First Time at Infineon and in the Wet

Well, I did my first HPDE with NASA on Saturday. First time driving Infineon. I loved it. My instructor was very complimentary. The Miata was a great car for the more technical track.

It also rained halfway through the day, and was also my first time driving a track in the wet. Two dry sessions, one really wet session, one damp session. That last half was a great learning experience. Having the lower traction limits really amplified things a lot and showed me where I needed to be smoother.

I discovered I was pinching most of my turns, and not unwinding the wheel as soon as I needed to be. I'd get a bit past the apex and find the car continuing to rotate as the front wheels gained a bit of traction. Wagged the tail a few times, but never got hairy. Really really could feel the "traction circle" and was forced to transition smoothly from brakes to steering, and from steering to gas. I also found I had not been letting out the steering as I fed in throttle. By the end of the really wet session, I felt like my hands and my feet had a cable running between them.

A fair number of people spun, or decided they couldn't take it and only did a lap or two. I left the top down on my Miata. I was driving fast enough that the rain just went over my head.

I also have to credit my guilty-pleasure of drifting for helping me in the wet. Where lots of people were spinning or panicking, I was perfectly comfortable when the back end started to step out. I've had the back end come out farther, and come out faster, and been able to control it just fine. So I was practiced enough to just add a bit of countersteer and relax the throttle to get the back end to hook up.

I'm sure most of you have experienced the same sorts of things driving in the rain, but this was my first time, and I'm really excited. Just wanted to share.

I love driving in the wet... its not all that popular though, apparently. I did a NASA NE event a few years ago at Pocono on the double infield. I had a good friend as my student and we were out on the track in traffic when it started to pour after only 3 laps. By the 5th lap we were alone - every single person in the instructor group went in.

Since you can't really corrupt you friends any more than they already are... I drove it sideways all the way around the track for 20 minutes like I was in a snow covered parking lot. It was fantastic coming into the descending radius off the front straight at about 80mph in a huge slip angle and wailing on the throttle. It was like a whole session of Tunservision highlight reels.

You just don't get enough opportunities to do that in a lifetime.

I would have loved if the track were emptyer and if I were a bit more experienced. I don't think my instructor would have approved of me sliding the back end through everything.

As it was, I was stuck behind an NB Miata being driven by a first-timer. He didn't notice me on his butt the entire session, and I didn't have the guts or HP to pass him.

I was there on Saturday to watch. It was fun seeing all the cars get sideways, especially the Dodge Ram in turn 7. I left after the Spec E30 race, watching it makes me want to get a car together so much more. Those two Spoon cars are so amazingly loud.

I hung out in the grandstands to watch the Spec E30. Fun times.

One of those Spoon cars is no more. It flew into the grandstand on Sunday. I started another thread to discuss that.

Salanis wrote: I hung out in the grandstands to watch the Spec E30. Fun times. One of those Spoon cars is no more. It flew into the grandstand on Sunday. I started another thread to discuss that.

That's funny, so did I. Looking at the grandstands from pit lane, I was in the top left. It's to bad I haven't met you at TD, I would have liked to check your car out.

jpod999 wrote: That's funny, so did I. Looking at the grandstands from pit lane, I was in the top left. It's to bad I haven't met you at TD, I would have liked to check your car out.

Ah... I would have been in the top right corner, where I could watch turn 2 and the strait after the carousel.

Speaking of TD, they are doing full track drifting in December. I'm planning to sign up for that. There's a special deal on tires if you do, too.

Our Starion is still down so we won't be out there, plus I'll be there the next weekend for the Lemons event.

I raced in the rain on Saturday in spec e30. It was my first rain race, and was easily one of the most fun/challenging races I've had all year.

Of the 13 eligible cars, only 7 started the race (it was a non-points race, so some people used risk of not making it to the next day as an excuse). 1 of the cars pitted after spinning too much (?!). Close racing action was both fun and sketchy at the same time as everyone was struggling for grip. The field thinned out pretty early on, and I cruised to 3rd place: my first podium, thanks to the guys who pussed out! ;)

Alas, I have no video, but the video of the guy who finished 1 spot behind me is at http://vimeo.com/2192593