$600 for new tires?

[CIR-Reed]

Things are looking up for this weekend. Comparing lap times from last year I am in the top 3 drivers registered for my race on Sunday. The data we have collected so far with the goodyear compound that is currently legal is this:

1-2 sessions, they are at the top of their game. There doesn't seem to be a difference from 1st to 2nd.

3-4 sessions seems that they are about 2 tenths slower than sessions 1 and 2 but still very very good.

5-18 sessions are about .4 tenths slower than sessions 1 and 2.

More than 18 sessions, they slowly degrade until the cords show.

My choices at the moment:
1. Run on a set of 3 cycle tires which means I will be putting cycle 4 and 5 on them so they will most likely be about 3-4 tenths slower than absolute fastest possible.
2. Buy a brand new set for $600 and take no chances. I would put the first 2 cycles on them on Sunday and then have them for another weekend to put cycles 3 and 4 on them.

What would you guys do?

[Rick]

Depends on the following things:

1. How much money do you have right now?
2. How badly do you need those tenths?
3. How easy/hard is it to make $600 for you?

For me, I would just run the tires and work on my skill. A couple of tenths are not going to make a difference for me. I would think that skill could gain you a couple of tenths as well. But if you're running at the front and have a chance of winning, then go for it.

Actually, now that I think about it. During the May 5/6 weekend, run some tires that are hard as rocks. I'll be on Peter's team that weekend. After that, you can run the fresh new tires.

[HenryK]

I think you should run with what you have right now. It still seems perfectly okay and competitive.

[CIR-Reed]

I already ran with brand new tires and won the race. Marty helped with some tire sponsorship money but the money was very well spent.

[Rick]

$600 my bwaho! I was competitive on A048's that were heat cycled 30 times already. :dunno:

[Mark Hirt]

competitive and winning are two different stories but then again you really can't win a "track day".

and yes I have seen the Pyramid of Speed

[CIR-Reed]

Maybe the spec racer A048 and the Lotus A048 are slightly different rubber compounds. The A048s that were stamped for spec racers where definitely off the pace after the first session and definitely junk after the 4th. You had to change the setup on the car so dramatically to keep up with their rapid degradation that you ended up putting new ones on and the setup was messed up.

Why don't you come out and do some spec racer racing? If you are competitive on old worn out tires then it should be easy to run with the front runners. :)

[Rick]

It's too high up on the pyramid of speed for me right now; I'm afraid I would fall off and get a boo boo. :grinyes: Seriously, it's a matter of moolah right now. I'd have to quit karting and track days just to race SRF. With karting, I think I get much more seat time, racing and competition for the same amount of money. The track days are nice; But they aren't wheel to wheel or as intense. From what I see and hear from you and Peter, SRF seems more technical and/or mechanical. I don't have to buy custom fuel to be competitive in karting (yet). I like to think of indoor karting as beers, outdoor karting as shots of whiskey and track days as wine tasting. Spec Racer Ford seems like really expensive wine or single malt scotch. I'm not that much of a connoisseur yet. My mentality towards racing is still very similar to a high school kid who has just discovered what a beer bong is. I still like quantity over quality. Seat time is most important in my opinion. And I'm getting tons of seat time in a wide variety of vehicles. I think it's been extremely beneficial to improving my driving skill so far. Who knows? Maybe I'll try SRF out once or twice.

You should come race a at Norway with us. I'll let you drive my DD2 so the power to weight is more even. I'll even let you use your own fuel (as long as it doesn't kill my engine). I'm sure Dave, Martin, Roberto and Paul would love to race you as much as I do. Think of it as a shot contest where all the contenders are alcoholics. :evil_lol: The best part is that there's usually a real shot contest afterwards.