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Gbuff - sorry to hear about weather coming in for the week end. I’ll be interest to read about what you think of the ZIIIs when you get to use them. The Chump car group was testing tires for an upcoming 8 hr event at WGI. They had the Hankooks, Falkens and a new Cooper. They didn’t like the Hankook; too slow. The Cooper was really fast but wore fast. The Cooper was rated a 260 TW, but to my thumbnail poke at them, they felt more like a 60 TW. I am guessing they are going with the Falken. I am thinking the Falkens are wearing faster than the RE71Rs, but they are not heat cycling out like I found with the ‘Stones. I have 5 days on them and may have another 2 or 3 left on them.
Now I'm anxious to get my Falkens on. The Hankooks have at least one more day left on them — mid-June at Palmer — and then we'll see.
VV - in poker terms... I’ll see your turtle and raise you one airplane...
Take off at NYST
Just got back from 2 days at the New York Safety Track (http://nyst.com/), which just happens to also be a legit airport. This place started out as a motorcycle track that they have improved into a track that is really fun for MINIs.
I looked at the track map and see how it could be fun for MINIs. It's a 3-hour drive for me so I'd need to go up the night before. Maybe some day but not with BMWCCA.
Speaking of white wheels, check out the new wheel caps I fashioned for the MINI. In sourcing wheel caps for my classic Mini I realized the cap badges on both cars are the same size — 50mm. These should give me +3HP at the wheels.
I looked at the track map and see how it could be fun for MINIs. It's a 3-hour drive for me so I'd need to go up the night before. Maybe some day but not with BMWCCA.
This was pretty open for drivers. A little different from what this group normally does. As gbuff said, it was run a lot like a Track Masters event. But there are other groups that run here. If you look at the NYST calendar you will see some. There is on out of NJ. I talked with the guy who organizes it and he seems good.
I have just signed up for the 6/10 SCDA LRP event. It would be great to have some company....
Yes, gkp, you’re “bored” of LRP and going to Palmer. But if you change your mind...
Hey, what does anyone know about the new car number policy for the SCDA events. There is an $8 charge for numbers and you have to choose a number. According to Elivan the number you “buy” can be reused. Not sure how to do that...
Also, I am planning to sign up for 6/28 and 29 at WGI with GVC. It looks like they are running their events differently this year and it appears to be the same as how Track Masters runs their events (a novice group with 4 sessions and the rest of the time is advanced open track). Can I get any interest from anyone to go to this event?
gbuff1 - How about you? I seem to remember you had some issues with them in the past, but maybe give them another chance?
One week out...10 day forecast is decent, with a 30% chance of afternoon T-storms, but that is probably the forecast for at least half the summer days! My group is sold out, so I may jump on the waitlist...
The numbers are good for the season if you leave them on the car. Otherwise, they get ya' for another $8. I was thinking, you could request a four digit number, use two of them, and sell the other two for $8 so you would be even Steven...😉
I have just signed up for the 6/10 SCDA LRP event. It would be great to have some company....
Yes, gkp, you’re “bored” of LRP and going to Palmer. But if you change your mind...
Hey, what does anyone know about the new car number policy for the SCDA events. There is an $8 charge for numbers and you have to choose a number. According to Elivan the number you “buy” can be reused. Not sure how to do that...
Also, I am planning to sign up for 6/28 and 29 at WGI with GVC. It looks like they are running their events differently this year and it appears to be the same as how Track Masters runs their events (a novice group with 4 sessions and the rest of the time is advanced open track). Can I get any interest from anyone to go to this event?
gbuff1 - How about you? I seem to remember you had some issues with them in the past, but maybe give them another chance?
Eddie, RE SCDA numbers, when I signed up for the last event at WGI I hit the "I have numbers" box (or whatever it says) on MSR, b/c I did! I have an assortment of stick-ons that I bring with me. Elivan even emailed me to ask what # I'd be using (zee-row). Long story short, I installed "my" 0s and when I got my packet at the track it included SCDA's 0s which are color-coded to your run group, and I did not pay for SCDA's numbers. ......
