Track Day VIR South dates in 2022

[JustAnotherSquid]

Likely, depends on pace.

So is there some pace in the rain that sport tires will do better than sport-touring tires?

 

[bmart]

Better at routing water but get worse as they heat...so it is relative. I've run all kinds of decent street tires in the rain with good result. When I was on my game, I'd run race tires without issue. Not sure I have the sensitivity for that these days.

 

[bmart]

% rain keeps going down.

 

[boike333]

Oh shit I need to look!

 

[boike333]

JAS you going?

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Better at routing water but get worse as they heat...so it is relative. I've run all kinds of decent street tires in the rain with good result. When I was on my game, I'd run race tires without issue. Not sure I have the sensitivity for that these days.

I'm not sure that is good advice based on his question!

• Tires do not retain any significant heat while riding in the rain.
• I have also run DOT race tires in the rain, and while I had a blast sliding around on them, I would never recommend them as rain tires!

Matt, to address your question to the best of my limited abilities:

• Sport tires should do "ok" in the rain. You ride them in the rain on the street, right? But you'll quickly find their limits in the rain at the track. This is personal experience talking.
• Sport-touring tires should offer marginally better performance in the rain. Lots of variables here though so it's hard to say definitively.
• Rain tires will offer tremendous grip in the rain. You'll want to come in as soon as it stops raining because once they start to dry out and retain some heat they will wear insanely fast. As in you can kill a set in just a lap or two. This is not personal experience talking; it is just what I've been told by many people.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

JAS you going?

Not sure yet. Riding in the heat on Monday while feeling sick took a lot out of me. I'm still recovering a bit. Yes, I'm a wimp.

 

[bmart]

Currently the high for Monday at VIR is 83 at 3 p.m.

 

[RocketDan]

I’m out for Monday. I’m saving my days off for a possible Road Atlanta race weekend.

Slicks or rain tires. No in between IMO. If you are going to ride while it is actively raining then you want rain tires. But as JAS said, you don’t want them on a drying track. The issue with something in between is they are only good for the drying track situation. Once the track is dry then you will hit the limit quick and want your slicks.

So you don’t want to be changing wheels three times. It’s the summer, typically if it rains it will come and go faster than you can change your wheels. The VIR rain day in July was the exception.

 

[RocketDan]

I gotta get through Full on Monday before thinking seriously about South on 8/1. If you guys decide anything before then let me know!

JAS, what did you and KK think about the Full Course configuration?

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

JAS, what did you and KK think about the Full Course configuration?

Not gonna lie - we were both ready to pack up and go home after the first session! We both hated it. But we stayed, and by the end of the day we were enjoying it! I think we both liked it better than North but not as much as South.

I didn't mind the chicane too much but KK didn't like it. The track would be better without it but I get that, with bikes putting out 200+ hp these days, the end of the back straight would be one long eight hour red flag.

Where does Full rank on your fun-o-meter?

 

[RocketDan]

Not gonna lie - we were both ready to pack up and go home after the first session! We both hated it. But we stayed, and by the end of the day we were enjoying it! I think we both liked it better than North but not as much as South.

I didn't mind the chicane too much but KK didn't like it. The track would be better without it but I get that, with bikes putting out 200+ hp these days, the end of the back straight would be one long eight hour red flag.

Where does Full rank on your fun-o-meter?

I have only ridden Full a few times and this was the first with the chicane. I never really cared for it because of the long back straight. And I had heard bad things about the chicane so I didn’t go into the day with a lot of optimism. But I was surprised how much I liked it. And I didn’t mind the chicane at all. I think it makes the course better since it takes away the ability for big balls to make the difference. Adds more skill to making a lap time. The cons to Full is the course is so long you don’t get many laps.

North is my favorite, and I think I still prefer South over Full. But I’d definitely ride it again.

 

[bmart]

Anyone joining Matt and I on Monday? Weather continues to improve. Woot! Hoping I don't have to mount rains later tdaoy.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

But I’d definitely ride it again.

That's how we felt at the end of the day! We'll go back next year.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Anyone joining Matt and I on Monday? Weather continues to improve. Woot! Hoping I don't have to mount rains later tdaoy.

I'm out. There's a bit too much going on here for me to get away.

I've heard that if you mount the rain tires then it won't rain - and vice versa.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

I will keep my fingers crossed that you guys have great weather tomorrow! Be safe, have fun, and ride well! And take some pictures!

 

[RocketDan]

How did today turn out?

 

[boike333]

Like a wet mop, but no rain. I still hold on to tight, then I started feeling good about it and then my jaw was tense. Traded one drug for another I guess! Overall it was a great day. Very courteous riders. A LOT of PRE folks out there today.

The rainbow is another way to get from N to S. Why are these good to see before a track day?

I did not get the bump today.

Hopefully bmart will add some video of me!

 

[bmart]

Nice shots!

I have a friend who was taking that 4 day school. Big $!

Will post pics/video tomorrow or Wednesday.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Glad to hear the weather held off and you guys had a good day! Looking forward to seeing the video and pics!