| Author | Message | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 517 Registered: 4-2002 |
If you get a chance to walk the track at sunrise or sunset; Look down at each corner to see how smooth the corner asphalt or concrete is. If you see a sheen on the driving line, this will be a very low grip section in the rain. Turn 4 and turn 9 at TWS are like this, and the rain line is to (basically) avoid the 'normal' apex of the corner. So many cars loop there that the EVs at the track are commonly know as extraction vehicles--pulling cars out of the mud and weeds. So the rain line attempt to avoid the slick sections of the track, but even more important is the carefully developed smooth and delicate but deliberate movements of all of the car controls (throttle, brake, clutch, steering). | ||
| Roel de Fouw (Spawnz)
Junior Member Username: Spawnz Post Number: 157 Registered: 6-2002 |
LOL Martin | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4338 Registered: 5-2001 |
I find that in wet conditions the best line is the fastest one between: A and BAR drive as fast as you can to the next bar and get a few brewskies in your head. Then start reminising with the owner about the good old days when it was never raining when you were having track days. BTW tough to find grip after a few hours. Usually you spin and crash between your bar stool and the door with the little man on it.  | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1138 Registered: 1-2002 |
I am not that great in the wet, mainly because of little proactice (I live & drive in Texas, after all...), but when I drive the M3 in the wet (William's practice is a good one, as the 550 is a REAL handful on track in the wet), I end up passing about half to 2/3 of the cars ahead of me. And the reasons? Well, I could have not said it better than Rob's post here, as well as Jon's. It's being smart, smooth, and slightly unconventional, and using your car's advantages, while working extra-hard to minimize its disadvantages. Good luck! | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2276 Registered: 2-2001 |
I dont even bother going out in the 512TR in the wet. anything over 65 mph & its out of control. So I have a cheap car I use for rainy days | ||
| neal (95spiderneal)
Junior Member Username: 95spiderneal Post Number: 128 Registered: 3-2002 |
thanks for all the help. i was trying to follow the cars that were passing me to match their line but they were by and gone too quickly. i kept tire pressures lower than usual at 28 cold all around and was using stock 348 spider. i think problem was my lack of ability but will follow all this advice. hope its dry at glen in may! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 4408 Registered: 12-2000 |
The first rule is that the rain line is wherever the dry line isn't. The dry line has a smoothed out track with rubber laid down thick on it. That becomes an ice skating rink when it rains. Outside the dry line in the wet won't have that smooth oily slick surface and in addition will have the rubber chunks "marbles" which provide decent grip in the wet. With a wet track I always start with that first rule and adjust from there. The next things I consider are... 1) Standing water? Running streams over the track? Avoid or make sure the car is pointed straight as you'll hydro plane. 2) If you're running the wet line, then you have to drive through the dry line at one point or another. Depending how slick the dry line is, you usually need to be pointed straight when you cross it. 3) Brake straight and accelerate straight. If you have much power under your hood you might think of having a raw egg under your throttle foot. Instead of long sweeping cornering, sometimes it's best to square them off because your car is useless while it's cornering, so don't corner as long. Brake in a straight line, turn it, and get it pointed the direction you want ASAP and then get back on the throttle. 4) High ground. Funny, but last race we had so much running water that I found a great wet line opposite of the dry line, but it was high ground and had less water. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 589 Registered: 8-2001 |
Neal, As James stated it all depends on the car, the tire, and the track conditions. At many driver's schools they talk of a general rain line but I have always felt this is inaccurate. The best thing to do is go out on the track and find out where the grip is located. The idea of a perfect rain line existing is hogwash. There is no rain line that works every time. I will say this, at some tracks, and Lime Rock is one of them there is a non-rain line. What I mean by this is that there are sections of the track that under ALL conditions will have minimal or no grip. At LR it's coming out of turn 3 (or 4 depending on how you number them) the left hander where you cross what the Skip Barber folks call the "Slide for Life" or "Silde of Death". It's a section where you would normaly be putting the power down hard in the dry and where most cars start to rotate. This rotation in the dry has caused that portion to become like wet marble when it rains and you just hold on the steering wheel while the car slides. At most other tracks, VIR, Glen, Mid-Ohio, Summit and Road Atlants there are certain areas you just try and avoid. But in general you have to go out and try different lines and find the grip. Sometimes it rains both days and the grip is found in different places. As for rain driving it's all about car control and driving on the limit. If you have superior car control you have just seperated yourself from the boys. I have seen drivers in BMW club cars hunt down 500-600 horsepower TA cars whith inferior drivers. Rain driving is an art form and takes a lot of practice. Regards, Jon P. Kofod 1995 F355 Challenge #23 | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 997 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have found that the rain line is not as clear as the dry line. Tire size, tread and set up make it somewhat different for different cars. Were the cars passing you all using the same line? what model were you driving? Best Jim | ||
| neal (95spiderneal)
Junior Member Username: 95spiderneal Post Number: 127 Registered: 3-2002 |
was at limeroc in downpour last week and had horrible time! usually do laps at about 1.05 in dry and have driven pcar in rain so somewhat understand rain line but could not handle ferrari in rain at all. about 2 min laps being passed by novices. kumhos good on street in rain too. any sources for info on this topic? thanks |