This story is precisely what scares me about driving my coach in the snow
and ice. When all is going well, and you're under control, front drive is
great, but if you get a bit out of line, your natural instinct is to back
off the gas, which, unlike with rear drive, only deepens the problem. In a
front driver, regaining control works best if you give more throttle. I
don't know about you, but if I get several tons of GMC sideways, my instinct
is going to be to slow down, not hit the gas.
I spent an entire winter learning ice driving skills in 1977 when the great
south bay froze over in one of the coldest winters I remember. We just drove
down the boat launch ramps and had miles and miles of open ice on which to
experiment. (I did my experimenting in a VW rabbit, not my GMC)
Call me a chicken, but I'm staying parked if the weather turns icy..My coach
means too much to me to take any chances.
Tony
- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Avions (learning to drive)
> In a message dated 01/12/2000 4:13:17 PM Central Standard Time,
>
> > your Dad took you out on a frozen lake when you were twelve and taught
you
> > how to steer when you went into a slide!!!
>
> Emery
>
> Love that story. Reminds me of what my dad did to me. After a bad
> ice and snow storm he said I needed to learn how to drive in it. I think
> I was about 15 or 16. We had an old Studebaker with overdrive. He had
> set the parking brake just a little. No brake light back then. Got me out
> on the hardroad then told me to take my foot off the gas. Well, all He**
> broke loose. There he was yelling at me to steer into the slide----well I
> also found out that I could fix the problem with a little throttle. He
would
> yell get off the throttle----but it worked better than the brakes. Think
that
> is where I learned I could steer with the throttle as much as the steering
> wheel. Its also why I dont consider NASCAR on asphalt racing. Do it on
> dirt-------where it takes real skill. BTW Studebaker overdrive free
wheeled
> when you backed off the throttle----with the parking brake partially set
> it would lock up the rear wheels. Emery thanks for making me think
> about this.
>
> Take Care
> Arch
>
and ice. When all is going well, and you're under control, front drive is
great, but if you get a bit out of line, your natural instinct is to back
off the gas, which, unlike with rear drive, only deepens the problem. In a
front driver, regaining control works best if you give more throttle. I
don't know about you, but if I get several tons of GMC sideways, my instinct
is going to be to slow down, not hit the gas.
I spent an entire winter learning ice driving skills in 1977 when the great
south bay froze over in one of the coldest winters I remember. We just drove
down the boat launch ramps and had miles and miles of open ice on which to
experiment. (I did my experimenting in a VW rabbit, not my GMC)
Call me a chicken, but I'm staying parked if the weather turns icy..My coach
means too much to me to take any chances.
Tony
- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Avions (learning to drive)
> In a message dated 01/12/2000 4:13:17 PM Central Standard Time,
>
> > your Dad took you out on a frozen lake when you were twelve and taught
you
> > how to steer when you went into a slide!!!
>
> Emery
>
> Love that story. Reminds me of what my dad did to me. After a bad
> ice and snow storm he said I needed to learn how to drive in it. I think
> I was about 15 or 16. We had an old Studebaker with overdrive. He had
> set the parking brake just a little. No brake light back then. Got me out
> on the hardroad then told me to take my foot off the gas. Well, all He**
> broke loose. There he was yelling at me to steer into the slide----well I
> also found out that I could fix the problem with a little throttle. He
would
> yell get off the throttle----but it worked better than the brakes. Think
that
> is where I learned I could steer with the throttle as much as the steering
> wheel. Its also why I dont consider NASCAR on asphalt racing. Do it on
> dirt-------where it takes real skill. BTW Studebaker overdrive free
wheeled
> when you backed off the throttle----with the parking brake partially set
> it would lock up the rear wheels. Emery thanks for making me think
> about this.
>
> Take Care
> Arch
>
