Painted kerbs in the wet.. techniques?

[naetype]

Given the season I thought this could be very relevant and is causing me some confusion:

Quite simply avoid them all together or is it okay to use them as long as the car/tyre weight is not on them. ie on a right hander it'd be fine to ride the nearside/rh tyres over them?

Opinions/advice please?

[tertius]

Assuming its a track day where absolute lap times don't matter then keep it simple:

If its really wet just keep off them but especially exit/loaded side kerbs.

As it starts to dry start to use the apex/unloaded kerbs but don't use the exit/loaded side kerbs until its fully dry.

[Elderly]

Keep off the white lines even when going down a straight;
if/when you have to brake, you will effectively have a huge left/right brake inbalance,
maybe leading to an unexpected spin!

[mattdaniels]

Keep off the painted lines in the wet. Also for more grip take the wet karting line - avoid the apexes and take the "outside line" - you'll be surprised how much grip you will find on the outside of corners in the wet.

[maximu5]

Put your inside wheels on the inside of the kerb

[Ponk]

Personally i'd just avoid them altogether, as you're not chasing lap times is it really worth the risk? Plus rumbling kerbs will knock your tracking/alignment about and kill the suspension bushes and balljoints quicker.

[kaese]

Ponk said:

Personally i'd just avoid them altogether, as you're not chasing lap times is it really worth the risk? Plus rumbling kerbs will knock your tracking/alignment about and kill the suspension bushes and balljoints quicker.

In my experience, the car becomes worryingly twitchy when running over the kerbs in the wet. Not worth the fuss & risk. Especially on a track day, where you're not 'chasing' lap times.

Edited by kaese on Friday 20th November 19:48

[Pjj]

A lesson learnt....

Just to prove the point check this one out,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYRvY4tjeTw

Spa a few weeks ago novice that I am I didn't appreciate just how slippery a white line is...do now

I was very very lucky, 2 cars were pretty much written off in the 30 mins beforehand

[Simon Mason]

The fact of the mater is, if your driving around a circuit trying hard not to go on the curbs then you are more vulnerable when you get it wrong and being human, you will get it wrong at some point guaranteed.

Wet painted exit curbs are not ideal but they are ONLY bad if one reaches the curb and in a big panic to get away from or off them. The simple fact is the car was running out towards the curb long, long before it got there its only going there because one powered up without looking at the cars trajectory in relation to the exit curb, so if that then means your going on the curb then simply make sure your steering is as straight as you can possibly get it when you get there without having to take the grass as well. If its RWD car it also helps not to be on full power. Then run to the end of the curb gently nursing it off. The car will feel a bit "light" on on the curb side is totaly controlable. The people that spin on curbs ONLY do so because they are in a hurry to get back off or back into the power!

Painted Apex curbs in the wet are inexcuseably avoidable though

[hyperblue]

Pjj said:

A lesson learnt....

Just to prove the point check this one out,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYRvY4tjeTw

Spa a few weeks ago novice that I am I didn't appreciate just how slippery a white line is...do now

I was very very lucky, 2 cars were pretty much written off in the 30 mins beforehand

Bloody hell that was close! Glad you and the car are ok

[FLD_WILLIS]

Simon Mason said:

The fact of the mater is, if your driving around a circuit trying hard not to go on the curbs then you are more vulnerable when you get it wrong and being human, you will get it wrong at some point guaranteed.

Wet painted exit curbs are not ideal but they are ONLY bad if one reaches the curb and in a big panic to get away from or off them. The simple fact is the car was running out towards the curb long, long before it got there its only going there because one powered up without looking at the cars trajectory in relation to the exit curb, so if that then means your going on the curb then simply make sure your steering is as straight as you can possibly get it when you get there without having to take the grass as well. If its RWD car it also helps not to be on full power. Then run to the end of the curb gently nursing it off. The car will feel a bit "light" on on the curb side is totaly controlable. The people that spin on curbs ONLY do so because they are in a hurry to get back off or back into the power!

Painted Apex curbs in the wet are inexcuseably avoidable though

Interesting read.

[AJ-T]

Pjj said:

A lesson learnt....

Just to prove the point check this one out,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYRvY4tjeTw

Spa a few weeks ago novice that I am I didn't appreciate just how slippery a white line is...do now

I was very very lucky, 2 cars were pretty much written off in the 30 mins beforehand

You were sooo lucky there. Ive had a similar experience at silverstone at 105mph exiting copse and it really throws you - lucky I didnt hit anything ended up 1 foot from the armco! Def learnt my lesson!

[ringweekends]

Just put all 4 wheels the other side of them to be safe .............

[nordshleife]

Rule of thumb for wet weather. If it is painted stay at least 3 feet away from it.

[Alicatt1]

Pjj said:

A lesson learnt....

Just to prove the point check this one out,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYRvY4tjeTw

Spa a few weeks ago novice that I am I didn't appreciate just how slippery a white line is...do now

I was very very lucky, 2 cars were pretty much written off in the 30 mins beforehand

Shudder! done that with my MG a couple of weeks ago, but never touched the white line, busy now getting the bits together to rebuild the car. I was one of 4 that came off there - 2 caterhams an S2000 and my ZT.