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TIRE LETTER #9
Like a lot of people I watch many forms of
motor sport. The tyre problem is rising its
head in most High Speed forms from F1 to Grand
Prix bikes to IRL. Comments by Goodyear about
being in Drag Racing for the love of the sport,
there's only one word to cover those comments—MONOPLY.
That Hoosier doesn't want to buy in they can't
MONOPLY. The basic drag slick carcass has been
around for 50 years & it's time we point
the finger at Goodyear. Like most standards
that tyres are built on date back to 1960s
with little steps along the way (improvements?).
NHRA is just guilty here for not allowing competition
between tyre companies. It's that corporate
thinking—put the Buck first then worry
about rest later.
I spent a few years in tyres. To say I seen
my share exploding, shredding, blistering & other
strange events at relatively low speeds. We
imported tyres from Taiwan in the early days.
There were horror stories in beginning but
they managed to overcome problems as they
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came
up. That Goodyear can't handle this situation
this not down to compound issues, it's
the thinking that's stuck in the Past.
With all the R&D that Goodyear has in
its capablity they can & should be testing
tyres in the factory not on cars. Stresses
like drag racing can be simulated on Tyre Dyno's.
Do we need a 400 mph tyre? Well, maybe not.
A tyre that can run 370? Yes. Do I care about
the hidden phrases by Goodyear about the manufacture
car tyres. Well if you don't like drag racing,
go away. The publicity goes with you or if
you can't compete, don't like the heat, build
a better safer tyre.
John
Geltink
Holland
TIRE LETTER #10
Tires- HUH that's a surprise? What BUSINESS
that you know of SURVIVES with only ONE source
of supply? (Goodyear TOP FUEL tires)-Mandated
by NHRA. Hmm.
Doesn't anyone realize that IF Goodyear winds
up being the CULPRIT, TOP FUEL racing will
be OVER, and if that happens then NHRA is OVER
also.
EVERYONE knows that the GOODYEAR chunking
problem has been going on for years, but what
are the alternatives. Let's SEE:
1. Ignore the PROBLEM, and BLAME the CAR owners
for EXCEEDING the KNOWN safety limitations
of the tires, and make the car owners the CULPRITS.
(Goodyear's solution)
2. Smoke screen the OBVIOUS and LEAD the ALREADY
knowing team owners that the NHRA ANSWER to
the problem is to apply a BANDAID and state
that TOP FUEL racing IS after all a DANGEROUS
endeavor. (NHRA Safety Committee solution)
3. Sell the NHRA to Schumacher, (he is going
to OWN all the cars anyway), and have a WWF
format, with ON TV altercations, and trash
talking.(Schumacher's solution)
4. Admit the Problems, find the Solutions(wherever
they might be), and let the PUBLIC know what
is happening.(the COMMON sense solution)
5. EVERYBODY go Bracket Racing. (Gene's solution)
When design parameters are exceeded in ANY
mechanical endeavor, the RULES of PHYSICS will
apply themselves (like it or not). Who is steering
the NHRA ship onto the ROCKS, ahh- the BEAN
counters again. Nuff Said.
Gene Wagner
Boca Raton, Fla
P.S. No wonder Graham Light is staying in
the shut down area. (Holding his head and wondering
how ALL of this has turned to SHIT)
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