Youth, wet roundabout and Golf GIT
"What happens if I abruptly lift off the throttle now?" thought 23 year old me as I was negotiating a roundabout in my Golf GIT.

*lifts off*

The Golf lurched sideways, the rear suspension on Mk 2 Golfs has a "passive rear steer" effect, which means that it will tuck into corners under load. Normally, the effect is grin inducing on a dry roundabout but I hadn't factored in the fact that my left rear tyre was knackered and that there was diesel spilled on the road. Oh, and it was wet. And I'm a numpty.

*steers*

I'm executing a lovely pirouette, the car is neatly sideways and I'm sure I can catch the slide.

*steers sharper*

Whoops. I appear to be looking where I'm going using the side windows. Not good.

The accepted technique for getting out of a skid like this is to turn into the slide and and gently add a teensy bit of power (front wheel drive only of course). Applying the brakes and shouting "Oh fuck it!" is not the recommended course of action, as I soon discovered.

*spins*

Reversing out of the armco with £815.79 damage done to the front of my Golf amid the accusing glares of other road users was enough to learn me not to play silly buggers.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 20 Dec 2007, 13:25, 3 replies)

I did something similar
First rain after a dry spell, me on a roundabout with an odd camber. I'm not sure if I managed 540^o or just the 180 - but, either way, I ended up having to drive off in the wrong direction. Miraculously, there was no damage of any sort - though the traffic warden who saw the whole thing looked bemused. (Though he didn't take my reg, which was nice.)
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 20 Dec 2007, 14:05, closed)

Also been there
On a 270° bend (the old A8000 between the M90 and the Forth Bridge, for those who know it).

I was going no faster than I'd ever go, but I hit a slippery bit, overcorrected, lost it completely and then the back end swung right round and over the inside of the corner. I was left there with the back end of the car hanging over a steep drop and missed the start of the armco by inches. Fortunately a couple of blokes in a Transit van had towing straps and hauled me out.

I went and did skid pan training the following week!
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Thu 20 Dec 2007, 14:13, closed)

Lift Off Oversteer
I did this in a Ford Orion ages back. Exiting a sharpish corner at my normal speeds I was confronted with an accident that had just happened ahead of me. I lifted off the accelerator and the back stepped out. I also elected not to re-apply power and steer into it but to stamp the brakes and say "fuck" instead. I did a 180degree spin and went into the field backwards between two trees that were only about a foot further apart than the width of the car. Very lucky escape.
(dave likes cheese, Thu 20 Dec 2007, 16:21, closed)