April Fools Jokes

[King Matt]

Is this one? Because if it isn't, I feel like the joke is on me for planning all last season to use up my RA1s, compromise my tire decisions for the 2008 Nationals, and being forced to buy a set of R888s for 2009.

 

http://www.nasaproracing.com/news/2009/extension-for-using-toyo-ra-1.html

[Grizlbits]

That one is not a joke.

[b_tone]

Great. I feel like I was just kicked in the balls.

 

I just bought a set of the R888's to run 3 more events this year even though I had 2 sets of good RA1s in my garage.

[Grizlbits]

Think of it this way Brian. Obama wants us all to recycle. Now you can recycle the RA1's. By buying the 888's, you are also investing in our future. Way to think green Brian!

[philstireservice]

This should be interesting...

[King Matt]

Phil, you better tell Kim this is true, because I just got off the phone with her and she didn't believe me!

[Jay A.]

Phil,

Are the RA-1s still available?

I thought they were out of production and the R888 took their place.

Jay

[Sidney]

Phil,

 

Any insight into the real reason this is happening? Just how many RA1's did Toyo have stockpiled that they realized were not going to be sold due to the switch? How many did Vilvan return that were already shaved? Are there problems with the new R888's?

 

There is no way in hell that Toyo gives a rats ass that a few racers had old tires that needed to be worn out!

 

Sidney

[Jay A.]

It has to be an April fools joke. It was posted on April 1st.

Jay

[King Matt]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25080

[ST#97]

Are there problems with the new R888's?

 

 

Yeah, they are slow.

[JWL]

Guys-

 

All the testing Toyo has done and that we have done showed that sticker RA-1's and sticker R888's were extremely close in speed (i.e. .1 to .2 seconds per lap) when the cars and drivers were calibrated properly for each tire (pressure, camber, driving style). We did in house testing and Toyo did a bunch of testing with other sanctioning bodies as well to vaildate this point, so I'm pretty confident that the two tires have about the same ultimate performance potential. However, the initial roll out period indicated that many folks wanted to stick with the RA-1 rather than make the change to the R888. We have been trying to find a solution for quite a while and this is the best approach we could come up with to try and make the most amount of folks happy. Whether we were successful or not remains to be seen, but there were no Black Helicopter Squads at work as we simply were trying to listen to our folks and respond. I'm sorry so many feathers were ruffled and hopefully things will calm a bit once the season gets further along and the path to 2010 and beyond becomes clearer.

 

So, again, hopefully some of you are happy with this decision and we do sincerely apologize to those who are pissed as our only intent was to try and increase satisfaction rather than create discontent. Toyo will be sending engineers out in the field this year to help with R888 setup, so please do take advantage of their assistance when they are onsite with you guys.

 

Thanks.

 

-JWL

[AllZWay]

I ran RA1's last year in CMC and 888's this year in CMC-2 and was about 1 second slower with 30 more hp.

 

Granted, there are many variables for a true comparison, but the fastest CMC cars were putting down times similiar to last year while still running on RA1's....and those times were faster than me on 888's.

 

I really don't think it is fair to have drivers running different tires in the same series after the original grace period was agreed upon.

[CMC#11]

Guys-

 

All the testing Toyo has done and that we have done showed that sticker RA-1's and sticker R888's were extremely close in speed (i.e. .1 to .2 seconds per lap) when the cars and drivers were calibrated properly for each tire (pressure, camber, driving style). We did in house testing and Toyo did a bunch of testing with other sanctioning bodies as well to vaildate this point, so I'm pretty confident that the two tires have about the same ultimate performance potential. However, the initial roll out period indicated that many folks wanted to stick with the RA-1 rather than make the change to the R888. We have been trying to find a solution for quite a while and this is the best approach we could come up with to try and make the most amount of folks happy. Whether we were successful or not remains to be seen, but there were no Black Helicopter Squads at work as we simply were trying to listen to our folks and respond. I'm sorry so many feathers were ruffled and hopefully things will calm a bit once the season gets further along and the path to 2010 and beyond becomes clearer.

 

So, again, hopefully some of you are happy with this decision and we do sincerely apologize to those who are pissed as our only intent was to try and increase satisfaction rather than create discontent. Toyo will be sending engineers out in the field this year to help with R888 setup, so please do take advantage of their assistance when they are onsite with you guys.

 

Thanks.

 

-JWL

Please direct their engineers to TWS the weekend of April 18th and 19th.

TX has already had 2 race weekends and our third is coming up in 2 1/2 weeks. It is extremely clear throughout the AI and CMC fields that the 888 is far slower than the RA1. In 3 weeks the TX region will be 1/2 way through the 2009 season and this change impacts us greatly.

 

BTW, are these the same "Toyo engineers" that have told me multiple times over the phone that I should not be running my 255/50/16's at 30 lbs. hot and instead should be around 38-40? If that is the case, don't bother sending them, they are useless.

[ST#97]

Please direct their engineers to TWS the weekend of April 18th and 19th.

