[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

Yep. But I should have figured that NA_CAR used nitrogen in the tires.

I work for Michelin. And when we get to buy tires on the cheap from the company, they use nitrogen to inflate them. There's also a nitogen station on the company property that we can use to inflate our tires if they run low. A little wired company perk.

WOW! I'm a big fan of Michelin. The absolute best tires I ever had on my 3/4 ton and dually diesels were Michelins (I was putting 80K / yr on those trucks hauling "stuff".) Pricey, but well worth it since I got almost 140K out of the 1st set I ever owned.

Now that I don't have the business write-off any more, I'm back to the cheap (and low mileage) brands.

[nascaraddict]

They do make the best.

[Stewart Fan]

Who was the owner of the #32 car that Bobby Hamilton JR drove in the Cup series a few years back? I can't remember for the life of me.....

[OregonSHRFan]

Originally Posted by Stewart Fan

Who was the owner of the #32 car that Bobby Hamilton JR drove in the Cup series a few years back? I can't remember for the life of me.....

the #32 Tide Chevy was with PPI Motorsports, Cal Wells owner.

[Stewart Fan]

Originally Posted by OregonSHRFan

the #32 Tide Chevy was with PPI Motorsports, Cal Wells owner.

Now I remember. Wonder what ever happened to that team?

[OregonSHRFan]

Originally Posted by Stewart Fan

Now I remember. Wonder what ever happened to that team?

According to Wikipedia:
The inability to find a sponsor for the 2007 season as Tide had already announced that it is leaving the sport, along with the fact that much of the team had already either been laid off or having been hired by Michael Waltrip Racing led to closure of their shop and forming a partnership with MWR's #00 Toyota Camry. PPI Motorsports has been liquidated to various buyers.

[Bryan Blanton]

I was watching an older race awhile back and 1 of jeff burton's pit crew members came over the wall too soon and they were assesed a 15 second penalty and had to serve the penalty while they were still in the pits.

I was just curious who assesses or calls for a team to be penalized is it the officials on pitroad or is that call made up in the tower?

[Bob Tanner]

Request for opinions: From a competition point of view: spec engines...Good or Bad? From an owner's perspective?

[wingkey1]

"competition" point of view
"Spec" (Not to be confused with "box") from a competitive standpoint where the intent is to allow degrees of participants individual flexibility, creativity, and personal application = necessary. The other end of the spectrum being "outlaw" where it's no holds barred.

("Box" being/meaning equally and, more often commonly, prepared. i.e. IROC - notably different but often confused with "spec")


An owners perspective
If owner = he/she who foots the bill to compete in what he/she desires and/or expects to be a relatively level or fair playing field - welcome.

Much more cost friendly than "no holds barred".


But then, what could we (there's that mouse again) possibly know?

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Request for opinions: From a competition point of view: spec engines...Good or Bad? From an owner's perspective?

From a motorsport fan point of view I'm against spec engines.

Single file parades are a byproduct of of spec-ing

And unless
a] the tracks are draft tracks with multiple lines
and/or
b] cars have limited push-to-pass and optional tires

there's little to no on-track racing as Speedcar showcased.

For those who don't know Speedcar was asian racing series witch used the NASCAR old twisted sister but with greater restrictions such as IROC.



And just how spec it is ?!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bryan Blanton

I was watching an older race awhile back and 1 of jeff burton's pit crew members came over the wall too soon and they were assesed a 15 second penalty and had to serve the penalty while they were still in the pits.

I was just curious who assesses or calls for a team to be penalized is it the officials on pitroad or is that call made up in the tower?

the officials in each pit make that call. they report it to the tower who issues the penalty and notify the crew chief and spotter.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Request for opinions: From a competition point of view: spec engines...Good or Bad? From an owner's perspective?

This really depends on the rest of the rules: if the rules allow more flexibility in chassis tuning, then it's not so bad (example: Allison Legacy), but if there's little flexibility then not so good (example: IROC)

From an owner's perspective, it depends on whether cost of racing or joy of racing is paramount.

At least that's my opinion...

[Bob Tanner]

Thanks, Ducky. This question is brought about due to the looming prospect of NA__AR announcing a "Spec Engine Option" in the near future. I have my own ideas on the matter, based on my limited knowledge and common sense. Since we don't have a "Ask the Expert" thread on the CTS Forum, I took the liberty of addressing the question, in its broadest term, here.

Thanks to you and DOF for responding. Anyone else? I don't believe a single on of we CTS fans want to see the series reduced to what the Cup Series has been reduced to by stupid, wrong-headed rules and excessive "tweaking."

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

"competition" point of view
"Spec" (Not to be confused with "box") from a competitive standpoint where the intent is to allow degrees of participants individual flexibility, creativity, and personal application = necessary. The other end of the spectrum being "outlaw" where it's no holds barred.

("Box" being/meaning equally and, more often commonly, prepared. i.e. IROC - notably different but often confused with "spec")


An owners perspective
If owner = he/she who foots the bill to compete in what he/she desires and/or expects to be a relatively level or fair playing field - welcome.

Much more cost friendly than "no holds barred".


But then, what could we (there's that mouse again) possibly know?

Your (and the mouse's) punctilious input is always appreciated, Wing.

The statement referenced is this: But sort of tucked in near the bottom of the PR memo was a note that starting next year teams will have the “option” of running a spec engine at all events held on tracks a mile and a quarter or less in length.

Whether that turns out to "spec," "sealed spec," or "box," is, as of now, a relative unknown. My personal fear is that with administrative bureaucracies (I count NA__AR as another officious bureaucracy) they make every rule with an end object in mind. With radical changes they start out small and then gradually add on and add on until they have completely remodeled the original entity.

IF they just offer this "spec" engine (capable of some modifications in the original form) the camel will have its nose under the tent. (Or, in your context, the mouse will have gotten a whiff of the cheese) Using the mouse metaphor, after he has a whiff of the cheese how long will it be before he springs the trap and his neck gets broken?


None of us want to see the CTS "get its neck broken" over a seemingly innocent piece of cheese.

[Stewart Fan]

This is something I wonder. What is the difference between Mike Helton and Brian France? I know that Brian France is the top dog but is Mike Helton the #2 man in charge?