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Post by René on Jun 17, 2024 19:46:22 GMT
It was a great race as the end neared on day 2 when the battle between  Toyota and Ferrari was epic. At one time, a graphic display had top speeds at 215 mph. During the endless safety car period, I decided it was weather related, or else boredom if driver radios were tuned to the broadcast commentary. It doesn't reflect well on modern prototypes or Formula One that they don't do well in a downpour. It's embarrassing that they could be passed by a Fiat Topolino in standing water. Is modern downforce so great that each car kicks up an impenetrable wall of spray? I agree Carl, it doesn’t reflect well. And it’s a shame because driving fast in the rain is an art. And even driving in a downpour should be possible. But it has to be said, that last stint from Nicklas Nielsen in changing and damp conditions was epic. He was fast and consistent and saved just, really just enough fuel to reach the finish. And there was great driving in all classes. It was the first time (since the 1930s) that the same manufacturer won both the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year! I will write to Ferrari to suggest they sign up for the Indy 500 next year and try to win the triple crown in one season! |
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Post by Carl on Jun 18, 2024 4:14:18 GMT
It was a great race as the end neared on day 2 when the battle between Toyota and Ferrari was epic. At one time, a graphic display had top speeds at 215 mph. During the endless safety car period, I decided it was weather related, or else boredom if driver radios were tuned to the broadcast commentary. It doesn't reflect well on modern prototypes or Formula One that they don't do well in a downpour. It's embarrassing that they could be passed by a Fiat Topolino in standing water. Is modern downforce so great that each car kicks up an impenetrable wall of spray? I agree Carl, it doesn’t reflect well. And it’s a shame because driving fast in the rain is an art. And even driving in a downpour should be possible. But it has to be said, that last stint from Nicklas Nielsen in changing and damp conditions was epic. He was fast and consistent and saved just, really just enough fuel to reach the finish. And there was great driving in all classes. It was the first time (since the 1930s) that the same manufacturer won both the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year! I will write to Ferrari to suggest they sign up for the Indy 500 next year and try to win the triple crown in one season! I love driving in the rain! Years ago on the Hollywood Freeway in my Mazda 323, I was passing everyone through the Cahuenga Pass as the rain came down. Seemingly by consensus, the other drivers, less enthralled than I, were all very cautious in the rain. I had Michelins on my little blue Mazda, and no-one objected as I steadily wound my way around one car, then another. As the MG advertising slogan proclaimed, "Safety Fast!" Fun!  |
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Post by robmarsh on Jun 18, 2024 8:34:29 GMT
Driving in the rain is ok if you are all going in one direction and there are no 18 wheel trucks in the vicinity. I remember driving to the coast in SA on a single lane road with traffic coming in the other direction. I was behind an 18 wheeler who was throwing up an almost impenetrable wall of spray. The cars coming in the other direction were so spaced that unless you had a long view of the road ahead, it was impossible to tell if anyone was coming. As the truck was going at 110 kph, 10kms below the speed limit, I stayed behind him for the next 110kms. I probably lost 10 mins in total but I can still talk about it.
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Post by René on Jun 18, 2024 13:28:23 GMT
Driving in the rain is ok if you are all going in one direction and there are no 18 wheel trucks in the vicinity. I remember driving to the coast in SA on a single lane road with traffic coming in the other direction. I was behind an 18 wheeler who was throwing up an almost impenetrable wall of spray. The cars coming in the other direction were so spaced that unless you had a long view of the road ahead, it was impossible to tell if anyone was coming. As the truck was going at 110 kph, 10kms below the speed limit, I stayed behind him for the next 110kms. I probably lost 10 mins in total but I can still talk about it. A wise decision Rob. I think we all recognize such a situation. Experience is crucial because it is often inexperienced drivers whose impatience gets the upper hand and that can sometimes have dramatic consequences. I also remember a time when I was just driving on the highway and it started to rain so hard that you simply couldn't see anything anymore. Fortunately, everyone drove very slowly, but here too there is always the danger that someone is overconfident and drives too fast with all the risks that entails. Driving in the rain can be a lot of fun as long as it doesn't get too dangerous. |
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Post by René on Jun 18, 2024 13:30:51 GMT
I agree Carl, it doesn’t reflect well. And it’s a shame because driving fast in the rain is an art. And even driving in a downpour should be possible. But it has to be said, that last stint from Nicklas Nielsen in changing and damp conditions was epic. He was fast and consistent and saved just, really just enough fuel to reach the finish. And there was great driving in all classes. It was the first time (since the 1930s) that the same manufacturer won both the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year! I will write to Ferrari to suggest they sign up for the Indy 500 next year and try to win the triple crown in one season! I love driving in the rain! Years ago on the Hollywood Freeway in my Mazda 323, I was passing everyone through the Cahuenga Pass as the rain came down. Seemingly by consensus, the other drivers, less enthralled than I, were overcautious in the rain without tyres equal to the Michelins on my little blue Mazda, and no-one objected as I steadily wound my way through, around one car, then another. As the MG advertising slogan proclaimed, "Safety Fast!" Fun! I can just imagine it, that blue Mazda overtaking everyone left and right. You hear people thinking; "that idiot speed demon!".  |
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Post by Carl on Jun 18, 2024 16:09:31 GMT
Driving in the rain is ok if you are all going in one direction and there are no 18 wheel trucks in the vicinity. I remember driving to the coast in SA on a single lane road with traffic coming in the other direction. I was behind an 18 wheeler who was throwing up an almost impenetrable wall of spray. The cars coming in the other direction were so spaced that unless you had a long view of the road ahead, it was impossible to tell if anyone was coming. As the truck was going at 110 kph, 10kms below the speed limit, I stayed behind him for the next 110kms. I probably lost 10 mins in total but I can still talk about it. That truck driver should have been courteous and allowed you by when possible. On many rural highways in America, there are short paved extensions on the shoulder for this purpose, essentially a half-lane's width to allow passing.
