Tested the Traction Control.

[Zwolfe]

I've actually tested it a couple times.

To get to my folks you have to drive up a hill with gravel on it. Perfect chance to test the traction control, eh? It has only seen snow one day so far, and it didn't stick to the road, so I haven't had a chance to try that out yet. Little rocks will have to do.

Well, instead of risking the chance of slinging rocks all up the side of my Zaino'd Insight I turned around and decided to go up in reverse so if anything did get cut up by flying rocks it would be plastic rather than metal (i.e. doors, stuff.)

So yes, there's loose gravel on this road, lots of it.

I was able to back all the way up and around the hill without a single rock flying around that I could see, or hear. No "dings" and "pings" of rocks assaulting the fender liners, nothing.

The engine did have a lot of stress put on it, but perhaps it was needless to keep pushing the pedal since the transmission had its own objectives and mostly gave a rats ass about what the engine thought it should be doing.

I had the general idea after doing this a couple times that hammering the engine was needless and probably would had kept going up the hill regardless at lower RPM.

I wondered at times if the Insight was going to quit backing up the hill as the tires were on the loose gravel since I had essentially zero momentum to speak of. But, despite my fear it never did stop and just slowly edged up the hill, backwards. 5MPH would had seemed like a race, maybe I was going 2 or 3 MPH max.

I did not make a run at it, I intentionally stopped the car on the incline to test out the T/C.

So, have to say I'm impressed, it took a bit for the computer and such to figure out what wheels to turn to keep rocks from flying around, but regardless, not one rock was slung from a tire. I have no choice but to admire it.

[lat.ch.]

Sounds like fun. Any chance we could set up some sort of competition there?

What part of WV, if I may ask?

[Zwolfe]

haha. I don't think it's really competition worthy and the road is only one lane but it does sound fun regardless doesn't it, but it's not my road. It can be done on any driveway or road with gravel, though.

I live in Jackson County between Parkersburg and Charleston. I'm guessing I'm around 4 hours from Pittsburgh. I can hit Columbus just over 2 hours though.

I just don't expect the results to vary making it really interesting.

[Cobb]

We dont have much power in reverse. The trac control is very restricted, I doubt you would of kicked up anything and may of just had your car sat there til you turned it off. Til I got new tires it wasnt uncommon for me to take off from a stop when it was raining heavy out to have the car creep off the line.

[lat.ch.]

Looks like work will send me to Charleston next week, either with a light 16' extension ladder on my Insight or the 28' on my 2000 Silverado (240k).

I do plan to try to autocross this thing some day. But most of the problem is that I'm not particularly skilled, having done it only once. I figure it's more about me than the car at this stage.

[Cobb]

autocrossing is all about the car. You need to fully inflate your tires, lower it so it rides the bump stops and clear out anything loose inside your car and prepare to spread your legs and elbows to keep yourself firmly planted in the center of your seat.