Soften up your suspension and make your driving inputs extremely smooth. Poor technique, like jerky throttle & steering causes really fast upset in chassis balance, and is multiplied in the wet.

 

I spun but didn't go all the way around and stayed on track. Now its kinda funny, it went left out of nowhere, tried to correct, then it hooked and went right so I pulled in both feet and just stopped the dang thing. No one was behind me so that was good. Mid Ohio doesn't have the grip of CMP when wet!!

 

and most say that CMP is low grip all the time

 

Maybe I wasn't pushing as hard at CMP. It didn't feel like though.

 

terrible memory...you going to Roebling?

 

for starters disconnecting the sway bars will help. In rain conditions with a low hp car or a car with low torque you need to keep the revs up. If you loose the back end and your down at 3,000 rpm and you step on the gas, the car will not react quickly enough to save your ass. Every track will be different in the rain, some tracks will dissipate the water off the racing line better than others, and some tracks get more greasy than others so it really is about driver ability and feel of the track and what you think the car can do, and more importantly what you think you can do. Its very easy to out drive yourself in the rain. As far is tire pressures go increase your optimum(optimum being the average tire pressure you would run on a warm day) pressure 3-5 psi. to prevent hydroplaning.

 

No, too far. I'm going to Putnam Park May 17-18th then Barber in June, if they let me in with factory roll hoops.

 

ok. that sounds reasonable. i especially like your feedback on the increase in tyre pressures. anyone share the opinions here?

i've read a rather widely distributed magazine from the UK that mentioned when prepping to go to a track to LOWER pressures which is quite contrary to what i believe and have gathered information on. anyone keen to share their experiences?

 

it depends on the tire, i would pick a tire you like and stick with it. Find out what the optimal hot psi is for that tire. For example the hot pressure on a toyo ra-1 is best roughly around 38 psi. when measured hot. different cars put different heat into the tire but the starting range for the ra-1 would be about 30 psi. Take the hot pressure and adjust from there.

when going to a new track we try and start with a lower pressure, about 28 or 29 psi. then check the pressure coming off the track and go from there. The reason behind this is if we go over on the pressure the first session is ruined cause the tires get greasy. but once you get this base tire pressure you can adjust for rain.

 

If the surface is wet, then the tires will not heat up as well. Lower pressures will help the tire heat up through deformation.

If the surface is puddled, there is a risk of hydroplaning (loss of direct contact between the rubber and pavement). Higher pressures will raise the hydroplaning threshold.

I agree with the recommendations to soften your suspension (shocks and sway bars) and try to be very smooth and gradual with your steering, brake, and acceleration.

If you are unable to be smooth and gradual enough, running in a higher gear might help. But if you can manage the throttle well, the lower gear will give you more flexibility to use the grip that is available from moment to moment.