Major fright in the Mx5

by **valred** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:19 +0000

My passsion for mx5's (and life) nearly ended on Sunday morning near my house. Coming around the bend (barely 40mph) tapped the breaks on a wet section and could feel the back fish tailing violently. went from side to side before doing a complete figure of eight and stopping in front of an on-coming car that thankfully stopped dead.

Scared the breakfast out of me!!! checked my tyres (good) air pressure (26psi) so just seems to be the demon of a rear wheel drive!!

Any way of countering this? Would a rear brace thingy help?

val

by **Stig** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:32 +0000

what kind of tyres are they?

by **aquarian5** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:37 +0000

Yikes Val....

Welcome to one of the joys of driving the 5 in wet conditions.... Im surprised it happened under light braking but it is very easy to happen under acceleration on wet/greasy roads with the rear wheel drive.

Glad you're still with us and that the other driver was alert...just chalk it down to experience. There isnt an mx5 driver here who hasnt experienced something similiar ( me included) :roll:

A rear brace would stiffen up the suspension ok but basically its down to the road conditions etc....

Hopefully some better weather is on the way :wink:

Regards to you
John.

by **Steve** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:40 +0000

Whoah.. close one...!
What model do you have Val? Do you know if the car has a Torsen differential?

by **Ivan** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 5:00 +0000

Lucky you Val!
Never lift off on a bend with rear wheel drive.
Do your brakeing before the corner and accelrate gently around the corner.

by **mx5ash** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 5:07 +0000

Glad your alright Val. Plus What they said.
I've not done it in the 5 yet but once ended up backwards in my mg midget (rwd) in a carpark doing about 10mph. Lucky there was nothing but empty spaces.
And i've witnesed Johns backward antics first hand!!!

by **Stig** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 7:27 +0000

Ivan wrote:Lucky you Val!
Never lift off on a bend with rear wheel drive.
Do your brakeing before the corner and accelrate gently around the corner.

Ivan, you ommited to say to look for the racing line thru the bend and power thru! :roll:

by **leamyj** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 7:58 +0000

Glad you survived that scary moment Val. If there is a nice level field anywhere near you that you can get on to, take the time to practice such events, get a feel for the car to recognise what is happening and how to counteract it. I've often done this on the Curragh ( emm, the rangers don't actually approve of this) and you'd be surprise just how low a speed you need to be doing in a low-grip environment in order to lose direction, or for the back end to step out of line.....it's actually great fun when you get a feel for it. The important thing is not to panic, and drive out of it, avoid sudden braking if at all possible. Good luck with the practice sessions!! :wink:

John

by **MX5Steve** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 8:05 +0000

Can be scary alright, great fun though when theres no ditches around :shock:

by **robmx5** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 8:12 +0000

Val,

Had a similiar experience last week accelerating out of a roundabout with a greasy road. Drive this roundabout every morning, never had a problem - car fishtailed for what felt like ages and all the cars coming the other direction pulled over to their side of the road - thankfully - otherwise I'm sure I would have clipped one of them with my tail - came off the accelerator and just let her settle on the road and pulled away gently - can smile now - but first time its happenned - will know better the next time.

Robin

by **mrges** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 9:29 +0000

Seems like a lucky escape Val - glad you're OK (and just as well the road wasn't too busy).

I had a "brown trouser moment" last week on loose gravel, spread over a sharp-ish left hander..braked on approach to the corner, and as I tried to accelerate onto the straight the back broke away and did a little dance. For a few moments (although it seems much longer at the time) you are just a passenger (unless you can handle a car like Jason Plato, Tiff Needle or Ollie....oh, I mean The Stig......).

mrges

by **Stig** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:03 +0000

by **Medic5** » Wed, 04 Mar 2009 1:31 +0000

Sure Ollie (da stig) arrives backways and sideways all the time

Even in the dry

.......... give 'er welly

by **shenab** » Wed, 04 Mar 2009 9:34 +0000

Glad to hear you are ok Val, this has happened to me a couple of time to a lessor degree. It's even more fun (

) on ice!

It would be a bit of craic if you more experienced (note, I'm not saying older) drivers would pass on a practical the next time we are together - I know I could def pick up a tip or two from you lot. P'rhaps in the IOM ?

S

by **Midlifecrisis** » Wed, 04 Mar 2009 1:19 +0000

Glad ur ok - welcome rear-wheel-drive. Unfortunately, this is one of the draw-backs (trade-offs... joys... hazards...fun) of driving such a vehicle, however you really have to know the beast & either be prepared to react or to drive accordingly (or according to your abilities until you are comfortably able to recover). Per John's suggestion - a large field and/or empty (wet) carpark to practise & understand how easily you can loose it & what you can do to avoid/recover

Now get back on the horse....!


