mpwolf

First off, I shouldn't have been running worn RA1s. But here's my analysis of the situation:

It was the last lap of the last session for the day, I had run through the flow of water at least 30 times already without incident. I think what happened is that I still had the front wheels turned a touch, and stupidly kept them that way when I went through the water. As soon as the front tires cleared the water, they bit and with the wheels still turned and the rear wheels still on the water, the rear end got tossed. I counter-steered but over corrected. I felt the car load up and I knew it was going around the other way, at that point it was both feet in and pray.

Now, I suppose I could have just put both feet in immediately, but I really think that would have resulted in an impact with the Armco on the right.

I'm really curious to know what the racers would have done, or what I should have done. I'm just happy I kept it off the walls and didn't have an impact at this point.<ul><li><a href="http://m3.portfolioland.com/video/wg_oops_web.wmv">Right-click, Save as... (5.5 MB WMV File)</a></li></ul>

a4mtnskier

let your instructor drive!!! I heard about your spin but didn't know who actually had spun.. Where in the course were you??

John/TSR

You weren't making enough use of the steering available on the concrete patches. You are a very lucky boy to have not whacked anything up there.

In the rain at WGI, the concrete is where all the grip is. You have to concentrate on doing a majority of your steering while you're on the concrete, and then transitioning the car back square as you come off of it. You were steering too much as you came off the first patch and hit one of the 'rivers'.

In the Esses, you need to be '4 wheels on the patches', for their full length. Use the first patch to aim yourself at the second patch, but make sure that you've taken significant steering out of the car as you come off of the first patch. Repeat up top for the second patch.

You really have to run a whole different mental game in the rain. Know where the 'rivers' are, know where the concrete begins and ends, know where there is a big layer of sealer (have fun on the inside of the Downhill Left / Turn 6 ?!?) and know where the treacherous puddles are (NASCAR straight between the Offcamber Left and Turn 10, and on he front straight after the Start/Finish tower). You also have to 'soften' your inputs. Two fingers on the wheel, pinkies out - soft transitions from gas to brake and back.

s4wood

Sorry dude..been there...done that...different track...same result. Don't run slicks in the rain with standing water. You didn't really hydroplane..you just were very slightly too abrupt..and then over corrected. Now you know why I bought full tread RA1s at the track when I was gonna race that afternoon on slicks. I had no bite at all...was only marginally better with full tread RA1s.

At least you didn't hit the blue heaven. :-)

Silver Streakin'

why does it always rain at the Glen?

I was told that you should keep yourself on the concrete patches and keep 4 wheels straight when coming off, aim for the next one.

bad pics, but you get the idea:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/10901/esses_at_glen_3.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/10901/esses_at_glen_4.jpg">

mirth

when you went through the stream. John's point about getting your steering done where there's grip (i.e., on the concrete patches) and aiming yourself at the next grippy place is right on. There's no other way to do it.

Once you started spinning, the question is one of predictability. Either you have a predictable trajectory for other cars and risk hitting the wall, or you try to save it and make yourself more likely to hit someone else. You chose the latter.

mpwolf

I was using the concrete earlier in the day, it was just that last lap that bit me. It didn't really get any wetter as the day got on, and that river had been there for the whole session. I had been doing a good job of getting my steering done before fording the water on the track.

My question was more to what I should have done the instant the tail came around. I'm counting my blessings today, and know that luck had to do with a vast majority of what happened with that spin.

Thanks for the advice about the other dangerous parts of the track, I'll definitely think about that next time I'm out there. I'll also concentrate on being softer with my inputs. Thanks!

mpwolf

RA1s, they already had seven days on them. They still have a little tread, but it's really only there in spirit. ;-)

mpwolf

a car directly behind me, it would have been really messy.

mpwolf

I spun between 2 and 3, same place the instructor incident happend. I got lucky.