Jumping in the deep end

rocket71 · Post by **rocket71** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:37 pm

Help!?! (or maybe not). I am in serious discussions with Robert regarding his SSP Vette. I am trying to get as much info on tire budget, operating costs, pro's / con's of such a huge move. Any thoughts? I have never been behind the wheel of a r-comp car so this is a whole new ball game for me. My S2k was my first autox car and feel it is very close to being all it can be. Giving up now would be a huge risk but damn the fun that Vette would be for a long time to come.

BTW...for this to happen I am going to need to part out or sell the S2k. I got some biters on the car and parts but since I have been somewhat non-commital nothing real serious.

I have spoken with Robert, Jr. Johnson, & Andy Hohl so I think I got a pretty good idea of what I would be getting myself into, I am just looking for ya'lls opinions too.

Post by **thrdeye** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:45 pm

I don't think there's anyone here that can advise you better than those three.

You already trailer, already have a dedicated car, so in that regard, it's about the same.

Hoosiers are more expensive and wear faster, but Roberts car is pretty gentle on them believe it or not. You still (IMO) need to be prepared to drop cash for new ones if you're trying to win a tour or a pro if the tires have more than 40 runs on them.

rocket71 · Post by **rocket71** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 5:15 pm

Tire math is looking like 3 sets a year if I meet my goal of 4 Pros and 4 tours. Then use them up at locals.

All the SSP say they are easy on tires. Up to 30 runs for national events and then I gave been quoted as high as 100 to 120 till they are wasted.

Andy suggested using tires up to 60 runs for national events till I am within .3 of the to dog. He said data shows they are still sticky but don't feel right.

What other tire options are there while I just getting used to the speed?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

flier129 · Post by **flier129** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 6:05 pm

Could test some BFGs.....

wait wait wait wait..... that's a bad idea..

I think you would have a lot of fun with the car, but the initial getting-use-to phase would most likely leave you frustrated. You would probably get over that quickly from the fun factor and you picked up on auto-x in general really fast IIRC.

jcox07 · Post by **jcox07** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 6:13 pm

You can get used hoosiers from Lee Grasser from our club he has a contract with hoosier and they are pretty good tread when he gets them... about 60-75% tread and good build dates and those are about 300-400 a set and you could use those for locals and get by with probly one new set for nats and pros.

steverife · Post by **steverife** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 6:23 pm

It is hard to believe that there were only 5 SSP cars at nats.

rocket71 · Post by **rocket71** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 6:49 pm

jcox07 wrote:You can get used hoosiers from Lee Grasser from our club he has a contract with hoosier and they are pretty good tread when he gets them... about 60-75% tread and good build dates and those are about 300-400 a set and you could use those for locals and get by with probly one new set for nats and pros.

How do I reach him? I emailed Robert about what size he runs. If this is true then I will likely fully commit.

steverife wrote:It is hard to believe that there were only 5 SSP cars at nats.

Point taken.

steverife · Post by **steverife** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:39 pm

I'm not sure I have a point.

Heck, I'm talkin' GP and they only had 4 cars --- though I bet replacing the 5 or 6 or whatever time champ with me would draw some more people out.

jhix33 · Post by **jhix33** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:49 pm

I've always heard good things about the quality/service/price from this guy: http://www.jbracingtires.net/

I bought 50-60 run 315/30/18s from Carter&Jim Thompson when I had my 350z. I seem to remember them having some 335/30/18s as well.

Out of curiosity, what would you be asking for the S2K as is?

steverife · Post by **steverife** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:34 am

If you are buying a couple set of new tires for national events, do you even need used tires?

4 Pros/4 Tours is a minimum of 72 runs (1 driver, no challenges). You are probably going to want 2 sets of tires for that and 1 set for nats. Are you going to take more than 250 runs at locals per year?

MikeKelly · Post by **MikeKelly** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 8:10 am

rocket71 wrote:Any thoughts?

I think the learning curve in that car is going to be steep.

If I were buying that car, my top budget priority would be learning everything I could about autocrossing it well from Robert (as in local-ish co-drives, at every opportunity).

I'll bet it would take a full year (at least) to beat him in that car (for the brightest of talented drivers). Probably more like two years.

Not to discourage you - just trying to point your budget in the most cost effective direction...

rocket71 · Post by **rocket71** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 3:33 pm

Thanks for all the tire info! I am going to need it. Now I just need to get some details worked out to get this process rolling.

As Collette confirmed for me, I am getting in way over my head. I am going to have re-train myself. I argue I have never been trained.

I hope this can be done for Blytheville. I have a located a great set of tires (24 runs) for it plus a couple other sets. I would love to take the EVO Challenge School so Andy Hohl can get some seat time with me. That would be the best way to start and maybe get Robert to come out too.

Andy told me to just run used tires at everything but Nats. At tours & pro's, he would stay on tires with under 60 runs. Once I get to within .3 seconds of Tharpe then I need to be running under 30 run tires to beat him. That makes sense to me.

John Brown · Post by **John Brown** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 5:39 pm

MikeKelly wrote:
I think the learning curve in that car is going to be steep.

If I were buying that car, my top budget priority would be learning everything I could about autocrossing it well from Robert (as in local-ish co-drives, at every opportunity).

I'll bet it would take a full year (at least) to beat him in that car (for the brightest of talented drivers). Probably more like two years.

Not to discourage you - just trying to point your budget in the most cost effective direction...

not to discourage at all.... but this made me snicker.
If I was gonna buy this car,Id look at it as if I was buying D. Whiteners CRX..... I can take his record with it... and aim at the very best... 1 spot lower.

ConeEater · Post by **ConeEater** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:40 am

Well, SSP might change over the next 2 years depending on how the classing plays out with the street classes, so that's somewhat of a 'in flux' thing.

Robert has commented that the car is very easy on tires. My Z is getting oever 70-100 runs on tires from new and they still work when driven by fast guys.

rocracing2004 · Post by **rocracing2004** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:41 pm

Berry is even faster than before by about 2-4 seconds. Good luck Berry and keep us posted on what you think about driving a big bad power car.

RC

East Tennessee Region SCCA

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