NSX on a wet track...

[asylum]

Last week-end I did some laps on wet track with my NSX. I don't know what you think about the NSX on the wet. Personnaly it was an awfull experience. Close to scary. After 3 laps I went for little trip in the fields :biggrin: The unpredictable reactions of the car were totally different from the ones I have on the dry which are controlable. Never again for me.

 

[Frank Spano]

Im sure alot has to do with your tires.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

I actually am one of the fastest cars in the top run groups with mine on a big track like Road America in the wet. On a wet track, horsepower in a non-issue, and it lets a great handling car, and driver skill stand out. Once you "master" the NSX, it is a very capable car in all conditions. If I had an extra 100 bhp in mine in the dry, I would be the fastest car period. This includes C6 Z06, F430, GT3 etc etc. Kip Olsons car is my proof.

 

[MvM]

Have only driven my NSX on a wet track once. It was raining most of that day and the track was very slippery.
I don't think I ever got any further than 3rd gear and sometimes the tail would break loose when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd.
Was a great learning experience but I would not mind doing that again on a wet track again with nobody around.
That time, almost everyone was passing me by, especially the FWD cars.
On the other hand, one Porsche and two Elises managed to crash their cars.

 

[BioBanker]

Because no one is paying me for lapping quickly, or even lapping at all (I pay!), if its wet, Im in the pits talking smack.

The line and the manner in which you drive the car are totally different than dry driving. If you're having trouble in the wet, it means you're probably not driving smooth enough. Smooth out your steering inputs and the way your feet are working and you should be better off. Power on slower and brake over a longer period.

And your rubber plays a big factor.

The good thing is that water can make you a better track driver. You learn things going much slower. Easier to do. But if you cant dial it back and take it real slow, almost starting from scratch, risks sure are increased.

 

[titaniumdave]

Last week-end I did some laps on wet track with my NSX. I don't know what you think about the NSX on the wet. Personnaly it was an awfull experience. Close to scary. After 3 laps I went for little trip in the fields :biggrin: The unpredictable reactions of the car were totally different from the ones I have on the dry which are controlable. Never again for me.

Unless you are on race rubber, sounds like you have lots to learn about how your car handles. The NSX is one of the most consistent handling cars I have ever driven, it becomes more sensitive to smaller inputs as traction is decreased from a wet surface.

Like others have said, dial it way back, take a deep breath and feel the car through the seat of your pants. Drive with your finger tips on the wheel, operate the peddles as if there was an egg between your foot and the pedal surface...every input is gentle. Sorry you had a bad experience, but unless there is a major suspension issue with your car, or you are on slicks, a wet track is a great venue to get a reality check on where your skills really are.

Do watch out for the puddles:biggrin: and streams. The second day I had my current NSX, I did a day at Streets of Willows in the pouring rain. I mean standing water, a river running across the bottom of the track! Yes, I did spin the car, yes, I did go off track, but it was a great way to get used to how the car handles, where I needed to control my inputs to keep the car under me. I never did figure out how to do the 4 wheel drifts as well as Aaron Bitterman in his Evo, but I sure had fun and came away with a great appreciation of how well the NSX works in all situations! Plus, the NSX is easier to drive tail out in the wet than in the dry, takes much less power to keep the tires spinning:wink:

 

[docjohn]

Please don't become a fairweather only tracker.If of course you are only going to the track 1-2 times a year then it may be beyond convienience to seek out wet days,but if you want to really improve your dry driving,by increasing your SMOOTHNESS,,then seek out somemore wet days,with an instructer,let him drive your car so you can see that it can be done,,and practice.

 

[TurboLab]

Alignment and tires are the biggest consideration when it comes to the wet. I run Cup tires and 5+ degrees of negative camber on my race car for a dry course, if there is even alittle water on the track it is unpredictable and unsafe. If i change to 1 degree negative and toe in alittle then switch to azenis 615's it is good to go. This has been my experience any way.

 

[stuntman]

Take a good racing school in the wet and or have a good instructor teach you how to drive in the wet. Don't blame the car.

They are fun in the wet!:

 

[PhiAlpha44]

I don't even like driving my car on the road in the wet, much less a race track. With no weight over the front tires, all it wants to do is push push push like a bulldozer off the road.

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

They are fun in the wet!:

So that's what they call "Wet ones" in Southern California? I see. :smile:

 

[docjohn]

You're right John, lol ,that looks more like a "damp" track day.:smile:

 

[powerneedy]

wet roads and speed is when driver skill shines... and of coarse tires for the condition. the last auto x day of the year it was wet and very cold almost snow hehe. but damn it was a blast. it was all about control and small inputs. it about knowing limits also, you get alot of un easy feelings. this was all in my teg i havnt had a chance to race my nsx in wet conditions since i havnt owned it long enough.

