I remember once, on a rainy autumn day, when there were no signs of trouble, my car suddenly spun so that the accident was avoided only because of the early morning and relatively low speed. And the oil stain turned out to be the fault of everything, come from somewhere on the wet road. Therefore, in the classes at the Mazda Sport Academy, I wanted to understand how you feel when you fly, what it feels like when you skid at speed, and even on ice, and most importantly, how to behave in a similar situation.
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Instructor Dmitry talks about the wisdom of contra-driving
Classes for journalists on a specially prepared track in Myachkovo took place in two stages. First, briefing, and then before lunch, "snake" on the front-wheel drive Mazda3. Moreover, the front axle of one car to enhance the effect of shod in studded tires, and on the rear mounted summer. In the next exercise, the car is completely shod in winter studded tires, it works out a "snake" at speed, as well as an exit from a sharp turn with a skid using the hand brake.
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Departure to the track. Instructor Alexey keeps order
The second part of the lesson: getting the skills of driving a rear-wheel drive car - the Mazda MX-5, to feel the difference in behavior on slippery roads of cars with different types of drives. All cars with “automatic machines” and forcibly disabled stabilization system and ABS.
Journalists were split in pairs (this usually happens at client events), and each exercise was first worked out in turn with the instructor (who was in the car), and then without him, but still under his watchful eye and the rattling walkie-talkie in the car.
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Snake
The first exercise is a “snake” on different wheels. Task: having gained speed on a slippery surface, to catch a car refusing to follow a given trajectory. Here you enter the turn at high speed: the steering wheel is turned, a certain angle is laid, the trajectory of movement is outlined, and the car begins to slide with the front wheels and drives off the road. The instructor explains that you should never turn the steering wheel: the wheels are across, you try to return them to the angle of rotation, they do not restore the clutch angle even longer, and the car continues to slide forward. How to act in this case? Without spinning the steering wheel, look for a new trajectory of movement. The main task is to hook the front wheels. Add gas: the car slips and the wheels move out. I remove my foot from the trigger: the car more likely remains on the internal path. The instructor warns that you cannot touch the brake pedal - the wheels are locked and the car continues to move forward without turning. Therefore, without pressing the gas, I slow down a little and turn the steering wheel in the direction of demolition, as soon as the car begins to level, I quickly return the steering wheel back.
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… and again the "snake"
Another "snake" runs on all studded wheels. The task here is to learn how to work not so much as a rudder, but as gas. Trying to speed around the cones. We have to work in metronome mode, bringing the exercise to automaticity: gas - gas discharge - steering wheel turn - gas - gas discharge - steering wheel turn, etc. If, when turning right, the car skids to the left, reduce speed and turn the steering wheel to the left. The speed decreases, and I begin to quickly rotate the steering wheel already to the right side, as soon as the car is leveled. If this is not done, then the car spins into the next skid. A common mistake, which I admit, made itself - by turning the steering wheel, wait for the reaction of the car. You need to act a bit ahead of the curve - straighten the steering wheel right away and get ready for the next turn.
A sharp turn on the ring was practiced using a hand brake. It was interesting to go into a turn precisely in a drift and thanks to the "snake" at a fairly high speed. Steering - skid - handbrake. The handbrake locks the rear wheels. I turn the steering wheel in the direction of skidding, I find the right angle and, as soon as the car is leveled, I turn the steering wheel in the right direction. As for speed, the larger the angle of the car’s drift, the more you need to squeeze the gas. And vice versa. The main rule here is not to be scared and not to dump gas at all. This leads to the car turning around even harder. Even worse - you press the gas with all your strength, skidding occurs at a higher speed.
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The MX-5 Roadster is just breathtaking …
The second part of training on the MX-5 roadster demonstrates the nuances of the car's behavior with rear-wheel drive. Here, too, is a "snake", and especially dangerous and steep sections are marked by lying cones. The rules of conduct are almost the same, but you have to work even more carefully with the gas pedal - if the car skidded slightly, I just dump the gas, then add it to a more direct section. However, the car behaves differently, and it seemed to me that rear-wheel drive is a bit easier to handle, its movements are more predictable and obedient.
It is clear that in the four allotted hours of all the wisdom of contra-driving you can’t comprehend, but I manage to fully feel how it is - when the car loses control on the ice. At the same time, there is no sensation of sticky fear and helplessness, an understanding comes that in this case one can and must fight, only one needs to know how. At the Mazda Sport Academy it is customary to say that any abnormal situation needs to be "passed over the head", that is, you should not turn the steering wheel thoughtlessly or startle the gas with fright, but quickly analyze and recall the motion physics you have learned. However, here they nevertheless recommended to try to do everything wrong - squeeze the brake a couple of times and try to turn the steering wheel in order to feel the car “going crazy”, making the situation critical.
Of course, a specially prepared track with snow parapets, several instructors with assistants, and finally, a walkie-talkie in each car, by which you learn about your mistakes and mistakes, give a feeling of security. Well, competent teachers will correct mistakes in time and answer all questions, and it is here that you should not be afraid to ask them. If you’re completely unlucky, then the maximum that threatens is to bury the car’s nose in a snowdrift and sadly (school time is running!) Watch in the mirror how the Mazda BT-50 tow truck equipped with a cable rushes to the rescue, not sitting for a minute without business.
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Mazda BT-50 in a hurry to help
