Archive for the ‘ Video’s ’ Category
Last Sunday was fun. Nothing too outrageous, just a nice drive in the sun with the roof down. Originally planning to donut the Southport beach, we ended up in a arcade. Later on the tomtom directed us home even if it did send us almost all the way up to Blackpool first…
One year ago yesterday was the anniversary of me writing off my old MR2. In a tribute to the MR2 which is the most direct and fun handling car I have ever had, I decided to redo a video of the crash but this time show it in HD so every one can have alook. I take full responsibility for the accident but just so everyone knows the reason why it happened: I hit a sunken grate, which up-set the car while coincidentally heading onto some hidden ice. This in turn cured the rear tyres of any grip and let the rear end slide making the car pivot clockwise. Counter steer was very hard since the front tyres had very little grip, but after a hard moment of braking I somehow lined the car back up, but this just aloud the momentum of the mid-ship setup to go into a second spin which finally took me off the road.
This all happened a year ago, so now that I am now driving a S2000 you could say there was a silver linning to this accident. I am in the same situation as a year ago though and waiting for better weather to drive my car. This time I will wait for the sun to come out instead of heading out in snow 
I was at work and the snow was falling. So I set off home for the second time in snow. After getting home ok once before I expect to return home again without any problems. That was until a loss of traction heading up a not too steep hill where I was completely unable to progress any further. After a few attempts I come to terms with the fact I would not be going anywhere that night. I called a taxi and feared about how my car was going to be stuck in such a dangerous place over night vulnerable to passing cars which could easily skid into my car.
Thankfully two friendly chaps offered to pull me not too far up the road to a carpark using there 4×4 jeep thingy. This resolved the “my car parked in a dangerous place over night problem” and as the 4×4 drove off, the taxi pulled in. It was almost orchestrated because just to rub salt in the wound a snow plough flew down the road. Even so I don’t think I would have made it. So for now my car is off road until the snow goes away. The video above isn’t really car related but I did record me rambling on while stuck in the snow. Its more of a comedy episode
P.S This episode was released late due to the fact it revealed where my car was abandoned. There might have been some bad naughty people watching it, but the S2000 has now been moved
Today I finished work early due to snow. I love driving in snow, especially in a rear wheel drive car. What I fear is getting stuck which is what FR cars are known for when it comes to driving in the snow. Instantly coming onto the main road from work the car power slides out and is wonderfully controllable even with little grip. But I only cared about getting home, not snow drifting. So my main priorities was making sure to climb the hills and not get stuck. Been careful on the throttle and choosing the right gear got me home ok. If the snow had of been any deeper though, I’m pretty sure I would have been abandoned somewhere.
My nan came to me today and asked if I wanted to have a drive to Snakes Pass. I’ve trained her well. The low winter sun was blinding on nearly every turn and the handling was abit off. In fact the drive up to home moss was terrible, the steering was slightly off center and every gear change had the rear moving about. I figured either the road was really slippery due to the wet leaves which littered the way, or someone had stole a drive when I was asleep and knocked the steering out of alignment. After about 25 miles it got so bad I stopped and checked the car.
The result was a puncture at the rear left. It was almost completely flat, but I had just passed a garage in Glossop a few miles back and luckily I got there ok. Outside the air pump the tyre was on its sidewalls. The guy who was using the pump before me had blown his tyre’s up to 54psi, obviously I knocked it down to 32psi and filled the flat back up. I tried to get a measure on how fast the wheel was losing air, luckily there was a open tyre depot in eyes sight if I needed a new one there and then. I checked the other tyres, and drove straight home before it could go down again.
The handling was back to a level where it was a joy to tackle the country roads, but obviously I had to be reserved and not be too stupid. I was always aware of the condition of the tyre, and thankfully it got me home. The Snake Pass run will have to wait for another day, but for now I need a new tyre.
