Snehvide and I went to a 6 hour car control course yesterday at an old racing circuit, modified for driver training. The course started with a 2 hour lecture on safety and demonstration of seatbelt effectiveness, driving position, tyres etc. Tis was followed by 4 hours on circuit driving under various conditions. There were 8 participants in vehicles ranging from two 9 passenger minibuses, a C4 Estate, a C4 Picasso, a Chrysler minivan, a Mazda 326 with winter tyres, a Ford and a Yeti. 3 men and 5 women ranging in age from around 3 to 66.

Sunny weather and around 20°C.

The diffeent track situations and test were as follows:

Dry pavement tests:

Slalom on dry pavement 40-80 km/hr.

Straight line braking 40-90 km/hr.

Collision avoidance braking with pop-up pylons, 40-80 km/hr.

Collission avoidance with pop-up pylons - swerve with no braking 40-80 km/hr.

Collission avoidance with pop-up pylons - swerve with braking 40-80 km/hr.

Collission avoidance with pop-up pylons -double swerve with no braking 40-80 km/hr.

Straight skid pad tests:

Straight braking on simulated hardpack snow - 25-45 km/hr

Straight braking left wheels on skid pad, right on wet asphalt - 40-60 km/hr.

Curved skid pad tests:

Keep the ideal lne in bend 25-40 km/hr

Forced front wheel skid and control 25-40 km/hr.

Curved skid pad tests down hill:

Forced rear wheel skid and control.

Snehvide and the operator did well in all but the straight line braking on the skid pad, where the tyres demonstrated that they stink in winter stright line braking. Actually, I had longer distance to stopping in this disciplin than any other, except the Chysler, which spun out every time. Surprising enough, the two Citroëns did much better in this disciplin with similar looking Michelin tyres.

In all the other disciplins, the Yeti got best of class rating, including short stopping length on the straight braking on surfaces with uneven traction right and left.

In the curved skidpad disciplins, the Yeti was superb. Easy to control in all situations, easy to provoke both right and left 4 wheel drifts on the downhill skidpad.

In all the situations, the ESP and ABS worked flawlessly - even on the straight skid brake test. When there was just a little sideways component included in the tyres worked well.

Conclusion:

The Yeti is very well balanced and equipped to handle tricky situations with aplomb. It was amazingly steady and easy to control in the slalom and swerving situations. 4 wheel drifting through the skid pad curve was great fun - clearly better than the FWD cars - and the Chrysler just spun and spun and spun.

The Mazda with winter tyres did significantly better on the straight skid braking with much shorter stopping distances than anyone else.

AT THE VERY EDGE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTROL, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTOR WAS TYRES.

I am almost tempted to put the winter wheel on and try again.

Anyone wanting a view of the track go here: http://www.degulesider.dk/mapdetailssearch.ds?id=14888933

You can change from map to photo and zoom in on some of the vehicles. Get over the different language - it's pretty obvious where you have to click.

Edited 3 June, 201016 yr by Agerbundsen

Did you use the "Off-Road" button on any of the skid and braking tests? Did it make any difference?

Did you use the "Off-Road" button on any of the skid and braking tests? Did it make any difference?

No, I did not, and I do not think it would have helped. All the surfaces were hard, and the speed generally well above the Off-Road cut-off.

I sure did not need any delayed respons as is built into the off-road.

The instructions were to maintain the 9-3 hands position on the wheel at all times. This was not possible in the 4 wheel drifting situations, where full rudder were required on opposite locks in a short time

Edited 3 June, 201016 yr by Agerbundsen

Hi Agerbundsen,

Sounds like you had a good day and that Snehvide behaved impeccably ...apart from going out in her summer sandels... instead of her winter boots :wonder:

Best wishes

Lady Penelope :sun:

Great report thanks

Hi,

Good to see it responded so well - thanks for the report.

ernieb

Thanks for another excellent report Agerbundsen,

pleased to here you had a great day and Snehvide showed them how it should be done

Regards,

TP