Whether to wear the weather tires.

[Dan Chambers]

Buttonwillow's weather is questionable this weekend. Two days ago it said Friday/Saturday showers, Sunday rain. Never good when the forecasters say the "R" word.

But like the appearance of Mike G.'s car ....

http://www.accuweather.com/us/ca/button ... etails.asp

So I guess I'll bring a full complement of tires. Rain's, 710's, maybe even some off-road Sand-paddles (No ... wait ... bad idea!!)

Let's hopre the current forcast (60's and cloudy) holds. My car likes the 60's.

[Dan Chambers]

... and in case it does rain ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpHSniGrMpo

[Jad]

So how did you get Steve's in car video from this coming weekend

[pecivil]

wow there's a whole lot of countersteering going on there.....

looks like either: A whole lotta fun or a prescription for disaster

it looks like the rain is moving to be more on Friday and ending Saturday with Sunday looking clear. SO having not tracked in the wet before......whats the advice? Just go slower? haha

[Steve Grosekemper]

Jad,
Don't make me post the voodoo video...
That guys driving looked pretty smooth to me. He almost looks ready for an early 911!
But seriously folks...
Buttonwillow in the rain is just like buttonwillow in the dry with really bad tires. Just drive slower and smoother. That and stay off the curbs. BTW- If you think BW dirt is hard to get out of the car you should try getting the mud off... And don't let it dry!

So Monte, did you want that ride along in the wet or the dry?

[pecivil]

both

ooooooh yeaaaaaaaaaa.

[mrondeau]

I can hear the screaming already!!

[Mike]

But like the appearance of Mike G.'s car ....
My car likes the 60's.

good luck, rain x and carry a towel.
rainy day disconnect your rear sway bar?
Stay off painted surfaces.
Its the mud cars bring back on the track right?

and at 10:55 good save or a crash w/o touching.
The grapevine on ice can be like that.

my car appears often, on the forum.
El Torro xmas Ax my next 911 event...
Both SDR Chuckwalla TT next year?
Off to Jae's first, new 15x11.5 fronts, 14 rear Avon bias plys.
flogging the Vette next w/e at SM.
out of gotta go.

[SDGT3]

This past Sunday's NASA race at Buttonwillow was in the rain. Let's just say that the painted curbs are not the only thing you want to watch out for.... you see, BW has many many slippery slur (sp?) patches on their racing surface and when they're wet.... yikes... they get slippery.

The Esses pool up with water and Lost Hills claimed more than a few cars, and if you're carrying a lot of speed, good luck getting unstuck from the mud...

If I get the chance, I'll try to post a video of the race (CCW, #1).

[pecivil]

oh boy, this is going to be fun.

so to summarize:
stay off the painted curbs
so slower and and be smoother
disconnect the rear sway bar (except my car does not have one so I guess that counts as disconnected )
slurry patches are very slippery
esses have standing water which is a bad thing
bring a towel
BW mud is troublesome so stay on track

oh boy this is going to be fun

[Autobahn]

I was there last weekend. It rained hard Sunday...one thing for sure, that track does not drain. Almost every apex turns in to a water feature. Make sure you have rain tires. I was on RA1's with 30% and it sucked. Also...wipers, if your car does not have them the rain-x will not do much. I am going to put wipers back on my 944spec. The car in front of you will toss so much mud on your windshield you can't see a thing. Good luck everybody, and be safe! On the track on the way to the track.

Here are a few snapshots from my chase cam.

[JivenJim]

was there with Sean at NASA Race School.
He actually towed my truck and trailer out of parking Mudd with his 944 and tie down strap. Wish I had pics../.'

I still have 30 lbs of mud in/on my trailer

Don't camp/park/go off in Mudd!!!

Would love to go back but still dirty and tired.

Still, so much fun with friends.
Full tread and wipers...

[Dan Chambers]

one thing for sure, that track does not drain. Almost every apex turns in to a water feature.

I noticed the ponding at a lot of apexes, and around certain areas of the track. Looks like driving the traditional line may be more hazardous.

I was reading an article about Team Falken/ALMS winning in the rain recently. The driver who ran in the wet said something like "I tried to stay off the line as much as I could. The racing line was covered with rubber, so when it began raining, it was really slick. I looked for fresh surface everywhere I could see." Hmmm. Sounds like something we did at a "moist" TT years ago. Drive the undriven surface where the pavement isn't as worn or coated with old rubber.

All I know is I'm going to be really conservative, shift and brake waaaaaay earlier than I should, and try to keep the engine where it belongs .... Yeah, yeah, yeah .... I know: I drive like that all the time! (Shut up, Rondeau. )

[ttweed]

Forecast models are changing rapidly at the moment. The approaching low pressure area is cutting off from the jetstream flow, becoming very unpredictable--there is a chance now that it could wobble, become stationary, or slide south and not come onshore as previously predicted. Keep an eye on the forecast over the next 2 days, as things could change radically. What was once a 100% rain forecast is already down to only 50% on Sat. morning in Buttonwillow. You might get lucky...but should be prepared for anything....

TT

[Dan Chambers]

... models are changing rapidly at the moment. ....becoming very unpredictable--there is a chance now that it could wobble, become stationary, or slide south.... as things could change radically. ...but should be prepared for anything....TT

Yep, that sounds like Mike G's 911 alright.

Here's the latest: Sunday could rock ... or be a wash.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... 19.469&e=0