Rotax Masters Tire Spec Change

[Rob Martin]

We finally have some answers regarding the Vega XR tires as the spec for RMC Masters Class 2003.

Below you will find a semi-official announcement regarding changes to next years tire spec for RMC Masters class.

My original letter was written to Scott Evans, RMC -US National Tech Director and the response is from Steve Cannon, RMC Program Director.


I waited several days in hope of an official announcement confirming this information but have yet to see such an announcement. I have chosen to make this personal email public so that others would also be aware of upcoming changes.

My thanks to SSC for sharing this information and my apologies if have disclosed anything not intended for public release.

email:

__________________________

Hi Rob.

Yes....I hear you. The VEGA reds will be gone next year. We will be
replacing them with the higher quality VEGA SL-5's. We have been testing
these all year at our Las Vegas track and the results have been great. If
you do a little research you will find that in Europe, where the karting is
far ahead of the U.S., that the vast majority of drivers are on VEGA tires.
That's because they are the fastest.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Steve Cannon
U.S. ROTAX Division Manager
SSC Racing
760-864-1320 Ext. 13

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Martin [mailto:rtmartin@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 12:20 PM
To: tech@rmaxchallenge.com
Subject: Masters Tire Spec for 2003


Scott,

During the past season there has been a great deal of discussion regarding
the spec Vega tire required for the Rotax Max Masters Class.

As you must be aware, this tire does not perform well on West Coast tracks
at the 400lb racing weight stipulated for the Masters Class. Tire wear,
cost, and availability are all unaceptable. Furthermore, this tire is a
deliberate departure from the World requirements of the Bridgestone YGK.

This tire and the descision to mandate this tire represents everything that
is bad in karting.

It is only a matter of time before myself and other Masters racers simply
abandon the concept of the RMC and adopt our own standards that comply with
the World RMC regulations.

Selecting another VEGA tire as next years Masters choice will simply be a
continuation of the same old politics that are alienating drivers and
killing this sport.

Please consider the racers input in making the descisions for next seasons
standards. We are the ones writing the checks and there are always other
options.

This issue is reaching a critical juncture and a public response on the
ekarting rotax forum would help to show a sincere concern for the racers
supporting this industry. Public relations and perception is very important
in business, perhaps Steve Cannon of SSC should take a few minutes to
address the concerns of those buying his products.

Sincerely,

Rob Martin
Placentia, CA

[Lauren Allison]

Should have known better than to think otherwise. I'm sure availablity will not be an issue. And the laws of supply and demand won't be in effect .

[Dave Stevens]

I found this bit of the email to be interesting...

quote:

---

If you do a little research you will find that in Europe, where the karting is far ahead of the U.S., that the vast majority of drivers are on VEGA tires.
That's because they are the fastest.

---

If you can count looking at the results on the CIK site as research, I found....

Euro ICC, all Dunlop

World FSA, mainly Bridgestone, some Dunlop, no Vega

Euro ICA and JICA, mainly Vega, some Bridgestone

Euro Super ICC top five in the last round were Bridgestone, but good representation of Vega at all rounds.

Just an observation...

Dave