wrote:
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:59:26 -0800 (PST), True North
wrote:

Y'all southern boys sure are amusing.
I was out driving the wife to her dental appointment today with a heavy
snowstorm in effect and 6 inches already on the ground.
Only problem was a few people driving too fast and what looked like a
foreign student slamming his new sporty Range Rover SUV into a curb
angle breaking the axle. They were loading it on a flatbed when we
passed on our way back home.

The reality is, this isn't the snow that is causing the problem, it is
a quarter inch of ice under the snow. 5 or 6 inches of snow would
actually help because your tires would have something to bite.

This was also a common situation in DC, Rain changing to a dusting of
snow after dark with ice under it. They do "a little" better than
Atlanta.

I prefer a place where water doesn't freeze unless you want it to and
refrigerate it.

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.

On 1/30/2014 2:03 PM, Califbill wrote:
wrote:
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:59:26 -0800 (PST), True North
wrote:

Y'all southern boys sure are amusing.
I was out driving the wife to her dental appointment today with a heavy
snowstorm in effect and 6 inches already on the ground.
Only problem was a few people driving too fast and what looked like a
foreign student slamming his new sporty Range Rover SUV into a curb
angle breaking the axle. They were loading it on a flatbed when we
passed on our way back home.

The reality is, this isn't the snow that is causing the problem, it is
a quarter inch of ice under the snow. 5 or 6 inches of snow would
actually help because your tires would have something to bite.

This was also a common situation in DC, Rain changing to a dusting of
snow after dark with ice under it. They do "a little" better than
Atlanta.

I prefer a place where water doesn't freeze unless you want it to and
refrigerate it.

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.


When I was a kid there was a hill near my house that just filled up with
cars during snow storms. Folks got as far up as they could, parked them
and walked home, picked them up in the morning...

Anyway, funny to watch CNN bitching cause the (republican) Governor
won't grant them an interview... LOL... wonder why

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.

On Thursday, January 30, 2014 9:58:55 PM UTC-6, thumper wrote:


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.

That was courtesy of the rear engine weight and lighter front end, plus independent back suspension

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.

Too bad your bug wasn't equipped with a gasoline heater...

On 1/30/2014 9:08 PM, Tim wrote:
On Thursday, January 30, 2014 9:58:55 PM UTC-6, thumper wrote:


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.

That was courtesy of the rear engine weight and lighter front end, plus independent back suspension

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.

Too bad your bug wasn't equipped with a gasoline heater...

Yup, just a poor college student...

I suffered afew years with a new 1972 Beetle.
I built a house in 1976 about 18 miles from downtown and all winter I'd turn the heater off before getting home.
If I didn't remember to open the heater vents back up before exiting the car, they froze and the next morning I'd be driving blind for the first 5 miles. I eventually added a garage to my Cape Cod style house.

On 1/31/14, 6:56 AM, True North wrote:
I suffered afew years with a new 1972 Beetle.
I built a house in 1976 about 18 miles from downtown and all winter I'd turn the heater off before getting home.
If I didn't remember to open the heater vents back up before exiting the car, they froze and the next morning I'd be driving blind for the first 5 miles. I eventually added a garage to my Cape Cod style house.


I had a '65 Beetle for a while when I worked in Kansas City. My
girlfriend at the time was a student at University of Missouri, in
Columbia. It was a several hour drive. On decent days, the drive was OK
but when the wind was howling or when there were lots of big trucks on
the highway, the VW would get blown all over the road. It was a nice
city car, though. The heater sucked, big time.


--
There’s no point crying over spilled 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol.

On 1/31/2014 7:39 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/31/14, 6:56 AM, True North wrote:
I suffered afew years with a new 1972 Beetle.
I built a house in 1976 about 18 miles from downtown and all winter
I'd turn the heater off before getting home.
If I didn't remember to open the heater vents back up before exiting
the car, they froze and the next morning I'd be driving blind for the
first 5 miles. I eventually added a garage to my Cape Cod style house.


I had a '65 Beetle for a while when I worked in Kansas City. My
girlfriend at the time was a student at University of Missouri, in
Columbia. It was a several hour drive. On decent days, the drive was OK
but when the wind was howling or when there were lots of big trucks on
the highway, the VW would get blown all over the road. It was a nice
city car, though. The heater sucked, big time.


When you first started telling this story it was a 2 seater British
sports car that you eventially left by the side of the road when it
died. I hate litterbugs. ;-)

On 1/31/14, 7:48 AM, Hank wrote:
On 1/31/2014 7:39 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 1/31/14, 6:56 AM, True North wrote:
I suffered afew years with a new 1972 Beetle.
I built a house in 1976 about 18 miles from downtown and all winter
I'd turn the heater off before getting home.
If I didn't remember to open the heater vents back up before exiting
the car, they froze and the next morning I'd be driving blind for the
first 5 miles. I eventually added a garage to my Cape Cod style house.


I had a '65 Beetle for a while when I worked in Kansas City. My
girlfriend at the time was a student at University of Missouri, in
Columbia. It was a several hour drive. On decent days, the drive was OK
but when the wind was howling or when there were lots of big trucks on
the highway, the VW would get blown all over the road. It was a nice
city car, though. The heater sucked, big time.


When you first started telling this story it was a 2 seater British
sports car that you eventially left by the side of the road when it
died. I hate litterbugs. ;-)

The two seater I left by the side of the road was an MG-A, and the
incident in which it caught fire occurred while returning from covering
a news story about the opening of a hospital at a military facility. It
had nothing to do with my girlfriend. Or the VW.

As always, have as nice a day as you can.



--
There’s no point crying over spilled 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol.

I suffered afew years with a new 1972 Beetle.
I built a house in 1976 about 18 miles from downtown and all winter I'd turn the heater off before getting home.
If I didn't remember to open the heater vents back up before exiting the car, they froze and the next morning I'd be driving blind for the first 5 miles. I eventually added a garage to my Cape Cod style house.