Rolex race car series in NJ.

Watched it and have raced in the rain (in an open wheel car). The NJ race was VERY crazy and frankly they should have red flagged it or 'paused' the race until the rain let off from the downpour. Being an open wheel guy with good helmet means no fogging (used the HJC CF helmet). Can only imagine what the drivers in those closed wheel cars had to deal with due to fogging ON TOP OF the dangerous wet track conditions. The drivers REALLY earned their paycheck during the NJ race!

THEN we add spray from other cars... the most TERROR_fying race for me ever was in the rain, the spray from other cars ahead of me alone was nearly 100% bliding in and of itself. Then factor in the closed wheel guys fog... and severly wet track....

Again, should have been red flagged imho due to safety.

 

I was on the inside of the first turn at the first lap and I can't see how anyone could see anything. It rained steady and hard all afternoon.

 

this is racing not tracking/driver education - thanks

Carol

 

Carol,

Agree, this thread should be in the racing header/section.

 

Hah! I followed an Atlantic with full wets at Summit Sunday afternoon and could not see a thing. I accelerated when I heard his engine note rise, braked when I heard it drop and followed it to "find" my way through the turns. Whew! New respect for the guys. It was my choice, no one had a gun to our head. Yes, it was miserable but I had a shot to beat my good buddies David Clubine (multi-time kart, Pro FF1600 and FF2000 Canadian champion and Van Diemen importer) and Simon Green... We came to race...

This (Grand-Am) is Pro Racing. They are not only paid to race, they should race unless GA shuts it down. It's not a track decision, it's not a driver decision, it's not a team decision to race or not. It's the sanctioning body ONLY that makes this decision especially when a race purse, participation and contingency bonuses and season long championship prize money is handed out. They are hired to put on a show. They are hired by the track (through the sanctioning fee, several hundred thousand dollars) to do that. They need to do that.

They did. They're professionals and we're not.

 

Easily believe you. You, kind sir, get my Balls Of Steel award (see pic below)

Ahh so, David is now the new importer after the Glenn @ GTP situation (BTW, i believe Glenn). Agree no one has guns to our heads when drivers race in these conditions. Just that, well... MAN it was the most 'show one's innermost strength' moment in my life. i humbly bow to your ability, courage and innermost strength.

True, and obviously the flag towers had visibility from one to the next (i assume). Also agree that the CARS should have been better prepared by the teams to handle the rain conditions and not fog up as much as they did. Yes, and good and solid working wiper(s) too. Giving a driver a stick with a rag attached to the end does not quite bring me any confidence in the team's preparedness.

True in my case and will admit i personally made a small fortune racing... by starting with.... LOL!


And now your well-deserved award below
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thank you, Steve.

 

I was there... it was wet... but that's all part of racing.



4