Bedford in the wet
Discussion
Have done it 3 times in the wet. It's fun! There is only one corner to worry about IMO and that is the long 180 corner before the long main straight as it is like driving on ice when wet and the tyre wall is close to right hand edge of the tarmac.
Aside from that it's all gravy.
Cheers
Slodge
Aside from that it's all gravy.
Cheers
Slodge
It was wet all day earlier this year and I loved it.
It teaches you real control like no other.
Flat out down the straights, squeeze the brakes as hard as you dare, the rears lock a little with weight transfer and the fronts skip on the wet track, absolutely brilliant!
Most tracks are slippery when wet. That fine Tarmac isn't like the road or airfields that use a courser aggregate in the Tarmac.
Combe is another slippery one.
Just build your speed and aim to drive really smooth taking up the whole track to maximise grip.
It teaches you real control like no other.
Flat out down the straights, squeeze the brakes as hard as you dare, the rears lock a little with weight transfer and the fronts skip on the wet track, absolutely brilliant!
Most tracks are slippery when wet. That fine Tarmac isn't like the road or airfields that use a courser aggregate in the Tarmac.
Combe is another slippery one.
Just build your speed and aim to drive really smooth taking up the whole track to maximise grip.
I was there when phased was and I think we all had a great time.
Lots of sideways
http://youtu.be/m_YAv1bqTJY
Lots of sideways
http://youtu.be/m_YAv1bqTJY
Bradders901 said:
Hi - I have done Bedford a couple of times, both dry (lucky me). Anyone done it in the wet, is it still fun because I have read in Evo it is like ice when it's wet?
The best fun i had was in the wet 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T81rLWTDj4
Here's a video of me from a few years back in a racing MX5 running a dry setup in the rain...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvhREC37eK0
The FWD cars where going considerably faster out of the corners, but I suspect I was having more fun.
There are a couple of corners to watch for - the sweeping left after the first chicane (see 4:20 when I pass the prelude and get very sideways) as the surface changes with a bump which unsettles the car.
The other is the final corner onto the start/finish line which is also very slippery and quite highspeed, a puddle usually forms near the apex which will pull the car if it has been raining enough - you'll note the row of cones there to avoid people cutting in to close as the 'pit wall' is one of the few 'hard' things to hit at bedford (along with the wall along the back straight.
Watch for standing water on the back straight particularly on the left before the chicane in the middle
The complex down near the big man-made hill is always slippery, but reasonably consistant
Still, a good fun circuit to drive in the rain if your sensible...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvhREC37eK0
The FWD cars where going considerably faster out of the corners, but I suspect I was having more fun.
There are a couple of corners to watch for - the sweeping left after the first chicane (see 4:20 when I pass the prelude and get very sideways) as the surface changes with a bump which unsettles the car.
The other is the final corner onto the start/finish line which is also very slippery and quite highspeed, a puddle usually forms near the apex which will pull the car if it has been raining enough - you'll note the row of cones there to avoid people cutting in to close as the 'pit wall' is one of the few 'hard' things to hit at bedford (along with the wall along the back straight.
Watch for standing water on the back straight particularly on the left before the chicane in the middle
The complex down near the big man-made hill is always slippery, but reasonably consistant
Still, a good fun circuit to drive in the rain if your sensible...
slodge said:
Have done it 3 times in the wet. It's fun! There is only one corner to worry about IMO and that is the long 180 corner before the long main straight as it is like driving on ice when wet and the tyre wall is close to right hand edge of the tarmac.
Definitely this! Have seen two go into the wall there in the wet and have come very close myself - always caused by putting power on too early when you see the straight ahead. Otherwise it's all good fun and fairly benign.Bedford has to be one of the best places in the country to have a wet track day.
If you have a car with ESP it's a great way to experience how clever these systems can be at keeping the car pointing the right way (the kind of situation where you would be bricking it if it happened on the road).
I had a day there in my C43 in changeable conditions and the way you could chuck it in to certain corners, feel the ESP dab the brakes on individual wheels and cut a bit of power to avoid a certain spin was fascinating. On the other hand, it's the kind of track where you can turn the systems off and have a play on certain corners.
If you have a car with ESP it's a great way to experience how clever these systems can be at keeping the car pointing the right way (the kind of situation where you would be bricking it if it happened on the road).
I had a day there in my C43 in changeable conditions and the way you could chuck it in to certain corners, feel the ESP dab the brakes on individual wheels and cut a bit of power to avoid a certain spin was fascinating. On the other hand, it's the kind of track where you can turn the systems off and have a play on certain corners.
Having just got back from the EVO evening track session there, in the slashing rain, I can confidently assert that some of it is slippery, some of it is very slippery and some of it is like greased blancmange. And as someone rightly said, the complex before the main straight is unbelievably slippery. I span there virtually every lap (yes, I am a slow learner).
Edited by Zumbruk on Saturday 29th June 08:53
Zumbruk said:
Having just got back from the EVO evening track session there, in the slashing rain, I can confidently assert that some of it is slippery, some of it is very slippery and some of it is like greased blancmange. And as someone rightly said, the complex before the main straight is unbelievably slippery. I span there virtually every lap (yes, I am a slow learner).
I was there too in the Black and White Exige and it was properly slippery. I'll post up some vid from this evening when I get a mo...Benja_Exige said:
Zumbruk said:
Having just got back from the EVO evening track session there, in the slashing rain, I can confidently assert that some of it is slippery, some of it is very slippery and some of it is like greased blancmange. And as someone rightly said, the complex before the main straight is unbelievably slippery. I span there virtually every lap (yes, I am a slow learner).
I was there too in the Black and White Exige and it was properly slippery. I'll post up some vid from this evening when I get a mo...(I was in the blue & yellow Westfield, spinning quite a lot.)
I was there too in the yellow elise. I think everyone spun out at least once yesterday, was great to practise controlling the inevitable slides and feeling like a hero although ran out of talent a few times.
Benja Exige, your car was epic, spitting out flames. Zumbruk was great watching you control that Caterham, I've heard they are a nightmare in the wet.
Benja Exige, your car was epic, spitting out flames. Zumbruk was great watching you control that Caterham, I've heard they are a nightmare in the wet.
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