Dear Team Thicko,
I always enjoy your communications thru PDLJMPR and the Mark Bradakis mail
service.
I have an ex-SCCA bugeye racer and a 74 midget. I've done enough to the
bugeye to make it street legal and drive it daily - - in Phoenix that means
about 360 days a year. The midget is drivable, but not street legal or
licensed. My bugeye was featured in an article on PDLJMPR (the Blemished
Bugeye).
I have begun to "race" the bugeye with the National Auto Sport Association
(NASA) on road race courses here in Phx. I've made the midget drivable to
be available for my friends to use at the track with NASA with me. For me
it is more a high performance driving school/experience than actual
competitive racing. After I develop my driving skills and make the
necessary the improvements/modifications to my bugeye, I'd like to race it
with the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) that runs vintage events on
the West Coast, including AZ.
I have recently acquired a set of 13x6 minilites with Hoosier street racing
tires (185/60R13). They are nearly worn smooth. I have found these tires
are very unfriendly to drive on the street but handle wonderfully on the
track. I need to replace these tires soon if I continue to go racing.
I also have 2 sets of 13x5.5 five slot mags and one set of Rostyle MG Midget
wheels. I am wondering what tires and tire sizes would be best for me to
use. I'd like to have tires on both cars on that I could use on the street,
but that would be good enough so that they could be used some on the track
with NASA. As many others, my racing budget is very slim - so cost is a
great concern of mine.
I am planning to use 185/60x13 Nitto's (H speed rated) on one set of the
slotted mags as a street and track tire. A Goodyear Tire salesman has
offered me a set of 205/60R13 Yokohama's at $43 each to give me a wider
footprint. He thinks they will fit without rubbing and can be mounted on my
5.5 inch wide wheels. I'm not sure if they would be street friendly tires
or could only be used on the track.
A friend suggested I contact you since you all know just about everthing
there is to know about spridgets and tire/wheels. My questions are as
follows:
1) What range of tire sizes can be used without mods to the wheel wells of
a bugeye and a 74 midget? What are the pros and cons of the different tire
sizes?
2) What racing tires would you suggest to replace the Hoosiers? (for track
use only)
3) What tires will perform well on the street and could also be used on the
track?
4) Is it possible to go to a 14 inch wheel in order to find a wider range
of tire size options? Or even a 15 inch wheel to be able to get into 50
series or 40 series tires?
5) What do you know about the cost of the tires that you recommend and
where I could go to find them?
That should give you a general idea of the information I'm looking for. Any
help you can offer would be totally appreciated. When I update my PDLJMPR,
I will certainly give you credit for any help you can send my way.
Also - do you know of any spridget racers in the Phx area that I could team
up with???
Thanks -
Bob Kershaw
|