285 replies to this topic

[38bfast]

The SMAC is still working to find a suitable tire past the 7.5. We know that the 7.5 will only be slightly better. We are on the task for much better. 

[LarryKing]

 

The SMAC is still working to find a suitable tire past the 7.5

 

Starts with 'T'

 

Ends with 'o'

 

Has an 'oy' in the middle

[Tom Hampton]

Starts with 'T'
 
Ends with 'o'
 
Has an 'oy' in the middle

Nah.  that'll never work.  Must be true, the SMAC said so. 

[Jim Drago]

Its weird that the survey here has 87.50% of the people saying we need to limit tires. If the rumors are correct, the official survey sent out supposedly says its only a problem for me and other fast guys? 

Most of us threw a small party when it was wet for Q2 at Sebring as it was an $800 savings for most of us. We were able to do the weekend on one set of stickers. 

 

 Again there is no VALID reason not to limit us to one set.. 

 

Some of the completely bogus reasons some oppose.. 

 

1) what if you flat spot all four tires? When was the last time ANYONE has flat spotted all four tires? If you do this in order not to hit a spinning car, you should have video and will not be penalized for switching tires.  If you do this because of poor driving, you deserve to go to the back. 

 

2) So and so is on a budget.. he/she wants to use all his used 4-10 session tires, mix and match and cant make his best showing with only using 5 of them etc. Well at some point, he/she will need to buy a new set.. so this "may" handicap them for one weekend or cost them more for one weekend, but this same person would likely use those new tires for two weekends..  If you are attempting to do majors and super tour races on take offs from faster drivers, well maybe regionals are a better option for you or you will simply need to pick your best five for four sessions and make it work. 

 

I'm getting the feeling several are playing the martyr here claiming they are trying to put  this in place, but really have no intention of recommending it. 

if it doesn't go through on some level, WE ALL need to hold the SMAC accountable. 

[TylerQuance]

Just curious because I don't know... how many SMAC members were at 2+ big races last year? Runoffs? Are they too far disconnected from the action to represent our interests well enough?

[Danny Steyn]

Just curious because I don't know... how many SMAC members were at 2+ big races last year? Runoffs? Are they too far disconnected from the action to represent our interests well enough?

 

Tyler - you might well be on to something, and IMO there has been way less communication from SMAC in recent years than in the past 

[MPR22]

Its weird that the survey here has 87.50% of the people saying we need to limit tires. If the rumors are correct, the official survey sent out supposedly says its only a problem for me and other fast guys? 

Most of us threw a small party when it was wet for Q2 at Sebring as it was an $800 savings for most of us. We were able to do the weekend on one set of stickers. 

 

 Again there is no VALID reason not to limit us to one set.. 

 

Some of the completely bogus reasons some oppose.. 

 

1) what if you flat spot all four tires? When was the last time ANYONE has flat spotted all four tires? If you do this in order not to hit a spinning car, you should have video and will not be penalized for switching tires.  If you do this because of poor driving, you deserve to go to the back. 

 

2) So and so is on a budget.. he/she wants to use all his used 4-10 session tires, mix and match and cant make his best showing with only using 5 of them etc. Well at some point, he/she will need to buy a new set.. so this "may" handicap them for one weekend or cost them more for one weekend, but this same person would likely use those new tires for two weekends..  If you are attempting to do majors and super tour races on take offs from faster drivers, well maybe regionals are a better option for you or you will simply need to pick your best five for four sessions and make it work. 

 

I'm getting the feeling several are playing the martyr here claiming they are trying to put  this in place, but really have no intention of recommending it. 

if it doesn't go through on some level, WE ALL need to hold the SMAC accountable. 

Are people really trying to use the SM 7 for more than 6 heat cycles?  

I don't recall ever having gone past 6 sessions and not losing like .8 to 1.2 per lap.  

[Jim Drago]

Just curious because I don't know... how many SMAC members were at 2+ big races last year? Runoffs? Are they too far disconnected from the action to represent our interests well enough?

