Miata Mailing List: July 1995, Message #108
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   From: "Kate W. Hughes 4-1913" 
Subject: Skid Control
   Date: Wed, 5 Jul 1995 11:49:06 -0400

John Emerson writes:
>1.  Someone mentioned a driver's school held on a wet track.  I would LOVE 
>to attend such a school.  Where does such a program exist?  How much does 
>it cost?  Are there any of these in New England or in Upstate New York?  

	Skip Barber two-day advanced driving school practices skid control on a 
wetted-down "skid pad" (small circle).  The experience is invaluable.  As much 
as you may know about skid control, only _lots_ of practice will make it second 
nature, which is what you need in a skid.  Many other competition driving 
schools may have similar car control clinics.  When I took this class, it was 
about $900 for two days of thrashing _their_ car.  This is absolutely, 
definately an investment I would make in all of my freshly licensed children, 
and obviously myself as well.  It's already saved me from some potentially 
nasty situations....  I've got my money back :-)
	Skippy is in Limerock, CT, but they hold clinics across the country.  
Their phone # is 203-824-0771.  Try also Bob Bondurant in Pheonix, McKamey in 
Illinois, and pick up a racing magazine for more ideas.
	Extra bonus:  it's really, really fun.
	
>3.  What about tire sizes?  I'd like to hear from the experts, but I do know 
>from personal experience that fat tires can be a disaster on snow or ice.  Do 
>they tend to hydroplane water?

	Well, I'm no expert, but here's my Humble Opinion.  Skinnier tires with 
a more aggressive tread will do better in rain, standing water, snow and 
shallow mud.  The higher pressure (fewer square inches of contact per the car's 
weight) will dig through down to the pavement better, but you still need a 
tread to divert the water.  Fatter tires are only better on dry pavement and 
sand or mud that's deeper than your axle.  Fat tires will hydroplane in 
shallower water and at lower speeds than skinny ones, given the same tread 
pattern.
	Everything's a compromise, though, and the 185 is a good balance for 
different seasons on a car like the Miata.  I've been happy with my OEM 
Yokohamas, though others have not.

4.  What other advice do Miata owners have for minimizing the likelihood of 
an experience like Sharon's? (or worse...)

	Go to driving school.  It will give you practice in skidding.  Theory's 
no good when you want your muscles to react fast.  None of us are born drivers. 
 No one can always avoid skids, the thing that saves you is can you get back 
out of it?  When you skid, are you a driver or a spectator?  Spectators hit 
things, drivers tend not to.  It's not a talent, it's a skill that can be 
learned.


In The Spirit of the Sport,

Kate & "Prudence"
91 Mariner Blue