Tire Rule Proposed to be Thrown Out.

I read the Enterprises news letter yesterday regarding the following. I'm pretty sure most of us moved to this class because of the appeal of controlled costs and the "spec formula" to try and keep a level playing field. I don't see this doing anything but negating both reasons above for no apparent reason. Are there any perspectives out there that could make sense of this for me? :confused:


Feedback Opportunities:
We have three opportunities for feedback on the future of the Formula Enterprises or Enterprises Sports Racer (in P2) cars:

I have sent in a rules change request to generate official member input on eliminating the tire usage rule. Not eliminate the spec Hoosier tires, just the 4 sections pertaining to the usage restrictions in qualifying and for the race. This will be in an upcoming FasTrack and your feedback will be directly to the Club Racing Board or Formula Advisory Committee.

We have been considering restarting either a spring (one end only) or shock re-valving (making front and rear different) testing program for 2015 or more likely 2016. The goal is improving the mechanical grip at minimal expense. However, this is definitely something we want your direct feedback regarding. Please let your CSR know your thoughts and if possible copy me on any reply you send them (eskirmants@scca.com).

Lastly, I want your thoughts on marketing targets. Our website is finally being recreated from scratch. This will allow me to more proudly utilize electronic advertising with links to our site. Looking at all future marketing and advertising options; we know that in some geographic areas we have a different market advantage. Send any thoughts you may have to: eskirmants@scca.com




The section proposed to be removed is the following:

A competitor shall start the race on tires used in a qualifying
session for the race as identified by markings made on the tires by
a race official. It is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure
that his or her tires are appropriately marked prior to (e.g. on the
false grid), during, or immediately after (e.g. as the car leaves the
track) a qualifying session.
b. For races with more than one qualifying session, a competitor shall
start the race on any marked tires from any qualifying session for
the race.
c. If a competitor chooses to start the race on any tires that were
not used in a qualifying session for the race and not appropriately
marked, the competitor shall forfeit his or her grid position and start
from the back of the grid. This forfeiture of grid position shall not
apply if all qualifying sessions for the race were run under rain or
wet conditions.
d. A complete set of four (4) rain or wet track tires may be used at the
competitor’s discretion for any race. Rain tires may be in new or
used condition and require no special marking if used as a complete
set of four.

They need to leave the tire rule alone!

Or make it one set per race weekend If we want to control costs........

I think we need an explanation of what's driving this change, have we mis understood, maybe it's Hoosier driven. I would agree with above post.

What I have heard in the past is that our tires work better on the second heat cycle. Therefore there is no real advantage for using 'sticker' tires in a race. However, if one spins and severely flat spots their tires in qualifying (which I have done so bad that use of the tire was judged by Hoosier to be unsafe), there is a penalty for using an unmarked tire.

leave it alone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by steve everard

I think we need an explanation of what's driving this change, have we mis understood, maybe it's Hoosier driven. I would agree with above post.

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Erik eluded to the rule being difficult to enforce, but I don't think that's it's really THAT difficult to mark tires on the way out of the false grid. I would think it's worth part of what we pay our extra "compliance" fee for along with our entry fees. He mentioned it wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings if it didn't pass. We just need to make sure that we voice our opinions when the time comes.

I can understand in the rare case if someone flat spots a tire to be able to change it out or whatever. But if that's the case, surrender your qualifying position and start at the back of the pack. An open tire usage rule (using the same compound) would hurt the appeal of the class. I can't imagine that everyone would go out on stickers for every session if this were to go through, but there will be some that have money to burn for that extra edge.

Yeah if I were still racing FE I would support being more stringent, not less. 1 set per weekend.

The Northern Majors had one qualifying and two races. Pretty much everybody went out on stickers in qualifying and then ran both races on those tires. Three sessions total. We did not have a practice, but we usually ran the test day. The tires from the previous races were still very good for the test day, usually running several more sessions. Unless there were "major" changes to the schedules, I don't see any need to change the rule. We're lucky in CenDiv to have good stewards getting our tires marked.

We did run into rain races this year which throws all of this out regardless.

Agree with Steve. My son raced several of the cendiv northern majors schedule and the tire marking was never an issue. The rain though definitely was :(

Having run FE for three seasons and now in FC I recommend NOT changing the tire rule!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by La Scuderia Raggi

Having run FE for three seasons and now in FC I recommend NOT changing the tire rule!

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Yup. Where do you think we were before FE? ;)

If I didn't want a tire rule I'd be in a Zetec car

This is now out for input. See http://www.scca.com/assets/Revised%2...%20Minutes.pdf

Please send your response to http://www.crbscca.com/ . I would assume since Eric sent the request in with out a large outcry from the current members this will pass.

I for one am against this change and see it as no benefit to the racing and will only drive cost up.

Mat

Thanks, Mat! Response submitted (Tracking Number: #14775)... I urge everyone else to do the same ASAP. :tire:

Done.

Response sent.

Tracking Number: #14801
I don't know why they would change it. This is a great part of this class.

done- got my tracking number

Done too #14788 :thumbsup:

Jeff

done, tracking # 14816.

done...tracking # received.

No current dog in the right, but as someone in FF that is looking at FE eventually I submitted feedback to not change the rule.
Tracking Number: #14830

I sent my request to leave the tire rule in place. response #14836

Likely selling my car but feel the tire rule should stay as is.

Response sent. Tracking # 14847

Jim Adleberg

Done. 14858. Please do not change the rule- we all lose if this class becomes a checkbook war.

I agree with everything everyone has been saying on this post. Let's make sure we all band together to keep this rule change from going through.

Done - Tracking number 14866.

Done #14869

Is there any reason you couldn't all agree to abide by the current rules even if they change it?
Event by event?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BeerBudgetRacing

Is there any reason you couldn't all agree to abide by the current rules even if they change it?
Event by event?

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I'm more than likely going to be in FE next year because of the cost control this class seams to enjoy. I am now hesitantly pondering if it is the right choice. I will assume there will always be one guy who won't agree to follow the old rule if the new one is allowed. If they will change the tire rule for no apparent reason, then what next? Who's standing to profit from the lessening of the "spec" part of this series because it is definitely not the racers...

EDIT: Since this issue carries weight with my decision to participate in FE I too have voted against the rule change.

Tracking Number: #14873

Could the logic be to attract deep pocket racers into the class?
"Let them go nuts on tires" but we'll still control everything else....for now?

Fc and fb are "spend what you want" classes. Definitely big grids out west...

This might make the class more attractive to certain racers.

I'm pretty sure the rule will remain the same. Doubt if they got even one letter in favor of changing it. It certainly wasn't to attract deep pocket racers. The Majors had one qualy and two races. There was some concern that that might be too much for one set of tires. We found that not to be the case.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SStadel

I'm pretty sure the rule will remain the same. Doubt if they got even one letter in favor of changing it. It certainly wasn't to attract deep pocket racers. The Majors had one qualy and two races. There was some concern that that might be too much for one set of tires. We found that not to be the case.

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You are correct! Our voice was heard.

from December's Fastrack

"FE
1. #14578 (Erik Skirmants) Member Input on FE Tire Rule - 9.1.1.I.13.a-d
Thank you for your letter. Member input shows a clear and strong desire to keep the Formula Enterprise tire rules in the GCR
as currently written. The CRB recommends no change at this time."