Keeping warm at Cold track

[NSXDreamer2]

Hi, I'm just dumb found that my local track is still open even in winter. Of course it will be a HPDE event organized by the driving school. So given the anticipated limited participants, we might get some free instructions. :wink: A big plus for me the grass root cheap track addicted.

Anyway, being in Seattle, it would most likely be cold and wet. I don't worry about the driving much, as I like driving in rain and it's proven that you'd learn more in every aspect in that. (Snow? anyone :tongue: )

I'm from the Southern Asia, and even I've been in states for more than a decade, I still don't like to be cold. So attending a track event with standing/ sitting "outside" the car is not just uncomfortable, it's downright scary for me. (I'm the type that even after getting inside the warm car, I would get shaken by the coldness involuntary and that hampered my driving ability) Anyone have any pointer for ways of staying warm??

Please don't suggest me to move to CA, AZ or FL... I wished I had like 10 yrs ago.......

 

[vtecNSX1]

Fur coat :biggrin: youll be warm and pimpin.

 

[2slow2speed]

Ferrand,

SPARCO X-Light 300 Suit

http://www.speedwaremotorsports.com/clothing/sparco_suits.asp

BTW: I thought that you were giving up tracking for a while to concentrate on other stuph...

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Ferrand,

SPARCO X-Light 300 Suit

http://www.speedwaremotorsports.com/clothing/sparco_suits.asp

BTW: I thought that you were giving up tracking for a while to concentrate on other stuph...

thanks Ken, good thing my wife doesn't check on Prime, or else she would have called you to stop giving me ideas to spend money.... :biggrin:

I had a job offering, but it won't start until next year. But seems like the new job would not be as flexible as the current one... so, I might not be able to take too many track days next summer.... thus, having to go 1 or 2 days before attending the new job would be logical... (nah, I'm just making excuse for myself be on the track whenever it's possible :tongue: )

 

[VBNSX]

I don't know if your track offers a shelter but just a fun thing to keep your feet warm is to set your feet on the rims after a nice session. The girl I brought to Watkins Glen would immediately bring her chair, blanket, and self right up to my car and warm up to the brake heat.

x

 

[NSXDreamer2]

I don't know if your track offers a shelter but just a fun thing to keep your feet warm is to set your feet on the rims after a nice session. The girl I brought to Watkins Glen would immediately bring her chair, blanket, and self right up to my car and warm up to the brake heat.

x

that's a good start :wink: any more trick??

 

[Russ]

I'm from the Southern Asia, and even I've been in states for more than a decade, I still don't like to be cold.

I'm from Brooklyn and I don't like it either. :biggrin:

 

[VBNSX]

Leave a blanket in the trunk... the heat from the exhaust will heat up the trunk and make the blanket nice and toasty when you come in...

x

 

[titaniumdave]

Ferrand,
The biggest thing is to keep your head covered. You loose 60% of your body heat off the top of your head because your body pumps so much blood up there to control the temperature of your brain. Just like in the summer, you can keep cool by keeping the sun off your head, in the winter you can keep warm by keeping your head covered. Wear a hat.

I dress to keep dry and layer like I would for a hike or backpacking. Long sleeve moisture wicking underware as a first layer, a light vest and a Gore tex hooded jacket. I will pack Gore tex pants too. Make sure to have warm gloves and a hat to put on as soon as I finish driving and make a point of keeping my feet dry. I find if I can stay dry, I stay warm. The other key is to have a pop up cover to huddle under with a propane heater, or a friend with an SUV that can be warmed up now and then.:biggrin:

What dates are you looking at? Just got new SO-3's on my car and would not mind logging some laps at Pacific Raceways in the rain.
Dave

 

[NSXDreamer2]

thanks for your tips, Dave. Proformace had some openings on this Friday. I'm still un-decide as if I'll go or not, as I just took my front 17 inches tires to my daily driven accord... Don't want to drive the 18/18 set up on track, don't want to drive fresh front tires on track (Especially with Kumho MX, you know how slippery they are when they are fresh ) Can't drive my Bald RA1 if it's wet.... So it really depends on the weather...

I'll keep you update once I decided to go. Oh, and Don @ Proformace just informed me that he'll open his office up in case we would like to stay away from the elements.

 

[titaniumdave]

Bummer,
this Friday is no good for me...

Keep me posted if another date comes up.

If you are looking for tires, I just got all 4 17/18" SO-3 for $805 at Discount tires in Portland, mounted! I set up a 10% discount with the local BMW ACA and I should be able to assist others to get the hook up!

