| Autocross rant ...... |
Subject: Autocross rant ...... by TommyT-Bone on 2010/6/14 11:48:24 I frequently work the grid at our local autocross venue. Generally we have about 60 participants. In the mix you have cars running bone stock and everything in between to the highly modified. If we are lucky enough to stay green for an extended period of time, it often ends up that the tweakers don't have enough time to dial in their air pressures or get their tires to the optimum temperature. They start falling behind on their runs. I tell them their running out of time. They tell me it's not their fault. My feeling is if you can only get two or three runs in when everybody else is getting four that it is your fault. I see drivers who are scrambling in, soaking their tires while the course workers patiently wait for them to complete their runs because the rest of the field is finished. Luckily, the timing crew will usually tell the starter to close the line and the driver has to finish their runs in the next run group. That's all well and good but usually means that driver can't fulfil his part in course work. In our autocross sessions you have to work if you want to drive. Fair is fair. Eventually, at the end of the day, guess who is holding up everybody from picking up and going home. You got it, Mr missing a little something. This brought me to ask this question. I asked two National Champions about all these tire adjustments and cooling of their tires. They both told me it's the latest trend but they can't figure if all this is helping all that much. Sure tire pressure is important but where are they getting the imput for the tire temp. From the individual tire manufacturers? Neither of these guys cool their tires but they both will make air pressure adjustments as needed. That I understand. This led me to ask them a second question. Why in drag racing do you want to heat up your tires for grip but in autocross they are trying to cool their tires? Both of them gave me an I don't know look and answer. One even thought that wetting the tires may possibly reduce grip. Old school, new school .... What's your take? Wet or dry. hot or cold? Or maybe you just don't give a f... |
