Track guys: who's tracked their 911 in the rain?

[Kurt B]

Results? Versus yourself under other conditions and versus other cars with different weight distributions.

comments..? thanks!

[Victor]

It's scary - even in underpowered 3.2's. Don't do it in a cab. Even with the roof shut.

[Kurt B]

Right. It's pouring in CA right now. I know what happens in these cars when you begin to slide in any direction: the engine wants to lead the parade. Makes me nervous. I can now say the 964 seems much more solid, but i'm still nervous...just trying to get some bites on whether I SHOULD be nervous or not. When my 84 just randomly fishtailed on me back in 1999 while driving straight in a downpour, the tires were in really bad shape, but I've been terrified of the car ever since and never pushed it...

[alf]

You will learn to drive smoothly in a hurry.

Track day in the rain

[rdane]

Rain is big fun on a DE and track days You'll learn more quickly than in the dry and you are less likely you hurt anything (if you are careful) or burn a set of tires up.

[carrue529]

I've done two DE events in the rain (March/Dec 04) both at Buttonwillow. First DE with SO3's I learned how to be smoooth
and the second DE with ES100 rubber not as good as the SO3's but I had more confidence and I was able to push more. Lots fun once you learn how to drive the car in the wet. I also have a GT Torque Bias Diff. which helps in the wet.

I did 8 DE events in '04 (rented Buttonwillow 3x, 15cars max) there is no substitution for seat time.

My car is a daily driver, and I no longer have issues in the rain unless it is really, really wet.

[Jack Olsen]

Yeah, there's no better way to learn a track.

There are a few tricks: loosen up the shocks, put more air in the tires, disconnect the swaybar drop links. But wide tires and rear weight bias make you navigate in a very disciplined way.

[Noel]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
Yeah, there's no better way to learn a track.

Jack has got it right. I've done about six DEs in the rain over the years and actually have more fun driving in the rain. Although, I would not make any adjustments to the car in a non-competitive event. Just make them to the driver.

There is no better way to learn to be smooth with your inputs. The rain forces you to do this. This is the same reason that it is always better to use street tires for as long as possible in a DE environment (Non-competitive setting). They will teach you more and not mask mistakes like a race tire. Rain does the same thing. It's like putting on a set of old hard and dry-rotted tires when you used to be on streets. It will uncover any mistakes you may have developed in the dry.

Good luck and have fun. Just work up the speed gradually.

[89911]

You can learn alot when driving in the rain, mostly that you can't drive as fast as when it is dry. If your on a new track and you want to become familiar with it, or you are new to track driving, it can't hurt. If you've been around the same track a thousand times, know how your car feels and its "dry" limits, and you are continually building on this progression, driving in the rain can be a harsh lesson. I'll drive in some minor rain that doesn't accumulate. Anymore then that and I'm watching. This isn't a race that I'm winning money no matter what the conditions.

[earlyapex]

The 911 definitely not an evil car in the rain. You've got to slow down and be smooth. You may need to stay off the racing line if it is slick. The lack of traction as others have stated accelerates the learning curve.

[Mike Feinstein]

Suggest to have a HEALTHY respect for standing water...especially in turns. As long as you take it slow, don't let others push you beyond your "conservative" wet weather comfort zone, you'll be fine. But, I disagree with others who say it's more fun than dry conditions.

Since I don't race....DE only....I no longer go out if it's actively raining, especially if it's new rain (ie., mixing with oil/rubber on track). I spun in turn 3 at Road Atlanta a few years ago and "gently" bounced off the tire wall (still messed up my rear end a bit). It was completely unexpected and at a ridiculously slower speed than normal. It had just begun raining hard and I suspect there was some oil/rubber residue on the formerly dry track. No way to see it.

Again...it's a good learning experience, but I prefer a nice clear, hot, dry surface.

[Jon Merck]

I you want to be faster... Do it! DE'd in the rain in 2003 and had a blast. I had a similar experience to Kurt B with a random fishtail and was weary about DEing in the rain. All the racers told me do do a DE in the rain, so I did. Best experience you can get to "safely" explore the limits of your car. Feels like you have 500HP in the turns. Braking can get scary, but again your testing the limits right? The AWD guys will run circles around everyone. Be smooth and have fun!

[masraum]

The 911 shouldn't be bad in the rain and as long as the tires are decent all of the weight in the back should hold the back end down. I drove my '88 targa daily here in Houston for about 3 years which means I drove in LOTS of rain. I also drove until the back tires were nearly bald. Never had problems. Just gotta slow down for it. I did play some when the time and location was right. Still not like being on the track, but I wish I had.

[89911]

I think many of the problems stem from contributing factors. Many do DE's maybe 3-4 times a year. The travel time and cost are not cheap. I know myself that the need for track driving is a desire that builds to a point where you can't wait to get behind the wheel. Then you arrive at your event and it pours for 2 days straight. It takes more self discipline to "sit the day out" then to jump on the track and try to get your money's worth, no matter what the conditions. I agree with what Mike said. I am always glued to the weather.com a week prior to the event. Just the way it is. And if you like to drive with any amount of induced oversteer (I do), any amount of traction loss is 180 time.

[rs911t]

If you participate in DE to learn how to drive your car then drive it in the rain. You'll learn to be smooth and how the car behaves at the edge - skills critical to driving fast in the dry.

The worst part is all the time between sessions. Yuck.

[Jim Richards]

Just watch the transitions between the asphalt and concrete patches in the corners (if applicable to your track). Anticipate the change in grip.

[Grady Clay]

GOOD advice here.

A few other things:
You want skinny tires and deep tread – they don’t need to be expensive super high performance tires.
Have new wipers and both inside and outside Rain-X (two different formulas.)

Visibility is a big issue. Driving into someone else’ spray is very dangerous. You can’t see them spin or the corner flags. Always drive with your lights on.

You need to leave more margin for error because the conditions and traction are continuously changing. Move your line a half tire width and it is a totally different track.

My son loves racing in the rain in the race karts and the skinny tired Miata. I don’t think I’ll let him in a Formula Mazda in the rain – fun but too dangerous. There are some good scenes in “LeMans” and “Grand Prix” movies of driving at speed with no visibility.

Best,
Grady

[s2per]

At our Instructors Day weekend in Sebring a few years ago, it was raining so hard on the back straight that I lost my bearings for about 10 seconds. After laughing at the absurdity of the situation, I wisely ducked (ha!) into the pits.

Fifteen minutes later, we closed the track down for about an hour since a TORNADO was spotted about 10 miles from the track.

But before the rain was really bad, I enjoyed myself more than I had in years, concentrating on car control and trying to see just how far I could hang the tail out. Felt like "back up north" in the winter, for a while.....

[widebody911]

BTDT - in a cab even! You will either learn to be smooth, or learn to be patient while waiting for the tow truck to pull you out of the mud.

[JonT]

Personally I hate driving in the rain for DE's. It's just not fun because its slow and the brakes lock so easily and you get passed by all the other all-wheel drive cars. I just don't buy all the comments "oh it makes you smooth out your inputs and teaches you the track". If you raced in the rain and your goal is faster wet driving, then yes, rain driving will help you. You train in conditions in which you are competing in. Driving in rain does not help or improve your dry condition driving. Practicing in dry conditions improves your dry condition racing. This applies to every other sport as well. You train in the conditions in which you are competing in.