jim_l

Any thought on driving a DE event in the rain, this would be my third event. I have Sdrive tires on they should be ok in the rain, might be a short day for me.

bb993tt

A very good instructor in England told me "You do all the same things in the wet as you do in the dry ... you just do them all slower". Another showed me how to drive the "wet line", which is quite different from the dry line, and will vary by track. I used both pieces of advice many times.

Frank 993 C4S

Two very good points: a) everything happens at a slower speed and b) look for the rain line.

ducnine

I did my first DE last year. One day it was dry and the next it was raining. It was a great learning experiance both days. Wet tracks are more slippery so as everyone already said....go slower.

Dwane

I did my first DE last year...Three days in the rain!
Slowly accelerate becomes very easy to understand!
Schumacher was fast in the rain

earlyapex

Very good experience.
Street tires with good wet performance.
Instruction.
Stay off the paint and berms.
The dry line may not have the best grip.
Start slow and build speed and confidence.
Have fun!

TR6

Don't sit on the sidelines if it is raining. Get out and drive. I was told by much more experienced drivers that you can learn more about car control on a race track driving one day in the rain than 10 days in the dry. After doing several wet track days over the last couple of years of DE'ing, I agree. Yes it is slower, but you learn how to be more smooth on your inputs and you learn how to slide the car while keeping control. On the dry track, you can cover many mistakes with dry grip. In the wet, if you aren't smooth with your inputs (throttle, steering, braking), you will find out quickly!

PorscheZen

/\ +1 for all
...and remember to drink lots of alcohol before your run group goes out. Helps with the nerves.

jim_l

Thanks for all the advice, drove all 4 rounds. limerock has a new surface as of last year so no rain line required yet. not crazy about leaving the windows down in a cold rain
all said great learning experience.

BlueHeeler

Did they make you keep the windows down?

I loved to autocross in the rain, it made the cars about equal and it was all down to the driver. As was said before, things happen slowly, your inputs are slow, and the car steps out more slowly. Rain is slow motion racing.

Although it is easier to make a mistake, it is also much easier to learn to correct which can be applied to the dry.

PorscheZen

My first DE in over 15 years was at LimeRock in the rain 3 years ago.
Windows down? Sheesh, They let us decide if we wanted up or down.

ilko

ilko

BTW, what region did you run with that asked you to keep your windows down?

jim_l

that was a PCA Connecticut valley event. you need to make hand signals for passing and what not. that statement was if theres a person in the seat the window must be down. once you get moving not much water comes in, but it was a little cold, but i guess Ilko is used to that.

earlyapex

Glad you had fun and kept it safe!