Infineon/sears pt raceway in rain

[everbruin]

what i learned today at infineon, first time in the rain there:
1. need to be extra careful exiting turn 2 and apexing 10
2. in heavy rain, a lot of water flows and/or stands on the straight before 7, apex at 10 and by 1

3. on the first lap, first session in rain, some of us in group 3 (intermed), incl me, thought we were going slow enough until we spun. by session end, i think 6 of us went off, one into the tire wall after 3a.

4. i was very glad i had full tread street tires (245 yoko neova, bridge re01r on the m3) but even so i hydroplaned a bit.


on the first lap, third session the rain was light so puddles were much smaller than in the prior, heavily raining session. unfortunately it was the first time i saw a car contact another car in hpde. a car passing on the straight going to 7 spun and bumped the car being passed, which then spun and hit the wall fairly hard w/ the front end. luckily the driver seemed ok aside from harness burn.

 

[Defiant]

Yes, one of the things they don't bring up about AWD is that you're grip is a fair bit better..... except that when one end goes, they both go.

I'm still jealous as all hell.

 

[Caithness]

I would be really worried driving a track event in the rain. Wet driving experience is valuable but I'd rather learn my wet-handling characteristics at something like an autocross where if I spin there's nothing to run into. Pretty brave running in those conditions at a road course.

 

[Ludachris]

I would be really worried driving a track event in the rain. Wet driving experience is valuable but I'd rather learn my wet-handling characteristics at something like an autocross where if I spin there's nothing to run into. Pretty brave running in those conditions at a road course.

Especially Sears Point... that track is scary enough in the dry (turn 10 can get hairy real quick).