I love driving in Blizzards on ice and snow.

Sliding around corners in a 4 wheel drift without breaking the speed limit.   Freeway Cloverleafs where a little flick of the steering wheel steps the back end out and all the way around  the steering wheel is pointed straight ahead and the throttle pedal becomes the steering.  
Slaloming down the freeway full of terrified  drivers going maybe  20-30 mph in a 60 zone. 
     Feathering the brake pedal to keep the ABS. Off and still come to a full stop right on where the line would be if it wasn't covered with packed snow.  
    It's relaxing,  knowing just how far I can push  without getting in trouble or exceeding the limits. 
 

 All without a helmet or any of the stuff that a race car requires. 

So, you where driving at the breakneck speed of 35? 

I love it too Frenchy.

One day I will put snows on the Cayman and have a blast. Until then I will enjoy my Tacoma.

In reply to VolvoHeretic :

;-) I just enjoy driving at the speed limit and really don't think people frightened by snow and ice should be driving  if they can't maintain at least the minimum speed. 

Is that in your XJS?

I loved driving my plow truck during blizzards. I had chains on all four tires and half ton of steel in the bed. 
 

I had the city to myself. Strange feeling. 

I haven't lived in snow country for 25 years but I'm here to endorse NOT driving the speed limit on ice and snow or in a blizzard... but I will say that I like driving on snow too. 

I grew up north of Montreal and my first car was a Datsun 510. I equipped it with a pair of driving lights and four Firestone Town & Country snow tires for winter. I did a lot of spirited driving on Laurentian back roads in that little car. Many winter Saturday nights were spent doing TSD rallies......great fun.

I drove to Toronto yesterday in my Tacoma with 4 new snow tires.  Unfortunately it was 45 and dry.  I haven't been out today.

frenchyd said:

In reply to VolvoHeretic :

;-) I just enjoy driving at the speed limit and really don't think people frightened by snow and ice should be driving  if they can't maintain at least the minimum speed. 

The minimum speed is the speed limit? I don't care how comfortable you are on snow and ice, you shouldn't be driving that fast. You're surrounded by people of all experience and all tire types. Need to stop abruptly at 65 on ice? good luck with that. 

We rarely get snow here but I will confess the last time we did I 4 wheel drifted my Protege around a 270 degree on ramp..........at all of 18-20mph.

On the freeway itself people were being surprisingly sensable.

I enjoy driving on snow and ice as long as I can see where I am going. Living in the country I find the blizzard thing stressful and difficult to drive in.

Living in central MN I am presently explaining/teaching the 12 and 15 year old granddaughters how to drive on snow/ice on the way home from school. My Tacoma is great for explaining rear drive vs 4 wheel and all wheel drive. Vehicles pushing or having the rear step out in traffic circles got their attention. I am attempting to teach them how to read snow and ice conditions while we are driving. They don't like 4 wheel drifts or tail out acceleration. Next will be ABS. 

Speed limits are set for ideal conditions. What Frenchy described are not ideal. And slaloming around others being more careful is risky for all.

Man I love Blizzaks. I just got another fresh set. I will not admit to any actual speed numbers on empty roads but I have been behind slower drivers on Summer days (that doesn't really say much, some people get very intimidated by the local mountain roads).

Years back I went to Bridgestone's Winter Performance School. Man that was money well spent. Learned a lot and had a blast for two days.

We keep getting freezing rain here on top of ice and hard pack.

Fun is not had 

I have this little lever on the transmission tunnel that turns my car from mountain goat to tail happy. There's a turn by the house I love to take in 2wd, at 15mph, with a little 2nd gear clutch kick. Then, clutch in, back to 4wd, and on my way. I really enjoy a sunny morning, 2 feet of fresh snow on the road, and blasting down my neighborhood, snow whisping along the hood and over the windshield, German industrial music blasting.

And all that well under the speed limit.

So I'm reading this and recalling that you drive a school bus...

In reply to Apexcarver :

Which would you rather have drive your most precious thing. A skilled driver who knows what he's doing and hasn't had an accident in 40 years.  
  Or some of these newbies who are terrified of winter and have no idea of  how to handle the bus in the winter?   Typically they have one or two accidents learning how.  

Antihero said:

We keep getting freezing rain here on top of ice and hard pack.

 

Fun is not had 

      Start driving on frozen lakes ( make sure the ice is thick enough first)  you'll quickly get the touch  and since the middle of the lake tends to be devoid of obstacles you can make plenty of mistakes and learn the feeling of control while sliding.   

vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) said:

Speed limits are set for ideal conditions. What Frenchy described are not ideal. And slaloming around others being more careful is risky for all.

     Perhaps some drivers are more skilled than others?   In the last 40 years I've never had an accident.  My only winter accident occurred  almost 50 years ago.  

outasite said:

Living in central MN I am presently explaining/teaching the 12 and 15 year old granddaughters how to drive on snow/ice on the way home from school. My Tacoma is great for explaining rear drive vs 4 wheel and all wheel drive. Vehicles pushing or having the rear step out in traffic circles got their attention. I am attempting to teach them how to read snow and ice conditions while we are driving. They don't like 4 wheel drifts or tail out acceleration. Next will be ABS. 

Take them out on a solidly frozen lake with thick ice.    Once they get over the fear of hitting things they will  learn that even in a drift they can control things.  
That is a powerful tool and marvelous for self confidence. 

lnlogauge said:

frenchyd said:

In reply to VolvoHeretic :

;-) I just enjoy driving at the speed limit and really don't think people frightened by snow and ice should be driving  if they can't maintain at least the minimum speed. 

The minimum speed is the speed limit? I don't care how comfortable you are on snow and ice, you shouldn't be driving that fast. You're surrounded by people of all experience and all tire types. Need to stop abruptly at 65 on ice? good luck with that. 

Phewwww.  Why on earth would you need to stop suddenly?  The people behind you won't be able to so they will just plow into you.   
     Head up,  Big picture.   Don't put yourself ( or anyone else ) in a tight spot.  
    Maintain control at all times just like on a race track.  Except instead of doing 150+ mph  you're traveling the speed limit ( or less if circumstances require). 
 I'll repeat, no accidents in 40 years. That's not luck.  It's reading the roads and circumstances properly.  
    

Tom1200 said:

We rarely get snow here but I will confess the last time we did I 4 wheel drifted my Protege around a 270 degree on ramp..........at all of 18-20mph.

On the freeway itself people were being surprisingly sensable.

  Just like the race track you read the other drivers and stay away from the people over their heads.  Give them a wide berth.  

VolvoHeretic said:

Is that in your XJS?

  I'll admit I have Blizzacks on  all of the cars I drive in the winter.  Nope the Jag doesn't have Blizzacks.