[Z06] I learned a few things tonight. need advice
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax Virginia
I learned a few things tonight. need advice
So, I was driving to a class tonight, and it had just started raining. I was comming off an on ramp at about 30-35 mph. I thought I had straightened out all the way but apparently hadn't. I gave the car some gas (enough to merge, not flooring it) and the rear end came right around. I tried to countersteer but it did no good, by the time it had started to come back around I was next to the guard rail. The car ended up hitting the guard rail at about 25ish, the front fender has a crack on it, and there is a scratch going down the side of the car.
Overall it could have been far worse.
The things I learned tonight:
1. I need to learn to drive/control the car.
2. I need to better consider fresh rain.
3. Perhaps some better wet traction tires?
4. Whatever the members here can share with me.
Also, how expensive is fiberglass repair with black paint?
Thanks guys,
-Dan
Overall it could have been far worse.
The things I learned tonight:
1. I need to learn to drive/control the car.
2. I need to better consider fresh rain.
3. Perhaps some better wet traction tires?
4. Whatever the members here can share with me.
Also, how expensive is fiberglass repair with black paint?
Thanks guys,
-Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Dan, sorry about your accident. Think positive, no one got hurt. You need to fill out your profile, such as what state your from, mods done to your car, year, etc ,etc. First off every thing you mentioned are true. You probably need a new set of tires if they are 3 yrs or older. Don't cheap out w/used, get brand new. When on an entrace ramp, wet or dry and your in 2nd or third, it doesn't take much to bring the rear end around when giving it the throttle. Cold weather, the car will react the same too. Just be more careful and take it real easy, untill you get the feel of this new to you car. Good luck and be carefull! 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax Virginia
The traction control system was on. I don't trust myself yet to turn it off except when I'm at the drag strip. I do have a HPDE lined up next month, I really am excited and hope I learn a lot there.
Oh, I've had the car slide around a little bit on me in the dry. Certainly wasn't a 'new' sensation, but the extreme speed at which the car rotated caught me off guard. It doesn't help that I drove an AWD stealth before this.
I'm thinking some GS-D3s would do me some good.
Any advice on repair? Am I going to get raped, or is fiberglass not too bad to repair? It's purely cosmetic damage.
-Dan
Oh, I've had the car slide around a little bit on me in the dry. Certainly wasn't a 'new' sensation, but the extreme speed at which the car rotated caught me off guard. It doesn't help that I drove an AWD stealth before this.
I'm thinking some GS-D3s would do me some good.
Any advice on repair? Am I going to get raped, or is fiberglass not too bad to repair? It's purely cosmetic damage.
-Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
When I first bought my Z brand new, I lost it twice in cold weather,dry pavement. I accelerated too fast going onto entrance ramps. The GY Super car tires grip good in dry hot weather, but they don't like the colder temps. Both times I lost it, it was in a blink of an eye and the computer took over and straightened me right out. This happened in the first year that I had the car. Be carefull!.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,389
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
A good reminder here (not saying you did this) but when the rear end comes around on you, the last thing you want to do is hit the brakes. It will upset the car even more and will cause a further loss of control.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,047
Likes: 4
Glad you are OK. These cars have enough trouble with traction when the weather is perfect, when you throw cold weather or rain at them, they can be a real handful.
The best advice I can give is to state the obvious and not push the car in foul weather, at all. If you're like me, after your HPDE you won't be that thrilled to drive the car on the street anyway. Good luck.
The best advice I can give is to state the obvious and not push the car in foul weather, at all. If you're like me, after your HPDE you won't be that thrilled to drive the car on the street anyway. Good luck.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Sorry to hear that. It started raining out of nowhere one night and I hydroplaned on the freeway at 40MPH in my Trans Am with Nitto 555Rs in the back. Turned 180* and slid through 3 lanes into a wall... Luckily it was 4am and there wasn't any cars to hit. My Nittos were bald and I had no idea it was going to rain.
The lesson learned is to keep an eye out for weather reports of rain and to have good all-season tires on when you're not racing.
If I were you, once you get your car back, get a pair of cheap wheels and mount your drag tires on those. Keep 'em in the garage and only put 'em on when your going out to race. For all other days, put good all-season performance tires on. I recommend Nitto 555 Extremes. They're fantastic in wet and dry conditions for every day driving. Or if you really want the no-compromise tires, spend some cash on PS2s so you have a good performance and wet weather tire.
After my wreck (considering I had absolutely no control over the car - brakes, gas, steering) I was afraid to get on the freeway while it was raining for 6 months or so and even when I did get back on the freeway, I was scared. You're going to need to spend some time learning your car in wet conditions and gain some confidence with it.
The lesson learned is to keep an eye out for weather reports of rain and to have good all-season tires on when you're not racing.
If I were you, once you get your car back, get a pair of cheap wheels and mount your drag tires on those. Keep 'em in the garage and only put 'em on when your going out to race. For all other days, put good all-season performance tires on. I recommend Nitto 555 Extremes. They're fantastic in wet and dry conditions for every day driving. Or if you really want the no-compromise tires, spend some cash on PS2s so you have a good performance and wet weather tire.