RE GVC, I'll be arriving as you're leaving as I'm there with Chin 6/30 and 7/1. I was at Mid-O with them this past Mon and Tues and the event was mobbed unlike last year (for obvious reasons). We ran 30 and 40 min sessions both days with a full 60 min Happy Hour at the end of each day b/c they were throwing us out early on Tues to accommodate IMSA (I think) setting up for this weekend.. Man, 40 minutes on that track is a lotta work! It doesn't flow at all like the Glen and when there are a ton of cars out there in Advanced (and there were, most of which were VERY fast) you are always busy. You are virtually always turning (and in my case, sliding ) on the entire back half of the track! Very enjoyable and rewarding, though; weather was great and I'm glad I went. Back there June 11-13 with OVRPCA.
As an aside, after much trepidation, aggravation, and any other "ation" you like, I sourced eight A052s which are in transit. When they were unavailable I ordered and received 8 ZIIIs, and of course, a week or so later the Advans showed "in stock" at TR! So I set up a return for the ZIIIs and ordered 8 Advans, then went to Mid-O. When I returned I got an email from TR saying there was a limit of 4 they could send me, and that I could try waiting a few days to order the rest or "have a friend order them for me" Anyway, Simple Tire also has them in stock so I got the rest from them. So I can't wait to get them, even though I still fail to see how they could be good on a wet track with that tread pattern (or lack thereof ) As we previously discussed, that compound must be like warm bubblegum. We'll find out.....still have four good 'Stones to burn through first though.
If you read down through the following posts there is good discussion about tires that you might find interesting. Yes, I know you already have tires, still it is info.
You and I seem to be like ships passing at night. We’ll get on the same track on the same day some day.
If you read down through the following posts there is good discussion about tires that you might find interesting. Yes, I know you already have tires, still it is info.
You and I seem to be like ships passing at night. We’ll get on the same track on the same day some day.
Yes indeedy, that's some track time!
This next event I'm doing at Mid-O with Ohio Valley PCA is a 3-day with the Fri being open track all day (8a to 430p with an hour for lunch). It's real easy to do 3 hrs on that Fri alone, and then you've got 4 20-25 min sessions on Sat and Sun. With open track like that (they throw the checker every 30 min and everybody comes in and goes right back out if they choose to) once I get into a rhythm I just don't want to come in. At least until King Bladder makes me
Very interesting thread and lots of good tire stuff, as well as setup. I read the part about the OP losing the rear at 90mph and just knew that the rear end was too stiff. Rule of thumb is the stiffer end of the car has the least traction.....to me a bigger rear bar set on full stiff is a recipe for disaster on a road course, and in the rain? Yikes. It's much easier (and less spooky) to deal with understeer than oversteer, the former being much more controllable for me; gas until the front end starts to push, then address it with throttle modulation and/or increasing your turn-in. I prefer the latter as you can leave the throttle planted and the turn-in will ease the rear end out for you. Downside is that it's harder on the tires but at a track like Mid-O I'm sliding much of the time anyway so they will wear regardless. Also get the car to rotate by using worn rear tires (of which I have 4 right now) as I can't do too much with pressures. I have to keep them on the high side so they don't roll over too much. But we know what would fix THAT
The tire stuff pretty much corresponds to what I seen/heard--no 888s for me as they don't handle the wet, and they don't have the Kooks or any of the others in a 205/50-15. I wouldn't get the Kooks anyway as they, like the ZIIIs, are slow in comparison to the "cheater" tires, though I know what the ZIIIs will do as I've driven on them before. If the A052s turn out to be lousy in the wet I'll probably join you with the 660s (unless the new 'Stones actually get here).
I'll keep an eye on this thread, I like it! I don't have the aptitude or desire to build a car like this but I sure do admire people like the OP who do. You can never learn too much about tires or anything else i.e. who-da thought that fixing my loose wheel bolt issues would involve using antiseize?? Totally counterintuitive, but it's working! I torque the bolts at home to 95# when I put the track tires on, then drive to the track (300mi to Ohio) and when I check the bolts on arrival they do not budge. Amazing.
I'm planning on WGI with SCDA at the end of August if you are so inclined
Of course, I could just lie.....
Anyway, Simple Tire also has them in stock so I got the rest from them. So I can't wait to get them, even though I still fail to see how they could be good on a wet track with that tread pattern (or lack thereof 
