hf1

What would be your guess, from your experience?

I like boxing, as long as I don't get hit too hard.
Joking aside, I like racing in the rain too. From the few skippy mx-5 races I've won majority of them have been in the rain, but often due to almost half the field being eliminated.

Just deciding if I will need to bring two extra sets of tires (one rain set) on race weekends for my own SPB next season.

linzman

That's the million dollar question. Ultimately, it's your car and your risk. As you can see from the many responses, there are many that do, and probably just as many that don't, go out in the rain. Here's to many dry weekends

Frank 993 C4S

Keep in mind that if you're at the pointy end of the grid and you can stay there you will see less risk than starting mid-pack.

Veloce Raptor

+1

hf1

Agreed, though almost impossible when sharing a session with faster classes.

Slakker

Any tips for racing in the rain? I assume trailbraking is a bad idea?

seanseidman

There are many tips, but a few key ideas:
Only brake in a straight line
Make sure your wheel is absolutely straight as you cross the dry line

Sir5n

Yup and thanks Leh,
Can't wait to see you return!

Share this video

seanseidman

He's the master
I was going to add Ross Bentley's tip "make the car do something in the rain" - so as to be proactive rather than reactive
This is an amazing display of car control

mannym5

You'll usually want to avoid the curbing in the rain as it can be extremely slick(track dependent).

Paseb

1st time in the rain and 1st at glen

Tip: Dont put 1 wiper instead of 2

924RACR

Not all curbing is equal; I found some (unpainted of course) that was grippier than the track in the wet... YMMV.

Always push, always try for more, be continually looking for grip, especially when you have changing conditions. Which, really, is every time it rains. It's rarely constant, and the track can be expected to change every lap. If you learn how to make the car dance in the wet, you'll have an edge. You'll be the one who picks up the pace as the track starts to dry, instead of the one who gets passed turning full wet times.

Never is slow in/fast out more important than in the wet. It's easier to recover a car losing grip on corner exit than entry/under braking.

Visibility is usually improved by being in front of all the other cars; coincidentally, so are race results, so it's a good target.

But if you don't get in front - don't throw out your back trying to catch up. Odds are, if you use your tires judiciously, and hit your marks without overdriving the car, the other drivers will be the ones making the mistakes and you'll catch back up in short order. Persistence pays off.

Nothing like a changing conditions race... this started dry, whole field on drys... finished in full wet conditions with hail:

https://vimeo.com/95471438

ProCoach

All good advice. Thanks, Vaughan.

TXE36

I still trailbrake in the wet, but do it a whole lot gentler. Actually, the last part of the last sentence applies to everything in the wet. Getting on the throttle too early with the front wheels turned is more problematic than trailbraking in the wet, IMHO.

Agree with the comments about the wet line, crossing the dry line, and continuously searching for grip. Judge speed not by laptimes, but how you are doing relative to other cars. Wet is slower than dry, but everybody has to deal with it, so it balances out.

-Mike

Gary R.

I'm with you bud, got nothing to prove to anyone and am tired of writing bodies off... once you touch wet grass your done on any track on the East coast.