Well, as an example, Geoff Leake races a Healey 100/4 with Dayton
wire wheels (72 spoke) and Yokohama A008RS tyres.
On the weekend at Oran Park he broke 3 spokes. He check the spokes
after every session.
With competition rubber, I wouldn't be using standard wires, the dayton
72 spokes are good wheels and they are obviously not quite good
enough for serious racing.
However, on road tyres while you are getting to grips with the whole shebang
you could use them - just check for broken spokes after every session!
When you start getting more serious (comp rubber for example), I'd be
putting knock-on alloy wheels on the car.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Erickson <eric@erickson.on.net>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, 27 July 1999 12:46
Subject: Racing Wires
> To open up a little 'private' conversation that Mr Cotty and I have just
> been having I would like to gather some informed comment or even wild
> speculation.
>
> I am planning on getting into some club racing or more specifically
> Super Sprints. Just four laps around a little mile or so long track
> with a few curves - it has a reputation for being hard on brakes that I
> can attest to as my 'street' brake pads turned to cardboard after a few
> sets of practice laps at lower than 'really-trying' speed.
>
> Now the question isn't about brakes but rather WIRE WHEELS (the braking
> description just lets you know that the twisting and turning is
> marginally hard on the car).
>
> One school of thought says that I will kill myself if I leave the wire
> wheels on. The wires will collapse.
>
> Another school of thought says that for the little distance and
> effort... just four laps... I should not worry about the wires
> collapsing unless there are some pre-existing weaknesses or damage to
> the spokes.
>
> The rest of the arguments fall in between those two extremes.
>
> Has anyone any thoughts or experience, good or bad, with racing on wire
> wheels?
>
> Basically I am trying to apportion my meagre funds and to prioritise my
> spending on my little car. My primary aim is to be able to get around
> the track without killing myself or anyone else. Then I need to make
> sure the car doesn't fall to pieces along the way. Next is making it go
> and stop safely and as quickly as possible for a vanilla engine.
>
> THEN comes the go-fast stuff on the engine (in the meantime I will have
> got myself some decent track time under my belt).
>
> Can I leave the wheels until later?
> Do I need to ever change the wheels?
>
>
> Eric
> '68MGB MkII
>
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