Registration closed February 22, 2013 12:56 PM at 2013-02-22T12:56:00-0800 Registration ends February 22, 2013 12:56 PM at 2013-02-22T12:56:00-0800 Registration opens January 9, 2013 12:56 PM at 2013-01-09T12:56:00-0800 Registration runs from January 9, 2013 12:56 PM to February 22, 2013 12:56 PM
TRACK DAY DRIVERS:
TRACK DAY CARS:
RAT RACE TEAMS:
RAT Tire Rules Supplementals: January 29, 2013
I’ve been getting a lot of questions from teams that have old 200 tread wear tires that want to use them up and don’t want to spend the money to buy 300 rated tires, and are some worried how heavy a lap assessment they will have if they “run what they brung”.
If your tires test out above 60 durometer at 60 degrees (as per our equipment) you are good for this race with no penalty. Tires that don’t have a visible tread wear marking must be tested at tech inspection and are subject to retesting at anytime.
Tires clearly marked with a tread wear rating of 300 or higher are exempt from testing. Please paint a circle around the marking on all your tires, so it is easy to find at tech.
I tested a set of 3-race old Star Specs for a local team this evening, and got repeat readings in the 67 – 68 durometer range @ 61 degrees. That makes it a “no lap assessment tire”. A new Star Spec is probably softer.
So how much to I get dinged if my tires are to soft?: For this race it will be one lap per hour for every durometer point below 61.
l have attached the tire rules below from our website (RAT Race tab under Rules and Such).
So can I run my race car and what’s-up with this 300 tread wear?
If you don’t have a RAT you can still run most SCCA / Conference / NASA prepared production
based cars in the RAT RACE Series. You can run any tire you want, however “good tires” will
probably be relegate you to the “Overqualified Class” and / or incur the assessment of laps.
Why have standard RAT RACE tire rules?
The 300 and harder tread wear rating is intended to reduce costs, lower speeds, reduce the
advantage of really expensive brakes, and allow a tactical racing advantage to a driver that
possesses excellent car control skills. For 2012 we allow drivers to run any tire they want and
assign laps to negate the advantage. We still allow those with softer tires to run in the over
qualified class.
Why 300?
‘Cuz it can be hard to find 600 rated tires in all sizes.
How do “laps” get assigned?
Amongst other criteria used to integrate vehicles that fall outside the spirit of a true RAT CAR,
the Lab Rats are fine tuning a “proprietary, thermally compensated, durometer equivalence
matrix” to calculate lap assessments and augment the ”Sniveling Rat” appeal process we now
have for those that feel their assessment is inequitably high. Again, this is about trying to
reduce costs and level the playing field.
Are you serious?
Somewhat. We at STAR Projects are “seriously serious” about providing real racing competition
at very low cost and welcome your suggestions (but not relating to grammar, syntax or
punctuational propriety).
So all my tires are 200 tread wear?
When you wear out the tires you have, replace them with a 300 rated tire. They will cost you
about $260.00 for four, mounted and balanced. Barring poor alignment or off course damage,
you can probably pass them on to your grand children!
ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RAT RACE EVENT RULES , EVENT SUPPLEMENTALS AND THE THUNDERHILL REGULATIONS (ABRIDGED).
(The Rules and Such)
THUNDERHILL REGULATIONS (ABRIDGED)
Call with any questions.
Bill Murray
Event Coordinator
503-358-2617
starprojectsevents@gmail.com
(10 am – midnight)