SCDA Car Control Clinic at LRP

[paradocs98]

Went to the afternoon session of SCDA's Car Control Clinic at Lime Rock last Tuesday. This is a new format that SCDA is trying, using Lime Rock's wet skid pad and dedicated infield autocross course. It rained all day Tuesday, so we didn't need to use the sprinklers on the skid pad.

I've run on the autocross course at Lime Rock in the dry with Skip Barber, and it's a blast. You'd never guess you could have so much fun at less than 65mph! That was three or four years ago with Skip Barber's M3s, Lexus IS-Fs, and Lotus Exige Ss.

This was an opportunity for me to do it again with a lot more track experience under my belt, and in my own car. I was looking forward to doing the autocross in the dry, but the rain probably met the purposes of the day better. It was a fantastic opportunity to slide the car on purpose and practice recovery. And it was a blast!

I've attached a short video clip of the autocross course. We had the instructors ride shotgun first to give tips, and then we circulated around on our own. Some of you will probably think, "You can do the same thing in a rainy parking lot much cheaper." Point taken, but by doing it this way, you have pro instruction, in a controlled environment, with no fear of hitting kids, shopping carts, other cars, curbings, lamp posts, etc. Not to mention this avoids unwanted police attention. Although near the end of the day I did a 270° and slid into the grass--shortly thereafter my low pressure warning for my right front tire alarmed. I checked the tire and realized that I had a leak from the bead at the sidewall/wheel junction. I filled the tire back up and limped home. It consistently lost 8psi every 12hrs or so for the next couple of days until I could get to the dealer. They unmounted the tire, cleaned out some trapped dirt, and remounted it. Problem solved.

Anyway, it was both fun and great practice. They're likely to do more of these events in the future, and I highly recommend them.

[arter]

In a serious class you shouldn't be laughing.
I have done autocross before ( SOLO II, & BMW club), but
never in the rain.

Looks like a hoot.


A you can learn a lot getting comfortable sliding around like that....

[klammer]

Looks like a great time, definitely have to do this soon, thanks for sharing

[M3 Esq]

Looks like a blast thanks for posting. I am attending a similar event in October at NHMS with the CCA. We will also be using the wet skid pad and doing autocross. I will report back after its finished.

[LiM3y]

Tw@ts! I would have loved to have done this...I suggested that they do this when they asked for ideas! Unfortunately, I was away in Europe this past two weeks!

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by arter

In a serious class you shouldn't be laughing.
I have done autocross before ( SOLO II, & BMW club), but
never in the rain.

Looks like a hoot.


A you can learn a lot getting comfortable sliding around like that....

I was giggling like a schoolgirl (with a chest cold).

Originally Posted by klammer

Looks like a great time, definitely have to do this soon, thanks for sharing

Lots of fun!

Originally Posted by M3 Esq.

Looks like a blast thanks for posting. I am attending a similar event in October at NHMS with the CCA. We will also be using the wet skid pad and doing autocross. I will report back after its finished.

Let us know how it goes!

Originally Posted by LiM3y

Tw@ts! I would have loved to have done this...I suggested that they do this when they asked for ideas! Unfortunately, I was away in Europe this past two weeks!

Ian Prout referred to it as the "Inaugural LiM3y Slip-n-Slide/Bubble-and-Squeak Car Control Clinic." He told me that he would comp you either 1) the entry fee of the next LSnSBaS Car Control Clinic, or 2) a soda from the Lime Rock concession stand, whichever is of lesser value.