 

[oscar_driver]

i don't know on the nsx i don't own one but when i used to have my S2000 with the 16" wheels and 225's OEM and it was TERRIBLE when wet, TERRIBLE .. i switchted to 17" OEM wheels + on my back i have 255 Bridgestone Potenzas RE050's .. WHOA what a difference, it was like a miracle!
Oscar

 

[goldNSX]

i don't know on the nsx i don't own one but when i used to have my S2000 with the 16" wheels and 225's OEM and it was TERRIBLE when wet, TERRIBLE .. i switchted to 17" OEM wheels + on my back i have 255 Bridgestone Potenzas RE050's .. WHOA what a difference, it was like a miracle!
Oscar

The 16'' OEM tires (S-02) were true dry tires. Driving them in the rain is the most scarying experience ever, esp. on low profile. But in the dry they're marvelous!

 

[Lonestranger]

No - the "wet ones" are your shorts, if you overdo it!!:biggrin:

So that's what they call "Wet ones" in Southern California? I see. :smile:

 

[NSXDreamer2]

agreed to all of the above... me too, drives pretty slow on wet track, and I hate going to track in rainy days (No covered paddock)... I agreed that nsx is one of the better cars I have driven in wet traction. It's not quattro nor Evo/Sti; but hey if I just want to drive a point and shoot car, I rather play GT4 at home.

 

[RP-Motorsports]

Wet driving takes a certain sort. I remember a few years back, at Road America, and it was a steady rain. It was the assertive/instructor group on track (I was in this group) 50% of the group were either smart or pussies and stayed in the paddock, (not sure which :tongue: ) Of the other 50%, 3/4 were pussy footing it around, and about 4 of us were in "lets get it on" mode (<----I was in this group of 4 :biggrin: ) My cousin was standing on the hill overlooking the famous kink (turn 11a). There were a few guys standing with him that he did not know. He over heard someone say "I don't even know why they are out there, you can't even drive in this" My cousin said "Wait til you see my cousin come by, he will prove that you can drive in this" I came by a minute later, and I did not dissapoint. I was only 15mph off my straight max, (125mph vs 140mph) and was having a blast flying by everyone. I had a Porsche and a E36 M3 race car playing with me lap after lap. I never have as much fun in the dry as I do in the wet. And like posted above, you will learn twice as much, and twice as fast learning about your car in the wet as in the dry. You learn......

How to be smooth
How to carry momentum
How to hit a perfect turn-in, apex, and track-out
How to master heel-n-toe downshifting
How to master a roll-on from apex to track-out on tight corners
How to loosen your white knuckle grip on the wheel (tough one!)

 

[Hrant]

Agree with all those commenting on how wet driving on a track helps hone one's skills. Have done it at least 4 times so far.

Now let's see who has tried driving in the wet with OEM tires where the fronts were swapped to reduce inside wear ....... :tongue: I drove to the track dry with the full expectation to switch to my RA1s only to find out that it really is pouring :frown: Long story short, the car would not stop but kept hydroplaning; the fact the front brake shield was removed did not help either with all that wet water cooling the XP8 track pads. Now this scenario/set up is a true challenge; and yes I was about to spin a few times but never lost it - but then again, perhaps I wasn't pushing hard enough :wink:

 

[MCM]

"On a wet track, horsepower in a non-issue, and it lets a great handling car stand out."

Agree..........

 

[L8apex32]

I don't even like driving my car on the road in the wet, much less a race track. With no weight over the front tires, all it wants to do is push push push like a bulldozer off the road.

Yep. And so do all the cars. Which evens the field and makes it fun. Get the car slowed down, make the turn, then get on the gas.

 

[Scin]

Last week-end I did some laps on wet track with my NSX. I don't know what you think about the NSX on the wet. Personnaly it was an awfull experience. Close to scary. After 3 laps I went for little trip in the fields :biggrin: The unpredictable reactions of the car were totally different from the ones I have on the dry which are controlable. Never again for me.

It is ok if there is decent run off area. My NSX felt pretty good in the rain, I ran it with Eagle F1 GS3 street tires at California Speedway, where there is very little run off area... and it was a little stressful.

I like racing karts in the rain. I am sort of a rain specialist, I feel like I can beat almost anyone in the rain The thing is, I can afford to fix the kart when I put it into the wall... I think that makes the whole experience a lot different.

 

[DCNSX]

Thanks for all the input, everyone. I've tracked the NSX for about 4 years now but never in the rain. Before reading this, I was gonna park it if wet. Now I'll go out if given the chance.

My old street-ported '79 RX-7 was a handful - and then some!- on track, in the rain, but it really did make you concentrate. Smooooooth is the key. Tiny inputs.

PS- I am still surprised that NASCAR won't run when really wet. F1, LeMans, Rolex, etc. all run in the rain.

 

[swbatte]

Tires, tires, tires.

I have been out on Mosport a few times in the rain with a very experienced instructor with me to show me the wet line etc. They were by far one of the most informative sessions I've driven my NSX on the track.

It certainly improved my dry performance and I think I'm safer on the streets because of it to.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

what I liked the best was one of those days you have wet track in the morning and then it dries up as you go...

You really learnt a lot, never had a chance in the other way around...