Back in time to 5:30 this morning, cold and clear in central Indiana. Drive to work as usual. 10:30... begins to snow. All blessed day... keeps snowing! Time to get off work... about 5-6" on the ground and still coming!! Sgt Pepper moves steadily and surely through the unplowed snow with nary a sideways glance. The comes the final turn toward home...road partially blocked by an approaching semi rig He won't move over... I head for the side ditch (not a drop off, just an 18" downhill slide)! I think happy thoughts and repeat "There's no place like home" ... trying to fly over the drop off! Found something MINI's can't do.. They can't fly!! 7:00 PM dig, pull, grunt, sweat, dig more, sweat more (12 degrees out!), place a tow strap where it probably was never meant to be placed and use a rice burner 4X4 to help me backwards out of the ditch!! All's well that ends well, but I sure wish he could have flown just a little!! Glad to be safe and warm again, and have Sgt Pepper dripping off in his garage!!

 

Hope everything is ok

 

Sounds like you came out of it OK, that's the main thing.

I'm thinking if you had started to lower the convertible roof just as you went over the drop off you would have caught enough air for a nimble recovery.

 

I'll have to try that next time!! Really, hope there is no next time!

 

You had to open both doors and apply some gas until you hit 27MPH and then pull back on the yoke and you sail right over it.

 

I hear that Red Bull gives you wings. Maybe pour a couple cans of that in the tank next time you fill up.

 

Well............okay, I'll give you that: they can't fly! But pretty much else everything else they can do....and very well.


Maybe the aero kit would have helped.

 

ANother reason to get the hard top, just invert the JCW spoiler evertime you punch the gas up you go right?n

 

Nice one...

 

All in all, lucky you and Sgt Pepper!

 

Rough day! There's no "flying toggle"?

 

I didn't read about any "yoke" in the manual! Thanks for the ideas and well wishes! david

 

floored it with the DSC off, that would have made more distance.

I have ditched a few times, one time I left the car there and when I came back, another ******* hit me and of course left no note. I think real snow tires are needed for the MINI, the all season are marginal (IMO).

 

Before:



After:

 

That's why I left my tow hooks in all winter when I lived in Manitoba, motoring 60 miles into the city every day.

Mark

 

I was afraid of another hit also, as one cannot choose the place of one's departure from the road way, when one is forced off by a giant tractor trailer! Anyway, I wasn't far off the road and the side was not well marked. I live only a little way away and so I went back to "watch over" my little one (a lot of good that would have done), at least I could have gotten a description and maybe a plate #! The tyres I have on are the performance run-flats, and they had no problem whatsoever with 7" of snow, just couldn't handle 18" deep ditch!

 

Mark, is there a place for a rear hook? I know I have seen ones in the front but I thought they were only for looks? Do they make one that is functional?
david