Tyres in Historic Saloon and Vintage Sports

[gordon]

Hi Guys,

Ramesh has asked me to put out a suggestion that we allow silicone tyres in our HS and VS classes. I'd like you to give some feedback, focusing on the pros and cons as you see them. Once we have this, we can do a poll if necessary to determine whether we will go through with his suggestion.

My immediate thoughts:

Pros

1. Better traction and cornering (obviously).
2. Wider range of tyre choice (once available for the standard rims).
3. If every car at FRC runs on silicones, the track surface should be consistent since there will be no rubber laid down.

Cons

1. Silicones may not be available for all brands and models. This is just a "maybe", but may in fact be wrong.
2. Everyone may now have to purchase silicones to be competitive (relatively minor issue).

There may be others. Let's hear your thoughts.

Gordon

[BULL'S EYE]

Silicones can't be trued ie..........can;t get magnets closer to the track.

[gordon]

That's a good point Alex. Drivers will therefore have to decide on better magnet traction vs better tyre traction.

[steveaca]

I will repeat what I have said several times about these classes.
My feeling is that we have several types of cars (non-'IROC') raced at FRC and each one in more than 1 level of race trim, eg.
Car type Stock Partially modified Fully modified
Saloon HS MP AM
GT RGT GT
Endurance SC LMP
Sports VS G5
Rally Rally
Single seater F1 .
I think we have enough opportunity to modify cars with the existing structure.We don't need to go and change the formula to now speed up what, in my opinion, are the 2 most realistic of all the classes raced. I say leave well enough alone. If we keep pursuing this search for ever more speed, we may soon see the introduction of 'thingies' at FRC, a very frightening thought.

[gordon]

For clarity, here's a graphic display of what Steve is describing above:

[RameshB]

Hi guys i suggested the use of si tyres as an option , gordon gave a good opinion ,on the pros and cons ,ask anyone racing competively and they will tell you that tires cars come with as boxed are for display and not club racing or anything competitive, even new comers can enjoy driving more because of improved handling, if we wish to stay true to car and tyre combination then in rally class we should run tyres with threads as most rally cars run, the intent of a new tyre type was just to improve handling , durability, and overall performance it is also more cost effective, which out lasts rubber 10 to 1 .thanks ramesh

[Luke]

Hello All,

I would like to inform all other FRC's racing comrades that, Ramesh is now aka The Professor when coming to buliding & racing 1/32 slotcars. This came about @ Arden's "Eid-ul-Fitr Celebrations" home yesterday when Gordon & myself branded this distinctive name listening to him (Ramesh) imparting his vast storehouse of knowledge in the Slot Car World...

I am not taking for granted anyone eles's slot car skills but to me it sounds like the man using telemetry science and technology to the fullest

Well done Ramesh

Luke

[Luke]

Hello Ramesh,

Hope you noticed what I told you in my interpretation @ last race event what Steve said - "I told you once, twice, three times & I say it again about these classes..!"

Personally, I'm not for or against silicone tyres in HS & VS classes but must say I have gotten accustom to and learned a lot racing with the rubber tyres (over the years) in these two classes. If I had to choose S/R - I would choose R (rubber) because of the one positive aspect - the times (6-7 secconds per lap) done with these cars isnt at all dissatisfactory...

Your point (rally class should run with tyre threads) you made to Steve's (2 most realistic of all the classes raced) was some good tact... But he is right with ~ there are several types of cars raced at FRC and each one has different levels of race trim.

The chart Gordon did for Steve, looks like a great (type slotcar builds) balance atm and think if silicones are introduced/used in HS & VS classes it will off set that balance.

Luke

[Luke]

Me again Fellas ~ I'm not doing nothing much atm other than just waiting for David's "boo" lime this evening...

Looking at Steve's (c/o GG) chart again - HS & VS with Silicones will not really off set anything, they will stiill be regarded as stock when you look at it because the F1 class runs with Silicone Tyres.

So where would this leave us now - if to go with Silicones in VS & HS classes?

[gordon]

Guys,

I'm being practical here. I have several cars for the HS and VS classes, amongst the HS ones are a Scaley Escort, a Scaley Cortina, a scratch-built Triumph TR4A which uses Scaley Cortina wheels, axles and tyres and an SRC Capri. With this topic in mind, last night I spent some time searching the web for "Scalextric Escort silicone tyres". The nearest result I could find was a post on SlotForum where someone was asking the same thing. All the responses indicated that there were none, however one poster said that there was someone who custom-moulds tyres and maybe he could make some. I did some more searching but to no avail. At that point I didn't worry try to look for Scaley Cortina or SRC Capri silicone options as I would think that the Escort is the most popular of these three.

Bottom line is, if only some of the cars in a class have a silicone option, then silicones should not be allowed. End of discussion.

Gordon