Two questions for race weekend #2...

[Fitz]

1) Does anyone know if turn 1-1a-2 are still there?

2) Not that it would ever rain on a race weekend, but what do I need to know about riding on rain tires? Smoother inputs to the brakes, gas, turn in, etc but is the "limit" still the same with a good set of rain tires? Recommended tire pressures (120/160 Pirelli Diablo Rains)?

I think that was four questions. My bad.

Thanks,
Fitz

[senecak19]

Riding in the rain is fun as hell. Its miserable riding in the wet, but the feedback you get from the bike is exhilerating. I'm no expert, but I tend to hang off a little more as you need to keep the bike upright as much as physically possible. Absolutely no braking with the bike leaned over, especially in turn 1. Turn 2 and turn 11 turn into a skating rink, literally. Don't know why, but they are NOTICEABLY slicker than any other corner. Highly recommend watching a few rounds in those sections before heading out. For the most part, a decent set of rain tires will get you a whole lot of grip on corner exit (obviously not as much), but close. I believe the rule is you get 80% traction. Have fun, be safe and hope for dry weather!

1) Does anyone know if turn 1-1a-2 are still there?

2) Not that it would ever rain on a race weekend, but what do I need to know about riding on rain tires? Smoother inputs to the brakes, gas, turn in, etc but is the "limit" still the same with a good set of rain tires? Recommended tire pressures (120/160 Pirelli Diablo Rains)?

I think that was four questions. My bad.

Thanks,
Fitz

[Degsy]

1) Does anyone know if turn 1-1a-2 are still there?

2) Not that it would ever rain on a race weekend, but what do I need to know about riding on rain tires? Smoother inputs to the brakes, gas, turn in, etc but is the "limit" still the same with a good set of rain tires? Recommended tire pressures (120/160 Pirelli Diablo Rains)?

I think that was four questions. My bad.

Thanks,
Fitz

Come and see us at the Boston Moto Pirelli trailer and we will give you Pirellis latest tire pressure recommendations and help you set up your suspension for rain if needed.

[NeverlosT]

Bens guide to rain track riding:
you will fall. 100% no questions. Stop by the post office on the way to the track and pick up any mail addressed to "The ground" since you are heading there anyway.

haha maybe thats just me. I suck at smooth in the rain!

For you.... listen to Degsy not me!

[Manny]

Paul Duval gave me great advice about the rain (on rains): You can get on the gas hard, corner hard and brake hard but only one at a time.

I dont race but Ive run a bunch of track day sessions in the wet since and it seems to be true!

[butcher bergs]

1) Does anyone know if turn 1-1a-2 are still there?

2) Not that it would ever rain on a race weekend, but what do I need to know about riding on rain tires? Smoother inputs to the brakes, gas, turn in, etc but is the "limit" still the same with a good set of rain tires? Recommended tire pressures (120/160 Pirelli Diablo Rains)?

I think that was four questions. My bad.

Thanks,
Fitz

1) There's always going to be a Turn 1 at the very least, silly.

2) Smoooooooooooooooth.....and soften the suspension a bit. Do all your braking as straight up as possible (though you can get away with some light braking input when leaned over, but you're tempting fate), roll on the gas sooooooooooooothly. You will get spin up but that's the fun part!

Basically, feel the bike out and go about it being as smooth as you possibly can.



......oh and one more thing, don't lock your front twice going into T3 before you even turn in....and especially don't do that while on the last lap and even more so, don't do it if you're in 3rd place. You will feel like an asshole for.......well, I'll let you know when it wears off.

[s a x m a n]

Word has it track will NOT have a layout change for the race weekend.

Riding on rain tires is a freakin blast! Be smooth and work up to it. Soon enough you will find yourself being over confident ... its usually at this point you will crash in 2 or 11 ... ask me how I know. (=

In all seriousness though, rain is the ultimate equalizer and its a whole ton of fun!

[SVRACER01]

track layout WILL remain the same. it will be fucked up for the vintage guys though

[Johnny B]

track layout WILL remain the same. it will be fucked up for the vintage guys though

No biggie, they're slow. Maybe I'll set up a "Stop Box" at the end of the front straight!

[SVRACER01]

thats what Bette said

[SVRACER01]

she told me about the SCCA fiasco since the construction crew dug up in front of the fence to pit lane at the center garage

[Johnny B]

thats what Bette said.

That's why we're requiring bellypans on the EX500's: To slow them down in the turns!
Believe me, for the Vintage Celebration, Turn One will be the least of my worries!

[Johnny B]

Sometimes, under the right circumstances, practice in the rain is so lightly attended that Paul will throw the session wide open. Which means that you can have straight access to the track for up to a full three hours. This gives you plenty of time to go out and gradually build up your confidence on a wet track. This happened a couple of times last year, and I saw plenty of people coming off of the track with big shit eating grins on their faces, having found their comfort zone in the rain.

[apollomx681]

i enjoy rain racing

[butcher bergs]

This happened a couple of times last year, and I saw plenty of people coming off of the track with big shit eating grins on their faces, having found their comfort zone in the rain.

Like the last weekend of 2008?

Open practice and EVERYONE was out there! Had to resume regular sessions within 20 minutes of calling open practice. The temps were great which made the wet tolerable.

Rain racing is definitely a blast!

[lrrs699]

was fun till i crashed.....

[Rambunctous]

I like to upshift earlier(especially coming out of the bowl) to take a little power out of the bike.

[TTD]

I love the rain/wet... especially on rain tires.

Work up to speed/lean angle slowly.

On any bike with power (600cc and above), leave it a gear higher than normal and otherwise just do everything as smooth as possible.

Do not look at the bike in front of you while braking or cornering since there is a high probability of them going down.

[union]

Like the last weekend of 2008?

Open practice and EVERYONE was out there! Had to resume regular sessions within 20 minutes of calling open practice. The temps were great which made the wet tolerable.

Rain racing is definitely a blast!

If you were up early enough you could have been out with all 5 of us. It was so much fun.

[KB]

Dan Martin said don't do anything different.............didn't work so well for me in 2 and 12???

KB

[a13x]

Fitz, still want me to bring up that rear slick?

[Fitz]

Fitz, still want me to bring up that rear slick?

Yes sir pretty please.

Come and see us at the Boston Moto Pirelli trailer and we will give you Pirellis latest tire pressure recommendations and help you set up your suspension for rain if needed.

Thanks. Will do.

Thanks to all the others for the advice.

Fitz

[SVRACER01]

i just exaggerate my upper body position more so i can have the bike more upright and carry more speed....i like the rain

[Pittenger5]

Ive never ridden on rain tires. I kinda hope I never have to.