My First Track Day ...

sixpax · 04-30-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

I’m glad you had fun. You had a great instructor. He really wanted to make sure that you got a real sense of what it is like on the track. You will find out that as you gain experience and start moving up groups every driver is always pushing their car. It actually makes things safer because you can anticipate when a car is going to close on you.

If I see a Porsche GT3 in my rear view I know that he will be on top of me in a second. And I will start positioning my car on the track to allow him as uninterrupted pass as I can manage.

If I see a Miata, I know that he is faster in the corners and give him the point bye in turns 5 or 6.

If there is a comparable car such as a S2000 or 3 series BMW, I will wait for the most awkward off line pass and see how good he is.

I watched your video and you were not experiencing limp home mode. That was fuel starvation. That is the reason I bring gas cans so I can top off my gas to the point of having fuel in the filler neck. Normal gas pumps will not allow you to fill your tank really to the top.

Even with my method, I would start getting fuel starvation out of turn 2 after 20 minutes.

It was great meeting you and thanks for everything ! Sorry we bolted but the wife was getting kind of cranky on account of the weather. I was hoping to hang out awhile more and try to catch a ride with you, but maybe next time. I figured it was oil on account of my gauge was at 260 and when I tromped on the gas it bogged down and didn't want to go anywhere.

ChrisSlicks · 04-30-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

It was great meeting you and thanks for everything ! Sorry we bolted but the wife was getting kind of cranky on account of the weather. I was hoping to hang out awhile more and try to catch a ride with you, but maybe next time. I figured it was oil on account of my gauge was at 260 and when I tromped on the gas it bogged down and didn't want to go anywhere.

Stage-1 limp mode will give you full power but restrict you to 5000 rpm, it feels exactly like someone played with the redline setting. The bogging down is fuel starvation as ResIpsa pointed out. I do the same as him and just top off using fuel cans before each session, especially since my fuel gauge is broken - ha!

I also thought your instructor was really good, he was focused and energetic.

sixpax · 04-30-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Stage-1 limp mode will give you full power but restrict you to 5000 rpm, it feels exactly like someone played with the redline setting. The bogging down is fuel starvation as ResIpsa pointed out. I do the same as him and just top off using fuel cans before each session, especially since my fuel gauge is broken - ha!

I also thought your instructor was really good, he was focused and energetic.

I liked my instructor... was a young kid who races Spec Miata's.

I filled up before I got to the track, but ResIspa suggested I should top off at the race track and we were parked like 50 feet away from the pumps, so I did so.

It's weird it's like I can't even really remember how it all exactly went down. I see in my video I was trying to point to the oil temp gauge to let the instructor know and I was freaking out because cars were behind me and I didn't want to get run over ... it never dawned on me it was fuel starvation, I figured I was going way too slow for that to happen. 1:47 to 1:52 laps around there is pretty slow.

ResIpsa · 04-30-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixpax

It was great meeting you and thanks for everything ! Sorry we bolted but the wife was getting kind of cranky on account of the weather. I was hoping to hang out awhile more and try to catch a ride with you, but maybe next time. I figured it was oil on account of my gauge was at 260 and when I tromped on the gas it bogged down and didn't want to go anywhere.

Don’t worry about it. It started raining pretty hard before the third session. I swapped back to my RE-11’s but, as you saw, they are pretty worn.

The session was a little scary. I don’t have much seat time in the rain and every time I tried to determine the limits I exceeded them. I basically tip toed around the track while Miata’s swarmed me.

ChrisSlicks · 04-30-2012, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

Don’t worry about it. It started raining pretty hard before the third session. I swapped back to my RE-11’s but, as you saw, they are pretty worn.

The session was a little scary. I don’t have much seat time in the rain and every time I tried to determine the limits I exceeded them. I basically tip toed around the track while Miata’s swarmed me.

I used to drive in the rain on RE-11's but they can be pretty scary, damp is okay but wet they suck

Just bought my first set of Hoosier Wet's, I think they come with a guarantee that it won't rain for at least 2 years!

sig11 · 04-30-2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Just bought my first set of Hoosier Wet's, I think they come with a guarantee that it won't rain for at least 2 years!

