First Snow in Maine

[Jay G.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Jack, were off Hwy 50 Near Salida, Colo. Tom Brokaw been doing a TV Special RE: People and things off of Hwy 50. One part of the Hwy between Ely and Reno Nevada. Is considered the Loneiest strech of Hwy in America. Just one town between the two "Austin" NV. I blew an engine in my the 67 Volvo 122S wagon back in 1974 going thru that desert. So check the oil always and enjoy your trip. Hollar get near us in Colo. Never been to Skogean, Maine. But my mother was there orginally. Jay

[Jack P.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Jack, were off Hwy 50 Near Salida, Colo. Tom Brokaw been doing a TV Special RE: People and things off of Hwy 50. One part of the Hwy between Ely and Reno Nevada. Is considered the Loneiest strech of Hwy in America. Just one town between the two "Austin" NV. I blew an engine in my the 67 Volvo 122S wagon back in 1974 going thru that desert. So check the oil always and enjoy your trip. Hollar get near us in Colo. Never been to Skogean, Maine. But my mother was there orginally. Jay

Sounds like a great place to visit. PM with you location , phone and zip code number. I will put a pin in the map.

Thanks

Jay

[Jay G.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Jack, Will do.

[Paul J.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

OK, I will bite. Tell us about the snow and vettes not mixing.


Jack

I had taken a new job in Winston-Salem, NC and was commuting from Greensboro daily in my only vehicle, a 78' L82. It started snowing early that morning and there was about an two inches on the ground and parking lot, big fuffy flakes. I had grown up in the mountains and snow was no big deal, but apparently the local "flatlanders" looked at it differently. I had built up no vacation time and did not know the snow policy at work, and besides, I felt confident about my abilities so I eased out of the parking lot. I got onto the Interstate and was surprised to find that the snow had been sticking to the road, and there were only two ruts of slush to follow. There was a woman driving a silver sedan of some type in front of me and a red car in front of her. The red car was going exasperatingly slow, first about 25 mph but later up to 40-45. Both me and the silver car were afraid to try to pass in the untraveled lane. I kept my head about me and backed off about 5 car lengths, but the silver car was tailgating the red car. Then on the second or third bridge I saw the reflection of the brake lights of the red car through the silver car's windshield, followed by the brake lights of the silver car, then what appeared to be the hood of the silver car folding up as both cars slowly slid sideways and threatened to block both lanes. I knew I could'nt stop and there were no shoulders on these bridges so I kept my foot OFF of the brake and started to slightly turn the wheel to pass them in the left lane, which was quickly closing. But as I rolled onto the concrete bridge the rear end went to the right, nothing but ice. From my autocross days I started feathering the accelerator with slight input to the steering wheel to bring it back, but each time the rear end went the other way. I was able to change lanes as I fishtailed over the bridge, missing the silver car and the bridge railing by fractions of an inch. As I got off the bridge the rear end settled down and I caught a glimpse of what caused all of this. There was a guy covered in snow and mud walking up the steep embankment to a MOTORCYCLE laying on it's side on the shoulder. A motorcycle in the snow! That guy was more stupid than I was. My guess is that the guy lost the bike on the icy bridge and was collecting himself on the shoulder. The driver of the red car panicked and hit the brakes hard, and as the guy saw the mass of crunching metal coming toward him, he dove down the bank.

I got to work with ease with those idiots out of the way. The snow was gone by noon. Never again.

Paul

[Jack P.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Yes the first snowfall here in New England is always the most dangerous. Like you , most of us are familiar with driving in snow, have snow tires etc.

However, It seems that everyone forgets how to do it the first time it snows. SUVs all over the place. By the second snow , accidents are down amongst normal drivers, The SUV drivers, some of them , as stated before, really do not understand the physics of moving objects on wet, dry or snow.

All the years driving my vette in snow , no problems, I get into a Saab, and what do you know, I am at the bottom of a gully, upside down, hanging by my seat belt, yelling help, in the middle of the woods in New Hampshire.

Never drive a car that is promoted to be great in snow. Chains on the vette, only way to go.

Right!

Jack

[Chuck R.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Hey Jack,

It's great to read from anothe fellow Maine-E-ACK

Got our first snowfall in upstate NY Last Saturday. Only an inch or two, but it stuck. More on the way for Wednesday with the dreaded sleet and feezing rain included (definately not vette weather)

What part of ME. Jack? I originally hail from Vassalboro before following my heart to the land of high taxes and no jobs.

Chuck

[Jack P.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

On the coast just outside of Portland.

You went from Wet cold and snowy to

Dry cold and snowy.

The winters are getting too long for me, now that I don't ski anymore, 2 new hips and a knee.

Jack

[Chuck R.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Ouch, bionic man stuff!

So your one of those Rt.1 dudes huh?

Cross country was my game. Went down hill only once on some doctored up skis my dad made for me. Went straight as an arrow all the way to the first heater bank, across the muddy gravel road (a warm melting sun) up over the heater bank on the opposite side and in a twisted heap in the "other field".

My mother was picking gravel out of my lower back and even lower assests for the better part of an hour. Dad said I was pure poetry in motion........... until I hit the first bank then I was likened to a bent up pinwheel.

But I diegress.

When I finally take the "money pit" on the first road trip further north , I'll give you a shout.

Regards,

Chuck

[Sander B.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Sander, A corvette going down a frozen canal would be quite a sight.

Jack

then i could drive my car to the usa and attend a Ncrs meet and earn some driving mile points

Sander,

[Steve W.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

What's with the weather reports and walks down memory lane, folks.
I thought this was for 'technical' discussions. If I want a weather report I will go to weather.com.... NOT the NCRS.

[Michael H.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Just to keep on topic, I saw NO Corvettes on the way to work this morning.

I had the 66 out last night. With the top down. Temp was mid 70's. Does that count for keeping the subject on topic?

[Roy B.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

What's with the weather reports and walks down memory lane, folks.
I thought this was for 'technical' discussions. If I want a weather report I will go to weather.com.... NOT the NCRS.

Steve !this is only one tread and I don't see how it's up setting the vast number of members here? Even getting to gather at a national meet not all members 24-7 are talking Corvettes only. I'm always surprised when a person opens a post they don't like, then have to let others know how they dislike the subject and you've only posted here 17 times and this is one of your 17 ? I open and read many postings about members kids helping clean or going for a ride in a Corvette. I like them ? Do I complain NOOOOOOOOOO.
So please relax and you don't open non-TECHNICA postings.

[John H.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

What's with the weather reports and walks down memory lane, folks.
I thought this was for 'technical' discussions. If I want a weather report I will go to weather.com.... NOT the NCRS.

19 posts and you've become a moderator already? I'd suggest you chill out and relax; if you don't like the title of a thread, don't read it.

[Chuck R.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Well said John and Roy.

I think someone needs to get the bunches out of their boxers

Chuck

[Dale C.]

Re: First Snow in Maine

Steve
chill, corvettes are about fun and the people who enjoy them.
Dale