|
 NEW
PARIS, IN (August 28) -- While the Labor Day weekend may mark the end
of racing at many tracks across the country, it's just another week in
the never ending business of providing the best racing tires in the
world for Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. On Wednesday, August 28th, a tire
test was conducted at New Paris Speedway in New Paris, IN. The purpose
of the test was to evaluate both tire construction and various tire
compounds for one of the many racing series that have selected Hoosier
as their exclusive tire brand for the upcoming year.
New Paris Speedway is used quite often for tire
testing by Hoosier because it is located near the corporate
headquarters and has a smooth asphalt racing surface. The 1/4-mile facility
owned by Donny Klotz has regular weekly racing on Saturday nights.
Another reason Hoosier opted for New Paris was that Donny doesn't
charge them for testing sessions which is almost unheard of these
days. But he knows how important it is to keep improving the product
his weekly drivers compete on.
Attending the tire test were Manager of Tire Contract
Sales Irish Saunders, Hoosier engineers Ken Kolter and Marc March,
test driver Denny Nyari and his crew members, Hoosier truck driver and
track service person Larry "Toots" Merrill, as well as
Donny Klotz and safety personnel.
Most of the testing was to refine a tire used in a
major east coast racing series. Ten sets of tires were to be tested.
Some were construction tests while others were compounds tests with a
"control" set mixed in as well.
Before the testing began the tires were checked and
re-checked. The air pressures, circumferences and durometer readings
were all recorded before the tires were bolted to the test car.
The testing began between nine and ten o'clock in the
morning. The weather was sunny and in the mid seventies for most of
the testing. Each of the ten sets of tires were mounted onto the car
and the driver sent out to complete predetermined number of laps. All
ten sets were run the same number of laps with the times
electronically recorded.
When the test laps were completed, that's when the
real action began. Like a well rehearsed Broadway production, the
staff and crew began their real work. The engineers gathered air
pressure readings, circumferences, as well as durometer and
temperature readings on all four positions. Then, the driver is asked
his opinion of the tires. His feedback is recorded and logged with the
other information gathered. The tires are removed and another set
installed until all sets had been tested.
Longer runs are then run made on several of the more
promising sets. This allows the engineers the opportunity to monitor
any significant changes in lap times and monitor tread wear until
satisfied the results they have documented are valid and reliable.
It was nearly 3:00 pm before all the testing had been
completed for the day. The information gathered will be compiled and
evaluated to see whether further testing will be required before a
final decision can be made. But one things for sure, the testing never
stops when your goal is to produce the best racing tires in the world.
|
