Wet track days

[wull]

If you have wets then get at it, my favourite time on track and racing was when it was wet, the grip with wets is incredible.

[Noggin]

If I had WoWs maybe.

I do but I've never used them.

I'd give it a go. But then I was one of three out at Cadwell the day before the test day!

Downsides -

You are going to get sodding wet! (And probably a bit cold too!)
Take spare gloves at a minimum.
If you have a spare lid or two, that too.
Don't take your leathers off - they won't go back on!!! But dry gloves will help make things easier/more comfortable!!


Upsides -

Empty track!
Chance to try out the WoWs (which do bloody well rock!).
It's a bit of a hoot really to be out in conditions you just wouldn't usually bother about, and have a laugh. You will laugh! (Kinda have to! LOL).
Bragging rights! Everyone will think you're daft, but they'll call you daft in a respectful way!!
It might get dry and most people won't have bothered to turn up (or will have gone home) so you still have an empty track
Riding a bike on track is good for the soul and the mind!! In any weather.
If you have a waterproof motorway jacket, take it to go over your leathers - it's not perfect but it helps!! (I looked like the local daftie, but it did help!!)


I did only do half the day but that was a lack of dry gloves!! LOL I couldn't take mine off because they'd never go back on again!! LOL

But I did have the most excellent fun and I think there were about three of us on the whole track!!

[v8-powered]

WoW's, empty track pretty much to yourself? No brainer as far as I'm concerned.

I had Almeria pretty much to myself many years back because of a bit of rain - only a few went out....

In Ameria you will have a pleasant and dry garage.

A gazebo with rain blowing sideways isn't quite the same

Yeah true!

[Noggin]

WoW's, empty track pretty much to yourself? No brainer as far as I'm concerned.

I had Almeria pretty much to myself many years back because of a bit of rain - only a few went out....

In Ameria you will have a pleasant and dry garage.

A gazebo with rain blowing sideways isn't quite the same

No garages at Cadwell either, but a van and a decent gazebo makes it ok

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Do you have a set of SM wheels for your DRZ, take that if you have.

[Screwdriver]

If I was already there and it just started raining unexpectedly, then yes. I want to get my moneys worth. That happened once the 'Ring.

Fuck it, I'm going out anyway, I'll take it easy. And so I did.

The Porche GT3 which probably didn't see me until he flew past dragging a fucking hurricane behind him, did not.

I don't think I have ever felt so scared and so vulnerable on a bike but in fairness, that "track" with mixed car+bike is a bit of a one off.

[dern]

I'd give it a go. But then I was one of three out at Cadwell the day before the test day!

...

I've done them before and agree with everything you've said. I've ridden in rain at Cadwell, Pembrey, Combe and Bedford before, even went out in hail at Pembrey which happily only lasted a lap. I didn't mind riding in the wet and can see the value but I didn't get anywhere near the amount of enjoyment out of it as I would in the dry.

The question isn't so much as would you go out if you were there and it rained, which I would and have, but would you spend a day, six hours in a van and a load of diesel if you knew it was going to piss down all day.

[Yorick]

That's why we're lucky here. It cost about 500€ all in to go to my trackday over on Gran Canaria.
But was guaranteed not to rain.

[Noggin]

I'd give it a go. But then I was one of three out at Cadwell the day before the test day!

...

I've done them before and agree with everything you've said. I've ridden in rain at Cadwell, Pembrey, Combe and Bedford before, even went out in hail at Pembrey which happily only lasted a lap. I didn't mind riding in the wet and can see the value but I didn't get anywhere near the amount of enjoyment out of it as I would in the dry.

The question isn't so much as would you go out if you were there and it rained, which I would and have, but would you spend a day, six hours in a van and a load of diesel if you knew it was going to piss down all day.

I probably would. But I'm not known for having a lot of sense!!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

The question isn't so much as would you go out if you were there and it rained, which I would and have, but would you spend a day, six hours in a van and a load of diesel if you knew it was going to piss down all day.

Nope, I don't enjoy riding in the rain, but if you're a masochist who likes being cold and wet, go for it.

[wull]

If you’ve never used them then you need to try it, you’ll be blown away by the amount of grip you get, it usually means the track is quieter as well which is always fun.

[Couchy]

On my nice shiny expensive track bike nope, if I'd took an SV or CB500 on wets then yeah which is what I used to do. Had some great times on them in the rain tbh.

[ChrisW]

If you’ve never used them then you need to try it, you’ll be blown away by the amount of grip you get

This is very true, they're remarkable.

but would you spend a day, six hours in a van and a load of diesel if you knew it was going to piss down all day.

...no, no I wouldn't. Especially not If I was going alone with the increased possibility of nursing a minor injury for three hours on the way back, which I've done before & it's miserable.

[hawkati]

...this one time, at Pembrey...

The rttl event on the weekend that the motogp at Silverstone got abandoned. Yeah, that Sunday.
Had a fine time Saturday on the 996 & the hawk,in the dry. Great. I knew Sunday would be wet but I had a new set of wets so I bunged them on the 996.
Yeah, nah. It was beyond wet - I was aquaplaning and all over the place despite wets and pulled in after three laps. Just not worth it. If normal rain then yay, but the track was pretty much flooded. I was one of three(?) bikes that had a go whilst the rest quite sensibly stayed in the pits and stuck to drinking

[dern]

Calling it on this occasion as the forecast looks pretty bad and gusts in the 40s probably means the gazebo won’t be an option. Will probably be fine weather now but you can only use the information you have and will do something else with the evening and day I get back.

[Bigyin]

Calling it on this occasion as the forecast looks pretty bad and gusts in the 40s probably means the gazebo won’t be an option. Will probably be fine weather now but you can only use the information you have and will do something else with the evening and day I get back.

I saw the lunchtime news forecast for the area this weekend with 40-50 mph gusts and heavy rain and wondered if you had sacked it off yet. I think I would with that forecast

[dern]

Calling it on this occasion as the forecast looks pretty bad and gusts in the 40s probably means the gazebo won’t be an option. Will probably be fine weather now but you can only use the information you have and will do something else with the evening and day I get back.

I saw the lunchtime news forecast for the area this weekend with 40-50 mph gusts and heavy rain and wondered if you had sacked it off yet. I think I would with that forecast

I kept looking at the little cloud symbols change on the local forecast all morning and then saw the projected radar flow of the rain on the news at lunchtime and called it then.