HPDE: Where, When and Who With?

[EAGLE5]

I'm not going this time, but I always have stayed at Economy Inn.

http://willowseconomyinn.com/

The only downside is thin walls.

[BRZkitty]

Originally Posted by AyJay

Weather.com says we are going to get lucky. Rain Thurs, Clear Fri, Rain Sat and Sun.

http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day...+USCA1244:1:US

Hopefully that holds true!

Ah.... Shi... It doesnt look like it.. Looks like its going to be a wet track folks...

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by BRZkitty

Ah.... Shi... It doesnt look like it.. Looks like its going to be a wet track folks...

Embrace the rain! Honestly tho, the amount of stuff you learn from a single wet track day is worth at least 3-4 dry. My very first trackday with the BRZ was in pouring rain at Sonoma. Spun out on the very first corner of the first session . You are there to get some "at the limit" seat time and having the rain will just lower that threshold, so it will be easier for you to experience it and get your butt calibrated. Plus, its better to spin-out/go-ff and learn the same lesson in car control going half the speed

[RC51ed]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

Embrace the rain! Honestly tho, the amount of stuff you learn from a single wet track day is worth at least 3-4 dry. My very first trackday with the BRZ was in pouring rain at Sonoma. Spun out on the very first corner of the first session . You are there to get some "at the limit" seat time and having the rain will just lower that threshold, so it will be easier for you to experience it and get your butt calibrated. Plus, its better to spin-out/go-ff and learn the same lesson in car control going half the speed

My thoughts exactly. Running off the road at slower speeds (well try not to)and learning foot control. That's a win win. Besides the getting wet part.

[kster1]

Originally Posted by RC51ed

My thoughts exactly. Running off the road at slower speeds (well try not to)and learning foot control. That's a win win. Besides the getting wet part.

Just don't go off sideways, especially if the ground if saturated with water due to today's rain (it's best to drive straight off).

[BRZkitty]

Originally Posted by kster1

Just don't go off sideways, especially if the ground if saturated with water due to today's rain (it's best to drive straight off).

I'll try my best. ha

[AyJay]

Weather.com now says light showers continuing thru at least noon. Looks like we are gonna have some fun tomorrow

[kster1]

Did you guys get some dry sessions in today? How was the event?

[buzznasa]

Originally Posted by kster1

Did you guys get some dry sessions in today? How was the event?

No dry sessions at all. The rain just got heavier as the day progressed. It was a lot of fun 4-wheel drifting around corners So many spin-outs in the group (and other groups for that matter), but none of the 86's. I got close more times than I can remember. Nannies FTW when racing in the rain Will post some videos later. @mkivsoopra and I paired up for the last two sessions and hauled much booty around the track. He had the hp and treadpatch advantage and I was having a hard time keeping pace with him. Sandy and Matt were a blast to hang with for the day and great drivers too.

It was so much fun. Hopefully others will chime in.

[mkivsoopra]

Had an AWESOME time. I think @buzznasa, @BRZkitty, and Matt would all agree. It was wet all day and got progressively wetter and wetter. haha.

We were in the noob group, so the first two sessions were just learning the track and doing slow passing drills in small groups. After getting out there on our own in the 3rd session, I think we all finished with big smiles on our faces, despite frequently getting stuck behind clumps of cars grouped together.

In the 4th and 5th sessions, we put ourselves in the front of the pack so that we had more space to work with and started pushing it to our own driver limits. Best car experience ever!!

Yes, it was cold, wet, and windy, but the wet track actually did not take anything away from the learning experience. In fact, it provided more, because it allowed us to experience the consequences of upsetting the vehicle at much lower speeds than if it was dry.

Anyone who enjoys driving should sign up for an HPDE at least once to experience it!!

BTW, thanks to @BRZkitty for preparing the sandwiches, and @buzznasa for bringing us together. Great company, and great driving.

[WoOosOn]

I had almost a dry session in the morning. First time tracking in the rain. It was scary but fun. I'm actually doing tomorrow as well but weather shows its gonna be 100% rain tomorrow -_-' didn't get a chance to meet n e of you guys way too cold for me. Hope everyone had fun too!

[Boris Badenov]

Yeah the track for the first two sessions was fairly dry and it was slippery for the last three. It was outrageous fun! I came close to spinning out a couple times but managed to hold it together. I'll always remember turns 5 and 9.

[BRZkitty]

My first day experience could not have been better w @buzznasa and @mkivsoopra.

Rain continued throughout the day and got heavier as the day went on. First session was following the instructor's lines. Second session was learning how to pass and point people by, which was hilarious when you would look behind you and see everyone is pointing in different directions, ended up making crazy S patterns just to pass.

Third session was our first independent session without being prohibited by the instructor's speed. Right off the bat, coming out of turn 2 I immediately oversteered, thank god for nannies . After that I knew I'd have to take it easy the rest of the day. Of course we all ended getting clumped at the very end so I pulled out to the hot pits to ask for more room.

Fourth session was the absolute best. We were the first to line up to avoid the clumpage. It was also probably the driest the track ever was. Felt like I was getting my lines down and blowing past people with @buzznasa @mkivsoopra. At the end of that session we all had these huge stupid grins on our faces, we all agreed it was close to a religious experience.

Last session was super wet, rain was pouring down. Ended up hydroplaning on the straight away, decided to take it easy on the last session. Was lucky enough to follow an instructor's lines for a bit, definitely realized how important taking the right line were.

There was one red flag that day- a mx5 rolled on turn 8. I found several cars spinning out off the track -which was expected in the rain. Luckily no one in our group did and we all made it home safe.

One of the most memorable and best days I have had in a very long time, accompanied by awesome people. I can't wait for my next track day!

Our caravan home was horrific, thought we were going to plummet to our death from the poor visibility of rain/mist on the highway. We ended our day at Kinder's in Concord for dinner ..mm delish.



Here are some pics from the fantastic day!


Yes, my pink bow on the helmet, repping HK


@buzznasa @mkivsoopra at the starting line

Wrapping up the day

e85 specialist ghetto-ing at the gas station

Kinder's lot

[clayrush]

Glad you had a blast. We can't wait till Saturday for our first time behind the wheel on track. One of the most terrifying and exciting things I have ever done was ride along in our friends race car driven at 10/10ths.
I am actually hoping it will rain a little so I can learn to react and control my car better when it is wet.