a day I'd like to forget - page 1 -

• a day I'd like to forget by David on 26 Apr, 2007 03:49
• Well today I learned a bit first hand how it feels for a nascar driver to plow into the wall.
  
  Down here, I went out to run an errand in the rain, and on my way home my car hydroplaned from the left lane into the left guardrail of the freeway then spun around and crossed the other lanes and hit the other guardrail.
  
  Thankfully it hit no other cars, and i'm fine, but what was scary is I was completely powerless to stop it.    It all happened so fast.
• #1 by GBORN on 26 Apr, 2007 05:36
• Glad to hear you're alright. 
• #2 by Professor Melon on 26 Apr, 2007 06:29
•   Very relieved you're all right, David. I spun 360 degrees around once on a rainy highway, got sick in the lower spine as a result of the helplessness of the situation; came out of it shaken but unscathed. By grace alone, I hit neither another car nor the guardrail. I guess the lesson here is to take extra precaution when driving on slick roads. My wife, whose road-hugging Jeep is about to give up the ghost, is apprehensive about getting a smaller car--perhaps a Honda--because of just this issue. Stay well, Professor Melon
• #3 by PigPen on 26 Apr, 2007 07:07
• I know how you feel David, I've spun out in snow more than once, and had some hydroplaning adventures too. Glad to hear you're alright though. It gets real scary when there is nothing you can do to stop it.
• #4 by Paul on 26 Apr, 2007 07:09
• Living up in the land of snow and ice have experienced similiar scary moments.  Really glad you came out of it all right.
• #5 by schro on 26 Apr, 2007 07:11
• Glad you're OK, David. I've done some snow/ice driving (Tahoe area) and the feeling of helplessness is not a good one.
  Cheers!
  Schro
• #6 by Ian on 26 Apr, 2007 07:48
• Phew......glad your ok.
• #7 by Stu on 26 Apr, 2007 11:00
• My brother wrapped a 1965 Buick LeSabre around a telephone pole on a slick road, and he wasn't driving very fast (or so he says).  Glad you're ok -- sounds scary.
• #8 by BALDANDRE on 26 Apr, 2007 11:15
• Man, glad you're ok!
  
  Stuff like that gives me chills...scary!
  
  Take care brutha!
• #9 by Rafter on 26 Apr, 2007 11:52
• Quote from: David on 26 Apr, 2007 03:49

  Well today I learned a bit first hand how it feels for a nascar driver to plow into the wall.
  Down here, I went out to run an errand in the rain, and on my way home my car hydroplaned from the left lane into the left guardrail of the freeway then spun around and crossed the other lanes and hit the other guardrail.
  

  
  There's probably no worse feeling. It's like your car is possessed. You're driving on a wet stretch of road and all of a sudden it feels as though your vehicle has a mind of its own.
  Losing control like that,
  now that's S-C-A-R-Y!!
  
  I guess after this experience, you've finally given up your dream of becoming a NASCAR driver!!
• #10 by Dtopford on 26 Apr, 2007 12:36
• Glad to hear your all right David. However there are some things that you can do to stop the slide or spin. I learned when I raced auto cross back in the day. If you were really interested I would look to see if there are any driving courses or even SCCA (sports car club of america) events near you. Better to have the spins and slides and all that nonsense happen in a semi controlled eviroment then when going down teh highway. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do but hang on. However there are a lot of times that you have more control than you think. I know that learning to drive my car on a track or closed course has saved my butt on the highways more than once.
• #11 by Tyler on 26 Apr, 2007 14:28
• Glad your ok bro!  I had a similar incident about 10 years ago driving my brother and sister to Thanksgiving dinner at my uncle's house.  If it wasn't for learning to turn into the spin I would have hit a tree or a house.  Instead I just ended up stopped in the other lane pointed in the "right" direction.  It is a very scary feeling to have your car take on a direction of it's own.
• #12 by champ007 on 26 Apr, 2007 15:28
• David, I had a similair incident back in the day with my 65 cuda, luckily I managed to miss everything. Ended up dropping a couple 50 lb sacks of concrete in the fenderwells for traction.
  But I will say it took me about a hour to pull my boxers outta my A** !!!
  Glad your OK man!
• #13 by Kajun on 26 Apr, 2007 15:47
• definetly a close call! good to see that you didnt get hurt!
• #14 by Robmeister on 26 Apr, 2007 15:49
• Glad yer ok, brutha