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From: Mike Barnes on 6 Jan 2010 18:42
DavidR <curedham(a)4bidden.org.uk>:
>"Keith" <keith(a)mailinator.com> wrote
>>
>> but NOT ONCE have
>> I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear, low revs;
>
>But what is the reasoning?

My guess: it's less jerky and therefore you stand less chance of
momentarily exceeding the available grip. For an exaggerated
illustration, compare the smoothness of driving at 30 in fifth gear and
in first gear. A good right foot will help but the gear ratio will also
be a factor.

--
Mike Barnes
From: Mike on 6 Jan 2010 19:17
On Wed, 6 Jan 2010 15:26:15 -0000, "Road_Hog" <nospam(a)nospam.com>
wrote:


>Theory test, what's one of them then. Ah the good old days, answer a few of
>the signs/qeustions from the Highway Code book after a quick run round the
>block in the car and job done.

Thing is, drivers were on the whole much better in those days.


--
From: Mr Benn on 7 Jan 2010 05:30

"Steve Firth" <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1jbx325.ub9s8n1wyi52N%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> DavidR <curedham(a)4bidden.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> "Keith" <keith(a)mailinator.com> wrote
>> >
>> > but NOT ONCE have I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear,
>> > low revs;
>>
>> But what is the reasoning? Please don't regurgitate the old wives' "there
>> is
>> more torque".
>
> Umm, actually it's the opposite. There's less torque in higher gear and
> less torque at low revs. This is a matter of fact, not a matter of old
> wives' tales.

And it's worth adding, it's torque at the wheels, not the engine torque
which I am sure you meant anyway. The gearbox acts as a torque converter
and in higher gears, the torque available from the engine is stepped down by
the gearbox to a lower torque.

Torque seems to be one of the most misunderstood things that people torque
about.



From: Mike on 7 Jan 2010 09:11
On Wed, 6 Jan 2010 21:35:49 -0000, "DavidR" <curedham(a)4bidden.org.uk>
wrote:

>"Keith" <keith(a)mailinator.com> wrote
>>
>> but NOT ONCE have
>> I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear, low revs;
>
>But what is the reasoning? Please don't regurgitate the old wives' "there is
>more torque".
>
>> use engine braking to slow; slip the clutch for extra traction.
>
>Eh? There *is* ever only so much traction.

By selecting a higher gear you effectively reduce throttle sensitivity
at the wheels. Floor the throttle in 2nd or 3rd and you'll still
break traction, drive similar to what you would crawling in 1st in
traffic at the point of bogging down the engine and you make progress.

Many years ago 2nd gear and the base idle control / anti-stall got me
up a 1 in 6 hill with a near 90 deg bend halfway up it, with freshly
fallen snow as deep as my ground clearance, on what were in absolute
terms the lowest section height tyres on an EU production road
vehicle. The slightest application of throttle would have broke
traction and left me stranded, just like many tens of others who had
booted the throttle and were trying to use brute force. As it was I,
with a handful of others made it up the hill without problem.



--
From: aaa on 7 Jan 2010 12:08
Ret. wrote:

> I would be interested to see a gender breakdown of the drivers who
> have had to abandon their cars in the snow.
>
> From my own personal experience over the past few days it has been
> predominantly female drivers who are having most difficulties. If
> there is someone stuck at the green traffic light with their driven
> wheels spinning as they don't move an inch - it can only be a female.
> Strange how, after they have been pushed on their way, the following
> drivers all seem to be able to move off ok when the lights change.
>
> I think they see TV footage of cars with driven wheels spinning and
> take that as a 'model' of how to drive on snow and ice...
>
> In my extended family, the only person who has had to abandon her car
> at the roadside and walk home, is a neice.
>
> Kev

I did abondon my RWD car, and had to walk home.
But a male driver in a 4x4 decided to give it a go on the same bit of
road, he succeeded in doing a 360 degree spin, and then slided into the
hedge. So I think my decision was quite wise.
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