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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 13:14:45

Title: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 13:14:45
To clarify, this does not include treated roads cleared to Tarmac and snow in the gutters.

I'm talking about proper un treated fresh snow, later compacted by traffic. Uk
Only.


Personally I'd say no more than five times, on a complete journey.
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 January 2013, 13:30:35
For a complete journey, without seeing Tarmac? Like you, fewer than 5 times.

I do, however, have to negotiate some very snowy/icy roads on every journey when the bad weather hits around here ;) It's not unheard of for none of the roads to be treated until I reach the A12 ::) And even then, that quite often gets a coating of snow too
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: grain.ben on 12 January 2013, 13:56:10
Mine is pretty high, as i used to live high on the pennines and it does get pretty bad sometimes up north on the hills, especially when i used to live where the nearest major town was about 8 miles away. The best car i had for snow at the time was my old Corsa B , brilliant it was  ;)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Entwood on 12 January 2013, 14:07:37
Well over a 100 at a guess ... Germany, Scandinavia, Canada, North America, a few times in Scotland.

Usually in a vehicle with the correct tyres/transmission for the conditions, and the only serious cock-up I made was in Canada when on a call out I was duty driver for the crew and was in a tad of a hurry .. completely forgot about the sump heater, dropped it into reverse and this very long piece of cable started to unattach itself from the fence !! Luckily it didn't break anything but the clips .. so was able to disconnect and continue .. did cost me a few beers later on however .. :)

One of the more interesting drives was near Bodo .... Landie was handling the conditions really well , but came round a corner to see a snowplough coming the other way had got stuck in the middle of the road... and I mean stuck ... to continue the journey we actually went back up the road, found a gate, into the fields, cross country for a couple of miles then rejoined the road .... that was on full studded snow tyres however .. and it was -15 C .. so no slush just hard dry snow.

UK conditions are the worst to drive in IMHO .. wet slushy snow at around 0 C ... give me much colder stuff any day ..it just works better.
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Auto Addict on 12 January 2013, 14:07:57
Probably more than 100.
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 14:14:27
*cough<uk only> cough* :)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 14:22:14
Probably more than 100.
Given your age though, that's still only once a year since you've been driving. :)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: ozzycat on 12 January 2013, 14:40:24
 ;D
Probably more than 100.
Given your age though, that's still only once a year since you've been driving. :)
;D ;D ohh that was nast tru  but nasty :D :D :D
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 14:44:49
;D
Probably more than 100.
Given your age though, that's still only once a year since you've been driving. :)
;D ;D ohh that was nast tru  but nasty :D :D :D
oh he IS 163 yeas old. ;)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: tunnie on 12 January 2013, 14:48:32
Only twice really, big dump few years ago, drove down road. Ungritted, with fresh stuff on top. Second time was when I got stuck on M4 & Beaconsfield services not really fresh snow, but slush everywhere with no grit. Struggled for grip.

Might get experience next weekend hopefully though!
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: acope on 12 January 2013, 14:55:44
Quite a few times whilst truckin`, used to deliver brewers grains from Burton on Trent to farms up in the peak district,and down into Devon, had a 6 wheeler Bedford TM,at the time. with diff locks and axle locks, still got trapped on the farms a few times,spent 4 days at one farm, great fun though.
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 12 January 2013, 15:02:51
Over my 42 years driving and 1 million miles over many winters it is certainly between 60-100.

I love driving in snow as well! :-* :-* 8)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 January 2013, 15:26:35
Can we clarify exactly what you are asking Chris... I read it to be a complete journey on untreated roads, never seeing tarmac. Not sure that all the answers given have been along the same ilk :-\ :-\ If not then I couldn't count... In excess of 100 I would think, at least half of those times being in recovery vehicles ;)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 16:10:06



So IMO, a trip up your untreated road to the nearest major route doesn't count. Hence completed journeys on snow/untreated roads. Where tyres never see Tarmac due to snow. In the uk only.

Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: henryd on 12 January 2013, 16:12:46
When I was younger I used to drive to Bodmin moor or Dartmoor to find snow,I've grown out of that now.................I think :-\
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: mantahatch on 12 January 2013, 16:55:31
Well I am 47 years old and been driving since I was 17 including 8 to 9 years for a major breakdown organisation and I have only driven on snow twice. Once was a complete 8 hour shift in it, followed by 4 hours overtime as it was so busy. Second was a year or 2 back when the first snow arrived and they had not gritted or anything but it was a 6.5 mile drive to work at about 5 to 10 mph.

