i dont know how many of you are familiar with the grizzly peak mountain run, more specifically the downhill going towards clairmont, and even more specifically, the 2nd hairpin left after the 4 way stop. anyways, those of you that do know, you dont mess with that turn, and if you do, it never turns out as expected.
well, i took up my 05 sti tonight, and after a beautiful run uphill from the cal soccer field, i was feeling pretty ballsy in my new STI trim, so while going down, my friend in the back seat was telling everybody else (5 people all-together) in the car about how i underestemated the turn in my 02 wagon, and ended up getting up on the right side of the hill.
so i was laughing that off, hard right, come to the first left, take it fine, and i get ballsier...take the next two rights fine, then prepare myself for that nutorious left. im comming up to it, braking, not sure how fast i was going, (maybe about 45-50) and im about to put in third gear, but for some reason, and i dont know why, i decided to put it in second...bad move...looks fine going in, but then i realize that im going too fast, understeer starts to kick in, going towards the side of the hill at the second part of the turn, but i start to get grip again, so i think everythings alright.
nope, my rear right tire goes off the road and indo the brush just enough for me to lose traction. rear comes back out and slides to the left, i think, oh, cool, power slide, i can come out of this, then it goes to the right, not as bad, but then it whips to the left again, overcompensated, oh $#!* back to the right, not looking good, my friends in the back seat yelling "left, right, left, right!" tires are screaming, tail whips to lhe left again, and i decide i need to brake, im not going to come out of it steering alone, i dont mash on the brakes, i kept my cool, considering, and brought the car back.
i didnt stop driving, my friends are all in the back laughing, screaming, i couldnt really tell, as all three were wearing helmets (we're dorks) and that was the end of it. drove home normal, and got back in one piece (cant say the same about my friends underpants though)
hahaha, i thought it was all over, just now my friend on a moped was leaving my house, tried to do a burnout, and it came from under him and went under a car across the street, no harm dont to the guys car (he came out and checked it out) but my friends moped is jacked on the right side, what a conclusion to a crazy night...
hope that whomever reads this got a kick out of it, and learned that even if you feel your ***** swelling, calm down, your not super man, and neither am i, every car has its limits, and i learned a few of mine tonight, so be careful out there, i put a lot more on the line than just myself and my car. be responsible, but dont forget to have fun. because thats what its all about

 

grizzly peak has some decreasing-radius turns that can be focked.

oh and wearing helmets without a neckroll and/or a HANS isn't even worth it.

you hit a wall or embankment and it could be a basal skull fracture, and/or chin cracking your sternum...

 

That was the most difficult thing to read, ever.

 

Paragraphs are your friend...

 

You were driving fast with 5 people in your car on a winding road = the ultimate stupid. I hope youre not older than ~21.

 

wait did this happen on Clairmount going into Berkeley? if so i think i know what turn your talking about, theres two of them that kind of like fall away or something, hard to explain.

 

Seems he's 20.

But he won't see 21 if he doesn't really learn from this sort of thing, had an F-250 been coming up the road at that moment, he and his passengers might all just be a stat in today's chronicle.

An STi simply should never be driven that close to its limits on open public roads.

Its been posted here time and time again, take it to the track, autocross, or rallycross, but for all our sakes- please don't explore the limits of your car and your driving skills where other people can get hurt.

 

+1


-Ted

 

...

 

yeah guys, i know. not the smartest think i ever did. but im not going to be doing that again. just not worth it. youre right, if there was a car (or f-150) comming up the hill right at that moment, it would have pretty much been over. but i do have to try and defend myself by saying that i am very careful, i dont just go ***** out, i underestimated this one turn, and got lucky. while driving like that, i always stay in my lane, i dont go hard enough to risk going into oncomming traffic.

but i do have to admit that i fell to the temptation of showing off. but thats now out of my system, first time ive driven hard up there in about a year and a half, i know the road pretty well (but ike i said, never mastered that one turn) its was pretty late, 1 in the am i think, and its not to hard to see when oncomming traffic is comming around most of the turns. not excusses, i just dont want everybody out there to think im as dumb as i feel

by the way, im 20, and the three guys in the back werent wearing helmets for safety reasons, theyre just dorks, like having 3 lifesize bobbleheads in the back seat

one last thing, i didnt post this to brag, to how off how stupid i am with my driving, i was hoping somw people would read this and think twice before making the same mistake i did, think of the risk youre taking when driving on open public roads with other peoples lives in youre hands. im not particularly proud of this, but i was hoping a few people besides me could leard from my mistakes. sorry, im young and defensive

 

Grizzley Peak...heh...grizzley.

 

man never push your limits with anyone else in the car. it's fine if its one or two people and your just driving around town maybe taking a few turns quick but never on a mountain road when your really pushing yourself.

 

hahah kevin told me that story at school today. im guessin ur oslo (sp?)?

 

I've done worse. At least you and your car are OK.