Track in the wet?

stampchez · 06-09-2008, 08:19 PM

Has anyone had any wet track time with the 135 yet? Any tips? I'm doing a driving class Saturday and the forecast is for rain. Should be a blast.

larryn · 06-09-2008, 08:32 PM

I did an autox in the rain. Out of all the cars there, I was fastest time of the day (including mod cars), until it dried out. That's with the runflats on.... You're going to have a blast!

vanbmw · 06-09-2008, 08:56 PM

Seems like a shame! I have been on a track once in the rain but I had a FWD car and it wasn't too bad. The guys with RWD and more power had their hands full. It will teach you some great driving lessons. I know several of the RWD guys didn't have lots of fun and the second session of the day was vertually empty. Hopefully it is a track with lots of run off room. Enjoy and don't tag any walls!

Templedogg · 06-10-2008, 01:11 AM

No problem, I have had three freakin track day total and they have all been in the wet!!! :-(

The car even with the run flats still handles great and the traction control is amazing....I will be honest....it saved me once big time when a Caymen and me where having fun on turn 5B at PIR, his didn't work as well and he went off the track....mine just cut power, straighten me out and I blew past him on the back stretch.

No worries in the rain, plus it will save a lot of tread on your tires.

white911 · 06-10-2008, 10:02 AM

With stock tires and brake pads, it is much better in the rain. Stock tires and pads are not suitable for more then a few laps (5) on Summit Point main in the dry. Stock brake pads don't work above 5 or 600 degrees. In the rain, I can run the full instructor session, 50 minutes. Not scientific data, but I take temperatures coming into the pits hot and by the time I got to the IR gun, that is where temps were. The good news on these low temp brake pads is the wheels are really easy to clean even after they get wet.

asv · 06-12-2008, 11:46 AM

The stock tires are amazing in the rain. I had a wet track day at Summit Point where my 135 outperformed nearly everything in my class. The same day, I was on the skidpad where the instructor said that my wet performance was the best of the day.

Templedogg · 06-12-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asv

The stock tires are amazing in the rain. I had a wet track day at Summit Point where my 135 outperformed nearly everything in my class. The same day, I was on the skidpad where the instructor said that my wet performance was the best of the day.

Yeah, they are very impressive...I have to give it up to the Run Flats in the wet.

vanbmw · 06-12-2008, 04:52 PM

Oh my god! That is the first good thing I have heard about runflats on this site! Usually the "run craps" are taking a verbal beating!

stampchez · 06-13-2008, 01:17 PM

Well the weather forecast is no longer calling for rain. Sorry runflats!

larryn · 06-13-2008, 02:07 PM

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. :wink:

RedTRex · 08-23-2008, 06:24 PM

Larryn - did you run TC off in the rain?

J Tyler · 08-23-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTRex

Larryn - did you run TC off in the rain?

How are you supposed to learn anything with DSC on?

WeekendWarrior · 08-24-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Tyler

How are you supposed to learn anything with DSC on?

What kind of question is that? People need driving aids until they feel more confident pushing a 300hp rwd car to extremes. It's completely understandable why people would drive with traction control on until they can get a better feel for the car doing certain things. It increases the margin of error.

I tracked yesterday at Sebring and there was a storm towards the second half of the day. With 11k miles on all my components the car handled well except for the straightaways where it seemed the car would hydroplane a little. My first mod will be new tires.

RedTRex · 08-24-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Tyler

How are you supposed to learn anything with DSC on?

Actually my first inclination was to say F.O. .... J.A. but you know what, it's not worth it....... I am a very experienced auto crosser asking a question out of curiosity ...... and then, along comes a completely irellevant post.

R32 · 08-24-2008, 07:04 PM

back to the topic...

the only bad thing about running in the rain is that your car gets wet. track driving in the rain is much easier on your brakes and tires. plus, the car makes good power since it will be cooler.

it is a great chance to learn car control, because you lose traction early and at slower speeds. so, you squeeze the throttle instead of jab, ease the brakes on and off instead of stomping them.

i am always amazed about how people clear out during rainy sessions, but i think it is because people often have track tires on that they don't feel like swapping out, or don't have an appropriate wet set. to me, it is the funnest time to be out!

rainy days make the awd crowd look like heroes. don't worry about them- just enjoy learning to make your car rotate and how to be gentle with the gas and brakes, and have a great time!

J Tyler · 08-25-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTRex

I am a very experienced auto crosser....

Then you should probably leave it ON :wink:

evan · 08-26-2008, 05:00 PM

I've had a few track days in the rain, and ran them with DSC/TC off (stock run-flats and brakes). The 135i is very stable for a 300HP monster. All that lawyer-mandated understeer makes you really have to work at it to get it bent out of shape.

