• From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2013-09-02
  • Posts: 169

Topic: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

Driving in the wet was challenging to say the least...
http://youtu.be/s3BPNV9xFUY

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  • bshorey
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Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

jimmy.shearer wrote:

Driving in the wet was challenging to say the least...
http://youtu.be/s3BPNV9xFUY

In a spin, both feet in!  First driver was lucky he didn't roll backwards into somebody.

bs

  • From: Iowa
  • Registered: 2010-04-20
  • Posts: 2,660

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

The 12:30-2pm time frame was pretty nasty.  It was cold and wet and we had the added benefit of a mysteriously appearing entire track oil slick. 

I was in the Geo.  It was stupid scary...

Our pit control... "Can you guys pick it up at all?  I think there is a dry line starting to form."

Our driver in the BMW... "There are two lines out here.  The wet line and the oil line... Both suck!"

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  • From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
  • Posts: 3,425

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

It wasn't so mysterious to the owners of the brown #2 poop mobile.  I heard they lost their oil pan plug.

Usually, the oil goes down when an engine goes boom.  So the car stops moving and/or gets off the track.  But in this case, they must have oiled down 75% of the track, completely innocent of any knowledge that they were doing that.

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  • From: St Louis
  • Registered: 2011-10-20
  • Posts: 2,611

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

You all just had too much power and not enough body roll, the mighty Mirada loved the wet!

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  • From: Villa Park, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-12
  • Posts: 1,338

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

Our Neon is usually awesome in the rain but this Saturday it was a handful. Luckily I had a later stint so I didn't have to drive in it.

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  • From: Prison City, Ill
  • Registered: 2012-01-10
  • Posts: 89

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

I suspected there was a moving oil slick.  There was oil on every line. You could actually see it  sitting on the water. There was a 45 min period where  I slowly drifted every corner. The driver before me cut his stint by 30 min because he said it was not fun. It was definitely challenging.

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  • From: Chandler, AZ
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 839

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

Driving the opening shift on Saturday, was the least fun I've ever had in a Lemons race. The entire two hours consisted of me trying not to die. The Festiva was literally sideways on every single corner.

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  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2013-09-02
  • Posts: 169

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

Glad we weren't the only ones having a hard time! We have a couple of(myself included) less experienced drivers and to be honest I was glad we didn't make more mistakes!

Butt Sweat & Beers.
  • From: Aurora, IL
  • Registered: 2012-12-04
  • Posts: 369

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

For the two hours that the Purple Escort was running, we had a great time in the rain.  It was a good day to be front wheel drive.

I also noticed the permanent oil slick.  I had 4 or 5 pucker moments and I recall thinking, how did I get here?  I wasn't even doing anything stupid (aside from racing a shitbox in the rain).

Now, I just need to race at night, in the rain...

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  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2010-08-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

The oil slick appeared during the last 5 laps of my Saturday shift.  At first I couldn't see the oil, but was just sliding like crazy around every corner.  After a lap the sheen appeared, and it was easier to avoid, but it was on the racing line all the way around.  Fortunately, I'd already learned not to enter a corner without my foot on the gas (because that's how you aim the Festiva in the wet: with the throttle), but it still meant some hairy moments.

I felt sorry for the next driver getting in the car, but I was glad to be getting out.

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  • From: Charleston
  • Registered: 2010-08-10
  • Posts: 1,030

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

chadadams59 wrote:

Now, I just need to race at night, in the rain...

Be careful what you wish for.  At night, in the rain is a special kind of hell.  It is even better as a guest driver in a car you've never driven on a track you've never seen.

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  • From: Hayward, CA
  • Registered: 2010-03-23
  • Posts: 1,762

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

As usual, the video does not lie.

Driving with the helmet visor up
Driving with the helmet visor up
Driving with the helmet visor up

And not even polycarbonate lens sunglasses to protect the eyes.

BAD BAD BAD. Your visor should be closed ALL THE WAY!!!!

Car crash and engine oil flashes off, burned eyes and face = blind and ugly
Car crash and windshield explodes inward, projectile glass in the eyes =blind
Car in front blows engine, throwing engine parts through windshield, which implodes, projectile glass in the eyes = blind.

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  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2013-09-02
  • Posts: 169

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

I do wear polycarbonate prescription glasses which tend to fog with the visor down in wet weather. I'm all for safety and take it seriously.

Butt Sweat & Beers.
  • From: Chicago
  • Registered: 2013-08-27
  • Posts: 57

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

There were fogging issues as my teammate noted given the temps involved and the rain.  A bigger issue and a far greater risk for most drivers are when neck donuts are used instead of proper head and neck restarints such as the Necks Gen or a Hans Device.   We went with the Necks Gen.  Greater expense than a donut but when spilt 4 ways not that bad.  We shared one Neck Gen that fit each of us.  Only took a extra few seconds each stop to switch out with the quick release setup.   Of course since our average stop was measured in hours due to breakdowns time wasn't really an issue for us.



mackwagon wrote:

As usual, the video does not lie.

Driving with the helmet visor up
Driving with the helmet visor up
Driving with the helmet visor up

And not even polycarbonate lens sunglasses to protect the eyes.

