Funny this should come up now. I spent several hours before this weekends
event with a propane torch and a scraper trying to get all of the CP rubber
off of our tires from Nationals. My wife ran ESL with the 66 CP cars, and the
rubber buildup was scary. The rear tires were about 3/8 of an inch bigger
than before her runs.
I found the only way to get it off was with the torch. When I was done, the
tires were very sticky indeed. How many people would protest someone using a
torch to "clean" their tires in grid?
Before any CP'ers say anything, I ran with just ES and FSP cars which are all
on DOT tires, the build-up was no where near as much.
I think the rule is going to be re-worded thanks to this little discussion,
it does say
6.11
"Pre-heating of tires prior to competition by electrically heated covers or
by similar means is prohibited"
Hmmm. Is using a torch on the tread surface a "similar means" to an electric
blanket??
Gary M.
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