For those of you out there that like to have fun in your HHR, have any of you done a reverse 180 or any manuevers in your HHR?

 

I've showed the Beautiful Spouse how to do a Bootlegger's Turn and a Moonshiner's Turn in Paddy. The first is a forward 180 started with the handbrake(which technically makes it a handbrake turn), and the second is a variation on the reverse 180. I did both in a large parking lot on damp pavement for safety, and the preservation of my tires. For those who are curious, a proper Bootlegger's turn is started by jamming the car in low gear(usually second)to break the rear end loose, then a quick flick through 180 degrees. I was taught how to do both of these by Buck Baker at his driving school, then I had a ride with Junior Johnson, who REALLY showed me how it was done!

 

See, I heard with the HHR and all front wheel drive vehicles, doing a reverse 180 could ruin if not break your front end?

 

Nope, but it will play havoc with the transmission, I demonstrate in neutral. When you do them for "real" the slamming from neutral into drive and reverse into drive is a killer on the drive train. The big danger and why you shouldn't try these unless you've had lots of 'sperience, is that you can flip very easily on dry pavement. Like they always say *professional driver on closed course...**never attempt these maneuvers yourself.

 

Just occurred to me 1151, you'll be getting trained in all the fancy maneuvers once you start your law enforcement training. The academies all stress education in pursuit driving and intervention techniques, which in the South we call "gettin' him loose and puttin ' him in the fence".

 

Oh believe me. My e-brakeb got a work out this morning at work when I was bored. Haha

 

Now you have to learn the Scandinavian Flick, where you just give a quick flick of opposite lock to bring the tail around when cornering. Its like a four wheel drift in a rear wheel drive car, super fun when you master it, super frustrating until you do. This is for strictly wet/snow/gravel/dirt conditions, never try it on dry pavement, things will get ugly.

 

I think I've got that down too. HHR wasn't my only vehicle. Had a 2000 silverado w/a 4.3L V6 and rear wheel drive. =P

 

Come to Wisconsin. I see people doing those on the roads all winter long.

 

Judging by the scanner chatter some folks here are attempting them, not having much luck.