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What was supposed to be a day of fun at Mid-Ohio, went bad this morning. We got some significant rainfall about an hour before Session 1, but it had stopped, and the surface in the paddock had no standing water. Nothing that I thought the Yokahamas couldn't handle, so I didn't switch to the Kumhos.
As I went through pit out on lap 1, I could feel the car was very squirrelly, so I made a point of taking it very slowly. There was significantly more water on the track than the paddock, but it was no worse than the rain we had driven through to get to the track in the morning.
Lap 2, exiting the keyhole in a completely straight line, I slowly squeezed on the throttle at maybe 45 MPH in 3rd gear, and I immediately lost the rear end and was pointed to the right at the infield, I steered left, and it went into a 180 spin, off into the grass and backed into the wall with the right side at about a 45 degree angle. Ruined my day, and my son's day since he was going to take it out with me as his instructor in the next session! I'm glad it was me who screwed up the car instead of him. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he had done it.
I went out as an instructor in Session 3 with my intermediate student in a Ferrari 328, and his car was behaving like it was on ice even with decent street tires on it. There was no predicting when the car would try to step out. Once the track dried, his car was absolutely fine.
Based on that. I'd say I had the wrong tires on the car, and I am completely out of touch with how slick the track is since the last repaving job. Lesson 1: You can't go slow enough if you put dry tires on a wet race track.
I called Nationwide Insurance to at least use the towing part of my policy, and they got it towed to Whitey Honda in Mansfield. Surprisingly, they are acting like they are going to handle the claim, but I will believe it when I see it. After they eliminated my job earlier this month, maybe they'll take pity on the unemployed!
No estimates yet, but I'm guessing $5K. Right rear quarter panel, control arm, half shaft, door is sratched and maybe dented, right front fender, and front and rear bumper covers. More to come.....
Seriously considering selling it now,and buying a couple of throw away Spec Miatas! I'm not taking anything to the track I can't afford to waste again.
07-31-2009, 03:59 PM
Stupid is as Stupid Does
Sorry....
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