 

I second this idea given our region likely has the most experience on R888's to date with some of us having DAQ info to provide for our specific series. I plan on running back to back tests for a 3rd weekend this weekend to further figure out this new tire. I would also imagine that Toyo might like to see what happens to these tires in an 8 hour enduro on an AI car as there will be two running that weekend as well as a few CMC cars. I would love for them to see what I can do with their tire running pressures 10-12lbs lower than what they recommend. Might even be willing to run DE sessions on tires they bring with them to really prove out what the R888 is doing on an AI car. I will provide gas, brakes and Data collection...just need to find a tire machine on site.... any takers?!

[Sidney]

John,

 

This sounds to me the end of TOYO as a spec tire sponsor for 2010. I just can't believe a couple people with a set of RA1's could get the entire NASA organization to pull this switch so late considering there has been absolutely no rumblings on the forums or from our Regional Directors. If there would have been the slightest chance the R888 wasn't going to be the spec tire for 2009, many of us would not have spent the $1,000.

 

This tire was announced last summer. Everyone had time to burn up the RA1's last summer and fall, were given (2) races in 2009, plus the ability to use them in enduros. I'm just not buying that "were trying to listen to our folks and respond."

 

I really like the idea of a spec tire rule but this move just threw that out the window.

 

Sidney Franklin

Midwest Region

CMC #64

[nape]

I was pretty pissed that I left a set of 1 weekend RA1s on the car for cold storage at the end of the season because we were moving to the R888 then we were then allowed to use them for the first two races, now I'm even more ticked.

 

At least I haven't bought tires for this year yet!...

[Mystic_Cobra]

It has to be an April fools joke. It was posted on April 1st.

Jay

My thought exactly. Only a few minutes left and I hadn't been tricked all day!

[swhiteh3]

Unfortunately, I need to add my name to the list of the disappointed. I sold a set of Toyos late last year knowing by the time I got the car out, they would not be legal. Now, it turns out they would have been. So I've just added about $1000 to my costs to get on track this year for no reason.

 

The laptime issue is a big one, but not one I can comment on, since I have not driven on 888s.

 

The durability issue is very concerning. Learning that Toyo is replacing their tire with a less durable one on purpose is rather concerning, because it adds a lot of cost to the series.

 

I'm not sure why this decision was made. Is it because a few competitors complained, and the decision was made to accomodate them without public comment or consideration? Or is it because Toyo, who is driving this expensive change miscalculated and now has extra tires? Either way I have serious issue with it.

[Grizlbits]

I am just wondering, but why are you worried about this with an AIX car Scott? Oh, and I agree with your 1 - 2 threads sticking out of the nut rule also.

[swhiteh3]

The AIX 351W+ motor is sold and gone. The AI motor is in the process of being built now. I hope to be out around July with the car as a full AI car. The car was always built with AI in mind.

[Grizlbits]

Ah, so remove the "X" in your sig please.

[marshallmosty]

John,

 

This sounds to me the end of TOYO as a spec tire sponsor for 2010. I just can't believe a couple people with a set of RA1's could get the entire NASA organization to pull this switch so late considering there has been absolutely no rumblings on the forums or from our Regional Directors. If there would have been the slightest chance the R888 wasn't going to be the spec tire for 2009, many of us would not have spent the $1,000.

 

This tire was announced last summer. Everyone had time to burn up the RA1's last summer and fall, were given (2) races in 2009, plus the ability to use them in enduros. I'm just not buying that "were trying to listen to our folks and respond."

 

I really like the idea of a spec tire rule but this move just threw that out the window.

 

Sidney Franklin

Midwest Region

CMC #64

Very well said Sidney.

 

 

As CMC#11 pointed out, there are going to be two AI cars running the 8-hour enduro on the 18th of April at TWS in College Station, TX. I'm running my '89 FOX and Frank Robertson is running his '98 Cobra. We will both be on full tread 888's for the entire race. I'll make sure to report back my findings as I'm expecting to have about 650 miles (224 laps) by the end of the race, hopefully on the same set of 888's that I started on .

 

My only datapoint with R888's is from two test sessions in late January at Motorsport Ranch in Cresson, TX. I shot for 38psi coming off track and the tires performed well under a 30 minute session while I chased a GT2 Porsche around. I'm used to very old cast away tires, so they felt good to me.

 

Should be interesting.

[Jay A.]

8 hours on a mustang is a lot to ask for any tire. I would guess there might be a need to change at least the left two at some point into the race possibley around 6 hours. Sounds like lots of FUN!!

 

You need any brake pads for that race?

 

Jay

[ST#97]

I would guess there might be a need to change at least the left two at some point into the race possibley around 6 hours. Sounds like lots of FUN!!

 

Jay

 

We run CCW south of the Mason-Dixon Line so the right front gets the most hammering. I will be driving for the AI#132 team and from what I have seen Marshall, you might consider getting two more tires. If a spec miata can burn through a full set of 4/32 shaved 888's in 1.5 hours, we may have issues with the 888's...or just have to run a MUCH reduced pace. Luckily, there will be tons of mustangs in the paddock to "borrow/steal" wheels and tires from. BTW...cinch it up! Frank has the A-team on board!