I spin? Going too fast I guess? Lifting off upsetting the car's balance? My new 18" wheels/tyres had only done 100 miles so weren't run in? I was on 18" wheels instead of 16"?
Anyway, I've been going faster around bends in the Tamora than I'd ever dared go in my previous 4.0l Chimaera. So at least I've learned a lesson without any damage. As good as the Tamora is you've still got to be careful. And I was sure I was somehow related to Senna/Prost/Schumacher! Come to think of it my mother's maiden name was De Cesaris! Enough said!
Cheers...... Andrew (http://alt.150m.com/ first attempt at website!)
Oi, apache! That's Juan Pablo Nubbin to you, mate!! 
I've just about got the feel for the limits of the Toyo tyres - they're definitely less sticky than the Avon ZZ3's on the 16" wheels - but they are a harder compound, judging by the wear rate on the sidewalls. Maybe, that's what caught you out, gb? I've noticed a bit of slip on dry roads, and there has been just enough sprinkling of rain (up here anyway) to give a bit of slippiness to road surfaces...
Just checked out your site gb - you old rogue and child molester! I'm putting a picture up of a mystery woman in response......
>> Edited by nubbin on Friday 19th April 21:42
I've just about got the feel for the limits of the Toyo tyres - they're definitely less sticky than the Avon ZZ3's on the 16" wheels - but they are a harder compound, judging by the wear rate on the sidewalls. Maybe, that's what caught you out, gb? I've noticed a bit of slip on dry roads, and there has been just enough sprinkling of rain (up here anyway) to give a bit of slippiness to road surfaces...
Just checked out your site gb - you old rogue and child molester! I'm putting a picture up of a mystery woman in response......
>> Edited by nubbin on Friday 19th April 21:42
surely any swb, lightweight, 350bhp car will spin if you unsettle it through a bend - be it with the brakes, accelerator or 'the knob on the wheel' to quote a well known expression.
I span my Griff twice (v8 ROR where are you!!) once with too much throttle coming out of a chicane at Castle Coombe, the other time at Duxford by leaving the breaking until the last minute and having to break in to the turn at the bottom of the runway.
I know of a good 4 other griffs (lets be honest pretty similiar car to a Tamora conceptually) whose drivers lost them on public roads and ripped the exhaust system clean off!
I guess moral of the story is to rely on the trusted slow in / fast out / smoothness / breaking before bend practices even in as good a handling car as a Parker-Tomkinson.
Bennno
quote:
the other time at Duxford by leaving the breaking until the last minute and having to break in to the turn at the bottom of the runway.
I can confirm this!! I was in the car and was mightily impresssed with the way Ben applied more throttle mid-spin and drove straight out of the spin Schumacher style.....until he admitted it was pure luck
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