The other day I was driving my Z to Willow Springs for some drifting fun in the rain. I don’t usually drive my Z in the rain, and I wanted to get a feel for it.
I’m driving down the freeway in very light rain, not enough to even run the wipers. Cruising along at about 55-60 MPH in a 65 MPH freeway, with people passing me all the time.
All the sudden the car starts hydroplaning, and gently spinning to the right. I'm in the center of three lanes, check my mirrors and nobody behind me for about 30 car lengths. The car just keeps spinning.
I turn into the spin, let off the gas, and patiently wait for some traction - which never comes. The car spins all the way around 180, I'm looking at the cars behind me and I'm just in utter disbelief. The Z spins another 90 and then goes off the freeway into the center divider. (Just open muddy dirt - no wall)
The car hits the mud, jerks and spins fast another 180 to a dead halt facing the freeway. Not once did I get an ounce of traction, and it felt like it took forever. My tires are less then one month old, and they still hydroplaned at low speeds in light rain.
Not a single car that watches me spin off the freeway stops to check that I'm OK.
Needless to say I never made it to Willow. The Z doesn't have a mark on her, other then a bunch of mud. Still it scared the hell out of me. I don’t think I have ever felt so helpless, like there was nothing I could do but watch and prey.
Anyone else had a slow spin like this in there Z?
Does anyone know why when you spin out the car doesn't want to restart? I had to run the ignition for like 60 seconds before it would start again, but it runs fine now...
I’m driving down the freeway in very light rain, not enough to even run the wipers. Cruising along at about 55-60 MPH in a 65 MPH freeway, with people passing me all the time.
All the sudden the car starts hydroplaning, and gently spinning to the right. I'm in the center of three lanes, check my mirrors and nobody behind me for about 30 car lengths. The car just keeps spinning.
I turn into the spin, let off the gas, and patiently wait for some traction - which never comes. The car spins all the way around 180, I'm looking at the cars behind me and I'm just in utter disbelief. The Z spins another 90 and then goes off the freeway into the center divider. (Just open muddy dirt - no wall)
The car hits the mud, jerks and spins fast another 180 to a dead halt facing the freeway. Not once did I get an ounce of traction, and it felt like it took forever. My tires are less then one month old, and they still hydroplaned at low speeds in light rain.
Not a single car that watches me spin off the freeway stops to check that I'm OK.
Needless to say I never made it to Willow. The Z doesn't have a mark on her, other then a bunch of mud. Still it scared the hell out of me. I don’t think I have ever felt so helpless, like there was nothing I could do but watch and prey.
Anyone else had a slow spin like this in there Z?
Does anyone know why when you spin out the car doesn't want to restart? I had to run the ignition for like 60 seconds before it would start again, but it runs fine now...