Took a spin :(

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:20 am

You all predicted it, and it happened this morning. Took a spin and f*cked the back wheel of a kerb. Wheel is being replaced in morning. Its the alloy that is damaged, balance and driving is still fine at present.

No other damage other than my Ego (thank god).

Not having the best start today, really wondering whether I need a second "rain car"...

Anyhoo, will jump back on the bike and try and learn from my mistake. Gutted doesnt even come close. Think I got a lucky escape.

Gary.

Brigita · Post by **Brigita** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:23 am

Sorry to hear that Gary - at least there wasn't too much damage - other than your ego...

B

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:24 am

Brigita wrote:Sorry to hear that Gary - at least there wasn't too much damage - other than your ego...

B

Cheers B. I had my friend in the seat beside me, I feel like a complete f*cking retard for putting him at risk too. I was so smart and so stupidly over confident, and I got a hard slap in the face for it.

Gary.

Post by **Shug** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:25 am

Yes you did mate. Sorry to hear it, but just think, it could have been much worse. Twatting kerbs in Elise chassis is not a good idea as it doesn't take a whole lot to bend the suspension pickups and then you throw the whole chassis away.

An Elise on good road tyres needent be dangerous in the wet - you just have to learn to calm the control inputs. I think this is more indication that some further training is what you need before you do anything else.

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:28 am

Buy an old S1 as a rain car

Thankfully as you say it mainly your pride thats hurt..

Best investment for you is a Walshy day. One thing that would work in your favour is that you havnt any long time ingrained bad habits yet. If you get to Walshy and he can show you how do it properly from the start it will significantly help you becoming a very accomplished and safe driver.

I cannot stress ths enough, unless you actually get to practice correcting the car on and over the limit it will hurt you at some point.

If you have the resources then a few Walshy days and you will quickly learn how to drive fast without ever putting the car in a position that it is going to spin or go off. Its the only way to get the knowledge without years of experiance...

Either that or you have to download advanced driver skills direct to the brain Matrix style.

A Walshy day is the closest thing to it.

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:30 am

Shug wrote:Yes you did mate. Sorry to hear it, but just think, it could have been much worse. Twatting kerbs in Elise chassis is not a good idea as it doesn't take a whole lot to bend the suspension pickups and then you throw the whole chassis away.

An Elise on good road tyres needent be dangerous in the wet - you just have to learn to calm the control inputs. I think this is more indication that some further training is what you need before you do anything else.

The kerb was tiny and the alloy section closest to the tire had a 6inch tear in it around the rim, and was almost snapped right through. The kerb must have been 4 inch high, and angled away from the car. I just don't understand what the hell I did wrong, I can't even remember which way the car spun, all I know is within two seconds I had 360'd and thought I had written her off.

Not a nice feeling and reluctant to use her in the wet for the time being.

I need this walshy day ASAP and a good kick in the gonads.

Gary.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:30 am

Sorry to hear this, glad it wasn't more serious.

Take it as a warning, not a bad thing to curb your confidence, especially in the wet. I had an experience in the wet not long after getting mine, too much loud pedal on a wet road, fishtailed all over but missed everything (Dundee Twon centre by the courts!)

Get a geo as a precaution anyway, if it was hard enough to damage an alloy it could have knocked it out of true. You probably won't notice until its loaded up properly or your tyre goes bald on one edge....

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:31 am

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Get a geo as a precaution anyway, if it was hard enough to damage an alloy it could have knocked it out of true. You probably won't notice until its loaded up properly or your tyre goes bald on one edge....

Thats getting done tomorrow as well at a cost of £60.

Gary.

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:32 am

John Reid wrote: A Walshy day is the closest thing to it.

I am booking now.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:37 am

In the mean time get your self up to the skid pan at KH

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:38 am

jamie wrote:In the mean time get your self up to the skid pan at KH

What is it exactly?

G.

Post by ed » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:51 am

Hopefully a lesson learnt......

Glad you are ok!

Post by **Shug** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:52 am

EliseR wrote:
Shug wrote:Yes you did mate. Sorry to hear it, but just think, it could have been much worse. Twatting kerbs in Elise chassis is not a good idea as it doesn't take a whole lot to bend the suspension pickups and then you throw the whole chassis away.

An Elise on good road tyres needent be dangerous in the wet - you just have to learn to calm the control inputs. I think this is more indication that some further training is what you need before you do anything else.
The kerb was tiny and the alloy section closest to the tire had a 6inch tear in it around the rim, and was almost snapped right through. The kerb must have been 4 inch high, and angled away from the car. I just don't understand what the hell I did wrong, I can't even remember which way the car spun, all I know is within two seconds I had 360'd and thought I had written her off.

Not a nice feeling and reluctant to use her in the wet for the time being.

I need this walshy day ASAP and a good kick in the gonads.

Gary.

Listen, we're all being a bit hard on you, but you sound like you're dealing with it absolutely in the right way - don't let it put you off, back on the horse and all that.

The training will really open your eyes though and will be more useful than £5000 worth of car upgrades

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:56 am

You can still drive it in the wet, just take it easy, be smooth and watch where and how hard you pur the right foot down.

I had my s1 from March till November and drove it every day, hail, rain or shine and never had any problems simply because I adjusted my driving depending on the weather.

I have had my S2 for 6 years and again no problems.

I agree the Walshy days will def help, I did one about 4 years ago and have applied what I learned both on the road and track, they are fantastic value.

Hope there is no other damage to your car.

EliseR · Post by **EliseR** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:00 am

I have booked a walshy day for late september, 2 person day for me and Claire. She has nearly spun it twice, so she could do with the lessons too I reckon.

In the mean time, god help me

Gary.