Sliding my FR-S in the rain?
 

Hello everyone,

Just a friendly request for some info from locals around the north Texas area... Would any of you know where to find a massive parking lot, which is completely safe to slide a car around in the wet weather we're experiencing currently in the area?

Sorry, I don't mean to invite trouble or negative attention towards myself... I only want to understand and feel my FR-S better before my two HPDE events next month... Otherwise I may just hold off until then.

Please feel free to send me a PM regarding any locations close to Plano, Texas.

Thank you in advance. :)

Texas FR-S

I've always seen guys hooning around in the Garden Ridge parking lot at Spring Creek & Ave K. From what I hear, there is a security guard patrolling after hours, but he just likes to watch. I'm from Plano, but currently reside in Garland and don't know of any other good lots in the area. If you find any, let me know.

I u-turned drift a couple of days ago when it was raining here in Minneapolis. Was pretty sick. I gotta try it again with videos XD

Thanks for letting me know... My work is close to Avenue K in east Plano.

I'm also familiar with Garden Ridge from the yearly trick-or-treating that I've taken my two daughters for Halloween.

If the security guard says anything, I'll just buzz off. :D

I have a high school parking lot close to my home that looks tempting, but I have an odd feeling that it won't work out as smoothly, hehe...

Thank you very much, sir. :thanks:

I bet it was exciting... I look forward to experiencing something similar! :thumbup:

I burned a couple of donuts the other night in the Flooring Outlet parking lot at 15th and Alma. They had a sprinkler head leak and there was just enough water to really get it looping good. Fairly open lot with a couple of poles so you cant get too crazy. Plano PD are a-holes though so watch it.

Try the m.o. Cambell center parking lot by Aldine Bender..its a really good size. Let me know if you go there and practice. I don't have a fr-s yet but would like to see one in action :)

Haha, I'll keep an eye on that area, and I drive passed there almost everyday... You're right, Plano cops can be super-sensitive... Although I'm proud to admit that I've made a friend or two in the department once upon a time... But I still don't think I should get too comfortable, lol. :bellyroll:

Thanks for the tip... :)

I'm assuming this is in the Houston area after I did a google search on it... Probably just a tad bit far for me, but I'm sure the Houston area members may find your tip helpful if they happen to be on the search, as well... :D

Thank you. :)

I'm sure you can google the area and use that 1st person view to judge the lot for yourselves:) if the center doesn't come up search Thorne stadium. Its part of the same complex

I'm in north Dallas, so that may be a 4+ hours distance from me... Sorry, I should've been more specific. Will come useful to Houston area members though... :)

You guys need wet weather to do donuts?

For educational purposes there's nothing that beats the dry....

I feel it may be easier on the tires... Don't want to keep spending money on tires, especially since I'm already tracking my car at the same time.

If it's educational purposes you speak of, not much comes close to touching the knowledge and experience gained while attending HPDE events in the rain / wet road course (and then add freezing temperatures on top of that in the month of December ;)).

I'm not looking to go all out on the donuts... Just want to get a feel of the car in advance.

I think we can go ahead and disregard this thread's purpose after the first day of a rainy and super-slick DE @ MSR Cresson! :bellyroll:

Was a blast, and so educational... Can't reach this kind of experience on a random parking lot, no matter how hard I try. :thumbsup:

if the parkinglot is big enough then yeah, garden ridge is great, @NeedsmoreCowbell lives by there and thats where he goes

<--Jealous.

Thanks for letting me know... I'd go go there, but I guess I don't have the courage anymore since I don't want to risk damage on the car, and also I almost got arrested randomly about a week ago... So I'm trying to be extra careful since the cops may find any reason to take me in. :( Link = HERE

Nah, I'd actually be the one jealous... You'd use your STI's special AWD feature to your advantage! :bellyroll:

There are a few WRX's and an Instructor with a modded STI (shows up regularly)... Fast in the slick!

The all-season Michelin tires are working out fairly good on my car... I'm happy without any performance tire upgrade that many members are doing here. :D

See you out there!

My STi couldn't make a half session before running out of fuel. It's only got a 5gal fuel cell. Haven't had it out at MSR for several years. Never had a rainy day out there before. Jealous of that.

Got the BRZ for more regular fun. Hope to make an HPDE with it next year. Really hoping someone starts offering track days at COTA.

COTA? Had to google that one... Is that the Formula 1 track that many want to run??

If The Drivers Edge program includes that in their schedule anytime in the future... You can consider me in!

For now, I just need to keep racking up on my track experience... I'm an Intermediate (Blue), but hoping to make the move to Yellow soon enough!

Yes, It's the new track in Austin. Got my F1 tickets, and looking forward to seeing it for the first time.

It's been so long since I've done an HPDE, I probably belong back in the newb group. Wouldn't mind that, though.

Ooooh... I have no history / knowledge of F1 racing... Heck, if I were to start watching, I'd begin creating abnormal fantasies in my head of becoming someone I'm not, lol. :bellyroll:

Regarding the HPDE: At least you have some background from your past... It was indeed a very rough start for me when I first started, and now I finally think I'm starting to pick it up after 2+ years of track-time have gone by... Hopefully I got it down like you... So that if I ever decide to step away, I can come back with some ground on this stuff. Hopefully I never step away though...

The guy who ran the school this weekend for Drivers Edge asked us if we would be interested in a run out there. I guess that they really don't need the business but I sure hope we could make that happen.

What do you mean? You mean a separate event specially for FR-S / BRZ's? :)

Sunday he brought up doing an event at the F1 track, most everyone was interested. The downside was that the track doesn't need the Driver's Edge business so who knows if they will get to do an event there.

I had a great time, but by 1pm Sunday I was so worn out I couldn't fathom getting behind the wheel for my last two sessions. Went to bed at 8:30 last night as I could not keep my eyes open at that point.

I could not believe how much I have to change to do it right. Late Apex turns and decreasing radius turns absolutely baffle me, even when I knew it was comming. In December, knowing my luck it will be icy or raining again but if I can get there I will do it again and keep on improving.

Ah, yes... The F1 track... I remember him speaking of that too, I just didn't know what you were referring to. :)

Well, I can easily say that you are in much better shape than I was when I first started.

I can only give you input from my level of experience thus far... And the most important advice (in my opinion) is stated in my signature down below. :D