Driving Weather?

[ttweed]

This is to keep the venue--I whole heartedly agree that we should manage the gatekeepers perceptions in order to keep the key to the gate. This did not seem to be at the heart of the other posts that I read.

It isn't, really. Qualcomm officials don't care if we run in the rain. They do care if we bust up their stuff, though, or run anybody over! SCCA runs there rain or shine, but their course design standards are more conservative than ours. Here's some pics from the 2003 SCCA National Tour event at Qualcomm:



Got rain tires?

TT

[PShipman]

So the question becomes ... which set of tires do I bring ... or rather which do I show up with on the car and which are tied to the back lid???

Seriously, though, I found that our last wet drive was VERY instructive ... was worth the tire wear and "no points but 5" to discover how very grippy the car is in the wet ... even with RA1s!

[Jad]

As I recall, that day was more of a moist day, not really a heavy rain. In the moist, most tires work fairly well, in the rain, they don't. And another reason not to run in the rain, people will try to get the car to the track on race tires, on the freeway in the rain. Not good, trust me, I have tried, our car will be towed there this weekend.

[PShipman]

And another reason not to run in the rain, people will try to get the car to the track on race tires, on the freeway in the rain. Not good, trust me, I have tried, our car will be towed there this weekend.

Seriously ... this is an excellent point of discussion. Following is a link to Saturday's Wunderground.com forcast:

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=92071&hourly=1&yday=25&weekday=Saturday.

Note that at 7:00am (as we lay track) there is a "slight chance light rain" but by 10:00am there is a change to "likely light rain". Note also that the clouds will be thickening further during the day.

Soooooo ... it sounds like we might be able to drive to Qualcomm but it might be a bit wet going home.

[Steve Grosekemper]

And another reason not to run in the rain, people will try to get the car to the track on race tires, on the freeway in the rain. Not good, trust me, I have tried, our car will be towed there this weekend.

I will have to agree with Jad as I was in front of him in a street tire car in that light rain and wondered why he was going so blasted slow and kept changing lanes...

Apparently shaved RA-1's shed water to 49.97 MPH and not 49.98.
It was pretty funny to watch the whites of his eyes grow brighter than his headlights

[thunderbox]

In the moist, most tires work fairly well, in the rain, they don't. And another reason not to run in the rain, people will try to get the car to the track on race tires, on the freeway in the rain. Not good, trust me, I have tried, our car will be towed there this weekend.

So we are again talking about keeping people safe from themselves? Why do we (society) feel the need to try to protect people from themselves?

[PShipman]

So we are again talking about keeping people safe from themselves? Why do we (society) feel the need to try to protect people from themselves?

Spoken like a true libertarian!

I think that what is running through my mind is, for me at least, fairly complex:

1) Since we as a policy don't run for points if it is raining --- do I want to waste tire wear for 5 points?

2) If it is cold and wet I'll be miserable when I am working the start flag

3) Shoot ... if Bill and I lay the track at 6:15am because it is raining lightly and we have to pick the cones back up at 9:30am because it is pouring ... the damn trailer will be wet to reload

4) If I spend all this money at Black Forest today, what a waste if I don't run Saturday

5) AND ... perhaps, maybe, it might be dangerous for someone if they drove in the rain

Bottom line is that I never think much about the more practical safety issues that Jad is illuding to AND it is, unfortunately, all of our responsibility to keep PCA-SDR functioning and solvent (what if I were to slide and hit some beater truck on the way here and I AND PCA-SDR got sued for 10 Trillion dollars???) so that we can race another day.

[thunderbox]

So we are again talking about keeping people safe from themselves? Why do we (society) feel the need to try to protect people from themselves?

Spoken like a true libertarian!

I think that what is running through my mind is, for me at least, fairly complex:

1) Since we as a policy don't run for points if it is raining --- do I want to waste tire wear for 5 points?

2) If it is cold and wet I'll be miserable when I am working the start flag

3) Shoot ... if Bill and I lay the track at 6:15am because it is raining lightly and we have to pick the cones back up at 9:30am because it is pouring ... the damn trailer will be wet to reload

4) If I spend all this money at Black Forest today, what a waste if I don't run Saturday

5) AND ... perhaps, maybe, it might be dangerous for someone if they drove in the rain

Bottom line is that I never think much about the more practical safety issues that Jad is illuding to AND it is, unfortunately, all of our responsibility to keep PCA-SDR functioning and solvent (what if I were to slide and hit some beater truck on the way here and I AND PCA-SDR got sued for 10 Trillion dollars???) so that we can race another day.

