Re: 2001 M3 (or Audi vs. BMW?)

[Kneale Brownson <knotnook@traverse.com>]

There can be a change in adhesion factor, with no additional alterations of
circumstance, that produces loss of control.

I was driving an MB 230SL on dry pavement on an expressway with no
additional traffic (I live in a rural setting that was even more so in the
1960's) one bright February morning, maintaining a steady 100 mph when I
hit a patch of invisible ice and immediately found myself angling toward -
and subsequently driving in - a median with about three feet of snow in it.
 Never did a 360,  but I didn't try to do anything except steer straight.
When I got slowed down to about 50 mph, I began steering slightly toward
the pavement, and managed to regain the plowed shoulder going maybe 10 mph.
 That's when I tried the brakes and stopped to let my heart get going again.

It had been sunny and warm enough the previous day to melt some of the snow
and let the water flow across the pavement, and it froze up overnight,
forming the clear, glass-like surface I'd encountered.


At 07:17 PM 11/29/99 -0500, PlyBoyDoct@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 11/29/99 3:24:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
>mizutanit@mindspring.com writes:
>
>> I know a guy who did
>>  a 360 and slid into the median ditch in his M3 when it was just raining,
>>  on the highway, constant speed. His tires are quite new Michelin MXX3s
>>  and he maintains his car immaculately. He also attends PCA track events
>>  so I wouldn't say he's an idiot driver. BMWs can get really sketchy in
>>  poor weather.
>>  
>
>Saying that he was driving at a constant speed and all of a sudden he lost 
>control is kinda hard to swallow.  
>
>If your doing 360s on the highway and sliding around, either A) he 
>hydroplaned or B) There was a dramatic change in speed.  
>
>I never did this b4, because I don't own a q, but if you get hydroed, or you 
>change your speed real hard, it doesn't matter what car your in, you are 
>going to lose control.  
>
>Jason C
>89 200t10v
>Redmond WA