I was 17 and just got my Eclipse two weeks prior, wasnt used to the power, speed, and handling. Since I upgraded from a honda accord I felt like this thing was a big go kart.
I was on a first date, went hiking at a park, on the way out we decided to take the curvy roads. It had been a while since I'd driven the roads down there.
Came up on this turn, posted at 25mph, I had just shifted into 5th gear which means I'm going around 50-55mph. What you cant see is the turn getting progressively sharper up to this point.
Right before I made it to the first visible section of the roadway, a bunch of Harley guys rounded the corner and were coming really close to that yellow line, I freaked and tapped the brakes realizing I was going too fast and that we might hit. Didnt realize I didnt have ABS.
Considering the firestone tires that came with it were hard as a hockey puck, they gripped like [censored], the wheels locked instantly, shifting the cars weight to the front and off the back, I began to oversteer all the way around the turn. Somehow I managed to "drift" sideways between a guardrail and a line of motorcyclists without hitting either. At one point I was basically looking at them through my windsheild because I was so far sideways.
When I finally corrected I was partially in the other lane with a Jeep coming, once I avoided that and got it straight, for reasons absolutely unknown to me, the back end stepped out again and sent me spinning. Once I was going bassackwards I decided to just lock them up and hope for the best because I had no control and no idea where we were going.
Luckily there was a park ranger about 30 seconds behind me and when I explained that I thought I was going to hit a motorcyclist he assured me most of the wrecks in that turn have something to do with them and it was ok.
Almost had it stopped (maybe 5mph) until I slid into gravel which has zero stopping ability. Luckily the information sign I hit did the trick.
I had just washed an waxed it too, hence the frowny face on the hood.
We were both ok, wearing seat belts, only hit going very slow. Car was driveable home but I had to get a wrecker to pull me off of the sign. Accident was ruled a "no fault" on the offical report.
I now have a new rule to keep myself safer: If you don't know, don't go.
I was on a first date, went hiking at a park, on the way out we decided to take the curvy roads. It had been a while since I'd driven the roads down there.
Came up on this turn, posted at 25mph, I had just shifted into 5th gear which means I'm going around 50-55mph. What you cant see is the turn getting progressively sharper up to this point.
Right before I made it to the first visible section of the roadway, a bunch of Harley guys rounded the corner and were coming really close to that yellow line, I freaked and tapped the brakes realizing I was going too fast and that we might hit. Didnt realize I didnt have ABS.
Considering the firestone tires that came with it were hard as a hockey puck, they gripped like [censored], the wheels locked instantly, shifting the cars weight to the front and off the back, I began to oversteer all the way around the turn. Somehow I managed to "drift" sideways between a guardrail and a line of motorcyclists without hitting either. At one point I was basically looking at them through my windsheild because I was so far sideways.
When I finally corrected I was partially in the other lane with a Jeep coming, once I avoided that and got it straight, for reasons absolutely unknown to me, the back end stepped out again and sent me spinning. Once I was going bassackwards I decided to just lock them up and hope for the best because I had no control and no idea where we were going.
Luckily there was a park ranger about 30 seconds behind me and when I explained that I thought I was going to hit a motorcyclist he assured me most of the wrecks in that turn have something to do with them and it was ok.
Almost had it stopped (maybe 5mph) until I slid into gravel which has zero stopping ability. Luckily the information sign I hit did the trick.
I had just washed an waxed it too, hence the frowny face on the hood.
We were both ok, wearing seat belts, only hit going very slow. Car was driveable home but I had to get a wrecker to pull me off of the sign. Accident was ruled a "no fault" on the offical report.
I now have a new rule to keep myself safer: If you don't know, don't go.
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