Advice to snowbound winter Camaro drivers

[2Muchmark]

Lucky for me, my Camaro is tucked away for the winter. If you're one of the unfortunate / nutty types who insist on driving this car in winter, I have a suggestion: Go to the mall.

Do this. Wait until the next snow and drive your car to the mall at night when no one is there, then practice.

Drive fast, turn hard, hit the brakes, forget the brakes, pull your parking brake. Spin your car, lose control. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Stay on the snow and ice. The deeper the snow and more slippery the ice, the better. (Not too deep - you don't want to get stuck!)

Then practice gaining control back. Steer out of spins. Imagine rugrats chasing their sleds in front of your car. Turn like hell to avoid them then correct to gain control back.

Try all of the above with and without the various computer controlled safety features turned on and off.

When the cops show up, prove you're not hammered, and then say you're practicing safe driving because that's just what you're doing.

What you will learn with all of this is how to keep your car out of a crash in lousy, snowy, crappy conditions found so often in this lousy snowbound wasteland known as the Great White North. You'll learn how to save your car, save your life and possibly the life of someone else.

[Camarodriver]

Did it, do it, every year (almost) with all my cars. Especially when I change tires for the season. Good advice, every driver should do this, the roads would be safer. And yes I am driving my 2SS in full on winter in Montreal...just not every day, only really when the roads are clear. eB

[OUR72GTO]

When the cops showed up I got a ticket for eratic driving.

[Heliwrench]

Haha I used to do this in my old truck... not because I was practicing but because it was fun...

Cop shop was across the street... they'd just tell me not to hit any poles

[canadian ss]

Did it last night in the safari van. Cop showed up and asked if I was "looking -a-round"? Kids loved it, I got alittle sick.

[sugar'n'spice]

Originally Posted by 2Muchmark

Lucky for me, my Camaro is tucked away for the winter. If you're one of the unfortunate / nutty types who insist on driving this car in winter, I have a suggestion: Go to the mall.

Do this. Wait until the next snow and drive your car to the mall at night when no one is there, then practice.

Drive fast, turn hard, hit the brakes, forget the brakes, pull your parking brake. Spin your car, lose control. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Stay on the snow and ice. The deeper the snow and more slippery the ice, the better. (Not too deep - you don't want to get stuck!)

Then practice gaining control back. Steer out of spins. Imagine rugrats chasing their sleds in front of your car. Turn like hell to avoid them then correct to gain control back.

Try all of the above with and without the various computer controlled safety features turned on and off.

When the cops show up, prove you're not hammered, and then say you're practicing safe driving because that's just what you're doing.

What you will learn with all of this is how to keep your car out of a crash in lousy, snowy, crappy conditions found so often in this lousy snowbound wasteland known as the Great White North. You'll learn how to save your car, save your life and possibly the life of someone else.

Originally Posted by Camarodriver

Did it, do it, every year (almost) with all my cars. Especially when I change tires for the season. Good advice, every driver should do this, the roads would be safer. And yes I am driving my 2SS in full on winter in Montreal...just not every day, only really when the roads are clear. eB

When I read what Mark said...funny how I thought of you, Eric!!! Hahaha!

you all should get together with all of us real soon!!!

[06blownSS]

When I was learning to drive with my driving instructor 7 years ago....he pulled the handbrake on me on a public street around a corner without warning to see how I would react. I did well

[norton750]

this should be part of driver training. that sort of practice can save your but. when my boy was 14 i got him a car that was on the way to the dump. We towed it out to logging roads and lerned him to slide a car on gravel. he had a ball and is a good driver now.

[bumblebee rules]

Everyone should have a chance to do that , even if it isn't in the Camaro you would still learn alot, I started on the farm in the grain truck LOL the Camaro does handle a little different LOL . Be safe out there eh .............:-)

[garfin]

I've always put the SS away for the winter since I got it in '98 and drove a beater. With both the SS and the beater sold this year, this is the first winter since '98 that I'm driving my car all year round.
Coincidentally, I did exactly what you've described last week and took the car to an (almost) empty parking lot to play to get a feel for how the winter tires work and how the car handles, turns, stops etc. in the snow. Absolutely the best thing you can do!!
I also was playing with a new Samsung Galaxy Android phone and testing its video capabilities! Too bad about the 3 trailers left in the lot.
Don't get dizzy! LOL!



Best regards,

Elie