Discussion
Go slow and drive ultra-smooth. I quite like wet track days as its good practice for smooth driving, and any errors in driving are easily noticable at slow speeds.
Craner in the wet is fine as long as you don't hit it with speed. I've always found you can still use the normal racing line fine. However i've never tried the "italian" line or whatever it is called. I wouldn't want want to drive round the outside of craners though. I stick to the inside where it feels safe
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Craner in the wet is fine as long as you don't hit it with speed. I've always found you can still use the normal racing line fine. However i've never tried the "italian" line or whatever it is called. I wouldn't want want to drive round the outside of craners though. I stick to the inside where it feels safe
.Agree with the last post: smoothness is key. You can tell how good a driver you are becoming by how quick you can be in the wet. Best advice I got was: "Try not to slide it around too much..."
Wet trackdays can be fun but you want a track that inspires you to try with loads of runoff like Bedford Autodrome. A track with little runoff, say Castle Combe, and many trackside hard unyielding objects? Not so fun.
Wet trackdays can be fun but you want a track that inspires you to try with loads of runoff like Bedford Autodrome. A track with little runoff, say Castle Combe, and many trackside hard unyielding objects? Not so fun.
I like wet trackdays! The Cobra is a lot more hairy in the wet & encourages me to drive smoother as squirting it a bit in a corner will have me facing the wrong way. It gives me good preparation for road driving in the wet too. I'm unlikely to take the car out on a wet/rainy road so driving on a wet track is all good practice.
In the wet stay clear of anythng painted and also kerbs, they can be very slippy. Be gentle on the throttle and brakes application and also letting off the brakes which is often over looked and leads to big weight transfers. regarding lines it can be worth experiementing with differnt lines in the wet to get the most grip, lots of ex kart drivers use the out side of corners etc but look to see where the water is runnign from and too and use your brains an you'll be fine. Also worth thinking about increasing tyre pressure when its raining over what you'd run na dry day as they obviously wont get so hot!
above all start slow and work up to the faster speed and drive to the amount of grip you have, try not to slide it around if you can, be neat and tidy and you'll be fine.
above all start slow and work up to the faster speed and drive to the amount of grip you have, try not to slide it around if you can, be neat and tidy and you'll be fine.
One key to wet/damp track days is getting enough heat in the tyres. it can be worth dropping a few psi to get the blocks on the tyre to move around a bit more to generate more heat.
if your tyres are low on tread, it's not just about dispersing water, the blocks are harder to move, therefore it's harder to generate heat in the tyre. Also the compound in the last 2mm can often be a harder less grippy one.
if your tyres are low on tread, it's not just about dispersing water, the blocks are harder to move, therefore it's harder to generate heat in the tyre. Also the compound in the last 2mm can often be a harder less grippy one.
ph123 said:
You definitely need les revs/power not more.
overall yes but i find that you become more cautious into and out of the bends and twisties but still once you have a clear line out of the corners you can hammer it as usual.if there is standing water i have found that to be differnet kettle of fish to just damp track mainly probably because of the effect of the water and conditions on the temp of the tyres
steil said:
ph123 said:
And if it really slippery, grip at a real premium, try using one higher gear. Much easier to control.
Would be my tip.
Hmm - possibly for professional racers but I'd have suggested one gear lower.Would be my tip.
Elderly said:
Thanks for all the tips; I must try to remember them for the future.
However it was the prospect of a wet day at Donington yesterday that prompted the question.......
........ where the wind and sun dried off the one or two very short showers in a matter of minutes.
Yes it turned out to be a great day didn't it? It was my first go at Donington and I don't think I could have enjoyed it more. Great track and great bunch of drivers. What were you in Elderly and which groups?However it was the prospect of a wet day at Donington yesterday that prompted the question.......
........ where the wind and sun dried off the one or two very short showers in a matter of minutes.
Yes it turned out to be a great day didn't it? It was my first go at Donington and I don't think I could have enjoyed it more. Great track and great bunch of drivers. What were you in Elderly and which groups?
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Steve - you'll ruin that 911.
I fancy Donnington more than anything now. Went to the MotoGP last week there (didnt see Pete there) and since then been trying it out on the old PS2 MotoGp game i have and the kids think i have gone mad!
Was up at Castle Combe on Saturday with a variable day between damp and wet conditions. As already said, steady throttle and steering inputs and no braking on cornering etc as on a dry track.
I found a mixture of oversteer / understeer throughout the day, but it does teach on-the-limit control at lower speeds than in the dry (although did have a couple of big moments).
Had a great day overall, the main thing is to come home with the car in one piece!
Cheers
Dave
I found a mixture of oversteer / understeer throughout the day, but it does teach on-the-limit control at lower speeds than in the dry (although did have a couple of big moments).
Had a great day overall, the main thing is to come home with the car in one piece!
Cheers
Dave
I had immense fun in the Corrado on Castle Combe in torrential rain in 1998 (I think it was) - power slides, four wheel drifts, the lot. That was until I had a massive spin at Hammerdown at around 80mph and ended up cutting daisies in the infield.
I kind of lost confidence after that.
I kind of lost confidence after that.
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