Summary of rule changes for 2012

[Dave Barker]

The OSO met on Dec 8 to discuss various rule changes as suggested by the car classification committee and has agreed to the following for next year

1) new rule for white flag to be shown to a faster car catching a slower car in competition rather than a yellow flag as in the past. Yellow flags will still be used to indicate a dangerous condition on the track.

2) convertibles will gain 60lb in the DB to acknowlege the need for a rollbar but cannot take the neg PIP for a rollbar

3) new classification for miatas without LSD at 65% handling index

4) no fire extinguisher needed with rollbar.

5) Continental CTCC slicks will be allowed as premium R comps like GAC Hoosiers

6) For the upper classes will re instate Open Mod for non mass production vehicles and Mod 1, Mod 2 and Mod 3 to replace Mod, Prepared and Improved respectively with the same performance indices. Only Mod 1 and Open Mod require the safety requirements specified in the rule book ( i.e fire suits etc.)

7) no PIPs for sub frame connectors

8) BT Pax stays with the same pax factors

9) Street tire discount stays at neg 10 PIPs for 140 and up for 2012 season BUT will drop to neg 8 PIPS for 2013 for all street tires. No change suggested for regular R comps due to lack of data.

10 ) A number of cars will have their handling indices raised including almost all Mustangs and Camaros. Details to follow.

[shanehutton]

Yay.
.
.
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[KLZEMX6]

Looks pretty good. Only thing I don't completely agree with is btpax but even that will probably be ok with mustang handling index changed

[Dave Barker]

One other issue that was not clear in the rule book but has been made clear by the Bulletin of Mar 10/2012 which many of you may not have seen.

"All designated rain tires (which include Hoosier Wets and others) are considered Premium R compound tires"

i.e if you use specific wet tires you do not get to claim any negative tire PIPs. If you don't run premium R comps regularly and want to use your specific Wet tires on a wet day, your class will move up.

[msix]

Originally Posted by Dave Barker

One other issue that was not clear in the rule book but has been made clear by the Bulletin of Mar 10/2012 which many of you may not have seen.

"All designated rain tires (which include Hoosier Wets and others) are considered Premium R compound tires"

i.e if you use specific wet tires you do not get to claim any negative tire PIPs. If you don't run premium R comps regularly and want to use your specific Wet tires on a wet day, your class will move up.

If a competitor runs on Street tires, but uses another set of Street tire (because of better thread), he/she will move up one or two classes????

I hope I got that wrong, because this does not sound right ....

[racecartech]

Street tires are street tires.

The ruling is to prevent someone believing treaded hoosiers for rain use fall into non-premium r-comp class

[Dave Barker]

Originally Posted by msix

If a competitor runs on Street tires, but uses another set of Street tire (because of better thread), he/she will move up one or two classes????

I hope I got that wrong, because this does not sound right ....

Dont' worry Klaus. Even full tread depth Toyo RA-1s are good in the wet but not as good as true rain tires. This ruling only affects true Wet weather race tires designed for that purpose only. The clarification was required because rain tires don't have just circumferential grooves yet have a super soft compound.

[msix]

I kind of figured that, but it is confusing ...

All designated rain tires (which include Hoosier Wets and others) are considered Premium R compound tires"

It says ALL .... and 'others'

If you don't run premium R comps regularly and want to use your specific Wet tires on a wet day, your class will move up.

I have a designated set of Rain tires that is a Street tire (Toyo R1R) ... these are my specific 'Wet tires" ... soooo

[Dave Barker]

R1Rs are not marketed as specific rain tires ( nor are they)

Hoosier wets are.

There may be others. Goodyear??

[Doug P]

http://www.racegoodyear.com/tires/sports.html

[kmorris]

Any company that makes road-race slicks also makes and sells a corresponding wet-weather race tire. I assume that these are the tires that the rule refers to, not just treaded tires that you put on your car when it rains. Race wets are light like a slick, and use super-soft rubber. Really it might be better for the rule to refer to both slicks and wets as 'race-only tires' to properly differentiate from DOT "race" tires or street tires.