Smarty gets stabbed in the back......

[dominojd]

https://www.hoosiertire.com/NASAawdg.htm

[mbuskuhl]

...and it's supposed to be expanded soon to cover other regions, apparently those regions left out have spoken up.

[Knestis]

I'm submitting my claim for 2 tires this evening, courtesy of a class win at the VIR 3 hour enduro yesterday...

K

[dickita15]

I just sent an email to Manchester to ask the status of 2008 NARRC contingencies.

[pgipson]

This is the e-mail I got from Hoosier today. No love for the west coast

Paul,
Thank you for your inquiry. Hoosier certainly "recognizes" SCCA Regional racers as a component of the road racing market segment. As you probably know, NASA's organization is divided into "regions" that are equivalent to SCCA's "divisions". Therefore, because of their single layer system, NASA's regional competitors are equivalent to SCCA's National competitors. Hoosier has been involved with "grassroots" level sports car racing for over 23 years and have extended more comprehensive contingency programs than any of it's competition. Our internal experience with the market is to support our distributors where they provide "qualified" trackside support of a comprehensive nature for their area of responsibility. There are SCCA regional contingencies that currently exist in the Northeast, Cental, Great Lakes, and Southeast SCCA divisions and a very large contingency offering for the American Road Race of Champions (ARRC) which is considered the "Regional Runoffs". We are currently and have been working on solutions to make these programs applicable across the country. Your Email will be forwarded to our distributor in your area, Hoosier Tire West in Fresno, CA. Thank you again for your inquiry.
Regards,
Bruce Foss
Road Racing Product Manager
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.
65465 US 31
Lakeville, IN 46536
p: 574-784-3152
f: 574-784-3152

[tdw6974]

https://www.hoosiertire.com/NASAawdg.htm

Joe, from the tittle and info does this mean that smarty will not be supply for Hoosiers at SCCA events???

[JohnRW]

I think Joe's comments are based on THIS:

https://www.hoosiertire.com/NASADIST.HTM

Let's see...Smarty shows up at every Regional and National on the NE schedule (except for those where he would have had to be in two places at once...quite a trick, even for Bob), but no sign of him on the "trackside" list, or the current "roadracing" part of the Hoosier website (generic, non-sanctioning body-related).

That's unfortunate, whatever the circumstances. Bob, as a long-time and current active racer, always adds some "color" to what is sometimes a very bland paddock atmosphere.

[lateapex911]

What's interesting about that list is that Phil is listed for the entire New England, Midwest AND Great Lakes area!

And....unless Appalatian (sp, sorry) Tire is going under another name, THEY aren't listed either.

So, either that list is incomplete, or Hoosier has made some serious changes in it's distribution.

Further, (and I'm no expert, but) I've never seen Hoosier Tire East AT the track? (Perhaps they do pro events and Nationals, and I've just never noticed them,?)

[dominojd]

What's interesting about that list is that Phil is listed for the entire New England, Midwest AND Great Lakes area!

And....unless Appalatian (sp, sorry) Tire is going under another name, THEY aren't listed either.

So, either that list is incomplete, or Hoosier has made some serious changes in it's distribution.

Further, (and I'm no expert, but) I've never seen Hoosier Tire East AT the track? (Perhaps they do pro events and Nationals, and I've just never noticed them,?)

Basically Mr. Gulick, Phil and Kim spearheaded this contingency program and Hooosier went for it. Since Phil does all the track side for these NASA regions he has the rights to most of it. I comment him and Kim for working thier butt's off for the racers.

Getting anything from Hoosier (except for a large tire bill) is something you don't see every day.

Phil can chime in on the technical side of things he wants.

[lateapex911]

"MR Gulick"?????????

If you used my middle initial, I'd swear you were my mother, and shehad found that stain from the Testors model paint I dropped on the den carpet but "touched up" with paint that matched the pattern when i was 12!

[philstireservice]

Okay here it is....

First off please don't compare apples to oranges in this case.......NASA is not SCCA and vice versa.

PhilsTireService is the NASA track support for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Midwest regions. (35,000 miles last year) They are the regions that we support with our trackside service. SASCO does the NASA Southeast region. The Hoosier distributors in these regions DO NOT attend the NASA events in these regions. However, the Hoosier distributors in these regions DO support the trackside vendors that DO support the NASA events trackside in these regions.

There is no doubt that Smarty busts his ass .....we surley know the same feelings. But, Smarty is not a NASA trackside vendor, as Phil's is not a SCCA trackside vendor.

Kim and I worked hard for this for NASA, that had no Hoosier contingency of any sort prior to this year. There is no slighting of SCCA in any form here. It is a separate club and issue altogether.

Hoosier is a top shelf race tire company. They are very vested in club racing, both as a business and from a grassroots aspect. They, more so then most companies, know where the racing heart is.

Phil

[DaveITB1]

Cool your jets everyone.

#1. Smarty has been and will continue to be the trackside vendor for regional SCCA events in 2008 (NHIS, LRP, Pocono, and WGI, and the new track in NJ).

#2. Bob is in discussions with Hoosier East to refine the 2008 Hoosier Contingency plan. Nothing is in stone yet, but many phone calls have gone back and forth about it.

#3. I echo Phil's comments above.

#4. Smarty's website has been revamped for 2008 and will go live with all the changes this coming weekend - 3/9/08 ( http://www.northeastracingtire.com ) The Contingency will be posted at Smarty's website when finalized. New for 2008, you will be able to buy your tires and prepay for mounting and balancing via Paypal or C.Card securely through his site. That way, you can just stroll up to his trailer, pay the applicable tax for your purchase, and take your new tires.


Dave Austin
Team Jagermeister
ITB#1

[JaxonMotorsports44]

Am I reading it wrong, but doesn't this list only apply to NASA events? I realize the distribution list doesn't specify a series, but it seems the listing is specific to NASA.

Has anyone spoken to Smarty to see if he is impacted? Obviously not having LRP dates impacts his business but what about at the other tracks?

[dominojd]

I think Joe's comments are based on THIS:

https://www.hoosiertire.com/NASADIST.HTM

Let's see...Smarty shows up at every Regional and National on the NE schedule (except for those where he would have had to be in two places at once...quite a trick, even for Bob), but no sign of him on the "trackside" list, or the current "roadracing" part of the Hoosier website (generic, non-sanctioning body-related).

That's unfortunate, whatever the circumstances. Bob, as a long-time and current active racer, always adds some "color" to what is sometimes a very bland paddock atmosphere.

John you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Smarty bust his ass #1 and gets no recogniton. #2 Smarty has been trying to get some type of contingency from Hoosier for years. Unfortunately he's not a rich man and can't do it out of his own pocket. The little help he does get is from Hoosier east and all it is is a small deal compared to what is offerd to NASA.

What really urks me is if you are going to offer something like this to one it should be offered to all.