Let's talk about the Rain

Ed Holley · Post by **Ed Holley** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:44 am

So...it's not looking good for this weekend, weather-wise; particularly Saturday. What can we expect? I know we run rain or shine. Not having run in the rain, I'm not sure what to expect. Saturday could be heavy rain. Is there a point where we just call it quits or Is this an "Oh well" thing, in which we run and are thankful we are on street tires? Sunday could be the same, although the forecast indicates a bit less rain, whatever THAT means.

I don't want to cancel today, BUT it's a fair amount of money for both of us JUST to run in the rain. Regardless, we'll be there Sunday.

What say you wiley veterans?

Max Hayter · Post by **Max Hayter** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:59 am

Bring umbrella, waterproofs and warm clothing. Garbage bags to put your stuff so it stays dry are also good.

Driving in the rain is fun... standing around and working, not so much, but if you're dressed appropriately, it can be ok.

The lot can flood in the bottom corner, so the course designer will need to bear that in mind, but other than that, it's pretty rare that rain stops us from running.

George Schilling · Post by **George Schilling** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:00 am

It's in this box that Mako would normally post pictures of Lake Fontucky. Why so slow Mako?

Max Hayter · Post by **Max Hayter** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:04 am

Anyone remember the Fontana Pro in 2006... I was racing in full ski gear and I was still freezing!

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:07 am

Working late 2night so I just got up! BUT I already posted a suitably photo on my NASIOC thread illustrating "we race rain, shine or deluge!" and noting that Subies rule in the wet ...

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:15 am

nice collection of rain shots from Sat Dec. '09 http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2009-a ... -remember/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Which was followed by a lovely Sunday!

Well, lovely for most of us:

Looking for your lug nuts ?

Leonard Cachola · Post by **Leonard Cachola** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:22 am

Oh, I remember that day with fond memories of spinning... a LOT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7zjtW7YbGk

Kurt Rahn · Post by **Kurt Rahn** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:28 am

Max Hayter wrote:Bring umbrella, waterproofs and warm clothing. Garbage bags to put your stuff so it stays dry are also good.

Driving in the rain is fun... standing around and working, not so much, but if you're dressed appropriately, it can be ok.

The lot can flood in the bottom corner, so the course designer will need to bear that in mind, but other than that, it's pretty rare that rain stops us from running.

A few extra pairs of socks is a good idea too. Wet feet suck. BTW, you forgot to include rubbers, Max!

Leonard Cachola · Post by **Leonard Cachola** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:29 am

Kurt Rahn wrote: A few extra pairs of socks is a good idea too. Wet feet suck.

Two pairs of shoes as well.

Davin Swanson · Post by **Davin Swanson** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:33 am

Leonard Cachola wrote:Oh, I remember that day with fond memories of spinning... a LOT:

Leonard, that video does not bode well for me if it's rainy this weekend. I tend to get, *ahem*, too aggressive in the dry so I just hope I can get a single run in without spinning in the wet!

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:51 am

It's a great exercise in being smooth! ... and a great equalizer of power, problem is WE'VE driving the Z06 on fat rubber.

Now the question of tire pressures, more or less, never seems to get resolved.

Kurt Rahn · Post by **Kurt Rahn** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:48 am

Light car + soft, stock suspension + Star Specs = I love rain :heyes: :heyes: :heyes:

Vincent Wong · Post by **Vincent Wong** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:11 pm

Rain Sunday, please!!! More rain!!!

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:47 pm

Good To Go:

... but not exactly the right conditions to be testing the newly re-valved Penske's

Steve Lepper · Post by **Steve Lepper** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:52 pm

Been there, done that... No thanks. If the lot was somewhat flat and we didn't have random rivers running across the course, it would be at least safe: as it was, you had no idea when your car was going to head off in some random direction as you had no was to cauge the water depth.

http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2009-a ... 8-jpg.html

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:06 pm

Yes, car will typically slide longer in the wet, but our experienced course designer and SSS will take that into consideration, vis a vis distance to immovable objects. In deep water the cars seems to come to a stop pretty quickly.

We get so little practice racing in the rain compared to other areas of the country, yet it always rains at Nationals ... so you better take advantage of it ...

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:13 pm

Looking forward to trying out the new 500 mm lens ... but it's not Auto Focus, so ...

Rick Brown · Post by **Rick Brown** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:50 pm

Been to three different weather sites and all show only a slight chance of rain Saturday and none on Sunday.

Pete Loney · Post by **Pete Loney** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:07 pm

I agree, wet practice is a great experience if you have yet to do so.

The skills acquired to be smooth and not spin will make you a safer drive out in the wild!

George Schilling · Post by **George Schilling** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:16 pm

What's this talk of rain? Accuweather is calling for cloudy on Friday, "chance" of rain on Saturday, and cloudy on Sunday. Are the local news stations touting "STORM WATCH 2012" this weekend or something?

Karen Zaterman · Post by **Karen Zaterman** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:45 pm

Max Hayter wrote:Anyone remember the Fontana Pro in 2006... I was racing in full ski gear and I was still freezing!

I'm surprised nobody has commented ...isn't that the Pro that Tom Berry designed & had to redesign with lightning speed? Funny Tom is designing this weekend... }:)
but then George is probably right & it won't rain that much after all....
DARN... I SO love driving the Vette in the rain & would love to get the track Miata into it, too for practice.

Steve Ekstrand · Post by **Steve Ekstrand** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:24 am

Running is the rain is the best driving experience you can get. I credit running a practice in the rain with saving me on the way home when a semi jack knifed across all lanes of the freeway and I had to slide my truck through an aggressive lane change manuever to avoid being flattened between the semi and the center barrier. Still have nightmarish flashbacks of that one. Not sure I could have pulled it off if I hadn't spent the previous 8 hours running 20 laps around a wet course in my Dakota.

But seriously, I'm looking at Fontucky weather right now... I doubt we get any ran at all.

Arthur Grant · Post by **Arthur Grant** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:45 am

Mako Koiwai wrote:Looking forward to trying out the new 500 mm lens ... but it's not Auto Focus, so ...

What brand lens, doesn't look like Cannon.

Jayson Woodruff · Post by **Jayson Woodruff** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:48 am

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Running is the rain is the best driving experience you can get.

Its also much cheaper running in terms of rubber.

Jay W

Ed Holley · Post by **Ed Holley** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:13 pm

Thanks for all the feedback. We're in RAIN or SHINE. Looking forward to it.

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