Post by dave FF 50-aka "Harm" on Jul 21, 2011 11:57:28 GMT -8
FF Newsletter, yet another July update.
1) BEES/WASPS/YELLOWJACKETS IN THE THUNDERHILL PADDOCK:
Last Tuesday (July 19) at least one of the trees that are in the middle of the Thunderhill paddock (next to the power stations) was full of bees/wasps/yellowjackets such that I had to move my motorhome away from it. This could at least be annoying or at worst life threatening (for someone allergic). When you pick a paddock space look to see if you have a buzzing tree next to it and move away.
2) GOODYEAR TIRE TEST:
Goodyear carried out a tire test last Tuesday (July 19th) at Thunderhill with Keith Nunes driving one of Peter Nosler's Swift DB-6's testing new R475 (designed to be a well performing high mileage tire), new R255 (intended to perform like an R160 but last like an R430) and current R160 FF tires. The test day, car and car support where generously donated to the cause by Peter.
We are still debriefing and gathering information for a report but generally it can be said that Goodyear has made progress with the new R475 (different construction from the ones some of us used last year with better turn-in feel) and the new R255 in comparison with the old versions in regards performance but longevity (and pricing) is still a question. Detailed report to follow in the next newsletter.
3) GOODYEAR R430 INVENTORY OBLIGATIONS:
We may be sliding off the hook in regards our obligation to use up the inventory of Goodyear R430 tires (Roger has 4 sets, Akron has maybe 40+ sets). I spoke with Goodyear tire engineer Robert Bethea about the situation at the tire test and he seemed to think it wouldn't be a problem for Akron to market them elsewhere. Also the R430 is now shown in the list of available tires on the Goodyear website whereas it hasn't been in the past. I have made it very clear to all involved with Goodyear that there is no conceivable way for our little group as it is now and in the foreseeable future to use up 40+ sets of tires in any kind of reasonable time period. When we had 15 cars and everyone ran R430's we could have but now that we are 3 to 8 cars and many have gone with the Hoosier R60a it just isn't going to happen and steps should be made to sell off the current stock. So at least one person at Goodyear is sympathetic. Robert is going to talk to the head of Goodyear Racing Steve Petrescu about the situation and I have been trying to contact Steve but we have been playing phone tag.
4) TIRE TERMINOLOGY CLARIFICATION:
Tire "construction" refers to the carcass that carries the tread. "Compound" refers to the chemical makeup of the tread material that is carried by the carcass. Both contribute greatly to the handling of the car, each in its own way.
5) NEW ADDITION TO THE CONTACT LIST:
Sean Kelly and his dad are in the process of dismantling their FC Van Diemen and selling off all the FC-related parts with the intent to do the Honda Fit FF conversion for next season. For those who don't know Sean he was top-level competitor in Spec Ford (same as Club Ford is now) back in the 90's and has been competing equally successfully in a variety of classes since then. We competed in many races together, he is a top-notch driver, races very hard but always fair. A worthwhile addition to our group, he will most likely be a pace-setter and a guy to beat. Two reasons they quoted for making the move are our actions and intentions to lower tire costs and the size/quality of the FF field.
6) HOOSIER TIRE CONTINGENCY CLARIFICATION:
You can EARN contingency credit from Hoosier R60a's tires bought from either Roger Kraus or Hoosier Tire West but you can only REDEEM said credit against tires bought from HST.
7) INCORRECTLY WORDED REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS RULE:
This is the current regional rule regarding championship points of which the part in italics and underlined is incorrectly worded:
"SFR Supp Rule #42: A driver must be a member of the San Francisco Region prior to the race to earn Regional points. A
driver's point total will be the total points earned in each sanctioned event, up to two (2) less than the total number of
sanctioned events for that driver’s class. Sanctioned events where the driver was scheduled or disqualified must be
counted in the point total even though the points earned were zero (0). Drivers must participate by being a race starter in
five (5) full-point regional events to be awarded year-end championship trophies."
Instead of "...was scheduled..." it should read "...was excluded...". According to Sherry in the SCCA office this will be corrected for the next publication of the rule.
Tom Duncan
MICHAEL BERNSTEIN, SCOTT BERGEN, DARYL BORDEN, JON BRANDSTAD, BILL BROOKS, RON CHISHOLM, TOM DUNCAN, JOHN HOWARTH, DAVID JALEN, SEAN KELLY, PAUL LUCA, BILL MABRY, MICHAEL MALONE, PETER NOSLER, KEITH NUNES, NEIL PORTER, DAVE ROCHA, ETHAN SHIPPERT, BILL STEELE, DAVID STILLWELL, SCOTT WARACKA, DAVE ZURLINDEN
1) BEES/WASPS/YELLOWJACKETS IN THE THUNDERHILL PADDOCK:
Last Tuesday (July 19) at least one of the trees that are in the middle of the Thunderhill paddock (next to the power stations) was full of bees/wasps/yellowjackets such that I had to move my motorhome away from it. This could at least be annoying or at worst life threatening (for someone allergic). When you pick a paddock space look to see if you have a buzzing tree next to it and move away.
