Rough weekend for the Castro Spec E30 at the California Crown

[priapism]

I found out my two friends finished 4th and 5th all the fast time you saw out of the norcal guys can be attributed to brand new tires on the cars. The top 7 were all on brand new tires for each race and that is a fact. The ra1 mandated is an identical compund to the r888 as the chemicals used in the ra1 are no longer allowed in japan manufacturing. And aparently the new RR that will be coming out is a 40 treadware slick. Which is about two seconds faster than the r888/ra1 compound. Grats though i heard it was a fun race!

I guess that makes sense. They probably brought two new sets shaved to 2/32nds. That would give a second or two but doesn't account for the huge difference in times between the front and the back. There was like an 8 second difference; of course lots of that is driver but the quality of driver this weekend was pretty damn high. Those cars were really well prepped. We're still working through all the bugs in this one. For instance I just discovered my diff is only breaking away at ~40ft / lbs or so, it can be up to 65 ft / lbs.

I talked to a guy that tested the new RA1, he said it was basically the old tire but shaved to 4/32nds already--pretty much the way we run them now. New compound of course.

[yeaseth]

That looked like you had a blast, what spring rates are you running?

[priapism]

Standard H&R race. Mandated in SE30

[FLG]

I think IE sells rear adjustment plates that have teeth on em and would help with them holding adjustment.

[priapism]

I think IE sells rear adjustment plates that have teeth on em and would help with them holding adjustment.

I believe that's what I have, the damn things won't stay on though. I'm far from the first to have reported this problem. Oh well, just one more thing to do every race night.

[jlevie]

The fix for the toe adjusters loosening is a means of preventing rotation of the bolt. Once that is in place the the rear alignment is a set and forget task. I've never seen the camber adjusters loosen or camber change when physical damage wasn't involved. So it is just the toe adjusters that need attention.

[priapism]

Hm. I can't weld. Maybe a 2nd nut on top to act as a jam nut?

My old ones never came loose.

[SkiFree]

I believe that's what I have, the damn things won't stay on though. I'm far from the first to have reported this problem. Oh well, just one more thing to do every race night.

Frankly if you'd really like to fix the problem, it would be worth PM'ing me.

As a FYI a number of the NorCal guys are running the posi's including the A1 car (orange-ish), BTM cars, and Eric Deck's car . There must be something basic along the lines of what Jlevie is saying.

[jlevie]

A jam nut might work, but the forces acting on the toe adjusters appear to be pretty large. So I don't know how well that will work. Try it and see.

There is not a whole lot of welding involved in making toe locks like I use. A decent welder could do it all in about a half hour. The labor will be in getting everything ready for welding.

[carnurd]

I guess that makes sense. They probably brought two new sets shaved to 2/32nds. That would give a second or two but doesn't account for the huge difference in times between the front and the back. There was like an 8 second difference; of course lots of that is driver but the quality of driver this weekend was pretty damn high. Those cars were really well prepped. We're still working through all the bugs in this one. For instance I just discovered my diff is only breaking away at ~40ft / lbs or so, it can be up to 65 ft / lbs.

I talked to a guy that tested the new RA1, he said it was basically the old tire but shaved to 4/32nds already--pretty much the way we run them now. New compound of course.

They did, the top 5 guys were on brand new shaved RA1's each day. They swapped out for new tires for each race. SE30 is turning into Spec Miata($$$$ to be competitive)... The New RA1's act like the old R888's though as far as drop off through heatcycles. The old RA1 however didnt drop off very much from being brand new to multiple heat cycles. New RA1's heat cycle out really fast...

[priapism]

Interesting. I was talking to a buddy of mine who's a Toyo distributor and we agreed that the RA1s are best after 12-14 heat cycles (then go away quick). Shaving lower than 4/32nds wouldn't allow you to get that far without running out of rubber. I might try some tires shaved lower next season and see if it makes a difference.

Right now I gotta get the car bolted together right and keep it that way for the whole weekend LOL

[jlevie]

My experience is that the current RA1's (shaved to 4/32) are good for six heat cycles. You can stretch them to eight heat cycles, but no more. After that they are practice tires.

[priapism]

You must be getting them way hotter than I am. Once they get really crazy hot I find they go away fast.

[shEck3lls0]

Lol at the clock.