it looks like we will get some rain this weekend @ vir. this will be my first track day in the wet. any tips, pointers, ect? i guess if its real wet the instructors will have us running a rain line but is there anything else i need to know besides the obvious (less grip in all directions)

-spenc

 

You probably won't be running rain lines. The only exception would be to avoid deep puddles, which sometimes form near curbing/gators. The line will dry fastest because it gets the most traffic.

Easy on all your inputs - throttle, steering, brakes.

The rain is actually fun if you're sensible about it - cornering speeds are much slower and traction less, so you get to learn to drive at the edge real weel. The only problem is if you screw up and hit grass, you're SOL.

 

I'm also guessing that Hoosiers will not be the tire of choice for Sat. if it rains. Now where did I put those street tires? I know they around here somewhere

 

10 tried and true rain tips...and a little opinion...
1. if it's shiny don't drive on it, ie. the line is usually polished and becomes like ice.
2. the marbles are your friends in the rain, you would normally be in big trouble if you got into the marbles in the dry, but they provide more grip then shiny track in the wet
3. as said above, be very smooth on your ALL inputs espec. brakes
4. retired pro Buzz Marcus told me this one and it helped me greatly, "if you lockup under braking turn your foot into a human metronome, ie. use evenly spaced firm pedal pumps, quick but smooth, like human ABS" Buzz also said "it dosn't always work, but at least you have something to do while your heading for the tires..."
5. stay off any concrete patches on the track as they are very slick also.(don't know if VIR has these like most tracks I've run)
6. If you have an adjustable sway bar go full loose in the rear.
7. If you have adjustable brake bias go heavy bias to the front.
8. start VERY SLOWLY until you find your grip limit
9. some clubs deter students from trying a wet line, I disagree, first because it provides more grip and therefore saftey, and secondly because if your intention is to race someday you will def. want to know how to find a rain line, what better place then DE to explore this aspect of driving?
10. Most importantly, don't stress-out, start very slowly, have fun, be smart, and be safe. Remember front drive is a lot easier then rear...all my "glory story days" have been in the wet. (it's made it worth the broken axles)

 

 

Two reasons they do this...
1. If everybody uses the normal line, it dries out (assuming rain is light enough).

And more importantly...
2. Trying to teach the normal line is hard enough. Non-advanced students can become overwhelmed if given too much info, first time drivers in particular.

That said, I see no reason a fairly advanced intermediate or true advanced student couldn't play around a bit IF both parties agree beforehand.

 

The rain is a little scary for me this weekend because I just put on my new coilovers, 10kg/mm front and 14kg/mm rear.

My rear bar is not adjustable so I can just and unhook one side to disable it, correct?


[Modified by 6ghatch, 12:15 PM 2/20/2003]

 

Rain Line = Anywhere but the dry line.
Its a great time. I did 6 track days in the rain last year. One in almost snow. Great car control exercise. If you aren't smooth you'll be muddy.

 

Yup.

 

But .. this is only needed if your car is setup to be loose in the dry. Most non-race cars push or are neutral in the dry on R tires. The little extra oversteer just adds to the overall learning experience of driving in the wet.

HPDEs in the wet are probably the best learning experience you can get. Just watch out for the grass!