In younger days def went looking for it.
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 17:11:06
Ohohoo younger days? We used o go looking for drifts on the bikes. 50cc and 125's. And just plough into them. Drifting the back, loosing the front, landing on Heads. Great fun.


...I wouldn't even go outside now. :( ;D
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: TheBoy on 12 January 2013, 17:29:41
God knows, "journeys" can mean a lot, esp when I used to be a service engineer (aka technician ;D), so that would put it in the realms of hundreds.

In my own car, in recent times, not many - usually the first day of a heavy dump, so probably 5 in the last 5 years, as a guess?
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 12 January 2013, 18:39:30
As often as physically possible, including Bournemouth to Pulborough, in December 2010.

A 90mile journey turned into 140 mile one all on virgin snow... which was nice :) just a shame it was in a Vectra and not the Omega ::) took nearly 6 hours though.

Turbodiesel automatic Vectras are woefully crap in the snow, manual petrol ones behave well, and I worked the Omega all through last winter with no problems :y

It isn't something to be afraid of :y You just need to be prepared and actually drive to the conditions, backing off a few percent is nowhere near enough :-\
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Rods2 on 12 January 2013, 18:44:34
Somebody can't count, went to vote on 20-30 and it is not there. So not wanting to brag, had to use 10 to 20.  ::) ::) ::) ::)

At different stages of my life, this has been cycling, on motorbikes and in cars. Last time on my GPZ1100, had impatient van driver about 1ft from back wheel and it was very, very slippery, so foot would slip away due to the camber of the road. I knew if I came off he would be straight over the top of me, not a comfortable situation. I got stuck halfway across a speed hump in my residential road, couldn't move forwards or backwards where I straddled the speed hump, so I had to spin the back wheel until it reached tarmac. Decided that day to not use my motorbike again in the winter if there was the slightest chance of snow.  :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Auto Addict on 12 January 2013, 18:58:41
Somebody can't count, went to vote on 20-30 and it is not there. So not wanting to brag, had to use 10 to 20.  ::) ::) ::) ::)

At different stages of my life, this has been cycling, on motorbikes and in cars. Last time on my GPZ1100, had impatient van driver about 1ft from back wheel and it was very, very slippery, so foot would slip away due to the camber of the road. I knew if I came off he would be straight over the top of me, not a comfortable situation. I got stuck halfway across a speed hump in my residential road, couldn't move forwards or backwards where I straddled the speed hump, so I had to spin the back wheel until it reached tarmac. Decided that day to not use my motorbike again in the winter if there was the slightest chance of snow.  :o :o :o :o

It's that Gay Boy - again... ;D
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Varche on 12 January 2013, 18:58:51
Definitely more than 100. Probably hundreds.

Since living in Southern Spain where "It hasn't snowed for 50 years or more" we have experienced snow here at least four separate years. Once we had to abandon the Omega(very very hilly ) and walk the last mile home.

Where we lived as kids in North Yorkshire used to regularly get "snowed in". We lived on the famous RAC Rally Stages Wykeham1,2. Dalby 1,2 and 3. My dad used to take me out as a teenager and teach me how to drive in snow. He had a Mk1 Cortina in those days and we drove around with a very large length of heavy chain in the boot. Happy Days.

Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: feeutfo on 12 January 2013, 20:05:10
Somebody can't count, went to vote on 20-30 and it is not there. So not wanting to brag, had to use 10 to 20.  ::) ::) ::) ::)

At different stages of my life, this has been cycling, on motorbikes and in cars. Last time on my GPZ1100, had impatient van driver about 1ft from back wheel and it was very, very slippery, so foot would slip away due to the camber of the road. I knew if I came off he would be straight over the top of me, not a comfortable situation. I got stuck halfway across a speed hump in my residential road, couldn't move forwards or backwards where I straddled the speed hump, so I had to spin the back wheel until it reached tarmac. Decided that day to not use my motorbike again in the winter if there was the slightest chance of snow.  :o :o :o :o

