4.5.14 – “SKID PLATE RACING IN MY NEW ACCORD RACING MACHINE”
Skip all this reading and jump to the VIDEO if all these words are overwhelming)
This article describes what Skid Plate racing is http://goo.gl/TfQnSz).
Briefly, Skid Plate racing involves removing the rear wheels of a front wheel drive car and replacing them with flat metal plates that offer very little (no) traction. The cars slide and spin like driving on ice.
After renting a car from the master of this type of crazy racing, Robert Rice for a past event, he told me we could put together my own car fairly easily. So we did! See the full post of the car build here.
PRACTICE/ QUALIFYING
The afternoon of the race we had a practice/ qualifying session. This would be my first time ever driving the car complete with all the modifications that we made. This would also be my first time driving a skid plate car with other cars on the track driving for good lap times.
Things did not go well . . . I struggled to put together a lap without spinning let alone a solid lap time. Having all the cars on the track takes you off the perfect line and even a momentary lapse of concentration will result in a spin. Towards the end of the session I finally started to connect with the car and my times improved. With that said, it was not exactly confidence inspiring. Thanks to some good driving by the other drivers, the car at least got through the session without any damage.
AUTOGRAPH SESSION
After the qualifying session it was time to head out for the autograph session. There was a great turnout and my awesome green Honda Accord race car seemed to be really popular. Again, many many thanks to Robert Rice Racing for helping me put together this car. The session was bitter sweet because deep down, I knew there was a good chance this well loved car would be in for some very hard driving during the race that was soon to come and that destroying the car was a very real possibility.
POLE POSITION!
Or 2nd, not really sure … I wish I could say qualifying went much better than I thought it did, hence the start at the front but, really due to a problem with the tracks timing system, the starting order was decided at random. Somehow I ended up starting in first. This was to be short lived . . .
Spin and a crash – sorry to the cars involved
Spin and a crash – sorry to the cars involve
Towards the end of the opening lap I spun and collected two cars in the process. Sorry to those drivers. Luckily the car was fine and I continued on.
I had a few more spins but around the halfway point I really got my rhythm and figured out some tricks to keeping the car balanced and pointing in the right direction. I think I finished around 15th place, so pole to 15th is not exactly the most impressive result, I did learn a ton about driving these cars and am sure I will do better in the next one.
Thanks again to Robert Rice Racing I would never have had the opportunity to do this without their help.
All said, the damage to the car was not too bad so very lucky – mostly cosmetic.
Was very lucky that the crash damage was not too bad, just cosmetic
Was very lucky that the crash damage was not too bad, just cosmetic
Thank you to TrakkTape – Great product for protecting my car on track!
Track Day Protection
Racing Adventures 
I like that! You did good keeping it on the track. I e have three and possibly four skid plate cars going out to LVMS this season also. Nice job
Thank you, awesome, that sounds fun! Do they run enduro style races at LVMS?