On 1/30/2014 11:03 AM, Califbill wrote:

In my youth, I went to Ohio for a years training with NCR. New 1964 Impala
SS and was getting what I thought was snow in Missouri. Was sleet, and by
the time I reached St. Louis, there was a 1/4 inch of ice under 6 inches of
snow. Was scary. Could not believe how many cars stuck in the center
divider ditch. I kept to about 25 mph and still spun out twice. Once on an
ice bridge when the wheels started to spin and I slowed down and engine
died as I did not put in the clutch. And once ran off the road, as I lost
where the edge was.

That sounds like a drive I took from Detroit to Grand Rapids in a '68 VW
Beetle during a huge overnight ice storm. I was at the edge of traction
sliding the whole way but probably averaged 40-50 mph. The VW did well
compared to all the trucks and cars off the road. My biggest problem
was the lack of defroster and freezing rain on the windshield that would
cause the wipers to stick. I cracked the windshield whacking it with my
hand to free the wipers... that and the gas pedal linkage freezing.