sperkins

Looking for some general knowledge when it comes to competing in the rain. I'm talking about really wet standing water conditions.

Do Hoosier wets ever really build any temperatures and does grip increase after a few laps?
What's the recommendation for cold tire temps?
Is it really worth it to disconnect both sway bars?
Is high speed hydroplaning a real concern? (I see some guys run 140mph at Rd Atl in the wet).

Sorry for the newbie questions. I haven't been there or done that.

Solofast

The fast line isn't likely the line you took when it was dry.

Look for the surface "grain". If you can see grain, drive there, that's where the grip is. If the surface is smooth, that's where it's going to be slick.. Makes for some funny lines, but to have some grip is better than slip..

Hoosier wets have a lot of tread depth and they do gain some heat and seem to work.

Motor gently through the greasemud, for there lurks the skid demon....

96CollectorSport

Try to follow Tim!!!

gkmccready

A soft set up is good for the rain, it helps slow things down -- meaning weight transfer, let the car roll some rather than putting all that force immediately on the contact patch. Inputs from the driver need to be slower -- not just throttle & brake, smooth `slow' steering. Going across standing water, or running `rivers' you will hydroplane... every lap will be different as folks run through it and splash it off to the side, or more rain falls and fills the dips further.

I love running in the rain. It'll show you who can find maximum grip and use it all without stepping all the way over the line...

varkwso

#1 Yes - but track conditions change every lap or segment so it is tough to tell sometimes. If the line starts to dry keep them as wet as you can offline.

#2 Not flat like mine were in December

#3 I normally only do rear

#4 Yes. The puddles are killers - pick a line to avoid them or motor straight through. Narrow tires help "drive down" to the pavement.

Wets make a huge difference in grip.

Defrosters are as important...

sperkins

So what starting pressures is most common?
How much do they build over a 30-45 min race compared to DOT's?

Greywolfe

What makes you think its gonna rain at RA in March???????

sperkins

I just hope the torniders stay away.

Carolina C4 Racer

My tip....... Leave it on the trailer!

jaa1992

Just light rain, no tornaders - I'll put the street tires on for a session just to get a time.
Heavy rain - stays on trailer
tornaders - We're All Gonna Die

drivinhard

sticker Hoosier rains in the basement so bring it on

sperkins

Kubs

I dont have any experience with Hoosier wets, but I have done some events in heavy rain. I ran street tires in the rain and started them at 38-40 psi. They dont build much pressure, and the higher pressure helps open the tread up a bit.

RDnomorecobra

I only do HPDE and have been in the rain a few times, worst ever was last March at NJMP. Standing water everywhere ... only thing I can contribute here is how it forces you to take different lines. there were guys trying to take a normal line which goes straight through big puddles there - there were a lot of offs that day. taking it very very smooth and finding the limit was actually a lot of fun. and I did limit my top speed to about 100 on the straight that day. just not comfortable enough to try and brake from higher speed with that much water, especially after a c6z went off from the middle of the straight in the morning into the pit wall. I stayed on my street Firestone wide ovals vs. my 888's. The Firestone's werent bad that day - compared to how everyone else was sliding all over the place.

davidfarmer

the best advice is to get out there and practice in the rain. Wet track is not a big deal, but smooth hands/feet are essential to keep the car pointed in the right direction. Some tracks you drive off-line as mentioned above, but that isn't always the case. Some tracks have sticky lines in the wet, whether it is due to mechanical or chemical surfacing..... Anyway, you have to find where the grip is and use it.

As for standing water, I normally just plow through it. We had a monsoon race at Lime Rock, and the driving was OK, it was the visibility that was impossible (not fogged windshield, just rain so dense you couldn't see at all). Keep the car/wheel straight through the rivers and pray

HOWEVER, I've had 2 instances where I was driving in the rain and hydroplaned off the track Bigtime. At VIR front straight, where the bend is (finish line), I literally "blinked" at a DE and ended up 200' off track spinning like a carnival ride. Still not sure what happened. Anyway, following another car helps clear the water, but hurts visibility.

Again, my advice is practice. Break your TT habits of turning 2-3 laps, and just go out and drive a few sessions.

Bill Dearborn

I usually run about a half car width off my dry line and then watch for puddles and streams and try to avoid them. At Watkins Glen the concrete patches can be a real nightmare when wet so I try to keep one set of tires on the asphalt thus the half car width. When they were first put in place back in the late 90s they were the place to run because the concrete had lots brush/broom lines in it that made it grippy. Now its worn and smooth.

Bill

sperkins

Thanks for the tips so far guys.
I guess I should have been more clear in my original post. I'm really looking for information on tires. I've run in the rain a good bit so I know the general guidelines, but that was all done on street tires. I've never run the Hoosier wets in full wet conditions so I wasn't sure if there was anything specific to using them. Tire pressures, not burning them up in semi-dry conditions etc.
Thanks again.

72Vega

Thanks to the OP and for all of the responses from this HPDE 3/4 guy who is still learning!

Paul Schmidt

I really enjoy the rain. I've lost count on how many times I've been in heavy rain on the track. Here's a video from me in my C6 Z a few years ago. The Z is now my street car. Lots of days last year in the race car that were in the rain.

Just take it easy out there and you'll be fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63USLppGyX8

96solo

I have Hoosier Rains for sale, if anyone would like some cheap! $400 for the set. 5/32 tread. Used once at AAA Speedway for 20 laps.

Now, Back to the discussion.