well, i never hit the curb sideways, i hit it head on.. so i dont see how hitting the breaks was a bad thing. the way i see it is that it reduced how fast i hit curb at

 

 

When taking a hard corner at a high speed letting off the gas makes you lose traction correct? Does braking create traction?

 

If you really want to understand it read http://www.miata.net/sport/Physics/ be warned though, lots of math.

Henrik

 

No. You don't lose or create traction, you only distribute it.

 

Zach is right. Braking puts weight on the front, accelerating puts weight on the back. High school physics. The more weight, the more friction, and friction translates into grip/traction. Learning and feeling it while driving is how you control over and understeer in a race.

I have a similar story in my 240. Back when I first got it, I was unfamiliar with the 'joys' of RWD. I didn't go in quite as fast as you though, so I turned towards the inside and gassed it, 'pushing' the car away from the outside curb. Scary.

Sorry to about your car man.