Must See Racing 2011 Tire Rule

[Stevensville Mike]

Okay, race fans.  Here's something to think about over the next few days during the off-season.  As written in the press release, here is the tire rule that MSR is putting in place for 2011:

************

A one right rear tire rule for qualifying, heat race and feature has been put in place and is expected to be a significant costs saving, without reducing the high speed down force passing, and wheel to wheel competition of the “Worlds Fastest Short Track Cars”.

************

Now, what if you blow a RR, or cut one down?  Are you SOL?  Can you change it and go to the rear of your heat / B Main / Feature?

Here is the twister:  What if you cut it down in the pits just as the B Main finishes?  Do you get a new one for the A Main and start shotgun?

Years ago, at Watkins Glen, in an SCCA Trans-Am race, they had a tire rule.  Car owner Bud Moore asked if he could change tires after qualifying and was told only if you had a flat.  So, Bud got out a knife and stabbed all four of them and changed them out.

What does MSR pay for a Feature win?  Probably a lot more than a RR costs. 

So, my question is what will be "Plan B" if a RR "deflates" in the pits prior to the A Main.  It might be beneficial to someone wanting a win really bad if it happens.  Especially if the tires are wearing bad.

Tha All Stars had a rule in place like this for the past few years, but the rule only went up to the start of the A Main.  Everyone could bolt on a new one then.  MSR is taking it start to finish (one step further).

I wrote head honcho Jim Hanks to see what he says.  What is your guess?  Any past rules in any other series that were like this?

[Stevensville Mike]

Jim says the answer to my question is in the rule book.  I went to the MSR website and clicked on the "rules" link and it is blank.

Anyone else have any better luck?

[donwilshe]

http://www.mustseeracing.com/2011-series-a-tire-rule-book.html

Link was on the front page, not in the press release.  you can
see it listed and titled.

2011 Series & Tire Rule Book

[dirtracer74]

K. TIRES
1. See Addendum “A” for MSRXSS approved tire list available at authorized MSRXSS tire supplier. 2. Tire rule may be changed with advance notice for the safety or financial benefit of race teams.
3. All tires, with approved MSRXSS identification bar coding, must be obtained from MSRXSS official tire
Supplier, registered with and inspected by MSRXSS officials before a car is allowed to compete.
4. ONE (1) MSRXSS APPROVED right rear tire allowed for each race car for qualifications, heat
race and feature per event.
5. Teams are allowed to use one, used, right rear for B Main.
6. “Used” tires will only be approved to compete if tire was ran at a MSRXSS sanctioned event,
MSRXSS sanctioned test session or MSRXSS sanctioned open practice.
7. Any car, for any reason, requesting to compete on a non- pre registered tire must obtain Race
Director approval and at the sole discretion of MSRXSS officials, may be allowed to start last.
8. Changing any tire at any time during a race will result in car restarting at the rear of the event.
9. Any solvents or chemicals applied to the tire that alter the chemical makeup of the compound
or have the effect of altering tire durometer is prohibited.
10. Penalties for use of any illegal solvents or chemicals: SEE addendum A
11. Penalties for use of any illegal, unregistered tires : SEE addendum A
12. The Competition Director, upon his own judgment, assessment and determination, can alter
the tire limit rule, when a competitor and/or race car has experienced an unusual
and/or special circumstance.

[dirtracer74]

The rule is really not much different than what AVSS has run for a few years now. Not sure if it is exactly the same, but close.

If you do change a right rear tire to somthing other than what you qualify on, you start at the tail of the remaining events. Well, at least that is how it was with AVSS. It really does not say in this rule book what the penelty is. All it says is if you change a tire during a race. It says nothing about changing a flat tire in the pits between races.

The B-main is a different story. Usually teams would have a tire that they used for the first practice session that they could fall back on, but the wording leaves alot of room for interpretation.

I also have no idea what Addendum “A” is, as I could not find it in the rule book.

[Stevensville Mike]

Thanks again, '74.  I still couldn't pull up the rules on my computer.  I think it is a prob with my adobe maybe.