It's that Gay Boy - again... ;D

MUUUUUUUUM !   .... He's following me, make him stop.  :'(
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Mr Gav on 12 January 2013, 20:57:39
One journey I had was on a Honda 250 superdream, fifteen miles on fresh and compacted snow, I was really glad I had motorcross boots on as they spent more time on the road then the foot pegs and I passed my part one bike test in an inch of snow and it was still snowing while I was taking the test.
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 12 January 2013, 21:37:48
Stacks of times, the back roads I used to use and still occasionally do dont get treatex
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Vamps on 12 January 2013, 22:18:16
Well I am 47 years old and been driving since I was 17 including 8 to 9 years for a major breakdown organisation and I have only driven on snow twice. Once was a complete 8 hour shift in it, followed by 4 hours overtime as it was so busy. Second was a year or 2 back when the first snow arrived and they had not gritted or anything but it was a 6.5 mile drive to work at about 5 to 10 mph.

In younger days def went looking for it.

We used to do that as well, locally an old hospital car park, now gone and an old 3 lane road, by passed, used to be great fun as had big grass verges so if you spun off it mostly did not matter; thinking about it, not just when I was younger either....... ;D ;D ;D

I put 60 - 100 but in reality would be over that figure............ :D :D
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: omega3000 on 12 January 2013, 22:32:49
Dropped my brand new RD350 power valve on a S bend in the snow on its first run back from the dealers in my teens >:(
Driving in snow never bothers me but walking in it is a no no now , just shut the door and have some custard   ;D
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: ozzycat on 13 January 2013, 02:37:49
 :o :o quite a few times on a z1000 that was scarey :) :) :)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Vamps on 13 January 2013, 03:05:19
One journey I had was on a Honda 250 superdream, fifteen miles on fresh and compacted snow, I was really glad I had motorcross boots on as they spent more time on the road then the foot pegs and I passed my part one bike test in an inch of snow and it was still snowing while I was taking the test.

That takes me back; riding from Portland Bill, Weymouth to Durham in the winter of 1973, used to stop, in a cafe,  every 50 miles to thaw out, all on a Honda 250, must have been mad...... ::) ::) ::)

I should add that I did this every other weekend for several months....... ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: ozzycat on 13 January 2013, 03:18:43
One journey I had was on a Honda 250 superdream, fifteen miles on fresh and compacted snow, I was really glad I had motorcross boots on as they spent more time on the road then the foot pegs and I passed my part one bike test in an inch of snow and it was still snowing while I was taking the test.

That takes me back; riding from Portland Bill, Weymouth to Durham in the winter of 1973, used to stop, in a cafe,  every 50 miles to thaw out, all on a Honda 250, must have been mad...... ::) ::) ::)http://images.omegaowners.com/forum/smf2000/Smileys/oofstd/thumbsup.gif

I should add that I did this every other weekend for several months....... ::) ::) ::)
:y :y too right mr vamps but we did it because it was our only form of transport and we would ride in all weathers not like these wimps today that only ride there bikes in the sunshine and 80 degrese in the shade :y :y :y :y
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2013, 09:29:36
Never on a motorbike (only ever ridden in snow once - I had to, I was moving house, and had to get bike moved, but roads were clear), not man enough for that!
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: YZ250 on 13 January 2013, 10:28:55
I chose 10-20. As per the thread question, of more recent years, even if it snows for a week, the main roads are normally passable by the second day.

One of the joys of shift work and finishing at silly-o'clock in the morning means that if it snows my entire journey home is on virgin snow. While it can be tense at times, it's comforting to know that no-one else is about to crash in to me, as I rarely see another car on my route home.
Still remember driving in the snow of the late seventies/early eighties, when the snow plough came around our village to clear the roads but then gave up as the snow was so deep. A Metro had been abandoned and buried by the snow drifts and the snow plough went straight through it.  ::) ;D
We don't get snow like that anymore.   :-\
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: Boggy on 13 January 2013, 11:24:58
As a driver for a living, I drive in it whenever it snows, both in a car and in a truck. More fun in a truck unless you get stuck :-p
Title: Re: How many times have you driven in snow?
Post by: omega3000 on 13 January 2013, 16:56:22
Aye the old 250 superdream done me a good turn for many years in the snow , remembered keeping feet down as stabilizers and keeping in the car snow tracks , did a regular 60 miles a day through bad weather and only fell off once on it in black ice but still got up and carried on with ripped jeans and huge road rash  :D