Foam Nats - Wet Tyre ruling??

[integra99]

At the last foam nat there was some dispute about the use of rubber tyres when its wet. I understand that the 21mm treaded pit is legal if wet but this is now discontinued by the mfr and impossible to purchase. Due to the unusually good weather of Ashby last month the issue was mentioned but not discussed as it wasnt to rain.

According to the weather forcast it looks like it could be wet for Tibshelf and as my only set of legal wets are no good am hoping someone might know if any decisions have been made! All in all I would prefer it to be dry but would also like to be prepared!

Cheers, Simon

[Mark Christopher]

there is a new rule that has been put forward for next year

200mm Foam class to change to ‘Open’ tyre rules, removes restriction over ‘wet’ tyres

so i would say that will be used

[Yokman]

As far as I'm aware the only rubber tyre that is currently legal for use in the foam class is the Pit narrow treaded. This was agreed at the Halifax meeting earlier this year for all foam meetings after Halifax. Even with the unavailability of the narrow pits, I can't see the committee allowing anything else for Tibshelf as it would give a huge advantage to anyone who happened to have a suitable alternative with them and leave everybody else at a disadvantage, but I could be wrong.

You can of course run a foam damp tyre or a foam tyre with a rubber tyre glued around the outside of it (like the old tamiya cap). You need to cut the sidewalls off so that the foam tyre can be seen. I had a set of foams with wide treaded pit tyres "evo-stuck" around them at Halifax and Sam Barnard set FTD on them but they weren't as good as a narrow treaded pit. I'd glued them round fairly hard foams, perhaps if you used soft foams and cut them down to 21mm wide they'd be better.

The other solution would be to get friendly with somebody who has narrow pits and see if you can borrow them !

[integra99]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes looks like I may need to ask around! Other than that pray if doesnt rain.

Regards,

Simon

[Mark Christopher]

, I can't see the committee allowing anything else for Tibshelf as it would give a huge advantage to anyone who happened to have a suitable alternative with them and leave everybody else at a disadvantage, but I could be wrong.


so if you have pits which i can not buy! who has the advantage?

[Doomanic]

Surely, if a tyre is not commercially available, it cannot be a control tyre? :confused:

[integra99]

Yep,

They are not available anywhere! The rubber mfr that supplies Pit Shimizu is not able to supply the rubber to them due to environmental issues of the mfr process. (so I was told)! And are looking into possible substitutes!

So yes as cartman says the full advantage is with those who have the pit grooved tyres in the wet. I see no reason why they should not allow use of any other tyre in the event of rain because unelss you are using pits you will always be at a disadvantage.

[BobHarley]

with reference to wet tyres on 200mm cars at our national .this week end is round 8 and last one of our series. i do not want to see this tyre war go anyfurther please .as mark says there is proposals in for our agm .it is not about tyres anyway.if you would all like to vote come to the agm in october.
we the commitee will decide which way it goes at tibshelf if it rains .please dry weather i hope.
bob harley

[Yokman]

so if you have pits which i can not buy! who has the advantage?

Any change in the rules has to be made and publicised far enough in advance to allow people to act in accordance with them. People will be turning up to the meeting expecting the rules to be the same and bringing their normal foam tyres for the dry and hopefully something for the wet (damp or capped foams or narrow pit treaded rubber tyres if they have them).

Imagine how you would feel if the rules were changed on the day to the "open tyre" rule and you didn't have narrow treaded pits but you'd left your wide treaded pits, intermediates or soft slicks at home because as far as your concerned they're not legal and there's no point in bringing them. Conversely, if you had a set of soft slicks (eg Pit D20) you might gain an advantage as they often work better than treaded tyres when the track is really wet.

Alternatively, the comittee could decide to ban narrow treaded pits because of their unavailability but people who have them will have brought them expecting to be allowed to use them if it's wet and may not have a suitable alternative.

It's a no win situation so let's hope it stays dry.

Unfortunately, I'm laying laminate flooring and building wardrobes at my daughters flat this weekend (but I'd rather be racing) so I won't be there but if I was I'd bring every tyre I had that might work in the wet to cover all possibilities.

[integra99]

yokman

Well in the end we just got away with it! There were a few slight showers that affected a couple of heats but the heavens opened just after the A final.

Funnily enough after some phone calls I actually found a shop that had a few pairs of pits on the shelf so all OK.

[Yokman]

Glad to hear it was mainly dry. Probably as well I wasn't there as I always seem to end up in the odd heat affected by a shower (usually when I've screwed up any dry runs I get). Hopefully the open tyre rule will get through for next year and you'll be able to run whatever tyre you want for the dry or wet.