Steve's Near Z Death Experience

[stevo_gj]

Well I thought I would post up what happened to me early last week in my Z as a warning to others who are looking at getting their first Z. 

 

I had been mucked around by a mate: ended up going to uni to meet them but they had forgotten to let me know they couldn't make it, so an hour of driving and many $$ in petrol later I am on my way home in a frustrated state. It was doubly annoying that I had been forced to take the Z out in the rain to get there, something I have been trying to avoid since I got it. My mechanic has already told me I need to replace the rear tyres because they have hardly any tread remaining.

 

Anyway, I was turning right at a set of lights in the wet and being the fool I am gave it far too much accelerator. The rear end swung out as I was completing the turn and I started heading for the right hand wall, crossing into the oncoming traffic lane (I thank my lucky stars that there were no cars on the road). I realise my mistake and immediately take my foot off the gas and overcorrect, my back end coming within a meter of the right wall before I started heading for the left hand wall.  Once I cleared the right hand wall I applied brakes. This time the car does not turn right when I try to correct away from the left hand wall but instead does a 180 degree turn and I end up facing the way I came in the lane I started in.

 

I would like to point out that I handled the whole thing like a big girl, the moment I saw my car was in danger I started yelling "NO NO NO NO NO..."

 

I have learned my lesson, and will now be incredibly careful on wet days. I replaced the old tyres yesterday at Goodyear, and am considering taking another defensive driving course to brush up on my handling skills, as they definetly need it.

 

For all those out there like me who have never driven a rear wheel drive before my advice is to do some research and really get to understand how different it is to front wheel drives.

[C.A.R.]

LOLZ!

 

Welcome to the world of RWD Zed's!

[fufu]

LOL

 

i had the same thing happen to me in my brothers AE86. Thought I'd give it some, the rain had just started and  i did a small drift followed by a 180 degree turn.

 

Lucky there was no cars behind me or an accident would have occurred.

 

I've learnt my lesson too, be very very very VERY patient on wet days.

[pauly_adams]

nearly the same thing happened to me i was turning right at a set of lights and it started to slide bad my 260 finally grabbed, it was heading strait for a nice big pole and the car didn't want to turn so in my last effort i put my foot on the clutch reved the car to 3700rpm and dropped it, needless to say it actually worked but i ended up facing the wrong way like yourself, scared the crap out of me i was also screaming NO NO NO and no longer take my z out in the rain.

 

cheers Pauly

[oldmates260z]

Wrote of my first car (Datsun 1600) after one week of having my license and saving for the car for 4 years doing the same thing except I hit a "Keep Left" sign.

 

My son, who knew my story, did the same in his first Z (280ZX) but like you was luck not to hit anything.

 

Apparently its an age thing!

[mrp69]

 

been there done that and have walked away to talk about it

 

tryin losing it at 110km on the freeway missed the wall 3 times before i managed to control the car would of been sliding for over 100m

 

will never be a dumbass in the wet again

 

glad to hear your ok and dont think your the only one its happen to lol

 

peter

[zedevan]

get an lsd, it makes it much more predictable and controllable

 

the best mistake i had with the single spinner still in was at a T intersection turning right and i ended up doing a 270 and stopping perfectly for going straight along the road. this was at an intersection in the middle of no where where i could see both ways for ages so wasn't putting anyone else in danger, and normally the corner went nicely, but yeah, the back can just suddenly completely loose it - buy an lsd

[FuzzyDropbear]

am considering taking another defensive driving course to brush up on my handling skills, as they definetly need it.

 

Good to hear that you didn't injure your Z mate!

 

Those defensive driving courses don't teach you a lot about handling. The one I did mainly focused on the importance of keeping aware of your surroundings and keep looking as far up the road as possible. The reason mine didn't focus primarily on the practical aspect (we did spend a few hours sliding around, but not the whole day) was because once you do it there, you don't tend to practice sliding. But you can practice keeping your eyes further up the road everyday. But, IMO, the theory one is still good value. I learnt a fair bit from just sliding around for a couple of hours and doing the theory.

 

I would like to propose option 2: Just take the Z to a skidpan!  and take some photo's for us 

[RBZ 260]

LOL i think most ppl have been there done that.

 

I remember my first slide out in my parents than almsot new VR Berlina. in wet decided to give it beans just after making the corner. well the back slid out and all i remember it was swinging left right few times till i gained controll over it. lucky didnt hit anything and didnt spin out.

 

though being lot more powerfull than my at the time car a Camira SLX FF in my P plate era.. when i got my S14 some years after my first turbocharged and rear wheel drive car.

 

took it for a spin just around the block for a drive. wasnt insured as was waiting to sell my other car. in dry decided to do a hard launch. long story short i was lucky not to end up in someones lounge.took the car home and locked it up till it was insured.

scared the daylights out of me.

 

when finnaly the car was insured when it was raining ill end up going to industrial or a empty shoping center carpark to practice slide outs and try to keep the car in some what controlled state. back than there werent many cops or security monkeys complaining of car going sideways. also now days they have all this stupid islands and barriers in car parks so its not as easy as it used to be.

 

though i enjoy letting bit loose on the rear when wet but I take extra care when cornering. expecialy when i dont feel like waiting in the rain for tow truck.

 

bit rusty since my younger days. i did a power take off (full rev drop the clutch and hold on) at mates place and ended up loosing the rear end.bit embarassing but lucky no damage to the Z.

 

need to find a nice hidden skid pan to practice bit more.

 

like you said a warning to others but realty is we all still make those mistakes. just some are luckier than others to walk away from it or drive off with no damage.

 

but practice makes perfect 

 

 

[620Z]

Ha Ha been there done that. I was probably 18 as well. You hopefully live and learn. A good way to learn about your car is to do a defensive driving course and or get on the track in a safe environment and do it out there.

Don't feel too bad or embarrassed. Most people have done what you did. It's a learning thing. Hopefully most learn slowly by pushing there cars to the limit bit by bit, working your way up. Not in one big go. But I know how the mucho thing gets to you. Just make sure know one else is in your car. We don't want to be hurting or killing any passengers with us. When you start driving it is very difficult to know how your car will react to certain circumstances if you have never done them before. Live another day and take it easy.  Cheers

[stevo_gj]

I must say I am quite overwhelmed with the positive replies I have gotten for my post. Thanks guys! It makes me feel a lot better

[lightmaster240z]

Steve

It seem that we have all done this little trick once or twice. Some are fast leaner and some like me are alittle slow. If you know the round about that take you to Eltham I have done two 360 at it twice . my bad 

[RBZ 260]

I must say I am quite overwhelmed with the positive replies I have gotten for my post. Thanks guys! It makes me feel a lot better

 

as you can see from the replies. we all done it at some stage.

 

though i havent lost control hard enough to wreck any of my FR cars did spin out few times in wet. lot of friends i know did and lucky to be alive. (all failed to listen to me, jumping from FF to powerfull FR u got to take it easy for few months before setting off) both of them wrecked their cars beyond repair within 2 weeks of buying them.

 

but did manage to damage few FF cars by sliding out around corners  try explaining a rear wheel pointing square towards the back.  hmm that poor Hyundai Coupe sure did end up in interesting situations with me.

 

chin up and be proud that you didnt stick it in that wall.

 

 

[Scando]

My first car

 

 

I've been racing karts since I was 8 years old so I had no excuse.  Was only stupidity.

[ozy]

aw quit, rear wheel drive is killer. in ireland we get frosty winters, but some places dont bother salting the roads (county meath). 250bhp nissan S15 with hard suspension on a straight road doing 45mph

 

good to hear you and the machine are ok!