39 replies to this topic

[Butch Kummer]

Which tires do you want to allow?

[Bench Racer]

Which tires do you want to allow?

Is this open to all including those that have no intent of doing the ARRC?

[Butch Kummer]

Is this open to all including those that have no intent of doing the ARRC?

If you have no intent of running the ARRC by GRM, how would I know?

My original plan was to let SM & SM2 run either the 2011 or 2012 tires. That would allow guys that have the older tires (the Toyos) to burn them up while also allowing guys to start getting ready for 2012 with the Hoosiers. When I published that you would have thought I shot the Pope!

The front-runners will all be on whatever they perceive as being the best tire, so this is REALLY for the guys mid-pack and back.

[Terry Clements]

Guess this means we have to buy both:-(. We have never raced on Hoosier tires. Too much at stake to show up with the wrong tire. Pick one or the other. Preferably Toyo.

Terry Clements

[MPR22]

If you have no intent of running the ARRC by GRM, how would I know?

My original plan was to let SM & SM2 run either the 2011 or 2012 tires. That would allow guys that have the older tires (the Toyos) to burn them up while also allowing guys to start getting ready for 2012 with the Hoosiers. When I published that you would have thought I shot the Pope!

The front-runners will all be on whatever they perceive as being the best tire, so this is REALLY for the guys mid-pack and back.

Butch,

Do you honestly think the front runners or midpackers for that matter want to spend valuable practice sessions at one of the biggest races of the year, chasing tire/set up changes. We have all fall and winter to play with Hoosiers. I would hate to "start testing" at the biggest race of the year for most of us. Yes I can start buying Hoosiers now but that doesn't help me with set up at Road Atlanta in November when its 104 every day for the forseable future in Texas. I have friends with data and setup advice on the RA1s I can go there with a good setup and work my way to excellent on RA1s during the practice sessions. I have no chance of that if I have to bring two different tires and start from scratch on one. I know, I tried it with two different cars (1.6 & NB) a few weeks back and ended up less than mediocre in both.

I know its your show, so do what you think is best.

[Mike Collins]

Butch, this is not a SARRC race and SM tire for regional races is open. SM has raced at the ARRC MANY times on the open tire rule. I know the year MEATHEAD Racing won the ARRC we tested both the Toyo and Hoosier on the test day. If people care to go find the old photos I am certain they can figure out which tire we ran.

[Gatoratty]

Many of the front runners will have run the Hoosiers at the Sebring SARRC race in October as that begins the 2012 SARRC season.

[Jim Creighton]

Paul, I think you are jumping the gun by saying that the Hoosier tire will be the tire for the October SARRC races.

Specifically, the SARRC rules say that the SARRC races are conducted under the SEDiv Regional race rules. And the SEDiv regional race rules for Spec Miata say that the tire will be the same rules as for National races. If I read the new rule correctly, it says effective 1-1-12 that the Hoosier tire will be the required tire for SM.

I would suggest that you contact the Chairman of the SEDiv regional class rules committee to see if the committee has addressed this.

As I read the rule, Toyo RA1 until 12-31-11 & on 1-1-12 Hoosier is the tire for SARRC races.

[chris haldeman]

When will there be a concrete decision made?

[Butch Kummer]

When will there be a concrete decision made?

I'm going to discuss options with Drago and Fowler this weekend at Barber, then I'll post a final decision (with a full explanation of how I arrived at it) on Monday, Sept 5.

[chris haldeman]

Ok thanks

[Danny Steyn]

Butch

I would like to propose that the tire for SM ARRC be OPEN. That way those that want to run Hoosiers and get some data for next season have that option, and those that want to burn off their supply of Toyo's have that option too.

Just my $0.02

[Butch Kummer]

This past weekend at Barber I sought opinions from Drago, Fowler, Steyn, and von Charbonneau. The final decision is my original plan:

For the 2011 ARRC by GRM, SM (and SM2) can run the R-888, the RA-1, or the SM6 tire. All four tires must be the same.

This is not quite the "open" tire that some of you sought (you can't run A-6s, for instance), but all four of my consultants supported this decision. Reasoning follows (in no particular order):

1. This is a one-year deal brought on by the SCCA's transition to the Hoosier in 2012.
2. In back-to-back testing there is less than two-tenths difference in total lap times.
3. The Hoosier is 5-7 tenths faster from Turn 1 to Turn 7 while the RA-1 gains most of that back on the back straight and going down the front straight.
4. You can't pass in the Esses (at least without hitting the guy in front of you), so that greatly negates the Hoosier's advantage in race conditions.
5. If I was racing in SM I MIGHT think about qualifying on Hoosiers, but I'd want to run the race on RA-1s (think about where 90% of the passing occurs).
5. SCCA guys that burn up their supply of RA-1s at the NASA Nationals or the Runoffs don't have to choose between buying a new set for a single race vs. staying home.
6. This is a one-year deal brought on by the SCCA's transition to the Hoosier in 2012.

I certainly understand (and appreciate) that winning the ARRC by GRM carries a lot of prestigue in the racing community, but it is NOT the Championship event for Spec Miata. If you want to be the SCCA Spec Miata National Champion you need to be in Wisconsin later this month.

I further understand this decision might very well piss off some folks to the point they'll threaten to never attend another Atlanta Region event ever. To those people I can only say that (after much consideration and consultation - I've lost WAY more sleep over this than is healthy) I'm doing what I think is best for the Atlanta Region racing program. And remember, this is a one-year deal brought on by the SCCA's transition to the Hoosier in 2012.

As always I appreciate your input, but the decision is final.

Hope to see you at the track...

Butch Kummer
Competition Director
Atlanta Region SCCA

[Tom Hampton]

I just want to know one thing. Will you do this again next year?

[Butch Kummer]

I just want to know one thing. Will you do this again next year?

Because you think I'm doing a good job or you're hoping I die in a fire?

It depends on who gets elected Regional Executive.

[Blake Clements]

Mark the tires and make us run what tires we qualify on - all or nothing?

[Butch Kummer]

Mark the tires and make us run what tires we qualify on - all or nothing?

We can do that. You've got two qualifying sessions, so do "you" (the majority of the SM drivers) want to be required to run the same set of tires for both qualifiers plus the race?

If so, we'd do an Impound All after the first qualifier on Friday and mark everyone's tires. If you show up on Grid with an unmarked tire for the second qualifier you lose the times from Session #1. If you show with on Grid for the race with an unmarked tire you start from the back.

Another option would be to have everyone declare what tire option they'll be running so there's no switching back and forth. You don't need to run the exact same tires, but you DO need to run the same option every session. That would be a bit more work for Grid to monitor, but I'm sure we're up to the task.

Figure out what you want and I'll figure out how to enforce it.

Obviously the Pro-IT and ECR sessions are not included.

Also let me know the rules if it rains?

[Jim Drago]

Mark the tires and make us run what tires we qualify on - all or nothing?

Why would we care what tire you qualify on? I don't? I'll support whatever, but seems like a lot of grief for nothing? What are you trying to accomplish?

[pat slattery]

Stay on what everyone knows for 2011, RA1, plus use up some of the obsolete tires for 2012. We were planning to show up for fun, but won't if it means having to stock up on Hoosiers and learn a new setup on a new track for us.

[Terry Clements]

What was the purpose of this poll?

Terry Clements