Imagine the discomfort that washes over a driver when their car's undercarriage makes an unwanted contact with the ground. It's a sound that can make even the toughest souls cringe. In some cases, it's the result of a rusted exhaust system finally meeting its fate, while in others, it's a necessary part of off-roading with skid plates. But most often, it's bad news. Misjudging the terrain can lead to an unpleasant experience, as many drivers have discovered at a particular gnarly dip.An Unusual Obstacle in Texas
This residential intersection in Texas isn't your typical road feature. With its scooped-out concrete construction, it seems more designed to manage stormwaters than to slow down cars. However, it's highly effective at the latter task. One social media user has even set up a camera to document the comical attempts of drivers to navigate it without scraping.
Testing Multiple Angles
The "Daily Scrape" isn't just a test of approach and departure angles; it also challenges a car's breakover angle. Many drivers are caught off guard by how tricky it is. During the day, without the sound, the footage may not seem spectacular, but at night, showers of sparks shooting off underbodies add an extra element of drama. Most cars have exhaust system components as their lowest parts, so it's not uncommon to see them scraping.
For instance, a Chevrolet Tahoe in one of the compilations drags its front spoiler. Considering it's essentially a half-ton truck with an SUV body, it should be relatively easy to avoid scraping. Yet, many drivers still find themselves grounding out.
Another baffling phenomenon is the number of cars that make repeat appearances. Take the white Lexus LS400, for example. Its driver keeps grounding it out despite having the opportunity to angle over it more carefully. It's a shame considering how clean the car looks on top.
Navigating with Care
It is possible to inch through the dip without scraping if a bit of angle and care are used. A grey F10 BMW 5 Series on the lowered factory sports suspension from the M Sport package demonstrates this clearly. It's not a car with a short wheelbase, yet it can make it through with proper attention. With proactive planning and awareness of topography, many cars could avoid the scrape.
While it might be possible to redesign the road to eliminate the dip, considering the number of people who run the stop sign, it seems to serve as a traffic calming function. Driving according to the road conditions is crucial, and being more aware of the terrain can prevent many scraping incidents.
(Photo credits: Instagram/The Daily Scrape)Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.Please send tips about cool car things to tips@theautopian.com. You could even win a prize!