Best way to scrub hillclimb and sprint slicks?
Discussion
Since I've started competing in the prosport this season I've not really given much thought to tyre wear/ preparation. That was until we got 9 timed runs on the 2.1 mile Anglesey circuit at the start of the month! The fronts took some serious punishment and have collected serious amounts of rubber.especiallly the inside of the front left tyre! What's the best way to scrape/ remove dead rubber on both my sprint and practice sets? As I don't want to damage the tyres! Cheers!
Results have been good so far and much better than I could have expected (3 class wins from my first 4 sprints ever) but I now find myself searching for that extra tenth or 2 without spending much cash!
Results have been good so far and much better than I could have expected (3 class wins from my first 4 sprints ever) but I now find myself searching for that extra tenth or 2 without spending much cash!
Much debate on this on various forums (the most relevant being Uphill Racers for anything HillClimb and Sprint related).
Personally the best resuts I a have seen are by a a really sharp wood plane, or failing that sureform (again new sharp blade) not forgetting to wet the tyre for lubrication, a little soap in the water helps as well.
Other will use a heat gun and scraper, produces a smooth (molten) looking surface, but didn't like putting the tyre through the extra heat cycles as the soft compounds go off very quicky.
What ever method you use it will help, just think of it as removing the dead surface rubber to reveal the good working rubber below.
Personally the best resuts I a have seen are by a a really sharp wood plane, or failing that sureform (again new sharp blade) not forgetting to wet the tyre for lubrication, a little soap in the water helps as well.
Other will use a heat gun and scraper, produces a smooth (molten) looking surface, but didn't like putting the tyre through the extra heat cycles as the soft compounds go off very quicky.
What ever method you use it will help, just think of it as removing the dead surface rubber to reveal the good working rubber below.
Thanks Angus. I'll have a look on uphillracers to see what I can find! I need the 2 sets to last me this season then I'll cut my practice ones to inters. My sprints can be my practice and I'll get some fresh a15's!
I've also got a pair of a92 fronts which I have not yet used so was thinking of trying them out at barbon in 2 weeks?
I've also got a pair of a92 fronts which I have not yet used so was thinking of trying them out at barbon in 2 weeks?
I agree with Angus' first post ( did I really say that?)
I used a sharp plane. The important thing was to catch it before the rubber rippled too much. After that happens it was difficult to get it back.
Your car isn't blue by any chance is it?
JP
Opinion is divided on hand cutting old slicks. Half the single seaters at Fintray last weekend were running with these. They seemed to go fast enough!
I used a sharp plane. The important thing was to catch it before the rubber rippled too much. After that happens it was difficult to get it back.
Your car isn't blue by any chance is it?
JP
Opinion is divided on hand cutting old slicks. Half the single seaters at Fintray last weekend were running with these. They seemed to go fast enough!
I had guessed already, but I'm doing well and happy with the car, and would have liked to have competed against you. I've tried to look for your times on line to see how I'm doing as I know you were running more power. And from what I can see I'm doing well as a 4 event novice.
Did a 91.15 at Anglesey and a 44.99 ( on shocking tyres) at teeside last weekend! Both taking class wins
Did a 91.15 at Anglesey and a 44.99 ( on shocking tyres) at teeside last weekend! Both taking class wins
mnrvortxf20c said:
I had guessed already, but I'm doing well and happy with the car, and would have liked to have competed against you. I've tried to look for your times on line to see how I'm doing as I know you were running more power. And from what I can see I'm doing well as a 4 event novice.
Did a 91.15 at Anglesey and a 44.99 ( on shocking tyres) at teeside last weekend! Both taking class wins
A 91.15 is pretty good going! Anglesey was my 5th event and I managed a 93.11 vs 91.24 for the class win. I've not been back since.Did a 91.15 at Anglesey and a 44.99 ( on shocking tyres) at teeside last weekend! Both taking class wins
That was my first ever sprint in the dry and only my second ever. I thought it was ok and was happy with a 2nd ftd until I saw mart carter did 84 secs in his pr6 last year. Must try harder I suppose.but am enjoying everything about sprinting apart from class numbers in 4a which are generally low. 7 is the most in class. 2 the worst so am considering going to 5a next year with a small single seater but will see how it goes. Thanks
SportsLibre said:
Just in case you hadn't guessed, your car is Stiglet's old car, which I sometimes beat in my old Clubsport and it beat my old Clubsport the rest of the time
"Banter" apart, Angus and I had great fun chasing each others times and the cars were closely matched You've got a good Prosport there which, apart from chains tyres and one water pump (my faultEdited by Stiglet for accuracy on Wed 4rd June at the office
), required nothing in the 3-4 years I had it. Enjoy !
I wouldn't worry too much about Matt's times. He's an order of magnitude faster than anyone I've ever competed against. He'd qualify for the Top 12 runoff at many British Sprint Championship events. He's hugely experienced, rather talented and the car is as good a PR6 as you will find. I'm not familiar with the names of the classes in your area, so not sure what they all relate to. The classes are named differently all over the country - you'd be in D1 at my local event. The popular classes around here tend to be 1400-1800cc roadgoing and 1800-2600cc roadgoing, either series or specialist.
As for your personal times, Angus and I had a few battles; a close one at Silverstone that he won first time we met, this one at Anglesey where he won comfortably and the final one where I took the win at Castle Combe. The only time I've not been in contention for the win (aside from my first event) has been when Matt's turned up.
As for your personal times, Angus and I had a few battles; a close one at Silverstone that he won first time we met, this one at Anglesey where he won comfortably and the final one where I took the win at Castle Combe. The only time I've not been in contention for the win (aside from my first event) has been when Matt's turned up.
Yeah. I Think on good tyres with more than 0 laps under my belt at Anglesey I could get into the very late 80's but that would be it. And other than my first sprint in the wet where I was 3rd of 5 in class I've won the last 3 and hoping it continues! Cheers. 4a is sports libre <1700cc at the events I do
I'd like to think that I'd be able to slot into the late 80s these days. Back then, my car was much heavier, the tyres were several years old, the aerodynamics were poor and the driver was inexperienced. I very nearly took a win at 2 of my first 3 sprints, but a certain Radical driver went 7 seconds quicker than his previous best (yes, seven seconds!) in the final timed run to change what I thought was going to be a comfortable win into a second place. Not that I'm bitter! 4A in your area is roughly equivalent to D1 here (<1800cc Sports Libre).
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