We have 3 tire choices for 2013:
- Current RA1 (safe, completely known, not completely loved)
- New Toyo RR (a 2-groove slick like the Hoosier, lots of promise but even more unknown than the Hoosier was last year when we made a decision)
- Hoosier SM6 (the official National spec tire, now with a year of real-world data behind it)
By now, you may have seen the poll that I posted to people who ran the Hoosier last year:
http://mazdaracers.c...age__mode__show
Here's what I find interesting - by a 2 to 1 margin people say they got less sessions out of the tire. But they are split 50/50 on whether or not they would switch back to the RA1. That means there is something to the tire which, even if incrementally more expensive, may be worth giving a second look. I don't want to belabor issues like the magic lap, heat cycle count, benefits to no shaving or the predictability of the tire (all things outlined in the thread associated with the poll above).
Instead, here are a few things I'd like to hear thoughts on:
- Last year we ran 4 National races (2 Nationals and 2 Rationals). The current plan is to do two Double Rationals this year so the issue of Regional vs. National tire will reappear like at the Sonoma Sprints. My goal is to get it so that you can earn points for both simultaneously this year unlike last year. That will only be possible if we are on the Hoosier, otherwise you are ineligible for National points.
- SFR has been approached about running a new Majors event. It's something like a BFG Super Tour which has a lot of pre, during, and post-event promotion and reporting by the National office plus proper post-race champagne podiums, trophies and interviews. I attended a Super Tour event at Buttonwillow two seasons ago and it was a lot of fun.
- While we are not currently a major National racing region (or coast...), the Runoffs are coming west. Butch and Jeff said as much and you can read it in print from Jeff here. "West" could be as close as Sonoma or it could be as far away as Miller but there were a lot of locals who headed to the NASA Championships when it was held at Miller and I have to assume that having the Runoffs near by would spur a lot of our drivers to participate.
- The Hoosier would impede cross-over from SCCA to NASA locally at least through 2014 when the SCCA Hoosier and 2015 when the NASA Toyo contracts are up for renewal again.
- Oregon and Cal Club both run the National tire so any other choice limits the ability to crossover between SCCA regions.
A final key issue is support: Ron Cortez at AIM has done awesome by us, including putting together a Toyo contingency program for the region. It is not equal to the NASA program (nor is the Hoosier contingency program) but it is thanks to his support that we have it. Ron has stated he does not make much on the Hoosier so his ability to continue supporting Group 7 should be factored in.
That's what I've got for now... looking especially for feedback from people who ran an SFR event this year!
PS - banquet reg is open, who will I have a drink with this year? And if you haven't, please vote in the BOD election.