Track Day Experience

[ack fia]

I went to my first HPDE this weekend and learned a very importent lesson. The event was at Lime Rock and it was run "no matter what the weather". It rained hard all day and the track was flooded.
Since the other cars where out running around I figured "what the h#$@" the car and I have been wet before and the new fire suit needs to be "weathered". so off I went.
I was in the novice group but since I don't have a roll bar on the passanger side the instructor would not ride in my car so I followed him.
The track felt very slippery from the get go. I stayed with him until west bend where I got up on the water covering the cement patch and looped it. After I went around once I ended up against the inside fence. The next car in line followed me there and almost shortened my car.
I got a tow out of the mud and went directly back to the pits and put it in the trailer.
I learned that my car does not like race tracks that are wet - and neither do I, at least at this stage.
I did get to ride the track with an instructer in his little CRX and that was an eye opener - the wet didn't seem to bother him at all. Go figure!

[hey,littlecobra]

whew! glad you were only a bit muddy!
I did a track experience on the 4th that had the track very wet at the start. I was in the 4th (novice) run group, so the 3 earlier groups helped dry it off. I was hesitant as there were still several wet patches, but generally the track was mostly dry. I did do a 'little slide' (don't really know how far- but it scared me to death! ) at the entrance to the infield from the oval. Didn't hit anything, or wet my britches, but whew, I came on in to 'regroup' myself.
Cobra's and water don't mix....
Kristen