 

[demigod]

Take one of those small camping portable propane stoves. Warm up the broth for the Pho, and add extra Spirachi sauce to it. Tastes good and keeps you warm.. :biggrin:

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Take one of those small camping portable propane stoves. Warm up the broth for the Pho, and add extra Spirachi sauce to it. Tastes good and keeps you warm.. :biggrin:

You South Cal guys pissed me off, not only you guys have all the sun and dry months, or Govenator... You also get to make Pho at the track :biggrin: One question, how do I fit the broth with track tires and other track-going tools into a nsx.?

Ken??:tongue:

edit: I haven't even tried to ask, but I had seriously thinking of BBQ at the track... Consider I always bring some company and they are kind of bored when they not getting the chance to be on track.

 

[demigod]

You South Cal guys pissed me off, not only you guys have all the sun and dry months, or Govenator... You also get to make Pho at the track :biggrin: One question, how do I fit the broth with track tires and other track-going tools into a nsx.?

Ken??:tongue:

edit: I haven't even tried to ask, but I had seriously thinking of BBQ at the track... Consider I always bring some company and they are kind of bored when they not getting the chance to be on track.

AHA! I got you thinking about taking Pho to the track..good idea huh? Just put the broth in a Thermos Mug, that way it won't spill. :smile: If you do bring company, like you said the bbq thing would probably be the way to go.

 

[docjohn]

Hat,insulated undies,fleece.iow dress warmly.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Thanks for everyone's input. I did make a last minute decision and went there yesterday. It was pretty cold in the morning, someone was telling me when they arrive the track, the in-car's temperature in their porsche was saying 27 degree. However, it was very dry and we have the sun shining all day long. Because of that, I didn't wear any special insulated undies... but with 2 tshirts, one long sleeves, and one tutle neck, then add a vest and a rain coat with Hood. (I don't wear hat myself, and I can't of taken Dave's advise seriously, so I guessed a hooded coat would be a nice complimise....)

My first two sessions, the track was very cold and very dusty. At the back roads there's leaves all over the track. Quite a sight, comparing what we used to in Summer. Luckily we only have a 5 ft patch of black ice at the back straightaway that could be avoid.

Driving was still a little cold in the first couple session, but somehow I was put in a small relatively inexperienced group with 7 cars and 3 student's cars. (The other group had 22 cars and they are with fast cars ie. GT3's, Z06, and with veteran fast drivers and instructors) So I was passing everyone even at half throttle in my "novice group" and I got away with keeping the windows up. (no need to point by). Brakes (Pather+ with Aerorotors) never got warmed up until my forth lap. With a relatively clean track, I got to experience a lot of different lines and I did learn something new. My car in this cold weather could get to 150mph (speedometer indicated) in forth gear at 8100 rpm. The tire didn't wear out as fast, yet gas mileage is higher beyond my belief..

The real fun is when the groups getting smaller in the afternoon, and the school designed to put us in one group and all the sudden everyone was out at the track. (still only like 12-15 cars ) I had a chance playing with an insturtor with her modified E36 lightweight and I got to "beat" her... I was left out playing with myself for half of the days and now my front view is all cleaned again... So I exited out the track, and then I found I'm behind two heavily modified 911 turbo (don't know the name as they are those big butt 80's one, one driver told me his only had 4 speed, the other had 5 speed and putting out around 360hp) They were waiting their friend (victum, another simular car with simular modification) and playing tag, I followed along.

Somehow I get a lot of advantage from the braking from high speed. and with help catching up slower traffic from time to time. I was tagging along with 3 turboed, very loud porsche (Yeah I thought my Taitec was loud ) That was my high light of the day, and I believed I had reached my personal best time which is at least 2 seonds faster. Too bad I don't have any lap timer and my video tape just ran out. Damn it We played along for probably 8-10 laps, and with clean traffic ahead the fastest one were slowly pulling away from me, and my mouth was getting really really dry and I'm starting losing concentration due to the sunset. (There are two turns that the sun is directly into our eyes, and I couldn't see anything but just using the memory for turn in.) So I just call it for the day.

The Porsche drivers came complimenting my driving and amazed that I could keep up with them for that long. I just thank them letting me hanging with them and take me up to another skill level. (Their faster exit speed really tells me a lot which line I should drive on the track which I've been experinecing all morning.) We figured the right gearing and the ABS gave me a little extra help to keep the momentum. But then they were using really wide sticky tires (I believed it's A032/038) with the huge brakes. While I'm using Stock 15/16 RA1 and stock brakes.

Hope I could keep this "feeling good about myself" feeling until towards next track day in summer...