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Old Feb 3, 2011 | 10:21 AM
  #3361  
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Originally Posted by Random1,Feb 2 2011, 07:34 PM
Thanks for the clean answer John. I agree.

To help this discussion on tire insulator use in grid I wrote an email to solotech@scca.com asking for clarification. I would not want any one to be confused and not have the same competitive opportunity at a national tour or national championship. The last part of the answer below is refering to active heating which is clearly against the rules as described in 6.11 in the 2011 Solo Rules.

Question Asked

Are tire insulators (passive) allowed to be used in grid between runs at
solo national tours or national championship events? These typically
come in the form of insulated tire bags, tire covers made from silver
bubble wrap insulation, a fence that goes all the way around the car
made from silver bubble wrap insulation.

Answer from SCCA SoloTech

Yes, the insulators you are talking about are allowed to be used in
grid. As long as there is nothing to help get the tires warmer.
I believe the problem comes when the car remains running. Before running at Nats on day 2, I was told the "fencing" or wrapping of the car traps heat, but the tire blankets do not. Then the rules were readdressed and the word came down that the tire blankets do trap heat. As a result, I was prevented by grid from using any of my tire blankets.

The answer you just gave was the same understanding I have. The issue I face is if I want to leave my car running (don't like turning it on and off when running it that hard) I cannot use tire blankets according to the National staff. If I turn my car off, the I can use the blankets.

Covering your tires while leaving your car running does help heat the tires and keep the tires at temp ... 20-30' over outside temps in some cases. I haven't tried measuring the temps with the car off. Since Nationals, we just leave the blankets off and keep the car running.

We now let the car warm up in paddock with the tire blankets on. If it happens to be cold, you will have most available grip/heat in your tires on your 1st runs. We have experienced this at every event since Nationals.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 02:57 PM
  #3362  
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Originally Posted by sirbunz,Feb 3 2011, 02:21 PM
I believe the problem comes when the car remains running. Before running at Nats on day 2, I was told the "fencing" or wrapping of the car traps heat, but the tire blankets do not. Then the rules were readdressed and the word came down that the tire blankets do trap heat. As a result, I was prevented by grid from using any of my tire blankets.

The answer you just gave was the same understanding I have. The issue I face is if I want to leave my car running (don't like turning it on and off when running it that hard) I cannot use tire blankets according to the National staff. If I turn my car off, the I can use the blankets.

Covering your tires while leaving your car running does help heat the tires and keep the tires at temp ... 20-30' over outside temps in some cases. I haven't tried measuring the temps with the car off. Since Nationals, we just leave the blankets off and keep the car running.

We now let the car warm up in paddock with the tire blankets on. If it happens to be cold, you will have most available grip/heat in your tires on your 1st runs. We have experienced this at every event since Nationals.
or heat the tires in the back of your SUV and throw them on right before gridding.
Old Feb 3, 2011 | 03:44 PM
  #3363  
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Originally Posted by sirbunz,Feb 3 2011, 12:21 PM
I believe the problem comes when the car remains running. Before running at Nats on day 2, I was told the "fencing" or wrapping of the car traps heat, but the tire blankets do not. Then the rules were readdressed and the word came down that the tire blankets do trap heat. As a result, I was prevented by grid from using any of my tire blankets.

The answer you just gave was the same understanding I have. The issue I face is if I want to leave my car running (don't like turning it on and off when running it that hard) I cannot use tire blankets according to the National staff. If I turn my car off, the I can use the blankets.

Covering your tires while leaving your car running does help heat the tires and keep the tires at temp ... 20-30' over outside temps in some cases. I haven't tried measuring the temps with the car off. Since Nationals, we just leave the blankets off and keep the car running.

We now let the car warm up in paddock with the tire blankets on. If it happens to be cold, you will have most available grip/heat in your tires on your 1st runs. We have experienced this at every event since Nationals.
I will see if I can get clarification about the car running with the tire blankets. Certainly with the fence the engine must be off. I too prefer to leave
the engine running while in grid.
Old Feb 4, 2011 | 11:21 AM
  #3364  
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Originally Posted by josh7owens,Feb 3 2011, 06:57 PM
or heat the tires in the back of your SUV and throw them on right before gridding.
That may help out a few degrees, but would certainly be more trouble than its worth. Worrying about prepping the car last minute instead of focusing on driving may end up hurting you more than the few extra degrees heating them up last second that would gain. Maybe letting the car run with a fence around it in paddock would be best? Then you pull the car up to grid just before it closes.

On day 1, having the extra tires sitting in grid and exposed to the sunlight helped more than anything. Our intent was to have extra tires to swap on 1/2 way through runs instead of scraping off the OPR during runs. We simply cleaned them up in paddock later without worrying about while running.
Old Feb 4, 2011 | 06:04 PM
  #3365  
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I've heard of Jeff Kiesel doing the "tires in car with heater on high" trick before for his EM car.
Old Feb 4, 2011 | 06:57 PM
  #3366  
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jadRICE does that all the time. Of course, leaving his truck running with tires in it has resulted in his not finding the truck where he left it on more than one occasion.
Old Feb 4, 2011 | 07:24 PM
  #3367  
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Originally Posted by SC_Highlander,Feb 4 2011, 07:57 PM
jadRICE does that all the time. Of course, leaving his truck running with tires in it has resulted in his not finding the truck where he left it on more than one occasion.
that's awesome
Old Feb 4, 2011 | 09:59 PM
  #3368  
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just ordered the last set of nickel 949s
Old Feb 5, 2011 | 04:33 AM
  #3369  
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Nice!! I can't wait to see them on the car!
Old Feb 5, 2011 | 09:13 AM
  #3370  
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Originally Posted by josh7owens,Feb 4 2011, 10:59 PM
just ordered the last set of nickel 949s
It's interesting to me that you went from the really low profile black to the really flashy nickel. I am curious how the nickel will look on the black though



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