2) GOODYEAR TIRE TEST:
Goodyear carried out a tire test last Tuesday (July 19th) at Thunderhill with Keith Nunes driving one of Peter Nosler's Swift DB-6's testing new R475 (designed to be a well performing high mileage tire), new R255 (intended to perform like an R160 but last like an R430) and current R160 FF tires. The test day, car and car support where generously donated to the cause by Peter.
We are still debriefing and gathering information for a report but generally it can be said that Goodyear has made progress with the new R475 (different construction from the ones some of us used last year with better turn-in feel) and the new R255 in comparison with the old versions in regards performance but longevity (and pricing) is still a question. Detailed report to follow in the next newsletter.
3) GOODYEAR R430 INVENTORY OBLIGATIONS:
We may be sliding off the hook in regards our obligation to use up the inventory of Goodyear R430 tires (Roger has 4 sets, Akron has maybe 40+ sets). I spoke with Goodyear tire engineer Robert Bethea about the situation at the tire test and he seemed to think it wouldn't be a problem for Akron to market them elsewhere. Also the R430 is now shown in the list of available tires on the Goodyear website whereas it hasn't been in the past. I have made it very clear to all involved with Goodyear that there is no conceivable way for our little group as it is now and in the foreseeable future to use up 40+ sets of tires in any kind of reasonable time period. When we had 15 cars and everyone ran R430's we could have but now that we are 3 to 8 cars and many have gone with the Hoosier R60a it just isn't going to happen and steps should be made to sell off the current stock. So at least one person at Goodyear is sympathetic. Robert is going to talk to the head of Goodyear Racing Steve Petrescu about the situation and I have been trying to contact Steve but we have been playing phone tag.
4) TIRE TERMINOLOGY CLARIFICATION:
Tire "construction" refers to the carcass that carries the tread. "Compound" refers to the chemical makeup of the tread material that is carried by the carcass. Both contribute greatly to the handling of the car, each in its own way.
5) NEW ADDITION TO THE CONTACT LIST:
Sean Kelly and his dad are in the process of dismantling their FC Van Diemen and selling off all the FC-related parts with the intent to do the Honda Fit FF conversion for next season. For those who don't know Sean he was top-level competitor in Spec Ford (same as Club Ford is now) back in the 90's and has been competing equally successfully in a variety of classes since then. We competed in many races together, he is a top-notch driver, races very hard but always fair. A worthwhile addition to our group, he will most likely be a pace-setter and a guy to beat. Two reasons they quoted for making the move are our actions and intentions to lower tire costs and the size/quality of the FF field.
6) HOOSIER TIRE CONTINGENCY CLARIFICATION:
You can EARN contingency credit from Hoosier R60a's tires bought from either Roger Kraus or Hoosier Tire West but you can only REDEEM said credit against tires bought from HST.
7) INCORRECTLY WORDED REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS RULE:
This is the current regional rule regarding championship points of which the part in italics and underlined is incorrectly worded:
"SFR Supp Rule #42: A driver must be a member of the San Francisco Region prior to the race to earn Regional points. A
driver's point total will be the total points earned in each sanctioned event, up to two (2) less than the total number of
sanctioned events for that driver’s class. Sanctioned events where the driver was scheduled or disqualified must be
counted in the point total even though the points earned were zero (0). Drivers must participate by being a race starter in
five (5) full-point regional events to be awarded year-end championship trophies."
Instead of "...was scheduled..." it should read "...was excluded...". According to Sherry in the SCCA office this will be corrected for the next publication of the rule.
Tom Duncan
MICHAEL BERNSTEIN, SCOTT BERGEN, DARYL BORDEN, JON BRANDSTAD, BILL BROOKS, RON CHISHOLM, TOM DUNCAN, JOHN HOWARTH, DAVID JALEN, SEAN KELLY, PAUL LUCA, BILL MABRY, MICHAEL MALONE, PETER NOSLER, KEITH NUNES, NEIL PORTER, DAVE ROCHA, ETHAN SHIPPERT, BILL STEELE, DAVID STILLWELL, SCOTT WARACKA, DAVE ZURLINDEN