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Re: Sliding on ice



rey@mindspring.com (Dick Yuknavech) wrote:


>Anecdote: in northern Illinois a couple of decades ago, a 4-way stop had
>the work-bound traffic backed up for quite a distance in one of the four
>directions (mine, unfortunately). What had happened was that earlier
>traffic apparently polished the ice by doing some wheel-spinning as they
>started up. By this time, it was really gruesome. As I got up to the bad
>spot, just for the heck of it I stepped out to see just how bad it was.
>Well, gang, I couldn't even STAND on the crud. As I grabbed the car roof
>I actually pushed the car, a full-size Ford sedan, an inch or so
>sideways !
(snip)

Don't I know how that is.  On an overpass interchange in Milwaukee an
earlier light rain had turned to ice.  I saw the brake lights.   I
slowed to 5 mph.  Then I hit the ice.   Everyone was doing this slow
motion automobile ballet gently bumping into one another.  I was
driving a Dodge Ramcharger 4wd and since the brakes did nothing I
slapped it into 4wd then eased it into reverse.  Trying the
accelerator I found that my plan of evasion was for naught.  So, I sat
back and became a spectator as my truck careened at 2 mph into another
car.  Alas, there was no damage inflicted by the out of control
behemoth, but when I got out of it, I slipped to alight upon my ass in
such a fashion to cause a very sore tailbone.

Studded tires would have made the difference, but we can't use them in
Wisconsin.

Mike

DLFA - here to help
mgeitner@execpc.com



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