i went to the track last nite and didn't do any better
then before
could the cold be the blame?
it was 47 degree and 95 relative humidity
no one was getting traction
i had my best 60' time 2.08 though
when is it too cold?
thanks

 

When the pavement can't retain any heat. When it's hot and sunny outside the pavement can also get too hot. You'll notice that you get better traction when it's cloudy. Traction stays good until it drops low enough that the pavement gets too hard.

Once the ground starts cooling off, the pavement also starts cooling off. The cold track is hard and tires won't grip the surface.

As to what's the best track temperature I can't really say. Even if they spray the first 60' with VHT, you can still overpower the track after leaving that surface. If I'm trying to test and tune and find there's no traction because of weather or track prep then I call it a day. It's not worth losing traction and risking crashing into the wall.

 

It's too cold to race when the water in the water box is ice.

Seriously though, depends on the car. I ran my dad's nova 2 years ago at a very cold 35 degrees. The car hooked like a champ. You will also run better times in the cold than you will in heat. I met a bunch of guys from the board at a local track in February 2001 and the water in the water box was ice...a lot of those guys left the track with new personal bests.

 

I've been at the track when is was snowing before. OK, it was only a few flurries, but still. I've hooked hard enough to break stuff in sub-40 degree weather.
The cold air is awesome for power.

 

I was able to get out on the weekend. Temperature as in the low 50's at mid afternoon. Humidity was 44%. We got on track just after noon and the track was cold and slippery. I almost did a lane change twice when I shifted into second gear. The track finally started getting some heat into it around 2:30 and I was starting to hook up.

Lots of wheel spin and I ran 12.3. Once the track warmed up I ran 11.20. The next pass after that was going to be my last pass of the day and I blew the engine Lots of rattling inside the engine and oil pouring out the exhaust. I think I broke a piston.

 

I've went in VERY cold air. Low 30's, maybe even dipped into the 20's. It was also the fastest this car has ever gone.

 

Not where I come from. When the ice man commeth you fire up the sleds and head for the lake.