Redline Time Attack: Infineon

[Gray Ghost GT]

Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes..

“If you don’t walk back to the pits with the steering wheel in your hand once in a while, you ain’t really trying.”

-Mario Andretti

Ain't that the truth! If you don't have a few off course "excursions" in this sport; you're not driving fast enough to push you and your car to the limits, lol! Welcome to the club.

 

[Vapour Trails]

How true...there's nothing extra "cool" or "manly" about driving in the rain, so there's nothing especially cowardly about choosing not to do it.
-j

IMO if want to be the best driver that you can be, you can't avoid driving in bad conditions. I think it is the best kind of practice you can get as it will train you in making the proper adjustments. I don't believe you are any more likely to crash in the rain than the dry if you are making the adjustments necessary. The key to gradually increase speed, creeping up to the limit and staying just below it.

I was actually shocked how fast you can still corner when grip is decreased.

 

[Philostang]

Also agreed.

The point I was trying to make was that not everyone who we encounter out on track has that goal in mind. Some folks just want to enjoy driving and become a better driver - becoming the best driver they can be is not their goal or priority. Driving in the rain definitely opens your eyes to a host of habits you may not easily pick up on in the dry, as well as it introduces you (or reintroduces you) to a track you may think you know very well. These things are very important (even invaluable) to the driver who wants to become his or her best, but they may not be so valuable to someone who just enjoys the drive and enjoys learning a bit more about him or herself. So I try to respect that each person who may come out to a track has a different aim, and therefore may have a sensible aversion to running in the rain. That's all.

Of course, I'm not one of those persons. I'll run in the rain again. I learned a lot from this incident, and yes, it cost me. Such is the price of wanting to become one's best.

Gray, I love the Andretti quote. Though I hope not to have need of it any time soon (like the next 20 years would be nice).

Best,
-j

 

[pcdrj]

During a hard rainstorm at NJMP, I modified the front bumper, hood, fender, door, quarter, and rear bumper. Total was $7k.

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

During a hard rainstorm at NJMP, I modified the front bumper, hood, fender, door, quarter, and rear bumper. Total was $7k.

I had a similar mod performed on my Corvette two years ago at NJMP, but it cost me $8K... damn "Corvette Tax". LOL

 

[Sleeper_08]

During a hard rainstorm at NJMP, I modified the front bumper, hood, fender, door, quarter, and rear bumper. Total was $7k.

That is why I don't drive my car on the track in the rain. The benefit/risk/enjoyment ratio is not favourable.

 

[Philostang]

During a hard rainstorm at NJMP, I modified the front bumper, hood, fender, door, quarter, and rear bumper. Total was $7k.

Sure, anyone can mod their car for modding sake...but did you get an instant aero advantage from having no rear window catching all that air! Hah?!? Yeah, that's modding for performance baby!

Mine cost me closer to $4K...sigh. There goes my SLA plans for next year, unless Colin is willing to sponsor the Chicago dork.

Best,
-j

 

[pcdrj]

I had my Miata there last month during a downpour and I was running shaved RA1's. At the end of the front straight, I kept locking up the back wheels during the heel and toe. Normally the drive train absorbs it but I had to be much smoother in the rain. I spun during one session but I did learn something.

 

[Grip]

LOL I love this stuff.

I'm actually dying to do another rain session...though preferably at a less perilous track than Sears Point. Too many walls, too much concrete, too high a risk=too much preoccupation with tragic loss...which doesn't lend to much learning/experimentation. No matter how bad you are, it's tough to get over the fact that you have to drive the thing home.

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

This is one of the reasons why I purchased a trailer. Watkins Glen is another track where you definitely do not want to practice driving at speed in the rain, lol.

 

[Sleeper_08]

This is one of the reasons why I purchased a trailer. Watkins Glen is another track where you definitely do not want to practice driving at speed in the rain, lol.

And neither is Mosport. As mentioned above for another track, the wet line is totally different than the dry line and actually avoids the dry line as much as possible.

I've driven my car in the rain at TMP where there is only one wall. Sliding around was learning experience but it was not a lot of fun so I just left it parked until the rain was over.

 

[marksti]

When it rains most of high hp rear dirve guys park our cars @ Infineon

GSTs winning car that toke the event, ran 15-20 seconds off their dry lap times...and that was AWD, being driven on a wet track..it wasn't raining at the time

I was driving pastthe track on those days..thinkin about the wrecks that maybe happen...keep your head up...now would be a good time to upgrade the body parts

 

[Grip]

When it rains most of high hp rear dirve guys park our cars @ Infineon

GSTs winning car that toke the event, ran 15-20 seconds off their dry lap times...and that was AWD, being driven on a wet track..it wasn't raining at the time

I was driving pastthe track on those days..thinkin about the wrecks that maybe happen...keep your head up...now would be a good time to upgrade the body parts

Oh yeah I'm already in the market for a CS/GT500 bumper and working on buying a new axle-back

...and I dunno if "toke" was a typo, but it definitely describes how the GST Subie "smoked" everybody there. Unreal how fast he went.

 

[pcdrj]

When it rains most of high hp rear dirve guys park our cars @ Infineon

GSTs winning car that toke the event, ran 15-20 seconds off their dry lap times...and that was AWD, being driven on a wet track..it wasn't raining at the time

I was driving pastthe track on those days..thinkin about the wrecks that maybe happen...keep your head up...now would be a good time to upgrade the body parts

In the rain with the Miata I was getting by Z06's, 911's etc. Then it dried up and I was road kill.

 

[Grip]

Just an update.. F**k a body shop!

'Nuff said. Ready for Laguna Seca in December. Yes I was drinking.

 

[ArizonaGT]

dig the band-aid

 

[danbev07]

bahahahahha

nice fix!

way to retaliate lol

 

[GR40Freak]

Sure, anyone can mod their car for modding sake...but did you get an instant aero advantage from having no rear window catching all that air! Hah?!? Yeah, that's modding for performance baby!

Mine cost me closer to $4K...sigh. There goes my SLA plans for next year, unless Colin is willing to sponsor the Chicago dork.

Best,
-j

You don't need an SLA to be fast, plus they suck to drive on the street, too noisy. Stick with the SS setup, much cheaper and you can run 10.5s with 315s on all four corners for the track.

Colin

When it rains most of high hp rear dirve guys park our cars @ Infineon

GSTs winning car that toke the event, ran 15-20 seconds off their dry lap times...and that was AWD, being driven on a wet track..it wasn't raining at the time

I was driving pastthe track on those days..thinkin about the wrecks that maybe happen...keep your head up...now would be a good time to upgrade the body parts

Exactly, I run 315s on all four corners, no matter how good of a rain tire I try, its still a HUGE tire to try to get all that water moved out of the way especially at the speeds we run. In the rain... I get passed by everything, My GF's 350Z with 245mm Toyo T1Rs is faster...

On dry track however things are... a bit different. 1:50s anyone?


Colin

 

[GR40Freak]

Just an update.. F**k a body shop!

'Nuff said. Ready for Laguna Seca in December. Yes I was drinking.

Check out Newoemtakeoff.com for cheap factory painted replacement take off parts.

Colin

 

[Grip]

Check out Newoemtakeoff.com for cheap factory painted replacement take off parts.

Colin

Unfortunately, they don't carry S197 rear bumpers. Meh, it's fixed enough for the track. It ain't a show car. I'm actually glad I got that out of the way, now I won't be as timid with keeping it perfect, etc.