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	Author Message Major fright in the Mx5 by valred » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:19 +0000 My passsion for mx5's (and life) nearly ended on Sunday morning near my house. Coming around the bend (barely 40mph) tapped the breaks on a wet section and could feel the back fish tailing violently. went from side to side before doing a complete figure of eight and stopping in front of an on-coming car that thankfully stopped dead. Scared the breakfast out of me!!! checked my tyres (good) air pressure (26psi) so just seems to be the demon of a rear wheel drive!! Any way of countering this? Would a rear brace thingy help? val valred * Posts: 150 Joined: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 6:31 +0000 Location: Wexford Top by Stig » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:32 +0000 what kind of tyres are they? Stig * Posts: 2419 Joined: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:22 +0000 Location: dn ʎɐʍ sıɥʇ Website Top by aquarian5 » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:37 +0000 Yikes Val.... Welcome to one of the joys of driving the 5 in wet conditions.... Im surprised it happened under light braking but it is very easy to happen under acceleration on wet/greasy roads with the rear wheel drive. Glad you're still with us and that the other driver was alert...just chalk it down to experience. There isnt an mx5 driver here who hasnt experienced something similiar ( me included) A rear brace would stiffen up the suspension ok but basically its down to the road conditions etc.... Hopefully some better weather is on the way Regards to you John. 1991 BRG V spec One fella said to another.. 'I don't drink anymore'..........other fella said... 'ya but you don't drink any less either'..... aquarian5 Posts: 700 Joined: Sat, 04 Aug 2007 4:51 +0000 Location: Limerick Top by Steve » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 4:40 +0000 Whoah.. close one...! What model do you have Val? Do you know if the car has a Torsen differential? Steve Site Admin Posts: 5524 Joined: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:16 +0000 Top by Ivan » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 5:00 +0000 Lucky you Val! Never lift off on a bend with rear wheel drive. Do your brakeing before the corner and accelrate gently around the corner. Ivan Posts: 1205 Joined: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 4:40 +0000 Location: Co. Meath Website Top by mx5ash » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 5:07 +0000 Glad your alright Val. Plus What they said. I've not done it in the 5 yet but once ended up backwards in my mg midget (rwd) in a carpark doing about 10mph. Lucky there was nothing but empty spaces. And i've witnesed Johns backward antics first hand!!! http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3099765 "When I make a key the on position and push the button, an engine works" mx5ash * Posts: 2234 Joined: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:34 +0000 Location: Dungarvan, Co Waterford Top by Stig » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 7:27 +0000 Ivan wrote:Lucky you Val! Never lift off on a bend with rear wheel drive. Do your brakeing before the corner and accelrate gently around the corner. Ivan, you ommited to say to look for the racing line thru the bend and power thru! Stig * Posts: 2419 Joined: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:22 +0000 Location: dn ʎɐʍ sıɥʇ Website Top by leamyj » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 7:58 +0000 Glad you survived that scary moment Val. If there is a nice level field anywhere near you that you can get on to, take the time to practice such events, get a feel for the car to recognise what is happening and how to counteract it. I've often done this on the Curragh ( emm, the rangers don't actually approve of this) and you'd be surprise just how low a speed you need to be doing in a low-grip environment in order to lose direction, or for the back end to step out of line.....it's actually great fun when you get a feel for it. The important thing is not to panic, and drive out of it, avoid sudden braking if at all possible. Good luck with the practice sessions!! John leamyj * Posts: 5230 Joined: Sat, 04 Aug 2007 2:19 +0000 Location: kildare Top by MX5Steve » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 8:05 +0000 Can be scary alright, great fun though when theres no ditches around MX5Steve Posts: 1162 Joined: Wed, 05 Sep 2007 3:27 +0000 Location: Co.Waterford Website YIM Top by robmx5 » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 8:12 +0000 Val, Had a similiar experience last week accelerating out of a roundabout with a greasy road. Drive this roundabout every morning, never had a problem - car fishtailed for what felt like ages and all the cars coming the other direction pulled over to their side of the road - thankfully - otherwise I'm sure I would have clipped one of them with my tail - came off the accelerator and just let her settle on the road and pulled away gently - can smile now - but first time its happenned - will know better the next time. Robin robmx5 * Posts: 417 Joined: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 9:23 +0000 Top by mrges » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 9:29 +0000 Seems like a lucky escape Val - glad you're OK (and just as well the road wasn't too busy). I had a "brown trouser moment" last week on loose gravel, spread over a sharp-ish left hander..braked on approach to the corner, and as I tried to accelerate onto the straight the back broke away and did a little dance. For a few moments (although it seems much longer at the time) you are just a passenger (unless you can handle a car like Jason Plato, Tiff Needle or Ollie....oh, I mean The Stig......). mrges mrges ** Posts: 1062 Joined: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:31 +0000 Location: Midlands Top by Stig » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:03 +0000 LOL Stig * Posts: 2419 Joined: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:22 +0000 Location: dn ʎɐʍ sıɥʇ Website Top by Medic5 » Wed, 04 Mar 2009 1:31 +0000 Sure Ollie (da stig) arrives backways and sideways all the time Even in the dry .......... give 'er welly Medic5 Posts: 907 Joined: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:34 +0000 Location: Galway Website Top by shenab » Wed, 04 Mar 2009 9:34 +0000 Glad to hear you are ok Val, this has happened to me a couple of time to a lessor degree. It's even more fun ( ) on ice! It would be a bit of craic if you more experienced (note, I'm not saying older) drivers would pass on a practical the next time we are together - I know I could def pick up a tip or two from you lot. P'rhaps in the IOM ? S shenab Posts: 768 Joined: Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:20 +0000 Location: Dublin - Kildare Top by Midlifecrisis » Wed, 04 Mar 2009 1:19 +0000 Glad ur ok - welcome rear-wheel-drive. Unfortunately, this is one of the draw-backs (trade-offs... joys... hazards...fun) of driving such a vehicle, however you really have to know the beast & either be prepared to react or to drive accordingly (or according to your abilities until you are comfortably able to recover). Per John's suggestion - a large field and/or empty (wet) carpark to practise & understand how easily you can loose it & what you can do to avoid/recover Now get back on the horse....! Midlifecrisis * Posts: 256 Joined: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 4:54 +0000 Location: Co. Clare Top


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Major fright in the Mx5

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