BAD BAD BAD. Your visor should be closed ALL THE WAY!!!!

Car crash and engine oil flashes off, burned eyes and face = blind and ugly
Car crash and windshield explodes inward, projectile glass in the eyes =blind
Car in front blows engine, throwing engine parts through windshield, which implodes, projectile glass in the eyes = blind.

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  • obrut
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  • From: Valparaiso IN
  • Registered: 2012-01-20
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Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

chadadams59 wrote:

For the two hours that the Purple Escort was running, we had a great time in the rain.  It was a good day to be front wheel drive.

I also noticed the permanent oil slick.  I had 4 or 5 pucker moments and I recall thinking, how did I get here?  I wasn't even doing anything stupid (aside from racing a shitbox in the rain).

Now, I just need to race at night, in the rain...

I loved every ass puckering minute of it.  I started off while it was raining which wasn't too bad but when the rain stopped and the oil was sitting on top of the track that's when it got interesting.  Then the track started to dry out and what seemed like one lap I went from slipping and sliding back to full on racing..... great experience. 

I too now need to race at night in the rain

  • From: Columbus, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
  • Posts: 2,839

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

mackwagon wrote:

BAD BAD BAD. Your visor should be closed ALL THE WAY!!!!

In general I agree with you but it is ok to crack the visor a bit ("one finger's width," I've heard) if you have fogging issues.

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  • From: Chicago, IL
  • Registered: 2010-08-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

mackwagon wrote:

BAD BAD BAD. Your visor should be closed ALL THE WAY!!!!

Car crash and engine oil flashes off, burned eyes and face = blind and ugly
Car crash and windshield explodes inward, projectile glass in the eyes =blind
Car in front blows engine, throwing engine parts through windshield, which implodes, projectile glass in the eyes = blind.

I understand the risks, but in my case:
helmet visor down all the way = fogging = effectively blind
helmet visor down part way = visual distortion across entire field of view = effectively blind

So the options are basically race with visor up vs. don't race.  Higher up on my safety to-do are proper HANS/Necksgen and fire suit that actually fits so my wrists and ankles aren't exposed.  If you happen to know how to prevent a closed visor (and glasses) from fogging in Midwest humidity, please do share.

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  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 4,167

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

almitydave wrote:
mackwagon wrote:

BAD BAD BAD. Your visor should be closed ALL THE WAY!!!!

Car crash and engine oil flashes off, burned eyes and face = blind and ugly
Car crash and windshield explodes inward, projectile glass in the eyes =blind
Car in front blows engine, throwing engine parts through windshield, which implodes, projectile glass in the eyes = blind.

I understand the risks, but in my case:
helmet visor down all the way = fogging = effectively blind
helmet visor down part way = visual distortion across entire field of view = effectively blind

So the options are basically race with visor up vs. don't race.  Higher up on my safety to-do are proper HANS/Necksgen and fire suit that actually fits so my wrists and ankles aren't exposed.  If you happen to know how to prevent a closed visor (and glasses) from fogging in Midwest humidity, please do share.

There are a number of tricks the snowmobilers use...most of them not applicable.  When I rode motorcycles year round I had a neck gaiter that covered my nose and mouth and direct my "exhaust" out below the helmet.  Of course it was surely made of the most flammable material known to man.

This is the most common spray I have seen used http://www.amazon.com/Oakley-AFR-Anti-F … 000YSYS92.

Tried and true dishwashing liquid...this guy does a good write-up: http://rolfje.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/ … visor-tip/

There are also inserts that fit motorcycle and snowmobile helmets but likely not your race helmet.

  • From: Shippensburg, PA
  • Registered: 2010-11-18
  • Posts: 1,963

Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

My G-force helmets both came with removable breath guards.  As long as you can pull the top of the inner liner away from the chin guard, you could use these on any helmet.

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Re: A few slippery moments from Saturday at Gingerman

almitydave wrote:
mackwagon wrote:

BAD BAD BAD. Your visor should be closed ALL THE WAY!!!!

Car crash and engine oil flashes off, burned eyes and face = blind and ugly
Car crash and windshield explodes inward, projectile glass in the eyes =blind
Car in front blows engine, throwing engine parts through windshield, which implodes, projectile glass in the eyes = blind.

I understand the risks, but in my case:
helmet visor down all the way = fogging = effectively blind
helmet visor down part way = visual distortion across entire field of view = effectively blind

So the options are basically race with visor up vs. don't race.  Higher up on my safety to-do are proper HANS/Necksgen and fire suit that actually fits so my wrists and ankles aren't exposed.  If you happen to know how to prevent a closed visor (and glasses) from fogging in Midwest humidity, please do share.


a requirement of snorkeling, the ol' "spit in the mask" trick, came to my head one miserable fall day while I was paintballing with my friends and didn't have any "fogger" spray. It works. even mid game. I'd say the ability to do this safely while in racing conditions are significantly less than paintballing, but I am also absolutely certain it can be done and reasonably sure it kind of works, probably..

I just so happen to have ray Charles brand sunglasses that fit inside my helmets facehole perfectly and they are also impact/fire rated. I go visor down only when required though, and either leave partial open, or full open while in gear.

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