Some spirited driving in the (ghasp) wet | FerrariChat

Some spirited driving in the (ghasp) wet

Discussion in '348/355' started by bobzdar, Mar 30, 2014.

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  1. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
    Richmond
    Full Name:
    Pete
    This is for you guys that are afraid to drive in the rain:

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMzddIpseDc[/ame]

    Finished 5th out of 70 cars overall, 1st in class (by over 5 seconds!). Four cars quicker than me were 3 WRX and a modified e36 m3. Tires are Conti ExtremeContact DW's, awesome in the rain. As you can see from the video, the handling balance was spot on with just a touch of power on oversteer in spots. I went a couple of tenths quicker on my final (4th) run, but clipped a cone with my back wheel (the f355's pretty but wide rear end loves to clip cones). Awesome fun in the rain, and I was excited to finally have a shot at being competitive as in the dry all of the other cars in my class usually run Hoosier A6's and, well, I don't. I didn't think I'd be near the top overall, though. Car ran flawlessly as usual, rain doesn't seem to bother it.
     
  2. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,636
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
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    Tim Dee
    Looks like a blast. I miss driving in rain / snow a lot
     
  3. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2008
    1,993
    Northeast U.S.
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Nice driving Pete. By the way, don't you know these cars melt in the rain.:)

    Tim, I will trade you. You can have our MA weather, cold, snow and rain. I will take your CA weather anyday.:)
     
  4. 601

    601 Karting

    Dec 19, 2010
    223
    California
    How do you like them in the dry? Said to not be as responsive and precise as newer models and not as sticky, but easier to control as they lose grip. As an autocrosser you know all about behavior at the limit, can you confirm?
     
  5. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
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    Pete
    As compared to the Dunlop direzza z1*'s I had previously, that's fairly accurate. A little less responsive and a little less feel under braking, but a much (much) nicer ride and similar ultimate grip. I like them better as a mostly street tire and they are untouchable in the rain.
     
  6. PaulW_968

    PaulW_968 Karting

    Jan 12, 2014
    58
    Chicago Area
    Great work....what's written on the yellow stickies on the dash?
     
  7. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
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    Pete
    Times from previous runs :). They write them down and give them to you at the end of the run on a sticky note.
     
  8. PaulW_968

    PaulW_968 Karting

    Jan 12, 2014
    58
    Chicago Area
    I thought "Friends don't let friends apex early".....
     
  9. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,902
    WI
    Nice! That looks like great fun. I have not auto-crossed the 355 yet...but after watching that I need to.

    I run the same continental tires and as a street tire they are heard to beat. ..and the price is excellent.
     
  10. Evan.Fiorentino

    Evan.Fiorentino F1 Rookie

    Aug 23, 2005
    2,854
    South East Florida
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    Evan
    Very nice!! Glad to see someone not only enjoying their car, but also learning the cars and their own limits in less than pristine weather.

    That being said...

    She needs an exhaust! :D

    Evan
     
  11. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
    Richmond
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    Pete
    I could use a sponsor or two...:)
     
  12. RSO1091

    RSO1091 Formula 3

    Mar 31, 2012
    1,547
    Idyllwild, CA.
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    Henry S.
    I'm trying to figure out a way to economically get my car to the east coast for my annual fall Massachusetts visit Jimmy. A lot of sun and great roads out here, but there's something about driving through the those incredible hills with a canopy of red, yellow and orange looming over your head that's like nothing else. You can keep our old winter though, that's why I moved here...

    Henry
     
  13. RSO1091

    RSO1091 Formula 3

    Mar 31, 2012
    1,547
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    Henry S.
    Congratulations Pete! That looked like a blast.
     
  14. chas-3

    chas-3 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 28, 2009
    1,281
    Colorado
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    Chuck
    I run the Conti DWs on my 348 and love them. I'm not a track guy so they are plenty sticky for me on the street and I like the smooth ride.
     
  15. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
    Richmond
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    Pete
    #15 bobzdar, Jul 14, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2014
    Ran another autocross this past weekend, this time in the dry. I had bolted on my used up r6 track tires in an effort to be competitive in class as the scca does not deem my car eligible in any of the 'stock' classes that run street tires, even though a 911 gt3 and c6 z06 are. Makes no sense to me as both are much faster cars, but I digress. I ended up finishing 6th out of 63 entries and won my class (s street prepared) by 1.1 second over a couple of c5 z06's. I was the fastest car that didn't come on a trailer, mostly because I was too lazy to unload our chump car from the trailer for the 10 mile drive to the venue.

    Here's to short lived clutches and killing some value due to 'abuse'!
    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X-mUl_Hqb8[/ame]
     
  16. RSO1091

    RSO1091 Formula 3

    Mar 31, 2012
    1,547
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    Henry S.
    Nice run Pete. The little stickies on the dash board obviously weren't there to remind you of the shift points, so what were they?

    Henry
     
  17. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,636
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
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    Tim Dee
    Dont forget the milk on the way home

    :)
     
  18. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
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    Pete
    ;)
     
  19. F1moving

    F1moving Formula Junior
    BANNED

    May 7, 2014
    781
    BUCKeYe!
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    Marcus
    I envy you guys that drive the **** out of your cars! I don't have the balls to autocross or track mine.
     
  20. RSO1091

    RSO1091 Formula 3

    Mar 31, 2012
    1,547
    Idyllwild, CA.
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    Henry S.
    Guess I should have read the previous posts eh?
     
  21. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,917
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    Pete
    Nah, it's fine. I was trying to think up something cooler that they could be but reality will have to do, nothing exciting or that you can learn.
     

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