Anita

Well, this weekend I got to compete in 2 high speed autoXs and had my first try at “agricultural driving”, you know, as in driving while off track.

Saturday’s event included rain that was quite heavy at times all day long. You sure get to know the other drivers you are lucky enough to share a canopy with. People learn from me and watch what socks and underwear you have on—when it’s raining that hard things may become exposed that you thought may never see the light of day. The cars got it too. Rainwater would fly into my car from the track when you hit puddles—the back seat was soaked and the inside door panel compartments even collected water.

During practice laps, a Mustang with racing slicks crashed hard into the tire wall bending his frame and roof. He was behind me and slowly gained on the third lap so I signaled him to pass. The car in front of me was sliding all around, but not the Mustang. I had been watching him and he seemed to be holding the track well—but a half a lap later, after passing us both, into the wall he went. You feel bad for the driver. He had talked to me earlier in grid and had seemed calm and confident and a lot of prior rain driving experience.

Cars were going every which way. But I figured if 155 other drivers were out there doing this , why not me, right HA HA? Then timed laps started. On my second run I stared slipping out of control and knew I was going to end up off the track. I was taught to just keep driving on whatever surface you end up on, not to brake hard or try to turn abruptly back onto the track. So onto the grass I went. And you know what? Driving on the grass really wasn’t that bad. I just gradually drove back onto the track (Of course it did scare the p*ss out of myself though). After signally, I left the track ‘cause I thought I had blown the run and didn’t want to drag junk around the track if possible. Apparently someone else went of track at the same time and they didn’t know I had gone off. Later timing called me a ghost car because they didn’t know what had happened to me—they thought I was in the weeds (no, not on weed)—seriously. I thought they were kidding, but I actually saw a Corvette do it the next day. He drove right off the track and disappeared from site in the weeds and brush.

Sunday, the weather was hot and very muggy with early morning showers. Generally things were running smoothly except there were problems keeping the faster and slower cars separated. This happened to me once when I came up on a slower car and had to lift because he was not going to make it off the track in time. But the worst incident I’ve seen during my brief career occurred when I looked up to see tires from the tire wall flying into the air along with a white and red striped Mustang that was barrel rolling though the air. I was in the pit area and saw it happen from where I was standing—I couldn’t believe it. Very, very happily, the driver walked away.

So that’s it—Enough excitement...........until my next event. And hey, I even won the trophy for my class both days—I WAS THE ONLY DRIVER IN MY CLASS. I felt really stupid taking them!!!

Any advise about driving in the rain or off course driving???

Thanks! And thanks for reading this!

Anita

__________________
"When will I know that I really can't go
To the well once more time to decide on
When it's killing me, when will I really see
All that I need to look inside
Come to believe that I better not leave
Before I get my chance to ride" RHCP "Snow"

Richard in NC

I did a driving school in the rain once. My best advice? DSC on! It kept my car on track with no issues what so ever. I gradually worked up to the point of being able to see it come on, back off and go thru the turns with ease. I was going fast enough to be called a mad man by all of the non DSC Mustangs and e36 M3 drivers.

__________________
Richard
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greg

Anita - you did the right thing. It is far better to drive off under control than to try to correct an uncorrectable situation. Even if you end up hitting something you will hit it slower than if you were out of control the whole time. But more often than not, you have enough room and enough steering (not to mention the natural braking provided by the mud/sand/grav el) that you can avoid hitting anything, and most of THOSE times you can get back on the track.

The secret (which you clearly know) is KNOWING when you're not going to be able to make a turn - and DRIVING - anywhere - until you regain control. Losing the lap is just no big deal.

The guy who ran slicks in the rain? I don't think he is as smart as he says he is.

__________________
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BmwNut

Slicks in the rain? Hmm, because we all know how well slicks shed water....
Driving in the rain can really teach you a lot. Weight transfer, throttle and steering applications, and braking are all much more sensitive in the rain. The extra sensitivity, properly used, can allow you to learn how to be a lot smoother and gently load the car up. At the expense of lap times, driving DSC off at a slower speed and experimenting with car control and aforementioned items allows you to practice these things in a better controlled environment than the street. Sounds like a total blast, and good to hear you went off in a controlled manner and learned a lot.
Geez, with all of these track events under your belt, we should all be taking advice from you!

__________________
-Brendan
'01 540/6

Anita

Yeah, about the Mustang driver with the slicks--he said he started to hydroplane when he hit a puddle and then accelerated to regain control. I'd never heard of that, but there are all kinds of theories out there. You know, turn into this, away from that, lift, brake, etc etc. I think he's the only driver who ever spoke to me in false grid--most people are pretty focused on what's going on in their own cars at that point.

Oh, and I forgot , I did run with DSC on when the rain was heavy. I also learned you should put your numbers/letters INSIDE your windshield when it's raining.

To me, all these different tracks and conditions are very welcome as ways to improve my driving.

Next, I'm back with the Porsche people again Okay, okay, I'll behave myself this time!

Anita

schnelleM5

Glad you had fun in the rain, Anita, but water inside the car doesn't seem very fun to clean up after. Which of your M's did you end up driving?

__________________
Al

2003 M5 CB/Silverstone (all options except spoiler deletion), HOME AT LAST!
2008 X5 4.8i Sport Space Gray/Tobacco/Bamboo
2002 540ia Sapphire Black
2004 FX35
1999 MB ML430 (3rd row seats)
1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1981 320i 5-speed Henna Red

Anita

Al,
How goes it? I haven't seen you around for a little bit! I hate to confess this but I used the M3 and I was very glad. I would have hated to treat my M5 that way. Of course the downside was that I rarely drive the M3 and only twice on the track last year in low speed events--nothing like relearning how to drive a car under last weekends conditions. Got a harness bar ordered for the M Coupe, so we'll see how that works. The seats are one-piece so the harness rig-up may be a bit tricky.

Anita




Bren,
I wanted to say this the other day, but flattery will get you everywhere (at least with me). It'll be a long time 'till I'm an expert at anything other then pretending to know what I'm doing at the track. But thanks for the vote of confidence anyway!!

Anita

stever

a little car control exercise in the rain with DSC on can be instructive, but unless you're a racer who needs the experience, extended driving in the rain will usually end unhappily -- be particularly wary when the track starts drying out -- someone always pushes and crashes -- don't let it be you

on such days my best advice is to do a couple sessions in the morning, have a nice lunch, then a nap, and see if conditions have really changed

BmwNut

Very true, but at least you are being smart and learning on the track. I learned how to drive hard by trial and error on moutain roads, which needless to say isnt the smartest route. Enjoy the track days.