Operating in the wet

[StreetDragster]

Hi All,

I'm considering a Radical as my next trackday car, this will be my first open top car.

I have some questions about operating them in the rain on trackdays and i'd appreciate the benefit of your guys experiance.

You are seated seemingly quite low in them, with a little aeroscreen, are you well shilded from the rain?
Can you see well over the spray? You'll be low enouogh to be in the plume from other cars i think.

How much water generally gets in? Is the cabin and electrics in there waterproof?

As a driver, do you wear a rain suit? Do you get cold? Heated clothing? Thermal under clothes? Motorcycle based gear? Man up and tough it out?

When parked, must it be parked inside a garage/gazebo, trailer etc or can it get wet?

Assuming wet tyres fitted, is that car tame in the wet?

I'm thinking a SR3 if it matters.

Thanks

Matt

[BertBert]

I got to enjoy driving it in the wet, but it can be quite hairy. You need to have good, recent, proper wet tyres and you need to find the wet line. Driving an SR3 in the wet on the slippy part of the track with old or shagged tyres is horrible. However, I am not sure I'd really want to trackday an SR3 in the wet. But it's doable. Very easy to get it badly wrong.

I'd definitely not want to leave it out in the rain, I'd say a garage or awning at the circuit would be essential. I would probably wear a karting plastic suit thing or other waterproof clothes when driving.

HTH
Bert

[StreetDragster]

Thanks very much for your insight.

If they are not very good in the rain then it's almost an immediate no go for me. I've lost count of the number of track days where rain has made things interesting.

Anyone use one successfully in the rain? If so what's your secret?

Thanks
Matt

[Racingroj]

Don't be scared of the wet with a Radical. As has already been said a good set of racing wets and a good wet set up on the car are the key. Build up to a quick lap using karting lines with smooth driving and you will soon enjoy the experience. You will be surprised how much quicker you will be than most other track day guys. I raced Radicals many times in the (without a plastic suit) and got to enjoy wet conditions.

[Simon T]

With a decent set of Dunlop wets the SR3 is awesome in the wet

[StreetDragster]

Hi All,

I have a question about settingup radicals for dry/wet weather.

On cars i have previously owned for track use, any setups required a visit to a pro with alignment machines, corner scales etc and it was a lengthy process.

Do radicals have positions marked on there adjustment points to enable quick, track side adjustments?

For example, if 1 degree of camber is needed in the dry and 2 in the wet, it there an eccentric bolt with markings on it for adjustment to enable a quick adjustment trackside?

Or if you have brought a car with you setup for dry and it rains, are you putting it away and going home?

Thanks

Matt

[fergus]

StreetDragster said:

Hi All,

I have a question about settingup radicals for dry/wet weather.

On cars i have previously owned for track use, any setups required a visit to a pro with alignment machines, corner scales etc and it was a lengthy process.

Do radicals have positions marked on there adjustment points to enable quick, track side adjustments?

For example, if 1 degree of camber is needed in the dry and 2 in the wet, it there an eccentric bolt with markings on it for adjustment to enable a quick adjustment trackside?

Or if you have brought a car with you setup for dry and it rains, are you putting it away and going home?

Thanks

Matt

Could you not make the corresponding marks yourself (in terms of geometry rather than corner weighting, etc) having put a "wet" and a "dry" setup on the car when initially getting a baseline setup?

[Racingroj]

Most Radicals only require softening the dampers (try going halfway between full soft and your dry setting first) and full soft or no roll bars connected. There's nothing really technical required particularly camber changes.

[StreetDragster]

Thanks guy, more interesting information. Its whole new world for me coming from a tin top.


I guess i good do with finding a manual for an SR3 somewhere and reading about the different recommended setups to see whats involved.

Thanks

Matt

[gixermark]

I wouldn't worry too much about a manual.

Buy a car... Buy new wets.. Use them only when it's proper wet.. Back the shocks off.. Disconnect or put soft roll bars in.. And go have fun.

As others have said, it's pointless putting shagged/old wet tyres on

[BertBert]

I'd suggest not disconnecting the front bar, never worked for me!

The other problem is you have to use wets even in the damp and drying. They may get shagged and you end up pissing £1200 away. Don't be tempted to be a hero and try to make slicks work in the wet/damp, it'll cost a lot more than £1200! Or only go out in proper wet or proper dry and sit out the middle ground.
Bert