Slick roads...V8... Wheee!

[swift6]

A little background first... In Fort Collins, they no longer salt the roads in the winter. They use a chemical spray that is some sort of synthetic urea. When all the snow goes away this stuff sticks around and makes the roads a little slippery (it's also a bugger to wash off) when the morning dew/frost appears.

Now on to the fun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

This morning as I was leaving town (my TR8 is my daily driver, not great in the white stuff but that stuff doesn't actually stick around for very long in Fort Collins.) I caught the tail end of a left turn direction arrow through an intersection. Note I was not starting from a dead stop but had a good bit of speed up, nothing illegal though. As I approached the turn I downshifted and accelerated through the corner, as you do, when I felt the distinct sensation of my rear tires losing grip under power. Then the front started to go. Nothing drastic mind you, just a bit of slipping. As the roads were nearly empty, a rarity in itself in Fort Collins, I decided it was time to play. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

So I fed in a little more throttle and dialed in some opposite lock and presto. Four wheel power slide that was quite easily modulated by throttle and steering inputs. What a blast! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

My TR8 can be coaxed into doing the same thing on normal dry roads but it takes a bit more effort. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif This morning was just the right thing to do to start the day off with a smile. Just thought I would share the experience with you lot.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[tdskip]

Must be nice to have that kind of power on tap! I bet that got your day off to a good start.

 

[swift6]

[ QUOTE ]
Must be nice to have that kind of power on tap! I bet that got your day off to a good start.

[/ QUOTE ]

TR8's can be real "hooligan" rides. Loads of torque brings big smimles. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[MGA Steve]

[ QUOTE ]
A little background first... In Fort Collins, they no longer salt the roads in the winter. They use a chemical spray that is some sort of synthetic urea. When all the snow goes away this stuff sticks around and makes the roads a little slippery (it's also a bugger to wash off) when the morning dew/frost appears.

[/ QUOTE ] That stuff is also worse than salt on chrome. The chrome bumpers on my 2000 Ford pickup have started yellowing due to the mag chloride that CDOT uses. Not a problem for the TR8 since it has no chrome, but I often wonder what that stuff is doing to my aluminum block and steel body parts.

A TR8 makes mountain roads great fun, as well. Passed two guys on crotch rockets in some hairpins on the Squaw Pass road one time. They couldn't believe that four wheels could take those curves faster than they could. But that square shape is generally pretty stable, except on slick roads like you experienced. Of course, the short wheelbase is not a lot of fun on really bumpy gravel roads, especially right after the grader has gone through and created a nice new washboard surface.

Oh well, I guess we have to put up with some discomfort to drive one of the most grin-inducing LBCs ever built. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Brosky]

Like riding on any bumpy road in an LBC is a "smooth" experience.

 

[swift6]

[ QUOTE ]
That stuff is also worse than salt on chrome. The chrome bumpers on my 2000 Ford pickup have started yellowing due to the mag chloride that CDOT uses. Not a problem for the TR8 since it has no chrome, but I often wonder what that stuff is doing to my aluminum block and steel body parts.

A TR8 makes mountain roads great fun, as well. Passed two guys on crotch rockets in some hairpins on the Squaw Pass road one time. They couldn't believe that four wheels could take those curves faster than they could. But that square shape is generally pretty stable, except on slick roads like you experienced. Of course, the short wheelbase is not a lot of fun on really bumpy gravel roads, especially right after the grader has gone through and created a nice new washboard surface.

Oh well, I guess we have to put up with some discomfort to drive one of the most grin-inducing LBCs ever built. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif I try to wash my cars as often as possible, including the undercarriage. Luckily with our weather we can actually still accomplish this through the winter as opposed to say Chicago.

Oh yes, toying with crotch rockets can be fun. There are a few canyons up this way that I love to play cat and mouse with the monkey butt's. Mostly in my TR6, which can keep up with most TR8's and can flat disappear from stock TR6's. I also give the bikers a nice friendly wave when they re-pass on the straights with their superior power to weight ratios. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif It does hurt their feelings when you pass them in corners where they think they rule.

The only motorcycle I've played with in my TR8 was a highly modified Ducati. From 80mph he disappreared like he was shot out of a cannon. It was one of those scenes out of the movies. As I pulled in behind him, he glanced in his rear view, double checked with a glance over his shoulder, down shifted and was gone! I think my only reaction was to say "Holy $#!*". I know when I'm out classed so I let him go. Besides, I knew something he apparently did not. Not far ahead of us was a Colorado Highway Patrol Camaro (one of the canyon runners). Ran in to him later that week, his bike and my car aren't exactly run of the mill so it was easy to recognize each other. I bought him a beer. Nice guy, too bad the CHP Officer didn't think so.

Yes, the TR8 does induce several smiles. I love it as my daily driver. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif