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Ok just curious...when looking at the results of STS2 vs. GS, HS, and STS, why does it seem like STS2 was a bit off the pace?  What gives?   Weather issues,  or some other circumstance?  Inquiring minds want to know!!

Andy, care to elaborate any? 

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Tim Herron
#195 STS2
'91 CRX Si

and I see Mr. Hollis was running Toyos...

 

And that would explain why they were off the pace...;-)

 

-Mike King 

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Mike King
88 CRX Si - STS2 #99
Jacksonville, FL
Team Bridgestone - King Motorsports - A-Spec Racing - Renspeed

My guess is that it was hot out.

Actually it was cold. Air temps were in the 50's for the opening morning runs and there was a strong breeze helping to keep the temperatures down.

STS2 and STX ran first heat, STU ran 2nd heat and STS ran 4th heat.  By the 4th heat on Sunday the track was warm and grippy. Air temps were in the mild 50-75 range all weekend.

 

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VW MKIV R32 - STX

Surface temp was 58 degrees on a very cheap pyro at the start of STS2 runs in heat 1 on Saturday; 65 on Sunday.  Saturday warmed some.  Sunday warmed significantly in the later heats. Very slick sealed lot on the best of days.

Steve E 

I to am very interested in the times.. There were several drivers from Louisiana there that are very quick and in relation to them we always are swaping positions when we race and they all did better than STS2(the class that I am in and I drive a miata).. 

 

Kerry

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Kerry Coughlin
1994 Miata R
197 STS2
Cenla Region SCCA

I ran Toyos because it was so cold and windy.  That's when these tires shine.  If it was warm, I'd have been on Bridgestones.  In fact, my Bridgestones were on the front of the winning STS car (congrats Wayne!).  I also did not have a co-driver.  None of us in 1st heat had much, if any, heat in the tires.  All were using tire covers. 

BTW, in the mid-day heat of Friday's practice, I turned the same times on Toyos and Bridgestones. 

One of these days I'll post up the results of my early-year tire testing...

--Andy 

PS: I hate this surface.  Even with better weather, it still sucks.  Doubtful that I'll come back, unless just to play (AWD anyone?).

Ha! That's how I feel about Walnut Ridge.  One of these days you should post up the results of your early-year tire testings.

 Matt
 

Andy Hollis:

PS: I hate this surface.  Even with better weather, it still sucks.  Doubtful that I'll come back, unless just to play (AWD anyone?).

Andy - How would you rate the surface relative to a cold day in Topeka (like the Thurs/Fri heats back in 06) ??? 

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VW MKIV R32 - STX

With that surface report, I'm glad I stayed home... Lets bring on the heat for DoubleX/Atlanta Tour!

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Rick Cone
Atlanta Region Director

STS2 #98
1991 Mazda Miata - Aqua

YEAH, C'MON! Bring the heat.

Not too much heat, now...us Northern types get a little wilty otherwise. 

-Steve

I've got a water sprayer. We can freshen you up real quick every now and then ;)

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Andrew
STS2 114 - 1992 Miata

Another observation, Ben Castillo, who is a very solid driver, was running STX 1st heat in the car that finished 1-2 in STS.  He was 3+ seconds behind the STS times.  I doubt Ben would have been that far back if he ran the same heat as the other two. 

 I was not there, so there may be other contributing factors here that I am not aware of.  If so, please feel free to correct me. 

vwawd:

[

Andy - How would you rate the surface relative to a cold day in Topeka (like the Thurs/Fri heats back in 06) ??? 

Maybe 70% of the grip level of cold HPT.  Maybe less.  Seriously bad.  I actually think I had more grip in the rain during last year's ProParts/Ankeny T&T at HPT before nats.

I hadn't run at the bus lot for about three years and had forgotten what it was like.  It all came back to me when I turned the wheel the first time during Friday practice.  And that was when it was warm out!

Plenty of people like this place, though. 

--Andy

PS: For more clarity on Ben, he was less than a second behind me when he co-drove with me in my Civic a couple years ago at Nats.
 

I agree with Andy

 I run a much different setup at TMS than Topeka, even if you run in a later heat there isn't as much grip as Topeka on a bad day

for reference,  we ran a regional on the same lot one week before the Tour

again, STS2 ran 1st heat

it was damp in about half the lot due to an earlier rain

I ran a full 10 seconds faster on my second run after it was totally dry -- no spins or crazy stuff -- just no grip at all, sort of like ice

almost everyone in that first heat ran 10-15 seconds faster, first to last runs

only good thing is that you don't get any tire wear

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1992 STS2 Miata
1993 Spec Miata
2003 Corvette Z06