Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am (Post 1415380)

It is forecast to rain tomorrow. I hate driving in the rain (both times it happened :icon17:). I'm from California and tend to be better practiced in the dry. For the piece of mind, I just bought HPDE one day insurance.

Thanks to one and all for the advice.

Originally Posted by cossie1600 (Post 1415960)

Drive like you want to drive the car home in one piece....

Originally Posted by MightyBobo (Post 1415738)

My last track event was in the rain. I LOVED it. It has great benefits:

1) You arent pushing the car so hard, so your tires aren't going to be decimated
2) Its much easier to find "the limit" and stay there, so its great for learning car control and patience
3) You still feel like you're going balls-out just because its a bit slicker

Keep VDC on, and pace yourself properly. Its fun!



That video is nothing sadly - day 1 was absolutely pouring on one or two sessions. The other 2 were just raining a bit.

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am (Post 1417187)

It looks like you had the same or similar competition. A Camaro holding up everybody, a Corvette that got squirrelly, a BMW that you slowly reeled in.

How did you like that banked turn? Looks like the Nurburgrings bank.

Originally Posted by MightyBobo (Post 1418623)

OK, so just to comment a bit more before I forget...

I was a bit shocked they let you go out solo w/o an instructor so soon. I have no doubt you were a bit nervous and that contributed to the slow driving...but I dont agree with sending someone out solo at their first HPDE at all.

But it was good to see your instructor appeared to be talking your ear off in the 2nd video, and from the little clips I saw, he was pushing you pretty good.

So, is it all done then? Only one day or two? And I saw no accidents so no insurance needed, right? lol. But Im sure you got your peace of mind and that was worth it enough for you. Tell us how YOU liked it - was I right on it being a bit easier to find "the limit" in the rain (granted, you dont have dry experience, but Im sure you know what I mean on how easy it was to find...) and do you feel you learned anything?

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am (Post 1418687)

One day event. The insurance gave me the ability to focus on what was at hand and find limits. I had no accidents or spin outs. Once some body spun they were black flagged and had to come into the pits for a quick check and brief talking to.

I learned plenty. I'll write up the day over Thanksgiving vacation.



I loved it!

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am (Post 1418687)

One day event. The insurance gave me the ability to focus on what was at hand and find limits. I had no accidents or spin outs. Once some body spun they were black flagged and had to come into the pits for a quick check and brief talking to.

I learned plenty. I'll write up the day over Thanksgiving vacation.



I loved it!

Originally Posted by MightyBobo (Post 1418953)

Good to hear. No spinning maybe, but did you at least feel the rear step out ever around any of the corners? Maybe plow into a corner or two from braking a little late?
Thats generally how spinning or going off works - the group running makes them come in to talk. Not always, though.

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am (Post 1419018)

Sure the rear end tried stepping out but I was trying to limit this by being smooth. I had the front end slide out once which was more unusual. Grease perhaps. But I always braked early never late.

I went out to the paddock and tried some maneuvers in the wet. First a sharp 90* left turn at 30 MPH. Then a 35 MPH a little wider but no loss of control. Then a 40 MPH and I induced a spin. I filmed this too so I will post and ask for a critique later.

Pilot Super Sports are alright in my book. I recommend them to all.

Originally Posted by MightyBobo (Post 1419095)

The rear end stepping out is fine. You should have progressively braked later and later hopefully to find how truly late you can brake...but you do it in tiny increments until you are just braking TOO late.

How did the front end slide out? Were you mid-corner, entering the corner, exiting?

Btw, a temporary loss of control shouldnt necessarily be interpretted as bad...pushing yourself is the point of learning. Many people actually feel GOOD when they finally spin out, or go off track. They know they pushed themselves to the limit, and (hopefully) they remember where it is from that point on. Keeping yourself in a constant state of control without ever hitting any of those points likely means you have much room to go faster :)