[geeks] Understeer ( was: engage your cloaking devices!)

[Sheldon T. Hall]

Quoth Phil Stracchino ...
>
> James Fogg wrote:
> >  -James
> > If you see the tree as you hit it, it's called understeer, 
> > if you only
> > hear the tree as you hit it, it's called oversteer.
> 
> I think I prefer Stirling Moss's explanation:
> 
> "Oversteer is when the passenger is scared.  Understeer is when the
> driver is scared."

But you can scare your passengers with understeer, too, especially on snow
in a FWD car.  Just boot the throttle, and, when the front tires break
loose, wind the steering wheel in one direction or the other.  Be sure to
get the wheel centered before you back off the throttle.  Do this only on
flat roads at moderate speed, of course, unless you're wearing brown
trousers.  Your passengers will be wearing 'em in any case.

-shel