I am scheduled to have my next DE event on Monday. Weather for the Northeast looks like heavy rain and was curious to get some thoughts on DE in the rain. My car is a DD, has no mods and this will be my 4th time on the track. I have been blessed with perfect weather for my previous events. Driving with the windows down in the pouring rain doesn't seem all that appealing, but with the all-wheel drive it should still be fun. I am applying another coat of RainX on the windshield tonight and will clean and check the wipers.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts.

--BM

 

If you are focused on top lap times then you may be disappointed.

However, I have done several 'adverse' weather events and loved them.

In fact, doing BMW's winter driving school on a frozen lake (ice and hard-pack snow) was one of the most educational event ever -- probably like racing a old 917 in the rain -- because you have to learn to be so gentle with all inputs (steering, throttle, brakes).

So, my thoughts: go for it... not better time to try turning PSM off and enjoy balancing on the limits of adhesion!

 

This a is great way to learn the line. The slower speeds give you chance to really focus on car feed back dynamics. you should definitely try it.
Elliot

 

Thanks, I'll post on Tuesday and let you know how it goes

 

IMHO if its a steady rain I wold rather sit on the sideline rather than get my interior soaked. However, if it has finished raining and the track is still wet, then a de can be lots of fun. Wet conditions force you to be smooth. I feel a sense of accomplishment after a wet track day.

 

Rain line for me has always been a bit different than dry line. I tend to square off the corners a little more than dry line and run a little inside the dry line (maybe 3 feet.) Agree about rain and the interior. If track is wet, that won't mess up your inner parts so much.

 

Build up to it. It's a DE, not a race - but you know that. No sense doing something dumb and pushing yourself.

Take it as a learning experience, and go for it.

 

My last DE was in the rain. It's a great learning tool. Everything that happens to your car at 80 or 90 miles an hour in the dry happens at 30 or 40 in the rain, so it actually is a safe car control clinic at slow speeds. It's worth getting your interior a little wet. One tip I would stress. Clean your car off asap after the event. Tracks are really dirty and all that crap gets up on your car in the rain, if it dries you may need rubbing compound to get it off.

 

Driving 30 or 40 mph in a car capable of 200.....and pretending it's fun.

Sorry.....never understood this.....unless you are learning the line on a track where you may have to do it in the wet for Club Race or whatever.

Do a skid pad....autocross.....drive in the winter everyday (great fun).... but getting out wheel-to-wheel in the wet on a big track for enjoyment?....well, maybe once.

 

First or second DE, NO, but fourth time, go for it; you could not be luckier. Years ago when practicing for real racing (SCCA at Watkins Glen, Sebring, and some 'back alley') we would take turns wetting down corners and chicanes - you never knew what race day would bring and you did not have a bunch of tire choices. Hopefully you'll have an instructor with good wet experience; if not you'll learn together.

 

I have asbolutely zero interest in learning to drive my GT2 in the rain because if there is any chance of rain I don't take her out...she is for going absolutely as fast as possible in dry weather.

I strongly believe that any driving in any type of rain is purely for getting somewhere I have to go. I simply slow down as much as possible.

Whener I would do a a DE event and the people running it would come out w/ the "you learn more in the rain" argument (OK maybe I have drifted the M3 a time or two in the rain my translation was always "no way in hell are we giving you your money back."

The rain is for beaters IMO or for people w/ lots and lots of money.

I will add that I will gladly drive the Kart I rent now and then in the rain but they always make us wait for the rain to stop.

 

Just to be clear, I don't track my GT2, in fact, I don't believe a rain drop has ever touched the paint (it helps to live in Vegas). My 06 M Coupe is my track car and rain or shine, it's a dream car for the track.

 

sounds good

thanks

Agreed

Thanks for the tip

Appreciate your thoughts

Cool

Thanks for your thoughts

 

I have to agree with the guys who don't drive their cars in the rain at the track.. First, I don't enjoy it, second, when I go to the track, I want to have at it, not tip toe around. Third, I don't want rain or dirt on the inside of my car, or the outside for that matter. And fourth and maybe the biggest reason, a bunch of guys around this area have wrecked their cars on rainy days at the track.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

Well, count me in with the guys who like to drive in the rain. I had a DE weekend about 10 years ago where it rained the entire time. I learned how to heel-toe downshift and how to left foot brake. It's a great time to learn some new techniques, because everything happens almost in slow motion.

Often the dry line can be found by being one car width inside or outside of the racing line. You can also tell the difference by looking at how much the track surface reflects light. Brighter = more water on the surface = less grip.

Go for it - these cars are meant to be driven.

My 2 cents...

Jon