GodSquadMandrake

There is a road around here called Highway 101. It's a single lane downhill highway in a valley area with lots of difficult turns. I usually cruise this a couple late nights a week, usually by myself. I have a friend who is really into Initial D and recently he's been tagging along in his stock 02' Saturn SC2 (DOHC 16v) when I head out there. He likes to talk about his skills, technique, and how he can push the car further than it should go, etc etc.

So we head out there and as soon as we turn on 101 he accelerates hard in the lead, I can smell the carbon burning off his engine so I know he's revving it out. The speed limit sign says 40, and I notice were doing 55. Not too bad but this is a straight section and I know that neither of us can hold this speed through the upcoming corners. He slows down to about 45 for corner 1, but he's going a little close to the center line and doesn't see the oncoming traffic. I see him swerve sharply to avoid the car. He wasn't going to hit it, but now I know he's nervous and jumpy. We're back up to 50 again and come up on hill number one, he brakes at the top of the hill, another sign he is jumpy. Turn number two is coming up and this is the most dangerous turn on Highway 101. It's deceivingly sharp if you don't look ahead or pay attention to the 15 MPH suggested speed sign...

I knew he was going to try and take it hot, after slamming on the brakes he entered the cornering going about 40. The weight was already transferred to the front of the car from braking and downshifting so the nose was diving pretty hard. He late apexed the turn and the rear tire touched the center line. At that moment it was like time slowed down as I watched the rear end slide out and into the dirt. He tried to counter-steer but it just kept spinning and the front end went into the dirt and made a huge dust cloud. Amazingly he didn't hit anything and the car rolled back into the street. He put it in gear and kept going... amazing. I was behind him the whole time. We still can't figure out why his car spun. I think it's because his rear tire hit that smooth painted line and it was just enough to cause the rear end to slide out.

This is why I don't race on the street. There are unpredicatable elements and when you push it to the limit there is nothing to save you when something happens. I told Steve that I don't want to race, just have a fun drive, but he thinks that he's Tak from Initial D when he hits that road. I guess this isn't really a "kill" because he "killed" himself. Other than that he is a good driver and will be a formidable opponent for next years autocross season.

jpandes

He lost control because he was driving a Stock Saturn like it was a sports car. Which it is not. Not even close. Good thing he did hurt anyone else. I hope he learned his lesson.

90WhiteVrt

my friends have saturns and have the same mentality. One day it will probably get them killed.

fcfanatic

And that is why I no longer take a motorcycle or car on that stretch of road.

GodSquadMandrake

It's not nearly as bad as Opus. Two Volksport members crashed there in one week earlier this year. That's definetley racer territory at night, 101 is a lot more calm except for Saturn guy.

fcfanatic

What area are you in? I have yet to see your car. Opus is obnoxious.

I own a Saturn. What mentality?

kontakt

I don't believe he was talking about some sort of "saturn mentality" so much as saying that he knows asshats that drive saturns too. So do I. One of them domed the hood of his vehicle at 110 racing me when some piece of his engine or another shot violently upward, tearing through wires and various important items. I was trying to beat a heavy storm to my house in my lincoln... he flew up next to me, revved out, and BOOM... it was funny.

fcfanatic

Sounds scary, yet funny at the same time.

GodSquadMandrake

I cruise the south part of 101 between Highway 5 in Chanhassen and Highway 212. Just that short couple mile stretch. I just got my RX7 a couple weeks back, in fact this is only my third time driving on 101 in it. That's another reason why I was taking it easy. I usually drive my red Jetta. It's pretty inconspicuous so you may not have ever noticed it.



I have never seen you out there either. I am usually out there Thursday and Friday nights after midnight, that's the only time it's not busy.

I work right next to Opus actually. In the daytime i'll take a detour through there for lunch, but never at night. Theres lots of cops there at night and they don't want anyone coming down there.

Tessai

I see big bumpers... what is it, a 91?

Mine was a white 90. .

Jager

iTrader: (10)

Silly Minnesota boys .

GodSquadMandrake

Nope 88 Jetta base model. It's my autocross car now, isn't very streetable.
It's actually faster in the straights and handles better than my FC, but the FC sure is a lot more civilzed. The two cars are totally yin and yang, but I love them both.

O 16581 72452 5

Kind of the nice thing about Indiana, it's fields with roads, if you want to push it hard, you can almost always see around you and what's around the next turn. I used to do spirited driving on country roads at night occasionally, there were trees all around, i'd just watch for headlights being shined on the trees, if there's no headlights, i'd take the long path of the turn crossing into the opposite lane. I realize now there's alot more risks than oncoming traffic and i no longer do it.

Snotcycle

dude its just bad weight distribution, i drove a 95 saturn sc for a while and it suprised the hell out of me when i hit an S-turn and on the middle curve the rear end slid out, the n i got used to it and it wasn't such a big deal my friend however, didn't know that and crashed the poor tired saturn