[Shotimes] (OT) Road Atlanta Club Race report

[Leigh Smith]

Mark, the chunked tire, I assume, was only chunked on the outer edge tread
rib. Chunked = over-heating.
Ever take any tire temps? Do you get even temps all the way across the
tread? I would think that would be nigh impossible on a Taurus. Try the
widest wheel you can have custom-made to squeeze in there, the same width as
the tread, say 8 or 9 inches wide. (I had to run 10 in wide wheels on my
245/50's on another car to properly support the tire on its 1200 lb front
corner racin'.) I ran with my wheels 1/8 in from the a-arm, and you may want
yours close to the strut, say 1/4 to 1/2 in to allow for the tire sidewall.
If the tire temps are within 10-15 degrees all the way cross the tire, then
you're good. Then it shouldn't chunk. Hoosiers (et. al) wear pretty fast
when you slide them, but that's what makes racin' so much fun :-) I'd even
go with a cheap custom made steel wheel if that was what it took to get a
wide wheel up front. The fender lip is your ultimate limit, unless you
modify it.
I'm assuming you've got 50 series tires, but try matching the tread width to
the rim width, even if it means going narrower. If they are flatter, they
will stick better, even if they are not wider. You runnin' 225's or 235's or
245s?
The only other thing you could do would be to crank in as much positive
caster and as much negative camber as you can, to get the temps flat across
the tread, under heavily-load, dynamic turning conditions. The outer edge
does not have to be hotter, if the tire is flat when loaded. But you made
need suspension mods on a mcphearson strut to get them even. Slot the towers
back & inside and go for at least 5-7 degrees caster, and adjust camber by
temp, but I'd guess 2 degrees or more. Solid lower control arm bushings
would also help, I mean brass, aluminum and/or delrin type, not poly/rubber.
Gotta see you race sometime!
Lee
PS: Send me your tire and wheel sizes and I'll help you if you want

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Nunnally" <marknunnally@JoiMail.com>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 11:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] (OT) Road Atlanta Club Race report


> >Plus, the PCA racing series is a great way to get into racing.
>
> That's what Tim was telling me
>
> > IMHO, DEs are nice, but wheel-to-wheel racing is a whole 'nother animal,
> and I wish I had the time to get into it.
>
> I agree!
>
> mark
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes