My opinion on a spec tire
I am adamantly opposed to a spec tire because I see NO reason for it.
I enjoy the option of trying different tire companies, different compounds and even different sizes to search for an advantage. Last time I checked this was what racing is all about.
For the class front runners, there are no savings on tire cost. New tires always perform better and we will set the cars up to aggressively use the tires in this manner.
A hard compound spec tire will not even the playing field among competitors but actually further distant the field from the more experienced to the less experienced. The lack of grip gives the experienced driver a bigger advantage because of control and setup knowledge.
I do know that there will be an evaluation test to determine the spec tire supplier. My understanding that this is written into the SCCA by laws to prevent any back door dealings on awarding the spec tire contract..Soooo the spec tire could be a GY, Hoosier, Avon, Cooper or ?????
In addition, I would prefer to see proposed changes that would actually lower our lap times and not increase them..I bought a FM ten years ago because a FM out ran all of the FCs at Texas World Speedway...A lot of performance for little dollars.
Testing the new spec compound for the East Coast
Is This A Spec Class Or Not
This is a Spec Class it should Have a Spec Tire
From club racing all the way up to the top levels of pro racing there are spec tires!
When we raced this car in the Pro Series in 2003 and prior it was on a Spec Tire, In the Formula Car Challenge this car is on a Spec Tire.
The fact of the matter is that it Does lower costs because I don't have an unlimited budget to go try all of the available tires that fit this car. Spend countless hours developing setups for each of those tires to find out what works best or what is fastest. Track time, Tires, Wearing out the Car all cost money, and for What! Thats What You Call Go Faster For Less Money?!?!? Give Me A Break!
During the 2014 season, The only thing I was able to do was Risk one race at Buttonwillow to try a set of Hoosiers. I only had 1 Qualifying and 1 Race on the tires to decide, and they were Total Crap anyway! So I went back to the Goodyears. My Point is that to Properly test the tires and not risk a race would be to spend a day at the track testing the tires and developing the car and setup. That $h!t cost A Lot of Money! And Time!
Spec a tire and stop Effing around with all this compound, size, brand BS