Extension for using Toyo RA-1 for spec classes

#1

Wish they would be a little more specific about Spec e-30, didn’t we decide that we’re sticking with the R888’s?:

RICHMOND, CA (Apr 01, 2009) — The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) announced today that rules in all spec tire classes will be changed effective immediately to allow the use of the both the Toyo R888 or the Toyo Proxes RA-1 until the end of the 2009 season. This change is being made in partnership with Toyo to better allow racers to use up remaining RA-1’s they had on hand and ease the transition to the new R888 without racers having to replace tires before the end of their useful life. Rule updates will be completed shortly and posted to the main www.nasaproracing.com site.

#2

Toyo must have some RA1 inventory left over.

#3

today is a bad day to make decisions based on what you read on the internet

#4

Looks official

#5

Haha. I just fell for this one:

I hope the RA1 thing is a joke but I’m not sure that national has a sense of humor :S.

#6

Posted on specmiata.com by the NASA TX race director…

[i]From John Lindsey -

Guys-

Not a joke and this is the real deal. We are having a con call with all the RD’s this morning at 1000 CA time, so hang tight for 30 minutes and then you can trumpet to the world that it’s real. We have been working very closely with Toyo and this was a joint decision to try and get the RA-1’s used up and also ease the transition to the 888 once they’re gone.

Thanks and sorry we couldn’t release this a little more cohesively!

-JWL[/i]

Jason Holland (NASA SM Director) also vouched for its authenticity.

Anyone want to buy a set of unused 3/32nds R888s?:frowning:

Steve D.

#7

Do a spec e30 search…ain’t happ’n here in the land of spec e30. Right or wrong, this is not a democracy ( I can argue both sides).

RP

#8

My understanding and based on past releases it’s for spec miata and spec e30 has to use 888’s.

Scott C

#9

cobetto just told me via email that SPECE30 IS INCLUDED IN THE NEW RULE.

Let the fun begin… :S

#10

What a bunch of crap. We have been running the 888’s since the middle of last season, so do we buy RA1’s, I don’t think so. Seems like BS to me. So everyone at nationals will be running RA1’s I suppose.

Scott C

#11

Lame indeed. I gave away a pile of used RA1’s a month ago :frowning:

#12

double post, wtf

#13

Wow, I don’t know what to say. Funny when I was telling them about 888 issues last year they didn’t really seem to be listening. Almost glad I don’t have the budget for Nationals this year because if ruling sticks, it’s going to be a complete clusterf…

#14

From the read-only forum post at http://spece30.com/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,86/func,view/id,31769/catid,37/
Carter wrote:

[quote]But again, this recent announcement has very little, if any, affect on Spec E30.
[/quote]
Carter, can you explain what you mean by this? Do you believe that nobody will run RA1’s at nationals this year?

#15

Don’t forget - National can say what they want - class rules superceed CCR (National) rules. Until someone of authority within the Spec E30 administration weighs in, RA1s are not legal. I would hope it stays like that - I perfer RA1s, but we have all finished our transition and moved on. Rule stability is the cornerstone of this group - I plead with the powers that be to keep it that way.

#16

What a debacle.

jblack wrote:

Except NASA enforces the rules … so if they say “we’ll honor your spec e30 rules, oh, and you can run the RA1 with us”, then who is going to say you’re illegal?

Carter, an actual clarification would be nice.

Say I didn’t just give away 12 RA1 scrubs a month ago, and I still have them. Am I allowed to race on leftover RA1’s this weekend? Can I save them for nationals instead? Can I buy RA1’s on craigslist a month from now and legally use them to race somewhere between then and the end of 2009?

#17

Start collecting RA1’s I guess.

#18

So lets review Carter’s post:

[i]All:

Just a couple of hours ago, it was brought to my attention that NASA National has decided, after meeting with Toyo, to allow the RA-1 in all spec tire classes, including Spec E30, for the remainder of the 2009 season.

While a similar announcement was made a few months ago, that was not supposed to include Spec E30 and Spec Focus (and was corrected), this announcement does include all Toyo spec tire classes including Spec E30. We know that April 1st can be a day of pranks and jokes but Spec E30 has been assured by NASA National that this announcement is real.

Spec E30 understands that the RA-1 is no longer available for purchase from Toyo so this recent notice does not significantly affect our series. This decision is primarily designed to help other series that have recently been using the RA-1 and have drivers who still have a significant inventory of RA-1 tires.

And while NASA National can make decisions regarding what is allowed, or not allowed, at their race weekends, Spec E30 has requested inclusion in future discussions that may potentially affect our series.

But again, this recent announcement has very little, if any, affect on Spec E30.

Carter Hunt
Spec E30 National Series Director[/i]

So what does this tell us:

  1. NASA did not consult our National rep before making this very significant decision. WTG NASA.

  2. NASA handled this clumsily because they greenlighted a popular tire that is apparently no longer in retail channels, at least in our size. If our size is not in retail channels then Toyo had no interest in getting them sold. Perhaps what NASA could have done is allow RA1s to be used only in those classes that use the over-stocked tire size. Instead they’ve irritated their SpecE30 customers for no apparent reason.

Customers are hard to get but not that hard to keep. One of things that makes companies fail is that they don’t work to keep their customers happy. There are times when annoying customers can be a desireable calculated risk. But annoying customers for no reason is a road to doom.

If NASA has greenlighted a tire size that Toyo didn’t care about, then it’s hard to understand what NASA was thinking. If we, their customers, can’t trust NASA to make smart decisions, the guy at the top should get smarter subordinates.

#19

I shot Carter an email last night about this and got a quick reply from this AM.

I pointed him to this thread and ask that he weigh in on the subject. I told him “this is horse sh!t”… and National isn’t doing us any favors or winning any friends with their ever sliding R-888 change over date.

Here’s part of what he said:

[color=][color=#0000FF]I agree 100%.

NASA and I have discussed it (after they made the announcement) and I told them this [E30 drivers not being happy] was going to happen. I’m not trying to “pass the buck” but please don’t be upset with Spec E30 about this. We had nothing to do with the decision and I hope the Spec E30 community knows this.[/color][/color]

He said he’ll get on the board later today or tonight to explain it, in addition to the announcement he posted yesterday afternoon…

#20

I think they should exclude us from this as they did in the past. We made the switch a long time ago.