While we are all frustrated.. I think it is fair to think that SMAC believed the new tire was going to solve this issue. That and also with new Penske shocks we were supposed to get much more tire life, that turned out not be factual either.  I think we all agree it wont at this point, even the 7.5. So that is likely why nothing has come out. 

 

Not sure why the results of the survey have not been released, they should have been. 

 

This my best representation of what I know of the current SMAC, if any feel it is inaccurate or unfair, please email me and I will correct. Trying to be as accurate as possible. 

 

 

SMAC members..

 

Chair

Sean Hedrick..

Has drivers that compete in Northwest and believe they have an agreement on tires and run their own series, none have run majors or Super tour since 2014 season

 

Ralph Provitz

Has not run Sm personally in about 10 years or so. He builds very nice cars, preps and takes cars to majors/ Super Tour races. One driver often uses 2 plus sets, the others have the budget, but common sense and current skill set doesn't warrant more than one set.  

 

Rich Powers 

Has always been crew chief and maintained Steve Powers car.  They run out west, not NEARLY the competition or need for tires that we see from the center of the country east.  Steve supports the program, no idea if Rich does or not, haven't spoke to him about it. 

 

Marc Cefalo

No idea how many tires Marc runs or if he supports the plan. He does do super tours and majors, mostly with his wife and brings a few cars to some events. He brings more cars to the majors/Super tours on east Coast. No idea who and how many tires they run. 

 

Jason Kohler

Has run super tour races, don't think he has run many the last few seasons, maybe one a year ? By his own admission, very budget conscience and I would all but guarantee he would never break out two sets of stickers at any race less the runoffs.  

[TylerQuance]

Thank you Jim this is helpful.

[Jim Drago]

Also food for thought.. not sure how the contract is written, but Hoosiers are now 191.00. IMO that is very high for a spec tire that started out at $148 which included mounting and balancing 9 years ago . I would think that the tire cost would have been held closer than that in the contract? 

[LarryKing]

 

 

Are people really trying to use the SM 7 for more than 6 heat cycles?  

I don't recall ever having gone past 6 sessions and not losing like .8 to 1.2 per lap.  

 

Yes, I run them 12+ sessions and by then they are 2-3 seconds off my pace with new meats. My choice is to either whirl a turd on track or stay home on the couch. Of course, I'm regional only.

 

My hope is that the SMAC considers budget racers as well as the big dog when making decisions.

 

$191 per tire!!!   F sake, more turd whirling coming up. I saved my Christmas money to buy a new set assuming the price would be about the same. *sigh*

[Ron Alan]

Yes, I run them 12+ sessions and by then they are 2-3 seconds off my pace with new meats. My choice is to either whirl a turd on track or stay home on the couch. Of, course I'm regional only.

 

My hope is that the SMAC considers budget racers as well as the big dog when making decisions.

 

$191 per tire!!!   F sake, more turd whirling coming up. I saved my Christmas money to buy a new set assuming the price would be about the same. *sigh*

I appreciate the fact that you are just going to run what you have until it isn't safe! If you were anywhere near me you'd have no tire budget...you would be rolling in 4-6 cycle tires(hoosiers) at no cost to make sure you could attend every regional weekend! 

[TylerQuance]

It seems to me the next logical step is asking via the CRB request system what progress has been made. Seeing as the overwhelming majority of SM race entry dollars come from the East and South, I would like to believe we have the ability to influence a SMAC decision to nudge this along. Or encourage a little more transparency at least?

[FTodaro]

Also food for thought.. not sure how the contract is written, but Hoosiers are now 191.00. IMO that is very high for a spec tire that started out at $148 which included mounting and balancing 9 years ago . I would think that the tire cost would have been held closer than that in the contract? 

I can't defend Hoosier and its pricing, I have no clue how their costs have increased but i can tell you from a track rental point of view the regions putting on racing events confront at least a 2 to 3K increase in track rental per weekend and increases on top of that for extras. My point being is that everything in racing is going up, except for my skill level.

[LarryKing]

 

If you were anywhere near me you'd have no tire budget...you would be rolling in 4-6 cycle tires(hoosiers) at no cost to make sure you could attend every regional weekend! 

