DeTomaso Mailing List: March 98, Message #158
     



From: 	Rob McMullen <rmcmullen@dev.tivoli.com>

Subject: Re: Driving in the rain

Date: 	Wed, 4 Mar 1998 14:05:45 +0000



Mike Drew wrote:



> As far as DRIVING the car in the rain?  Well, wider tires will be more

> inclined to hydroplane, performance-oriented tires will be more inclined

> to hydroplane, and wider, performance-oriented tires will be MUCH more

> inclined to hydroplane (compared to your Toyota or whatever.)  So easy

> on the gas, mister! :>)



It drives like a surfboard.  :)  I was initiated into the mid-engine car

club one rainy day when I took a right hand corner at (I swear) no more

than 15 MPH.  I started back on the gas about halfway into the turn

(mistake #1) and felt the rear start to go.  Mistake #2 was a natural

reaction from being used to a front engine: I let off the gas.



If you haven't experienced it before, you won't believe how fast you'll do

a 360.  No sooner than I let off the gas then it was *gone*.  Didn't even

have time to wonder what was happening...



Pick your places to experiment, however.  I actually only did about a 270,

and let me tell you that the ego boost that you normally get from driving

the Pantera among the ordinary cars is gone real quick when you are

sideways in the road in the midst of 15 onlookers. :)



Rob