After my wreck (considering I had absolutely no control over the car - brakes, gas, steering) I was afraid to get on the freeway while it was raining for 6 months or so and even when I did get back on the freeway, I was scared. You're going to need to spend some time learning your car in wet conditions and gain some confidence with it.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 0
From: New Rochelle, NY New York
To answer your question, fiberglass is easy to repair. Depending on how bad the fender is, you might just want to replace it. A right fender goes for about $291, a left $312. I would replace it either way. They come off so easy and you don't have to worry about "feathering in" the fiberglass work. You can do it yourself. just order a fender, take it to your favorite body shop, have them paint it, and put it back on. I would think that if you had the shop do all the work, price tag around $700, do it yourself, price of fender and the paint job- under $500(?)
hope this helps
Don
OH, sorry to hear about your accident, I wiped out the same way in Feb. Happy to hear though you and no one else was hurt!
Last edited by dcd58; Jul 24, 2009 at 09:50 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
If you are still running with the stock Eagle F1's, you should really consider getting rid of those. If they get worn down enough, you could end up with next to nothing for wet traction. I'm running a set of Nitto Invos now, and even with the NT05, I haven't had any issues in the rain at highway speeds.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 903
Likes: 1
From: Burbank CA
sorry to hear about that, I never drive mine in the rain but cold early mornings are no good either. I put Kumho Ecsta MX tires on my car and they work great. Like above, cheaper to buy a new fender and have it painted.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Ohio
Sorry to hear about your accident and the damage to your car. I am glad that nobody was injured. I recently ditched the GY F-1's on my Z and put on a set of Firestones. I've been caught twice now by pop-up storms that drop a bunch of rain in a short period of time resulting in quite a bit of water on previously dry roads. The 'stones seem to be MUCH better at handling this type of situation. Just to clarify, the car is my DD during the warmer months and has been modded to approx. 432 hp at the wheels. It begins to pull hard at around 3200 RPM. Good tires and paying attention to the tach more closely when it rains is hugely important with these cars when the road conditions go bad. Good luck with the repairs and getting your Z back on the road again !
B
B
Last edited by blazer427X3; Jul 24, 2009 at 09:43 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Fairfax VA
Hi Dan. Sorry to hear about your mishap but thank God you are ok, like you said it could've been a LOT worse. Just remember it's always a good idea to ease into the throttle instead of romping on it feeling for what the tires are communicating to you at the time. Obviously the rain was a huge factor but when it's wet is the time you should be extra careful with turn in/turn out under throttle.
Small world but I'm in Fairfax, VA as well in 22032. We should meet up sometime, I'm close to Woodson H.S.
Btw, I have a client that does bodywork and I've used him before on my wife's Porsche. He did an excellent job. The place is called Excel Auto Body, they are located in 7941 Cluny Ct., Springfield, VA 22153. Contact Shawn Kim at 703.912.6600 or (c) 571.216.9444 for an estimate and tell him Ben sent you! Good luck bro.
Small world but I'm in Fairfax, VA as well in 22032. We should meet up sometime, I'm close to Woodson H.S.
Btw, I have a client that does bodywork and I've used him before on my wife's Porsche. He did an excellent job. The place is called Excel Auto Body, they are located in 7941 Cluny Ct., Springfield, VA 22153. Contact Shawn Kim at 703.912.6600 or (c) 571.216.9444 for an estimate and tell him Ben sent you! Good luck bro.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,047
Likes: 4
Hi,
To answer your question, fiberglass is easy to repair. Depending on how bad the fender is, you might just want to replace it. A right fender goes for about $291, a left $312. I would replace it either way. They come off so easy and you don't have to worry about "feathering in" the fiberglass work. You can do it yourself. just order a fender, take it to your favorite body shop, have them paint it, and put it back on. I would think that if you had the shop do all the work, price tag around $700, do it yourself, price of fender and the paint job- under $500(?)
hope this helps
Don
OH, sorry to hear about your accident, I wiped out the same way in Feb. Happy to hear though you and no one else was hurt!
To answer your question, fiberglass is easy to repair. Depending on how bad the fender is, you might just want to replace it. A right fender goes for about $291, a left $312. I would replace it either way. They come off so easy and you don't have to worry about "feathering in" the fiberglass work. You can do it yourself. just order a fender, take it to your favorite body shop, have them paint it, and put it back on. I would think that if you had the shop do all the work, price tag around $700, do it yourself, price of fender and the paint job- under $500(?)
hope this helps
Don
OH, sorry to hear about your accident, I wiped out the same way in Feb. Happy to hear though you and no one else was hurt!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
Glad you are okay
Sorry about the car.
C5s are made of sheet molded compound (SMC)
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...air/index.html
Since black is a very common color you might want to try just buying a used fender and swapping them out.
If you want to learn how to drive try reading Ross Bentley Speed Secrets.
When you gave the car gas you upset the balance. Looks like you had throttle-on oversteer.
Sorry about the car.
C5s are made of sheet molded compound (SMC)
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...air/index.html
Since black is a very common color you might want to try just buying a used fender and swapping them out.
If you want to learn how to drive try reading Ross Bentley Speed Secrets.
When you gave the car gas you upset the balance. Looks like you had throttle-on oversteer.
boy isn't that the truth!