Make a trip out to a 3Balls event and it will rain.

ChrisSlicks · 04-30-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sig11

Make a trip out to a 3Balls event and it will rain.

I've only done one 3Balls event and it was blazing hot, guess I got lucky! I'll be up your way on July 30th - 31st with COMSCC at Mosport, you're more than welcome to join us.

sig11 · 04-30-2012, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I've only done one 3Balls event and it was blazing hot, guess I got lucky! I'll be up your way on July 30th - 31st with COMSCC at Mosport, you're more than welcome to join us.

Damn! I would come up there but I'll be at Grattan with 3balls July 28-29... probably be wiped out (and broke since we're having a charity auction! : )

cossie1600 · 04-30-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I used to drive in the rain on RE-11's but they can be pretty scary, damp is okay but wet they suck

Just bought my first set of Hoosier Wet's, I think they come with a guarantee that it won't rain for at least 2 years!

I drove them im pouring rain. They werent great, but it could be worse. I hit close to 120 at lrp with th em .

ChrisSlicks · 04-30-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I drove them im pouring rain. They werent great, but it could be worse. I hit close to 120 at lrp with th em .

Any kind of standing water is instant loss of traction, so as long as the drainage is okay they are acceptable. Nothing beats real wets though, it's worth 10 seconds on a short track, more on a longer one.

cossie1600 · 04-30-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I went 245 square on base 18's.

Good choice, I was thinking of the same thing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I ran Road Atlanta on AD-08s in the rain. Car was very squirrely. Narrow probably would be better.

I was told the ad08 is better than the re11 in the rain, but I never drove it in the rain myself.

Does it make a huge difference going from 285 to 245 assuming you are on the same compound?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

I was running Hoosier R-6’s for the event. My RE-11’s are what I drove to the track with and are about 2/32nds in the rear. And they are 305/30/19’s…

Yes, very scary in the rain.

Yeah I remember how bad the car was running over any water puddles. Still, it is nowhere as bad as the oem tires. In pouring rain, I was running over 16 sec slower at lime rock. Of course self preservation kicks in once you realize how stupid it is to do time trial in downpours

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

Any kind of standing water is instant loss of traction, so as long as the drainage is okay they are acceptable. Nothing beats real wets though, it's worth 10 seconds on a short track, more on a longer one.

sig11 · 05-01-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

I was told the ad08 is better than the re11 in the rain, but I never drove it in the rain myself.

I actually preferred the RE-11 In the rain to the AD08. The AD08 seems to dance more.

Then again I do have that video of the sudden spin in the rain at Grattan on RE-11s with VDC on.

sixpax · 04-30-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I used to drive in the rain on RE-11's but they can be pretty scary, damp is okay but wet they suck

Just bought my first set of Hoosier Wet's, I think they come with a guarantee that it won't rain for at least 2 years!

LOL ... sounds like some chit that would happen to me. I could buy an ice scraper on sale and it wouldn't snow again until the following year.

cossie1600 · 04-30-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I used to drive in the rain on RE-11's but they can be pretty scary, damp is okay but wet they suck

Just bought my first set of Hoosier Wet's, I think they come with a guarantee that it won't rain for at least 2 years!

Btw how small did you go on your wets? I am thinking about 245 all around

I wanted to go to summit, but wife says no and I have no backup tires....

ResIpsa · 04-30-2012, 06:12 PM

I was running Hoosier R-6’s for the event. My RE-11’s are what I drove to the track with and are about 2/32nds in the rear. And they are 305/30/19’s…

Yes, very scary in the rain.

04-30-2012, 06:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
ResIpsa Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 564 Drives: 09 RACING HEN Rep Power: 338	I was running Hoosier R-6’s for the event. My RE-11’s are what I drove to the track with and are about 2/32nds in the rear. And they are 305/30/19’s… Yes, very scary in the rain. __________________ The Reed Law Firm; Michael Fasano VA Attorney and Counselor at Law: A Virginia Traffic, Criminal, and Family Lawyer.https://reedlawva.com/

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