Originally Posted by
Speed Sport Engineering
Let me start by saying I'm all for a harder tire that lasts longer, spec or not. With that being said, I see many issues with a DOT tire for formula vee. Having spoken to many front runners, we are all in agreement that this would be a terrible mistake for FV.
The goal of FV is a drivers class with some allowable development. The focus is on driving. A DOT tire is a complete contradiction to that principal. Let me explain:
DOT tires have a much more gradual traction / slip angle curve. In other words, it's much easier to drive at the limit of the tire, thus REDUCING the influence of driver skill. Secondly, the larger tires create more aero drag, allowing the following car to be sucked along, even if the following car is off the pace. Having spoken privately to several who have run the falken tires, they agreed that it was boring....the car would just slip until enough speed was scrubbed that the car would corner.
The above reason is why many drivers are in favor of this type of tire...it takes driving out of the equation and allows those normally not capable of keeping up able to keep up. Of course they will be in favor of this type of situation. Also, the forgivness of such a tire makes driving less stressfull and fearfull, which again to the less skilled would be translated as more fun. But for those who enjoy the challenge of being right on the knife edge (what driving race cars is supposed to reward), it will be quite boring.
Artificially inducing pack racing by increasing the draft and removing driver skill is not the way to increase car counts in FV.
I also do not feel that it is anybody's right to lobby for such a radical change in direction of the class. Going from a racing purpose slick to a DOT street tire is a RADICAL change. Many of us have rather large investments in the class AS IS...not just financial, but non-monetary investments as well. We chose the class for what it was and is. For a group to dictate such a direction change of rules that have been in place for the life of the class with no data to support their theories seems very short sighted. We all want racing to be cheaper and to be racing against huge fields. FV remains one of the cheapest classes in SCCA, and is currently still one of the largest. FV is not broken....racing in general is broken. DOT tires do not fix racing in general.
Again, I'm all in favor of adopting a much harder tire...heck, give us rock hard tires that make it feel like driving in the rain...just don't ruin the experience by putting on a street tire.
I'm sure my opinion won't be very popular on this forum, but I'm simply stating what many have told me privately. I'm just passionate enough about the class to put it out there in public and take my beating here while others choose to remain silent. I encourage those who oppose my opinion to talk privately with some of the respected and experienced FV drivers and you'll see the agreement.