06-09-2008, 08:19 PM	#1
stampchez Captain 124 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Track in the wet? Has anyone had any wet track time with the 135 yet? Any tips? I'm doing a driving class Saturday and the forecast is for rain. Should be a blast.
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06-09-2008, 08:32 PM	#2
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	I did an autox in the rain. Out of all the cars there, I was fastest time of the day (including mod cars), until it dried out. That's with the runflats on.... You're going to have a blast!
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06-09-2008, 08:56 PM	#3
vanbmw Major 130 Rep 1,101 Posts Drives: 2015 Black 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Seems like a shame! I have been on a track once in the rain but I had a FWD car and it wasn't too bad. The guys with RWD and more power had their hands full. It will teach you some great driving lessons. I know several of the RWD guys didn't have lots of fun and the second session of the day was vertually empty. Hopefully it is a track with lots of run off room. Enjoy and don't tag any walls!
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06-10-2008, 01:11 AM	#4
Templedogg Captain 49 Rep 799 Posts Drives: 135i, Trailblazer SS, 1934 PU Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lake Stevens, WA iTrader: (1)	No problem, I have had three freakin track day total and they have all been in the wet!!! :-( The car even with the run flats still handles great and the traction control is amazing....I will be honest....it saved me once big time when a Caymen and me where having fun on turn 5B at PIR, his didn't work as well and he went off the track....mine just cut power, straighten me out and I blew past him on the back stretch. No worries in the rain, plus it will save a lot of tread on your tires. __________________
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06-10-2008, 10:02 AM	#5
white911 First Lieutenant 16 Rep 355 Posts Drives: 135I - white/coral red - sport Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California, MD iTrader: (0)	With stock tires and brake pads, it is much better in the rain. Stock tires and pads are not suitable for more then a few laps (5) on Summit Point main in the dry. Stock brake pads don't work above 5 or 600 degrees. In the rain, I can run the full instructor session, 50 minutes. Not scientific data, but I take temperatures coming into the pits hot and by the time I got to the IR gun, that is where temps were. The good news on these low temp brake pads is the wheels are really easy to clean even after they get wet. __________________ Alan 08 135I (AW/Coral Red - delivered 3/15/08 -- 13 Audi S4, 83 SC (trackster), 90 C2 (Sally's Carrera), 04 Avalanche Blingmobile
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06-12-2008, 11:46 AM	#6
asv Captain 44 Rep 657 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	The stock tires are amazing in the rain. I had a wet track day at Summit Point where my 135 outperformed nearly everything in my class. The same day, I was on the skidpad where the instructor said that my wet performance was the best of the day.
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06-12-2008, 04:52 PM	#8
vanbmw Major 130 Rep 1,101 Posts Drives: 2015 Black 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Oh my god! That is the first good thing I have heard about runflats on this site! Usually the "run craps" are taking a verbal beating!
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06-13-2008, 01:17 PM	#9
stampchez Captain 124 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Well the weather forecast is no longer calling for rain. Sorry runflats!
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06-13-2008, 02:07 PM	#10
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	Smoke 'em if you got 'em. :wink:
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08-23-2008, 06:24 PM	#11
RedTRex Digital Cerebrum 18 Rep 408 Posts Drives: 05 330ci ZHP Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (4) Garage List 2005 BMW 330ci [0.00]	Larryn - did you run TC off in the rain?
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08-24-2008, 07:04 PM	#15
R32 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 222 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jul 2007 iTrader: (0)	back to the topic... the only bad thing about running in the rain is that your car gets wet. track driving in the rain is much easier on your brakes and tires. plus, the car makes good power since it will be cooler. it is a great chance to learn car control, because you lose traction early and at slower speeds. so, you squeeze the throttle instead of jab, ease the brakes on and off instead of stomping them. i am always amazed about how people clear out during rainy sessions, but i think it is because people often have track tires on that they don't feel like swapping out, or don't have an appropriate wet set. to me, it is the funnest time to be out! rainy days make the awd crowd look like heroes. don't worry about them- just enjoy learning to make your car rotate and how to be gentle with the gas and brakes, and have a great time!
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08-26-2008, 05:00 PM	#17
evan Enlisted Member 1 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2008 Alpine White 135i MSport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I've had a few track days in the rain, and ran them with DSC/TC off (stock run-flats and brakes). The 135i is very stable for a 300HP monster. All that lawyer-mandated understeer makes you really have to work at it to get it bent out of shape.
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