 

That would be very generous of you Ron. I have a couple sources to purchase take-offs, that helps me keep within a budget, but as you know while a 4-6 HC tire is far better than a 10-12 HC tire, ain't nothin like a 0-2 HC tire.

 

 

My point being is that everything in racing is going up

except for my participation

[Marc Cefalo]

Just curious because I don't know... how many SMAC members were at 2+ big races last year? Runoffs? Are they too far disconnected from the action to represent our interests well enough?

 

Not at all disconnected....My life revolves around the MX-5

 

runoffs competed at:

 

2013 rd america runoffs

2017 indy

2018 sonoma

2019 vir

 

25+ weekends per year, most SCCA events.

 

 

While we are all frustrated.. I think it is fair to think that SMAC believed the new tire was going to solve this issue. That and also with new Penske shocks we were supposed to get much more tire life, that turned out not be factual either.  I think we all agree it wont at this point, even the 7.5. So that is likely why nothing has come out. 

 

Not sure why the results of the survey have not been released, they should have been. 

 

This my best representation of what I know of the current SMAC, if any feel it is inaccurate or unfair, please email me and I will correct. Trying to be as accurate as possible. 

 

 

SMAC members..

 

Chair

Sean Hedrick..

Has drivers that compete in Northwest and believe they have an agreement on tires and run their own series, none have run majors or Super tour since 2014 season

 

Ralph Provitz

Has not run Sm personally in about 10 years or so. He builds very nice cars, preps and takes cars to majors/ Super Tour races. One driver often uses 2 plus sets, the others have the budget, but common sense and current skill set doesn't warrant more than one set.  

 

Rich Powers 

Has always been crew chief and maintained Steve Powers car.  They run out west, not NEARLY the competition or need for tires that we see from the center of the country east.  Steve supports the program, no idea if Rich does or not, haven't spoke to him about it. 

 

Marc Cefalo

No idea how many tires Marc runs or if he supports the plan. He does do super tours and majors, mostly with his wife and brings a few cars to some events. He brings more cars to the majors/Super tours on east Coast. No idea who and how many tires they run. 

 

Jason Kohler

Has run super tour races, don't think he has run many the last few seasons, maybe one a year ? By his own admission, very budget conscience and I would all but guarantee he would never break out two sets of stickers at any race less the runoffs.  

 

 

correct....I run regionals, majors and HST events.  our car counts vary depending on customers scheduling and track locations primarily in the Northeast division.  I personally run 1-2 sets ( never more than that) per majors weekends at most tracks especially certain ones that obliterate tires because of their surface.  customers typically use 1 to 2 sets at the very most for events.  Fine with limiting amounts of tires allowed to be used with successful administration of this potential restriction 

 

hate to sound like a broken record but... your voice may not be heard unless letters are written in to the formal online system:  https://www.crbscca.com

 

.  

[MPR22]

Hoosiers problem has always been the delta between sticker - 1 HC and 2-6 and 6-12 or what ever. Hoosier makes a great tire for racing but, it’s not necessarily a great tire for “our” racing. If they would commit to compound that would slowly degrade we would all benefit. However they are in the business of selling tires making money and planned obsolescence is part of their business model. There is a reason they call it purple crack.

[Jim Drago]

hate to sound like a broken record but... your voice may not be heard unless letters are written in to the formal online system:  https://www.crbscca.com
 
.

And exactly how many letters do you have there? It should be loud and clear

[Michael Novak]

Potenza RE71  205/50/15  $134.00                Grip is like a 8-10 HC Hoosier 

 

The results from using this tire would be exactly the same, just 2 seconds slower per lap. They are very close from start of life to end.

 

 

I like the SM7, but the cost is hurting the class.  Less people racing regional races, means less moving over to the majors and Super Tour

[gerglmuff2]

the "we should switch to one of the super 200tw tires" i think is short-sighted. they are not as consistent as advertised. they have measurable drop off as they HC, they probably would be faster with shaving .... the super 200s are not the ticket. there is also a hot new 200tw every year, and they go in and out of production on a pretty short life cycle, so we'd need a new spec every 2-3 years.