Date:         Sun, 6 Jan 2002 11:27:45 -0800
Reply-To:     DOUG ELLEDGE <doug@SHIREWOOD.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         DOUG ELLEDGE <doug@SHIREWOOD.COM>
Subject:      Re: A Snow Story (Whoa-vanagon!!!) and Lessons Learned
Comments: To: Steve Sullivan <steveis@SPEAKEASY.ORG>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Steve wrote:


> Once Upon a Time, just last week. . . .
>
Yes, that is scarey. I'm still getting used to the handling of my 2 wheel
'84 non westy. The old recommended technique of slowing before and
accelerating through a turn works well with this vehicle. In other vehicles,
including a piston bully snow cat, I have had good luck, [read; I lived to
tell about it] by going down into low gear range, applying no brake, and
accelerating slightly as I felt the tires [or tracks] locking up. You gain
steerage using this technique although as things get hairy it goes against
every instinct of self preservation, which screams "Hit the brakes!!!"
I knew a old timer who lived and drove all over Alaska in the days before 4
wheel drives were so available and he told me he would sometimes chain up
both rear [drive] tires and one front tire for steerage.
Lets be careful out there.
Doug Elledge
www.shirewood.com
'84 "Van-Go"