BostonDMD

I know that most people don't enjoy/like driving in the rain for
various reasons......

I also know to put on the rains and soften or disconnect the sway bars, but
what about the actual driving, i.e. the line, brake points, amount of tire grip, concern about drivers about you etc.........

In other words, how do you alter your racing/driving in the rain?

Larry Herman

I go slower.

I don't really mind racing in the rain. I just don't like crashing in the rain. The probability rises exponentially IMHO.

dmwhite

it depends...

crashing in the dry sucks just as bad...

Larry Herman

True enough, but like I said, the probability rises greatly.



PS, how many pages before we get serious?

Bryan Watts

Drive where there is grip and don't drive where there is none. Geometry of the turn be damned.

Veloce Raptor

+1







Professional Racing and Driving Coach

dmwhite

lol, i'll give it a go with a (semi) serious answer

in general, you have to drive where theres grip...which might be changing from lap to lap so you have to "chase the grip"...you will have to adjust your brake points, line, etc to account for the changing grip levels....the "rain line" might be changing from lap to lap also, so you cant just plan on driving the same line every lap...so, it depends

imo, you have to approach rain driving with a willingness to try different lines, brake points, etc...i think not doing this is what causes a lot of drivers to be slow and/or scared of driving in the wet

dmwhite

lol, you beat me to it...hmm, sounds a lot like driving in the dry

Professor Helmüt Tester

I actually like racing in the rain. Probably because I know everyone else is scared shartless.

"Grip is where you find it" - Professor Helmüt Tester, 2009

DogInBlack

The car gets dirtier in the rain, and brake dust cakes on the wheels.

Bryan Watts

I rather enjoy riding around the paddock on the pit scooter before a rain race and psyching out my competition by being overly excited about racing in the rain.

mrbill_fl

its typically the outside of the track, not the 'line' avoid the shiny surface...

A lot depends on the tires you have on, and what your competition has on, and how much rain.

also watch out for the surface change. concret is a lot more slippery than asphault. (brake zone at sebring hairpin turns to concreet last 20' gotta get the braking done on the asphault in wet..)

rainx and defog

dmwhite

+1

you're using the wrong pad compounds

924RACR

I too enjoy the rain - increases the gap between me and my competition!

Crashing in the dry is nothing like crashing in the wet - it hurts and damages much more, 'cause your going faster!

Visibility is key, though my last big rain race I had none; had a good spotter and radio instead!

Basically, +1 to much of all that's been said before... I'd also add, don't let yourself get overly worried about it, just because it's raining. I mean, it's not like you've never driven on snow or ice either, right? Do you get all nervous when you see it snowing? Same deal applies.

One more key point, the old "To finish first you must first finish." Especially true here. Your #1 goal should be to keep it on the black stuff, stay away from the green stuff! You will pass people if you do! It's better to play it a little conservative, and go into the corners a little "soft" so you can get on the gas sooner, and realize you're just a little slow, vs. to find out you're a little too fast...

Also - plan ahead for surface conditions. Look for standing water, and "play the skip" if you can't avoid it. See where the concrete is going to be, if you can't avoid it, and anticipate the resultant loss of grip and where it's gonna put you. Not to mention when you get back on the asphalt - anticipate the added grip, and expect it to twitch the car hard as the front end suddenly grabs (with wheels turned) before the rear does.

As for setup: I used to worry about it, changing over for rain. Now I don't bother. I used to soften the rear bar, shocks are non-adjustable... but then the car would only push worse. Now I use the same setup (which, admittedly, has more understeer than many like, but is also better on faster tracks), and only change for a rain race is to swap tires, if even that's needed. Means I don't have to learn a different car, just a different surface.

HTH...

Crazy Canuck

I have a set of Dunlop racing rain slicks. Grip is better than R-Compounds in the dry.
Had them on last year during a torrential downpour and only had to slow down because of a lack of visibility, not grip. This is with 1/4" of water on the track and a few puddles. Unbelievable.

The tires are expensive and very soft but I rationalize that it's cheaper than hitting something and I am tired of not driving when it's raining.