Has buggy racing got stupid?!

[BuggyRacer]

So, entirely open to discussion. I race outdoors on astroturf and Schumacher Minis-spikes have been brilliant for years, they've been lasting 4 meetings without too much trouble (so 20 races, 4x qualifiers and a final at each meeting).

I got back from club racing yesterday and EVERYONE is finding the need to use the newer, faster Schumacher Dart tyre. Yes it seems to offer a fantastic level of grip but people are using TWO sets per meeting seeing as the lose their peak after the 3rd race (on astro turf).

Is buggy racing the new cheque-book racing? It seems to of just got a little stupid...

Thoughts?

[jamie5974]

without a control tyre, people wanting to win will use the fastest possible tyre to try and make it happen.
if you can rock up with spikes, have fun and leave with a smile on your face then that should be the main goal.
yes most of us turn up to win, but as long as you have fun!
that's my moto anyway

[PaulRotheram]

I've packed it in due to spiralling tyre costs even to be competitive in a club series. I just cant justify it on a personal level - others have their own views but from past experience the current tyres are just not up to the job.
The new darts just don't last - 2 sets of rears are a minimum. Mini-spikes last longer but they don't give enough grip as the darts do. I feel a set of tyres should last a meeting to keep the hobby balanced - the tyres used to degrade, but currently they just fall off the cliff.

Going to a harder compound could of helped the situation maybe - but then everyone would have to do that to not make it a two tier race.
I feel the dart is different - I was convinced the compound has been altered, but it could just be the profile and the cars characteristics of being able to rotate up their own arse.

Electrics, spares and other areas of the hobby are the best they have ever been - things last, dont cost stupid amounts if youre careful and you can get away with having cheaper motors / escs. However the hop up band wagon is frustrating. You know you don't NEED them, but we all know it makes us feel better with them!

Darts were meant to be a solution, however you still see spikes being trimmed and even more new sets getting bolted on.

[Cosworth]

Yup tyre costs have gone through the roof with the use of darts. At the Kidderminster regional (tyre wear not helped by the inclusion of all the tarmac parts of the circuit) I was getting just over 1 run out of a set of Tyres. Have way through the second run you could feel them going off. Coventry regional wasnt much better either with a full astro track.

Someone started a discussion on Facebook about limiting the amount of sets you can run in one meeting like at touring car nationals and was met with mostly negative replies from let's say the high tier drivers and positive ones from the non A finalists.

I've personally never known tyre wear be so bad as it has been lately and something needs to be done about the spiralling costs on tyres.

[jamie5974]

you mention limiting sets, only problem with that i see is, are the darts weaing too fast to even be able to limit them?
With the touring cars running a used set vs brand new dosnt mean you are instantly the slowest on the track.
if the darts are wearing to the point of undriveable after say 3 runs then its clearly the wrong tyre at the moment.
spikes worked well and gave a good balance of wear vs grip

[Danosborne6661]

It makes sense for clubs to have the Schumacher Mini-spikes as their nominated control tyre if they feel that the Dart's are taking the enjoyment out of club racing, which they certainly seem to be.

I've seen that Dart's are the nominated tyre at Mendips oOoos round this year which could remove a lot of fun for some people £££!

[jamie5974]

i will be buying 2 sets for that event, 1 set per day. if i need more i shall find the trackside shop lol.
seems silly to me to be buying more sets of tyres for a buggy meeting than i do buy for a touring car meeting

Originally Posted by Danosborne6661

It makes sense for clubs to have the Schumacher Mini-spikes nominated as their control tyre if they feel that the Dart's are taking the enjoyment out of club racing in my opinion?

I've seen that Dart's are the nominated tyre at Mendips oOoos round this year which could remove a lot of fun from that meeting £££!

[Adam F]

Originally Posted by BuggyRacer

So, entirely open to discussion. I race outdoors on astroturf and Schumacher Minis-spikes have been brilliant for years, they've been lasting 4 meetings without too much trouble (so 20 races, 4x qualifiers and a final at each meeting).

I got back from club racing yesterday and EVERYONE is finding the need to use the newer, faster Schumacher Dart tyre. Yes it seems to offer a fantastic level of grip but people are using TWO sets per meeting seeing as the lose their peak after the 3rd race (on astro turf).

Is buggy racing the new cheque-book racing? It seems to of just got a little stupid...

Thoughts?

I can't remember ever getting 4 meetings from spikes in 2wd....!

[MHeadling]

In the grand scheme of all things racing the cost isn’t too high IMO

Go and buy a pair of slicks for a super bike at £250 a pair that you can roast in 1 -2 races or 4 x track day/slicks for a full size car at £500+

Just look at other racing hobbies/formulas and it’s not too bad

[racingdwarf]

Originally Posted by MHeadling

In the grand scheme of all things racing the cost isn’t too high IMO

Go and buy a pair of slicks for a super bike at £250 a pair that you can roast in 1 -2 races or 4 x track day/slicks for a full size car at £500+

Just look at other racing hobbies/formulas and it’s not too bad

very true, but its all relative if you had the budget to race a super bike but decided to go race 10th buggy instead at top level it would be cheep as chips

[Robocop]

Well I think coming from tc it's still cheap but maybe at regionals limit the sets so it's fair for everyone not who has the biggest pockets.
At least it's all lipos and brushless for all so no need for that special motor or battery like it used to be,but now we are all going faster so tyres have to give a little

[chrispattinson]

I think the current rear tyre situation works fine. What you maybe dont see, from the guys putting new tyres on every run at nationals, is that it isn't the last time the tyres will be used.

Personally:

Darts.
1 run per set in 2wd @ Nats
Then 2nd run on the set in 4wd.
Then a whole club night (maybe 2 or 3 club nights if the track hasn't got as much carpet).

(For club racing, worn darts are more than enough, they don't fall off a cliff so much that you can't have fun at the local club).

It's not that bad, it works out I'm getting more than 2 meetings out of a set of rears .
Fronts (2wd) I get a lot more out of.

I would hate to see me needing different tyres for club and BRCA events, and the best tyre for our club at the moment is Darts.

The environmental impact is more concerning, which James highlighted in a recycling suggestion recently.