quattro digest, Vol 1 #4305 - Let's talk about quattro driving in the snow

[Larry C Leung]

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Once you've lost the front, the only thing you can do is
scrub off speed until the front tires grip again. Adding
more brake will only succeed in getting the fronts
even closer to lock up (friction circle concept). The
dry pavement recovery of Sean was because although
he had exceeded the traction limit of his tires on snow,
he FORTUNATELY (it doesn't sound like planning)  was
not above the speed for the traction limit on dry pavement.
Depending upon how much dry pavement there was, and
where it was, he's lucky that it didn't cause a spin. As
Mr. Buffam (gee, who's he, an authority??? ;-) said,
"in like a lamb, out like a lion" is the most effective
way to make sure of a predicatable exit of a turn. It
is also almost always the fastest for a street car in
any situation (i.e. even on the track, although the lamb
on the track has considerably larger cojones (sp?) than
on the street)

LL - NY


> Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 14:44:21 -0800 (PST)
> From: james accordino <ssgacc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Let's talk about quattro driving in the snow
> To: Sean Ford <audi_99_a6q at yahoo.com>, quattro at audifans.com
>
> Turning and braking is all about your tires IMHO.
> Quattro is not really very helpful if you can't turn
> your front wheels.  BTDT first winter with half worn
> Cooper Cobras.  They came on the car.  I had an
> unfortunate encounter with a telephone pole.  Going
> OTOH.  You can fly with slicks on ice if you'd dare.
>
> Jim Accordino
>
> --- Sean Ford <audi_99_a6q at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > This is my first winter with quattro. Just this
> > morning, with fresh snow on the ground, the front
> > slid straight and the car continued to move in a
> > straight line. Obviously, this isn't the best
> > situation when one is expecting to successfully
> > complete a corner! Thankfully, I hit a dry patch,
> > which corrected the slide.
> >
>
> >
> > Once I lose the front with quattro, what is the best
> > way to rotate the car? I recall some advice
> > warning against lifting off the throttle because the
> > engine braking on the rear wheels could cause
> > an unwanted spin. Though, if I don't lift off the
> > throttle, the front will simply continue to
> > push. Interesting from a dynamic, after-the-event,
> > point of view. Frightening from a
> > happening-right-friggin'-now point of view.
> >
> > My only thought here is to always expect to lose the
> > front and try to set the car up in such a way
> > as to toss it sideways into the corner. Oh, I bet my
> > wife would just love that scenario!
> >
>
>
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>
> Message: 9
> Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 14:54:24 -0800 (PST)
> From: james accordino <ssgacc at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: Let's talk about snow driving...
> To: Thompson Smith <carreragt at rennlist.com>
> Cc: audi list <quattro at audifans.com>
>
> Does that really get the fronts to hook up again?
> Even if they've REALLY lost traction?  I'll have to
> try that.  Ever pull that off in a hairy situation on
> the interstate full of traffic?
>
> Thanks
> Jim Accordino
>
> > > the ground, the front
> > > slid straight and the car continued to move in a
> > straight line. Obviously,
> > > this isn't the best
> > > situation when one is expecting to successfully
> > complete a corner! Thankfully,
> > > I hit a dry patch,
> > > which corrected the slide.
> >
> > Sean,
> >
> > Honestly, when your
> > front does the "ohh my god" slide, just roll on the
> > throttle, with your left
> > foot lightly on the brake. Then, you will experience
> > your Audi quattro the
> > way it was supposed to be driven. After you get the
> > hang of it, its best if
> > you find a parking lot full of snow and practice
> > till you pee in your pants
> > laughing from blowing doughnuts.
> >
> > Thompson
> >
>
>
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