I've been in that situation and you reacted exactly as you should. Trucks are normally driven well, but that driver may have been too tired to notice anyone in his own heavy spray, so best not to take chances.
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Post by René on Jun 18, 2024 22:04:14 GMT
Enjoy one more time this classic Porsche vs Ferrari battle. Pole position man Kévin Estre in the Porsche 963 against last year’s winner Alessandro Pier Guidi in the Ferrari 499P. Epic stuff.
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Post by Carl on Jun 19, 2024 21:21:19 GMT
Driving in the rain is ok if you are all going in one direction and there are no 18 wheel trucks in the vicinity. I remember driving to the coast in SA on a single lane road with traffic coming in the other direction. I was behind an 18 wheeler who was throwing up an almost impenetrable wall of spray. The cars coming in the other direction were so spaced that unless you had a long view of the road ahead, it was impossible to tell if anyone was coming. As the truck was going at 110 kph, 10kms below the speed limit, I stayed behind him for the next 110kms. I probably lost 10 mins in total but I can still talk about it. That truck driver should have been courteous and allowed you by when possible. On many rural highways in America, there are short paved extensions on the shoulder for this purpose, essentially a half-lane's width to allow passing.
I've been in that situation and you reacted exactly as you should. Trucks are normally driven well, but that driver may have been too tired to notice anyone in his own heavy spray, so best not to take chances.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth!"
-Sherlock Holmes
As he blocked traffic, was the truck driver reliving the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix? 
René, can you prove where you were that day?
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Post by Carl on Jun 20, 2024 17:13:00 GMT
Nicklas Nielsen was overcome by emotion when he saw the checkered flag
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Post by René on Jun 20, 2024 17:52:03 GMT
That truck driver should have been courteous and allowed you by when possible. On many rural highways in America, there are short paved extensions on the shoulder for this purpose, essentially a half-lane's width to allow passing. I've been in that situation and you reacted exactly as you should. Trucks are normally driven well, but that driver may have been too tired to notice anyone in his own heavy spray, so best not to take chances.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth!" -Sherlock Holmes
As he blocked traffic, was the truck driver reliving the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix? René, can you prove where you were that day?
Only vague memories Carl... |
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Post by Carl on Jun 22, 2024 0:23:45 GMT
Driving in the rain is ok if you are all going in one direction and there are no 18 wheel trucks in the vicinity. I remember driving to the coast in SA on a single lane road with traffic coming in the other direction. I was behind an 18 wheeler who was throwing up an almost impenetrable wall of spray. The cars coming in the other direction were so spaced that unless you had a long view of the road ahead, it was impossible to tell if anyone was coming. As the truck was going at 110 kph, 10kms below the speed limit, I stayed behind him for the next 110kms. I probably lost 10 mins in total but I can still talk about it. A wise decision Rob. I think we all recognize such a situation. Experience is crucial because it is often inexperienced drivers whose impatience gets the upper hand and that can sometimes have dramatic consequences. I also remember a time when I was just driving on the highway and it started to rain so hard that you simply couldn't see anything anymore. Fortunately, everyone drove very slowly, but here too there is always the danger that someone is overconfident and drives too fast with all the risks that entails. Driving in the rain can be a lot of fun as long as it doesn't get too dangerous. What meteorologists call an "atmospheric river" crossed over the central coast of California in early February and for almost an hour I drove through the heaviest downpour I've ever experienced. The windshield wipers weren't effective even at the fastest setting and I used a narrow painted yellow line next to the median for guidance on the freeway, alternating between windshield and side window views. Fortunately everyone drove safely (even the speed demons) and I was relieved to arrive home without incident. Waiting in my car for the rain to subside, I took a deep breath and thanked providence. |
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Post by chrisb on Jun 22, 2024 9:21:19 GMT
Chaps I could totally resonate with what you say about driving in the rain, sometimes it is wonderfully challenging and enjoyable whilst at other times it is a time for dear prudence,
My bike always has Michelin's road tyres on as they give me the most confidence in wet
Rene, yes I would agree that these fearsome beasts in that weather must be something else to manage and of course repairing barriers is of vital importance,
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Post by mikael on Jun 22, 2024 11:14:37 GMT
I never found it a pleasure to drive in the rain - but thought that a single good point in doing so was that a wet road surface would at least reduce tyre wear. But recently, I learned from an expert in tribology (the science of friction and wear of materials) that it's actually the opposite: the wet sand on the road surface acts like a grinding paste, grinding off rubber much more efficiently than dry sand (and sand is unavoidably always present on any (public) road surface - there's probably nothing, practically, on, say, the ultra-clean GP circuits ...). In other words, for normal road cars, the tyres wear down quicker when driving in the rain than when driving in the dry.
So, except possibly for the bigger driving-challenge, there's nothing positive about driving in the rain |
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Post by René on Jun 22, 2024 12:52:44 GMT
So, except possibly for the bigger driving-challenge, there's nothing positive about driving in the rain No, better to watch others do that from your armchair!  |
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Post by mikael on Jun 22, 2024 14:50:04 GMT
In real cars, with a closed cockpit, at least you sit "indoors", in the dry. In a lesser category, like karting, you're sure to be drenched!
And thinking about motocross ... a little bit of rain is actually nice, as it will eliminate the dust. But racing in a heavy downpour ... the photos below probably speak for themselves, I think :-D
In the early 1980's ...
... and in the 2020's - but still, after just a couple of laps, these rider will look just like those in the older photo, above ...
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Toyota and Ferrari was epic. At one time, a graphic display had top speeds at 215 mph. 
