Is there such a thing as SNOW Tyres for a Radical

[superlight7]

Last minute decission to go to Snetterton Yesterday with BaT...overall a great day out and car ran well giving me great confidence.

First time I've encountered SNOW on a Track Day.....at least it ammused my wife as she made a couple of snow balls from the hail stones collected on splitter during the third session.

Apart from sighting laps it was wets all day with some VERY wet conditions causing a nice "controlled spin" at Russell.

Couple of Questions.

Sound Testing
How many lights should be on for testing...I was holding on 2 greens but marshall insisted on 3 still resulting in a pass BUT at 103db.

Wet Set Up.
In such wet conditions in my Caterham I'd soften the suspension and disconnect the ARB's - is this the same in Radicals.

Weaving under Acceleration.
This may just be me but I had a feeling on the back straight that the car seemed to be weaving when under acceleration only between 80 - 100mph- was this just the weather (it was VERY wet) old tyres / wheel balance / set-up?

Anyway looking forward to Rockingham in 2 weeks time...and hopefully no Monsoon this time.

[Simon T]

wet set up. Disconnect the roll bars and soften the suspension.

Weaving - Check the front and rear toe settings. The best handling set up is usually toe in on the rear and toe out on the front - this can make the car weave a bit in a straght line. This is assuming all the suspension is in good working order, no sloppy joints or bushes etc

Simon

[splitpin]

In at the deep end then, but good to hear you still had a ball!

I reckon the chap with the noise meter was shall we just say 'rather severe' >

At worst, it should have been 2nd green light nearly on (about 7.9k being 75% of 10,500), although I reckon 2nd green light just comfortably on should be good enough on a trackday; factored back to 100% that gives about 9,500 at which point, all the Powertec standard 1299, 1340 and 1500s have reached maximum power. Fair enough in short duration race conditions, but there's no reason at all to rev the nuts off it on a long duration trackday.

Did he give you the usual about having a "proper rev counter fitted for next time"?

Hopefully you still passing made his day.

Don't forget the cable ties as and when you detach the Niks - and make sure they are not 'pre-loading' as and when you refit them.

Not surprised about a bit of weaving in those conditions; as long as it wasn't a job, I reckon a run in the dry will show it to be pretty spot on for less inclement weather.

[nick997]

First time I drove my car was at Snett and I found it weaved slightly down the back straight, definitely a bit off putting at first. Now I've had a bit more time in the car I think you notice it more down that particular straight than anywhere else as there's so little else to do - I noticed it again on my next visit. On most other straights your attention is on the next braking point or some other visual, on the Revvet there's just that long view of nothingness in front of you. Possibly there's a more pronounced head or tail wind that adds to it there.

[dunc_sx]

At knockhill you get a blast of crosswind once you clear the pit wall on the main straight, it doesn't half shift the car about - maybe something similar to this?

Dunc.

[ScottHughes]

Eh, I would say it's all about how the air is being managed over the car, when I fitted dive plane's on the front I really noticed the front being moved around at high speed...

[splitpin]

All who know Snett and/or come from those parts know about that cold, vicious and wicked wind that regularly comes in off the North Sea. Known as the wind that goes right through you, but not through gel coat unfortunately.

[Martin B]

Wet set up is down to personal taste, I tried the 'disconnect the roll bars and soften it right off' routine on my Clubsport and in my opinion it felt terrible with no feel at all, I prefer mine in the wet with roll bars connected but shocks softened a bit, not completely.

[mabbott]

On the weaving point, unless you know your settings, you're guessing. Wet weather exagerates any anomalies so I suspect something is out, even allowing for any, erm, 'unorthodox' settings. Also if you can't life the wets, bin them. Just try a fresh set and you'll see what I mean. I've never experienced any of the problems noted and I positively like the wet.

[superlight7]

Car came with an extensive selection of wheels and tyres - I've invested in new Dunplop Slicks which were superb and would appreciate advice on which new wets to invest in.

Any suggestions.

[splitpin]

As you (rightly in my view) decided not to go the cheapest route with the slicks and it doesn't get much better than "superb", I'd stick with that winning formula ......... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

So push the boat out ( sorry, not predicting another Rock Monsoon) and go Dunplops; especially as only used when properly well, properly looked after (with cunning stuff like WD40 drenched impermeable wrapping over Winter), fingers crossed, you'll probably get a couple of years trackdaying out of them, so the extra £s are not that significant overall.

If you were on OAP Matadors at Snett, might that explain the weaving?

[mabbott]

Dunlops unquestionably. But again, they're only going to work if the suspension does too!