delta_bratwurst

I did a pretty dumb thing yesterday. So I was driving home in my 01 Z06 from seeing some family for Christmas and I was taking the on ramp to the freeway. Its one of those that loop around in a cloverleaf like fashion.

It had rained last night and the ground was pretty wet. Its a pretty tight loop and you have to take it pretty slow. As I was just entering the loop a black Porsche pulled up behind to take the same ramp to the freeway.
Well, me being a young and stupid twenty one year old I had the urge to pull away from him in a superior show of horsepower. I wasn't even trying to race the guy I just wanted to be a little faster to show how cool I was. I guess in a way I lost control of myself. I wanted to show off and be cool and it almost cost me an accident.

By this time as the curve of the on ramp was starting to mellow out and I could see the freeway ahead I added what I thought was a little throttle and completely lost traction in the rear wheels. The rear end slipped to the left and the front started swinging to the right at the ramp wall. The only thing that saved my stupid *** was the Active handling which violently jerked the car back into a straight line.

Strangely I sorta laughed it off as I watched the Porsche drive away. Only now today did I sit and think about what happened and the seriousness of it and how I got off lucky. I feel pretty ashamed.

I hope this story can serve as a lesson to new Corvette owners like me. Be careful! Go easy on the throttle in tight turns and beware of wet roads. Stay in control of yourself as well as your car.

I got lucky.

Vetteman Jack

You just found out that the power that a C5 has must always be respected - it doesn't take a lot to lose control and have something terrible happen. Glad nothing serious, other than some shaken nerves, happened to you.

skydiven4fun

There is no other feeling like the shiver that runs up your neck when you realize that you are no longer the one in control. definitely get's your attention

Z06ster

Thank you for sharing your story.

1Willy1

in the rain you have to be super careful, don't even push it a little with these cars

On dry land I find they stick to the road real well and ive had very few issues

Anytime your losing control, simply let off the gas and focus on your steering

sfc rick

Not stupid.....just learning how to drive. Once you bang up a few cars, including the ones that are unfortunately near you, you'll learn what to do and not what to do. When you get a few decades under your seat belt you can move up to the next level of awesome power (700hp+) and enjoy them without destroying them or others in the process.

Motor on!

Jbster

runner140*

I know how you feel....way older then you are, I hydroplaned the Vette, for the first time ever, in any car. It was a learning experience I won't forget.

MSG C5

It happens to most of us along the way. I used to drive 40K miles per year mixed between my daily drivers and Corvettes and had a few reflective moments embarrassed by my actions after the fact. What knocks me back into reality is that I try to stay in the moment and realize that if I react to any aggressive driver, odds are that aggressive driver will just keep going if I lose control and my reaction to his aggressive behavior causes an accident. Don't take the bait. Just stay in the moment and enjoy your car.

...and don't beat yourself up over it. Nothing bad happened and you learned from it!

lonerider2002

I don't drive ever mine in the rain.

Blownchevelle68

Teachable moments....All of us have experienced them. Glad your ok.

grampi50

You sound like Yoda!

calvins

Got caught in the rain a few times. Tough not to in Florida in the summertime. They do get a tad touchy on wet stuff. Glad your 'oopsie' turned out ok!!

When I first got my '03 coupe I took it to a HUGE empty parking lot. I set it into competition driving mode (all safeguards off). Took off modestly in 1st and hit 2nd pretty hard. The car tried to go 90 different directions all at the same time. I played around with it a bit more after my heart got back down out of my mouth.

After that session I re-enabled the controls and they've stayed on since.

imgn tht

You may be 21 but you just learned a valuable life long lesson. The fact that you understand the foolishness of the circumstances and impact you experienced enough to feel ashamed shows maturity beyond your years. Glad you learned that the easy way without impacting others.

Black 03 Z06

You just know there is a story on a Porsche Forum about what happened here.

Glad you recovered and continued on but as someone else said it is a learning experience.

Patches

Great post and you obviously got a valuable lesson out of the experience. It's also good for everyone to be reminded how powerful - and dangerous - these cars are.

Glad you and you're Z made it through in one piece.

mstromquist

Thanks for sharing your story. I think pretty much most of us have been in the same boat when we were your age. I know I was. One difference though is I don't think I was as smart as you. I didn't learn my lesson at that age. It took me a few times and more growing up. Luckily I didn't hurt myself or anone else, just some metal.

Black 02

You learned to be more careful with your car and learned that a Porsche shouldn't be chased through the corners in a Corvette, I would say it was a good day full of lessons

Alexander K

I find my vette much easier to control than my fox body mustang. Although twice the power the vette goes where you tell it, and communicates very well. The mustang was a cooked spaghetti noodle.

I found spending significant time in a parking lot learning how the car reacts to different conditions, speeds, etc help a lot. Not just for learning how to control the power but for when stupid drivers do stupid things. Autocross is a great way to hone these skills. Especially if you can get a rainy day in.

I was pulled out in front of in a downpour at about 45mph. I really don't think I would have been able to control the slide had I not practiced.

Fatbob

I often think that it was probably a good thing that I didn't have a car with the power that a C5 has when I was younger. I got into plenty of trouble with much less powerful cars.