I have no problems protecting PCASDR, please understand that. But if you hit a truck on your way down here, how does that relate to PCASDR (or if there is points or not)? So could you sue my Dr. for my wreck on the freeway on the way to his office? I have no problems putting an airbag or seatbelts in a car, but do we really have to protect the person who drives to the stadium on V710's in the pouring rain? An airplane could fall out of the sky and smash my car on the way to the AX. How are you going to protect me from that?

All I'm saying is that I hear a lot of blah, blah about protecting PCASDR and the drivers from themselves. Would it not be better to just cancel because of the rain and have a mandatory oil change day? Please use jackstands and block your wheels, where gloves and dispose of your oil and oily waste properly. Sign this waiver that if your car falls on you that you will not sue PCASDR.

I guess I'll stop beating this horse now.

[elcap00]

If it is cold and wet I'll be miserable when I am working the start flag

Perry --your automatically at the start flag?
Shouldnt you be corner working? Or is it when you get a co-chair position you get to do the cushy jobs?

I am only bringing this up because the last AX you were at the start and you happened to ask me what my times were (you were with your student) --I told you and you said "that's not bad for a beginner".

I thought that was pretty funny--you ever seen that show called PINKS?

[ttweed]

Why do we (society) feel the need to try to protect people from themselves?

Ummmm....lemme see....because people do stoopid things, sometimes, maybe? Even smart people, like Jad!

I take it you're all for the "extreme Darwinism" approach, eh? Take all the safety labels off everything and thin out the moron genepool a bit?

I think we outta start with getting rid of all these stop signs and speed limits and whatnot. Those things really slow me down...

TT

[ttweed]

As I recall, that day was more of a moist day, not really a heavy rain.

Yah, I think we ran a "practice" event in the northeast lot that day, or maybe it was the day before or after (the National Tour event is both Sat. and Sun.) It was mostly light rain keeping things wet, with a few puddles, but there were some heavy showers at times, as the pics attest. I think I can remember John Lusti getting VERY sideways that day in his gray early 911 w/3.6L.

TT

[Dan Chambers]

Ummmm....lemme see....because people do stoopid things, sometimes, maybe?

Amen, brother!

Sooooooo .... how 'bout that weather forcast. Based on today's weather patterns (and ever-changing forecasts), we may be in for some stints of "non-rain" time.

Now the question is: do I put on the rain-tires, or do I put on the dry-track tires? Oh, wait! According to Dave G., I can drive wet and dry on R888's since they're full tread. He he, should be fun either way.

Is there any way to operate the HotLap for some wet-event bench racing and braggin' rights? We can compare Hotlap times just for the heck of it.

[thunderbox]

Why do we (society) feel the need to try to protect people from themselves?

Ummmm....lemme see....because people do stoopid things, sometimes, maybe? Even smart people, like Jad!

I take it you're all for the "extreme Darwinism" approach, eh? Take all the safety labels off everything and thin out the moron genepool a bit?

I think we outta start with getting rid of all these stop signs and speed limits and whatnot. Those things really slow me down...

TT

I thought I was done, but I feel the need to answer. Guess I'll never learn. Someone make a label to save me.

People will always do stupid stuff, you can't make them live in a bubble for their whole life. If you trust them do drive their car while you stand there shaging the cones they knock down, you should trust that they will get to the stadium in mostly one piece.

No I am not for the extreme Darwinism. But maybe a little bit of it would not hurt. It honestly worries me to do any more corner work with this group if they feel that driving to the stadium on R comp slicks in the rain is a good idea. I don't think getting rid of all the stop signs and speed limits is a good idea either (but then I guess nobody ever stops at those stupid signs anyway).

Why is it though that we feel the need to treat the general population like they are two weeks old? Let people make some choices on their own, it might surprise you to find out they might make the right ones. But when a wrong one gets made they will maybe learn from it. People also need to take responsibility for their own actions. Just because it does not say that I can't use the toaster in the shower... IT'S NOT THE TOASTERS FAULT.

I stand by my statement.

And I know my coffee will be hot, it's coffee it better be hot! Take the label off of it!

[thunderbox]

Is there any way to operate the HotLap for some wet-event bench racing and braggin' rights? We can compare Hotlap times just for the heck of it.

Wrap the transmitter in a plastic bag. It will work fine.

[PShipman]

I think we outta start with getting rid of all these stop signs and speed limits and whatnot. Those things really slow me down...

Cool ... what a great idea ... I always thought that figure 8 stock car racing was neat ... we could have the centers of the 8 EVERYWHERE

Now seriously ... thunderbox is just pointing to one of the tensions that make our democracy so dynamic and wonderful (yes, I know we all know this but I still think that it is very cool!). As Linda (my better half) likes to say ... democracy works because we have opposite views pulling us to the center