Dirt Stockers and other wet racing questions...

[Speed Raycer]

What looked like a great spring weekend on monday has turned into an off and on soaking here in the midwest.

At what point do you switch over to Dirt Stockers? Monsoon only conditions or is light drizzle enough?

What kind of tire pressures for the dirt stockers?

Also, anyone have any tricks to keep fog off of the windshield? I've heard shaving cream will work... Foam only or would gel work???

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Scott Rhea
It's not what you build...
it's how you build it
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[This message has been edited by Speed Raycer (edited May 10, 2004).]

[seamus88]

Fog-X same people that make Rain-X

[Speed Raycer]

Ok... one thing that I forgot... On track tomorrow at 8am.... and I'm working tonight til 10pm... so I need some Heloise's Hints here

I'll keep Fog-X in mind the next time I'm at the parts store

[Greg Gauper]

Some people will say to only run them if it is raining hard. I say it depends on the car. On a relatively light FWD, I found that as long as the track was damp with NO patches of dry grey pavement, Dirt Stockers were a safe bet and would not overheat. Damp tracks without standing water can still be slicker than snail snot, especially if it is very cold out, and you need the soft compound in order to generate grip, and if you can't generate grip, you can't generate heat to cause overheating. If the track does start to dry out quickly i.e. dark surface with sunshine after a brief passing monsoon, you must start to drive off line to search for puddles. That can make it tough to judge when to go out on 'rains' vs drys. Experience helps in this case. My Dirt Stockers lasted several years. I have to replace them due to the cracks in the side walls from age, but they have plenty of tread left and have been used several times. If the track is damp and looks like it will stay damp, run the dirt stockers. If the track is damp but show signs of drying i.e. patches of grey in places, no spray from other cars, etc, then run your dry tires and be careful in the opening laps. In some cases, sticker Hoosier tires i.e. 'drys' work very well on a damp/drying track. I would normally scuff my Hoosier tires with a light heat cycle to help them last, but if there was a chance of rain for the race, I saved them for the race. That extra bit of 'softness' from a new unscuffed tire was a distinct advantage. (in fact they worked too well, and I wound up tagging somebody in the back when I closed on them much faster than I expected but that's another story).

The soap trick works great. Try it on a mirror and hold it over a tea kettle or pan of boiling water. Rub it on with one cloth and then buff it in with a clean, dry cloth. You'll leave a slight haze but you will be able to see clearly without fogging.


[This message has been edited by Greg Gauper (edited March 26, 2004).]

[itbgti]

Dirt Stockers are ONLY to be used when standing water is on the track and there is a constant rain coming down...light drizzle will not do. They will overheat, chunk up and become little balls of rubber.

Use Joy or another dishwasher liquid detergent/soap for fog. Rub it on till you get a haze, let dry, then gently rub the top coat away, kind of like waxing a car. it will not be 100% clear, but it will prevent fogging.

Also, keep a squigee in the car if you know it is going to rain/fog just in case...it costs barely anything and can mean the difference between ending your race early or simply a quick wipe on a straightaway.

Regards,
Alan

[gsbaker]

The trick we used when scuba diving was to spit into the mask and rub it around.

Never mind... Fog-X sounds good.

Gregg

[Drew Aldred]

I second the response from Greg. I have run the Dirt Stockers in light rain and on a drying track with no problems. Make sure (or as sure as you can anyway) that the track will stay wet in some spots to cool down the tires if needed. I'm always surprised how well you can run with slicks even in a slight rain, so it can be a tough call.

No advice on the windshield, too foolish to come in out of the rain I guess.

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#42 GP Spitfire
Member 289368

[joeg]

Never had a problem in the rain with a functioning Defroster!

Dirt Stockers are simply fabulous in the wet. Run them at around 29 lbs.

For drying conditions or just damp, I think the old VictoRacer Kumhos are real good!