Cold rainy track day coming up... Any suggestions, tips, hints?
12-12-2001, 06:15 AM
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Cold rainy track day coming up... Any suggestions, tips, hints?
Despite all my hopes and prayers, it appears that Friday will be cold and rainy at Summit Point Raceway. At track regulars have suggestions on how best to survive? My two plusses so far are quattro and the barest hint of common sense. :-P
-KJ
-KJ
12-12-2001, 06:24 AM
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Bring towels...
You have to run with your windows down, even if its pouring... Bring towels. If your instructor doesn't have a problem with it, drive with your back seat folded down. We had absolutely torrential rain at NHIS last time I was there... everything in my car was soaked through.
A lot of towels, and parking with the AC up all the way (to dry the air out) for an hour worked like a champ.
They'll talk about the wet vs dry line at the event... just take it easy and have fun. I like driving on a track in the rain w/ quattro more than in the dry! Its a whole different experience. You can't hear your tires, so there's no warning when you're about to break loose. Oversteer and four wheel drifts around corners can be a lot of fun. Beyond that, just pick and choose which corners you want to be more daring in. If you've got runoff room, give it a little more and feel the car start to slide a bit. Dial it way back when there's concrete
You'll have a blast. At NHIS during my last run, it started raining so hard that visibility was essentially zero, it was thundering and lightening very hard, and the few of us who had been on the track solo had to run back out and rescue corner workers. Quite the exciting event, although a piece of my aluminum trim in the back got dented by a flag when I had two or three flag workers dive into the back of my car. C'est la vie... better than someone dying from a lightening strike.
A lot of towels, and parking with the AC up all the way (to dry the air out) for an hour worked like a champ.
They'll talk about the wet vs dry line at the event... just take it easy and have fun. I like driving on a track in the rain w/ quattro more than in the dry! Its a whole different experience. You can't hear your tires, so there's no warning when you're about to break loose. Oversteer and four wheel drifts around corners can be a lot of fun. Beyond that, just pick and choose which corners you want to be more daring in. If you've got runoff room, give it a little more and feel the car start to slide a bit. Dial it way back when there's concrete
You'll have a blast. At NHIS during my last run, it started raining so hard that visibility was essentially zero, it was thundering and lightening very hard, and the few of us who had been on the track solo had to run back out and rescue corner workers. Quite the exciting event, although a piece of my aluminum trim in the back got dented by a flag when I had two or three flag workers dive into the back of my car. C'est la vie... better than someone dying from a lightening strike.
12-12-2001, 06:36 AM
#5
Learn the rain line!!
Basically, this means coming into corners straight under braking about 2/3 of the way toward the outside of the track (not at normal turn in), then turn in toward the apex, but plan on only using 2/3 of the the track when tracking out. This does 3 things: Lowers your speed through the corner to keep you planted more; keeps off of the really slippery part of the track except when crossing it at the apex; and gives you recovery room on the track (that 1/3 of the track at normal track out that you are not using) in case you start to slide. Also, build up your speed very, very gradually around the whole track. Before getting up to a decent speed, it should take you at least one or two full run sessions, so you can learn the extra slippery spots on the track.
12-12-2001, 06:48 AM
#6
Also, bring this up in the driver's meeting...
...at my last event, it was not brought up what exactly the rain line is, and for the people that didn't have instructors (authorized to solo) but had little or no experience in the rain, it was clear on the track that this information was not known or understood. The list of names of people who went off the track by lunchtime was 2 pages long.
Also, keep your distance from other cars. People will be losing it!
Also, keep your distance from other cars. People will be losing it!
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12-12-2001, 07:41 AM
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here's a tip...
<center><img src="http://www.peterfowler.com/tw11.JPG"></center><p>doesn't matter WHAT you're driving, the MAIN problem is going to be aquaplaining. Race tracks are notorious for poor drainage and tend to get puddles EXACLTY where you do NOT want them.
Quattro, 2WD, FWD doesn't matter a WHIT...when you hit a puddle and aquaplane, you are going straight ahead and have no say in the matter.
The other problem is when you aquaplane, try NOT to move the wheel too much because, just like being airborne, you are going to swerve suddenly wherever your front tires are pointed as soon as you stop aquaplaning.
So figure out where the puddles are, AVOID them even if it means being "off" line and also understand that puddles in the braking zone are just as lethal. ABS will help some but if you are skating, you are skating.
Yea quattro will help you PUT THE POWER DOWN when leaving a slippery corner and that's about IT. Don't think you have a magic rain car...it's just as dentable as all the other cars and no wheel is "driving" if it's aquaplaning.
It's great practice but VERY risky for the car...drive like you're on ice and treat the situation with the respect it deserves.
Quattro, 2WD, FWD doesn't matter a WHIT...when you hit a puddle and aquaplane, you are going straight ahead and have no say in the matter.
The other problem is when you aquaplane, try NOT to move the wheel too much because, just like being airborne, you are going to swerve suddenly wherever your front tires are pointed as soon as you stop aquaplaning.
So figure out where the puddles are, AVOID them even if it means being "off" line and also understand that puddles in the braking zone are just as lethal. ABS will help some but if you are skating, you are skating.
Yea quattro will help you PUT THE POWER DOWN when leaving a slippery corner and that's about IT. Don't think you have a magic rain car...it's just as dentable as all the other cars and no wheel is "driving" if it's aquaplaning.
It's great practice but VERY risky for the car...drive like you're on ice and treat the situation with the respect it deserves.