Anyways, I'm just wondering how many times a driver will willingly (flat or no flat) change the RR prior to the A Main and sacrifice x number of starting positions to try and win the whole thing with the advantage of having a new RR.  As long as the purse $$$ outweighs the tire cost.....  It's kind of low ball, I know.  But, if the tires are rocks, and it doesn't matter, well then, I guess it won't matter.

Also, Wilshes, I read where you are going to run Andrew Hagan in one of your cars?  True?  For anyone that didn't know, he's an Aussie.  Looking forward to seeing the bloke wheel it if it is true.  

[TommySalami]

ISMA has used a tire rule like this for quite some time.  It doesn't seem to create any problems.

[dirtracer74]

Actually, in my 4 years with the AVSS, I never remember it happening where someone changed a right rear after qualifying. I know I was stuck in the tower most of the night, but I am sure I would have heard something.

I am also trying to remember the farthest back that anyone had won from. I do remember Dodson coming from the tail to run 2nd at Dixie one night, but I am sure it was his qualifying tire as well. (was a bonus type deal if he could have won) For the most part, I do not think it would be enough of an advantage to give up the positions at the start.

Mike, the rules on the website, is a .pdf file embedded in a frame. I am sure you are not the only one to have issues with it. That page needs some work. A scrolling frame, within a scrolling frame is bad enough, then embed a .pdf file, and people will have some issues. I miss the days of .html 

[1121]

  I'm actually a big fan of this new rule.  Many of the high dollar teams would put on a new RR tire for the first hot lap session, then run it in the heat, or just run a new RR in the heat.  Both HOSS and AVSS have always had the rule that you had to run the same right rear in the feature that you qualified on, but never specified a tire for the heat (other then it had to be a 48 compound).  Nothing is more depressing then going out for the heat on last weeks feature tire while the guy rolling out in front of you has a new biscuit on.  This doesn't really save a guy like me any money, but gives me more of an even playing field for the heat and the feature.  I challange both HOSS and AVSS to adopt the same rule.

Tom Paterson
HOSS Sprint #11

[TommySalami]

I am also trying to remember the farthest back that anyone had won from. I do remember Dodson coming from the tail to run 2nd at Dixie one night, but I am sure it was his qualifying tire as well. (was a bonus type deal if he could have won) For the most part, I do not think it would be enough of an advantage to give up the positions at the start.

I remember that.  He started 23rd and actually passed Jimmy McCune briefly in turn 3 with a slide job that didn't stick.

[geoffkaiser]

Here is what will happen.You will now have teams running a sticker RR for the hot lap sessions and a sticker RR for quals/heat/feature.

Whats the difference???   Still 2 new RR a night.

[1121]

Geoff,
   Of course you are right.  Many of the teams will still buy an extra RR for hot laps.  Fortunately, hot laps don't mean anything. 

I realize I may be in the minority here, but here's the way my budget works for the year.

I start the year with "x" amount of money.  Then I figure out what races I'm going to run.  I set a budget for the year.  When that money is gone, I'm done for the year.  On the pavement races, I budget 1-1/3 tires a night.  In other words, I buy a new right rear every night.  Then every third night, I buy a right front or a left rear.  This rule won't change that. 

But this puts a guy like me on a little more of an even keal.  The big teams will still put on four or six tires a night.  But when we start the heat race, all of us will have two laps on our RR.  And when we start the feature, we will all have 10 laps on our RR.  Like I said, it evens things out a little. 

Now I need to work on getting a better car.........a better motor.............and a better driver!

Tom Paterson
Owner & Driver
HOSS Sprint #11 

[Vintage23]

What kind of tire rules do they have at Spartan?

[dirtracer]

From the Spartan Website.


Tires:
Right rear must be a Hoosier 2055 (available at track). Tire and Fuel prices


Tires:

Hoosier 970 = $115.00 includes tax
$5.00 rebate per tire for drivers that have registered and running for points. If you qualify, rebate will be added to points check. (See Section 11 of the Spartan Rules for details.)

Sprint Tires:
Hoosier
M-55 (RR) = $189.00 includes tax
M-20 (LR) = $171.00 includes tax
2045 (RF) = $165.00 includes tax
2010 (LF) = $153.00 includes tax


Tire Mounting = $2.50 dismount / $2.50 mount
Tire disposal = $5.00
Credit Cards accepted = $5.00 per tire transaction fee