Last night I had to go to a Christmas party (Boss was having the party ) on the south side of Chicago. I live in Indiana. When we left the party the weather wasn't too bad, some snow and the roads were just wet. The weather on TV had said we might be getting some snow and it would be worse towards Indiana, but they are always predicting all sorts of apocalyptic storms that never happen.

Things are going OK as we approach the State line. Traffic is slowing on the three lane highway and in the middle where I'm at I find myself behind a semi. Well no one likes to follow a semi, especially in bad weather, it's hard enough to see with the snow much less having a semi infront. I decide I'm going to pass but the front tires begin to slip when I accelerate and I can see the shine off the ice on the road (it looked like someone Zaino'd the road ). At this point I figure I'll just hang out where I'm at. After all, I'm not in a hurrry.

The next thing I know I'm looking at the side of the semi trailer infront of me. He starts to spin out, jack-knife, all the above. While this is going on my wife is grabbing everything she can get a hold of in the car . She is freaking me out more than the semi. Anyhow, I'm far enough back that he is no factor and with my anit-lock brakes () I start to slow, no problem. The next thing I know the driver of the semi pulls himself out . I have to give that guy credit he would had made a mess if he made it to the wall. I was impressed .

Things start to slow down a bit and I'm talking with my wife and I tell her "it's not the guys infront of us we have to watch out for...it's the fools zooming up from behind". Just as I say that about three car lengths behind two vehicles, one in the first lane the other in the third, begin to spin out in formation. Thier fronts spin towards each other but they miss. I'm not sure if they hit the wall or not, I was trying not to crash myself and didn't get to really see it all. What a crazy ride .

The closer to home we got there was more snow on the ground, better traction . I don't think I have been ever more happy to tuck my MINI away in the garage in one piece as I was last night :smile:.

 

wow great story!! On the lighter side I used to have soooooo much fun on the deserted roads in the desert spinning my old subaru brat around on the ice Im glad you made it home ok! So was the party worse the than the drive?

mike

 

Glad you made it home ok.
These little cars are amazing in ice and snow conditions.Like you I'm more afraid of someone hitting me than me running into something.But as good as these little bobsleds are,you have to slow down,and pay attention

 

Once I got away from the crazy people on the highway it was great. I even had an opportunity to demonstrate to my wife how the DSC keeps me in a turn rather than over shooting it . I have since come to understand she doesn't appreciate such demonstations as I do .

We had a good time at the party. The ride home though, kind of overshadowed the evening .

 

Glad you/your mini came away unhurt. If this was me and my wife we would have to stop by a store and get her some new pants after that incident. She is not one to enjoy close calls.

 

Glad you and the missus are okay. Tucking your MINI safely to bed that night must have felt very good.

 

I was driving north out of LA once in my Spitfire, came around one of the bends in the highway, and it looked like everyone was on ice. (This was in the summertime.) There were about seven cars spinning in every direction! And banging into each other and bouncing off each other. I've never seen anything like it before or since - thank God!

The Spitfire scooted through - it was like driving a slalom course where all the cones are moving. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the two cars behind me get involved.

People think "big car" = "safe" but there are a lot of reasons why this isn't always true.

People buy SUVs because they feel safe in them. Did you know that if you're involved in an accident in an SUV your chances of dying are 11% higher than in a regular car? (Mainly due to the high center of gravity which can result in a rollover.)