by Mike Ruefer
Davenport, Iowa - I work during the week and on the weekend I go racing. Does this
sound familiar? Sure it does. If you’re reading this; that’s what you do. Racing
is an addictive sport and the passion for speed fuels the soul of all who call
it their sport. Everyone has a story on what got them hooked on their drug of
choice. Mine was over 40 years ago and during all these years I love the chase
of the next race.
As I get older knowing that my best years of chasing are behind me,
I tend to think about the future of Dirt Late Model racing and the drivers,
cars, race tracks and events that shape the history of the sport. It’s important
to me to think that all that mattered in the past which shaped the sport stays
in place to give reference to the future. All things change with time,
technology and knowledge but have we gone just a little too far with
tires.
What I mean with this has to do with
all the recent disqualifications that have happened after early 2013 marque
events concerning chemically altered tires. It’s nothing new and it’s been
taking place for a long time. Soaking tires in fuel oil, rubbing them with
solvents has been taking place long before today. Bending rules and being
creative to get a competitive edge has been part of racing since the Romans
raced Chariots in the Coliseum.
The importance of tires in all forms
of motorsports is paramount. Every form of racing outside of dirt racing police
tires like a Brinks truck. Why? Because they are that important! In racing it’s
all about getting the horsepower and torque turned into traction.
Where does that happen? With the
tires!
Go to any Dirt Late Model super show
and watch how much everyone looks at everyone’s tires. No one wants to be out
guessed with tire selection when multiple tire compounds are available. Starting
up front, having the right tires might just be your ticket to
victory.
Tires of all kinds are modern chemical marvels that transform raw
rubber into something that we can drive on. The tread gets the most attention
because that’s the point where the rubber meets the road. With different
chemical additives the tread can be made harder or softer or somewhere in
between. Just like with the Three Bears and their porridge, Goldilocks will find
the one she likes the best.
Harder and softer with tires equals a compound that has a durometer
rating. That’s easy so if a tire is stamped at a number then it durometers at
certain number. A problem with tires, because they are made out of rubber
(natural and synthetic) degrade over time. The chemicals vent or off gas in
storage thus changing the chemistry of the compound. So the tires you bought
last year are chemically different and become harder. Not by much but still not
as fresh as a new tire.
Let’s think about heat. Tires need to get heat into and out of the
tread layer to work as designed. On dirt the groove and sipe cuts make this
happen and the remaining tread pattern creates the contact patch to gain
traction. A big problem with heat is that it also changes the compound and makes
the tread harder after a cooling cycle. Sometimes this happens during the race
and the outer layer of tread glazes or seals over during a caution and thus less
traction. The temptation to alter the tire to give you better performance so the
tire handles all these situations is real. Overall a lot time, money, sweat and
worry go into tires. Success or failure each and every race can tetter on tires.
So why in the world would anyone want to mess with their tires and
try to gain an advantage? Because so much is riding on them if you get my drift!
Like I mentioned before, racers seek an advantage even if ever so slight. In
today’s age of “buy it off the speed shelf world and you go fast,” race cars
have become so equal. Drivers make a difference, crew chief knowledge makes a
difference, engines and shocks make a difference. The combination when all
bolted onto the chassis of your choice all make a difference. In racing when
everyone is good or great and can win on any given night, any advantage is
looked at and thus we have this tire problem that starting to raise its ugly
head.
I think the recent disqualifications are just the tip of the
Iceberg. If only a few are caught altering their tires does this mean they are
the only ones doing it? The answer has to be no. If no one else was doing it
then why would they take the risk of getting caught? While I firmly believe that
most racers don’t alter their tires, probably enough do that some will take the
risk to stay even. I don’t condone anyone for messing with a tire and trying to
change the chemical compound but it’s been going on for a long time and very
little or anything been done to stop it. The problem I see is that it’s going to
hurt the sport if it continues to escalate at the current rate.
Fans go to races to see a race, cheer for their favorite driver and
cheer or boo for the winner. Great races and the victorious champion become part
of history or at least that’s how it used to be. Today it’s different. We cheer
the champion and two weeks later we learn they altered their tires and become
disqualified changing the race we all witnessed before. This will ruin our sport
and our legacy for the future.
With tires being so important to racing I firmly believe that it
has to be controlled now before more damage is done. If nothing is going to be
done then get rid of the tire rules all together. Fans expect to see a race and
a winner, not to hear he has been disqualified in later weeks. For those of you
who have the influence, authority and power to get this tire problem solved, the
ball is in your court. Doing nothing and ignoring the situation will forever
change the dirt late model landscape forever.
