Hoosier SM7 Official for 2014

I was honored to be asked to participate in the test.  I can only echo what Jim has said above.  I guess I shouldn't really call it a test.  We provided data to Hoosier on a tires they already had data on.

I think the big take away for me was, I believe that the racing/times are going to be even closer using the SM7.

I'm glad to hear there may be a contingency program for all levels of racing next year.  That's progress and support from both the SCCA and Hoosier, good stuff.

How is having the two sanctioning bodies on different tires good?  Also you only need 3 entries for contingency with Toyo and NASA.  Though it gets better with more of course.

For me what NASA does is not a concern.

There are no "Divisional" races, only Majors and Regionals.  The Regional name was chosen because all of the non-Major races are organized by the Regions, not the Divisions.  The Divisions have all set up their Divisional Championship points and races that they designate as Runoffs qualification races.  If you are not racing for Runoffs points, you can run in another class, like SMT, if it is offered by your Division.  Of course, you will not receive the Hoosier contingency.

wheel

Majors, races, and special races that are totally not nationals.

Not sure that it is, NASA is a business and Toyo is paying Jerry. When the tire contract was up in NASA, SCCA was in the middle of thier contract. Jerry had the choice to "be on the same tire" He chose Toyo, they backed him when he started and they pay him, so that was not a surprise. SCCA contract is up next year. I would send a letter to you area director is that is a priority.

Do you know if NASA was offered the same contingency dollars by Hoosier?  I doubt it.

My guess is Hoosier would stiff NASA so NASA found a tire company that will offer contingency.  Jerry wins whether he gets paid or we get paid.  In the second case he gets his money from more entries.

NASA races get big contingency dollars in the GTS classes.  a "win" over three other cars in your class is good for two free tires.  Two wins in a weekend = free set.

NASA races get big contingency dollars in the GTS classes.  a "win" over three other cars in your class is good for two free tires.  Two wins in a weekend = free set.

Open tire contingency is a COMPLETELY different beast than spec tire contingency.  GTS is open, right?

Not sure that it is, NASA is a business and Toyo is paying Jerry. When the tire contract was up in NASA, SCCA was in the middle of thier contract. Jerry had the choice to "be on the same tire" He chose Toyo, they backed him when he started and they pay him, so that was not a surprise. SCCA contract is up next year. I would send a letter to you area director is that is a priority.

I never was good at history mind you, but if memory serves the SCCA contract with Toyo concluded at the end of the 2011 season, NASA was contractually tied to Toyo through the end of the 2012 season. Thus it was actually the other way around, the SCCA had the choice to remain on the same tire and decided to go to Hoosier. In regards to who is getting paid what, I would have to imagine Toyo paid a "fee" to the SCCA to be the spec tire during their contract and Hoosier is doing the same today, that is how those relationships tend to work regardless of whether you are a business or a non-profit.

How is having the two sanctioning bodies on different tires good?  Also you only need 3 entries for contingency with Toyo and NASA.  Though it gets better with more of course.

Speed of the tire is irrelevant when we are all on the same tire.  Longevity and cost effectiveness, in my opinion, are 10x more important that pace.

Todd we have discussed this in other threads, but it agree having SCCS and NASA on different tires is not good. but NASA seams to be tied to Toyo, and the RR dry and the RA 1 wet are inferior to the Hoosiers. The RR is slow And grains at my track maybe not all. And there rain tire is slow.

I have been told it doesn't grain at Mid O if you shave it.

How is having the two sanctioning bodies on different tires good?  Also you only need 3 entries for contingency with Toyo and NASA.  Though it gets better with more of course.

Speed of the tire is irrelevant when we are all on the same tire.  Longevity and cost effectiveness, in my opinion, are 10x more important that pace.

^ + 1

I have been told it doesn't grain at Mid O if you shave it.

I'm assuming the SM7 is a 4/32 ??

And I know you we're talking about the RR.

J~

I'll just say that this really isn't "nice" to those who run Majors in the northern parts of the Eastern Conference, and have tires left over from 2013.  I guess SCCA thought it was helping by adding the 3rd Major, but that's Road Atlanta in March.  We're usually still snowed-in then.

never mind

SCCA contract is up next year.

I never was good at history mind you, but if memory serves the SCCA contract with Toyo concluded at the end of the 2011 season, NASA was contractually tied to Toyo through the end of the 2012 season. Thus it was actually the other way around, the SCCA had the choice to remain on the same tire and decided to go to Hoosier. In regards to who is getting paid what, I would have to imagine Toyo paid a "fee" to the SCCA to be the spec tire during their contract and Hoosier is doing the same today, that is how those relationships tend to work regardless of whether you are a business or a non-profit.

Dont want to get into a NASA/SCCA deal here.. BUT

SCCA contract came up and the Hoosier tire was chosen by the BOD after a membership survey was sent to EVERY SM competitor. They chose the tire that best matched the wants and needs of their membership.  Not shaving and trackside support were some of the biggest concerns. Toyo at that time did not offer either. Still track side is non existant for the most part.  SCCA had only one choice or they could choose to ignore the membership. That is one of the benefits of a club. 

In NASA, Jerry chose the tire that made business sense, which is what he should do. I am sure he would not have chose Toyo if it was a terrible tire just because they wrote him a check. That would be a terrible long term business decision and Jerry is obviously a smart man.  One of the benefits of being a business and not a club, some times a business can protect their members from themselves. A decsion was made at the end of 12 season by NASA not to be on the same tire as SCCA, The decision in 11 was made by what the SCCA membership wanted.  It is really a different story, but you can spin however you like.

It will be interesting to see what the SCCA does next year. I would encourage all the SM drivers that are not happy with the rate of tire consumption/competitive cycles to write the BOD and tell them so. Usually we do nothing and then just complain on a forum. The rate we consume tires is too fast IMO and is not needed or reasonable. I do not like the amount of new tires we go through at all. Hopefully the SM7 will be better than the SM6 in that regard, but we didnt see that in the test' Hopefully real life applications will produce better results. If they don't, we need to voice our frustration or sit quietly when nothing is done.  Despite the opinion that front runners always happily run stickers etc. I can assure you NONE OF US like buying sticker sets after stickers sets.