Miata Mailing List: December 1993, Message #143
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   From: Al Jenab 
Subject: RE>Miata brakes, tires (fwd)
   Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 14:54:37 -0500

Someone wrote:
"i recently took a little spin, ending up in a ditch, and, while both me
and the car are fine, a state trooper wrote me up for reckless driving.
i intend to fight this ticket. i wasn't speeding, and i don't think i
should have lost control of the car. the spin started suddenly on a
sharp curve on a downhill entrance ramp in a light rain. the "no
braking" phenomenon recently discussed here might explain the car's
behavior on that turn that day, or perhaps it was the notoriously
slippery tires. this is the first time i've spun out in any kind of
weather in any kind of car."

Ladies and Gentlemen, 
The Miata is a REAR wheel drive car.  It is also a SPORTS car.  Its suspension 
is set up to handle in such a way as to induce OVERSTEER when the rear wheels 
are unloaded while turning and/or the car is reaching its limits of adhesion 
in a corner.  This characteristic is magnified in adverse weather condtions.  
This characteristic is also one of the reasons why it such a GAS to drive.  
Oversteer is your FRIEND.  If you take the time to learn how to use it 
properly, it is even FUN.  If you are incapable or unwilling to learn how to 
drive such a vehicle, please consider going back to one of the ubiquitous 
understeering FWD econoboxes.  To blame your lack of attention, knowledge, 
experience, or just plain carelessness on "notoriously slippery tires" or  "'
no braking' phenomenon" or other nonsense in order to weasel out of a ticket 
is an abondonment of your responsibility as a sports car driver.  

Only GIRLY men and GIRLY women engage in such childish displays of blame-
throwing.  Ya.  A true sports car stud would have executed a graceful 720 
degree spin and then continued on as if nothing had happened.  The trooper 
would have simultaneously choked on his doughnut, burned his hands & crotch 
with spilled coffee, and then microwaved his face while picking up his dropped 
radar gun.  In the confusion you would get away!  Ha!  ;^)

Seriously though, you'll invite the insurance nazis & Ralph Nader types to 
brand the Miata Unsafe At Any Speed, and all our rates will go up.  Please 
invest a couple of hundred bucks in a driving school, or find some snow 
covered parking lot and spend a few hours doing 360's, and practice recvering 
from spins.  Your Miata is an instrument; spend a little time to learn how to 
use it and you'll enjoy it a lot more.
-Al