FatWallet

Well, I sure got my adrenaline up this evening!

My MIL and I were coming back from Louisville from picking up my truck at the airport (about $500 cheaper to fly SW from there one-way on Turkey Day than any other flight leaving Lexington). We drove our little Mazda out there and hitched it up behind my Dakota (LOVE the towbar setup!) for the ride home.

We got to our exit off the Interstate, which goes under the road and curves back around almost 360 degrees to get back up onto the road. The exit was wet (not totally, but not dry) and I had slowed down to what I thought was an appropriate speed. Guess not. The next thing I knew we were headed sideways for the ditch and the hillside.

The rig jackknifed back and forth sharply about six times and it was all I could do to keep it on the road. All I could think of was I had just told my MIL how much I loved my truck and here I was about to total it in the ditch. She said, "What are you going to do?" while I was fighting it, which struck me as kinda funny afterward - I was DOING it!

I fought it real hard and got it back under control and got onto the main road safely headed for home, with no damage to either vehicle. What I figured out must have happened was I must have been going a little too fast for the conditions (I ALWAYS err on the side of caution but this one got me somehow) while towing a small, light pickup (which has no weight over the rear wheels) on a wet road. The back end broke loose and jackknifed us.

I apologized profusely to my MIL (whom I love DEARLY and was EXTREMELY embarrassed to have done this to) and she was fine with it. She said, "I never worried about it. I knew you were a race car driver and you could handle it." She really wasn't worried!

I LOVE this woman.

Extremely valuable lesson learned tonight:

Even if you think you are going slow enough for the conditions, it NEVER hurts to slow down more. Be aware of your tow and what could potentially happen.

Also, if you're gonna screw up, do it when nobody is behind you and can video it for YouTube. Thankfully, no one was behind us on the exit.

yes, good you are okay! you sound like an excellent driver and great bonding experience w/ the MIL.

shopliftinginva said:Glad you were able to regain control. That must have been scary. And I think "I" love your MIL too. She sounds wonderful.

She really is an awesome woman, who continually surprises me with her insight, knowledge, inner strength and capability.

She took care of the "farm" for us while I was in Arkansas and just loved throwing hay over the fence for the donkey and taking care of the cats and dog. She even picked the dog poop out of the back yard! She's in her 70's, probably 5'0" and *this* big around. She is here for almost a month and I will really hate to see her leave.

The yellow flag is out. Come to the pit the next time by.

spitfiresuz said:qcumber98 said:The yellow flag is out. Come to the pit the next time by.

I didn't go four-off or spin, so I don't have to talk to the steward!

Are you my pit-cow? Bunnies are over-rated (no offense, macks et al!).

Yes, I'm going to give you a splash and go.

He would have had a wild ride!

Your MIL is damn lucky to have been riding with Danica Patrick.