Tire damage at Willow?

[JHPGT3]

After the Time Trial, I experienced a flat tire. On close inspection it looks like a sharp rock penetrated the cord.
When I exited the track after passing the finsh line, the road I took to the pit had some dirt and rocks on it. The thought crossed my mind then that maybe I took the wrong road. Anyway, it appears that with the tires so incredibly hot, it was easy for rocks to do major damage to my new Goodyears. Looking at my other tires, they are still holding air, but there are a bunch of rocks that are worrying me.
Anyone else have this problem? Have you looked at your tires? Did I take the wrong road? Do I need a GPS?
Thanks for any input,
JP

[MVZ944T]

John,

Take an unmounted Goodyear slick, place in the sun, and then push on the tread and see how little tire there really is. Kind of spooky really. They ain't that light for nothing. Takes very little to make one go flat. Thats kind of how I gauge how much rubber is on the shoulders if the track build up is covering the wear markers, or if they are nearly gone. Let most of the air out and then push on the tread. Not much there.

Mike

[JHPGT3]

True!

[kary]

I had the same issue, though mine did not go flat, I took them off and tried to remove the rocks since they were buried into the rubber. Not a good place to exit but then WSIR is really not very classy either in terms of facilities. I also have to replace my front windshield because of severe rock damage on the track. Hot sun and a rook flying at me at probably 140 mph make a window rather vulnerable to damage. Not going back in that heat ever again.....

[MVZ944T]

Chicken!

[bob ehrman]

FRIED CHICKEN!!!............................

[MikeD]

Didn't think about it. But I have a push broom with me (always). Could have cleaned off that area during lunch had it occured to me. Next time, I guess.

[JHPGT3]

Mike,
I think that's a great idea (the broom).
I think we should review every section of every track, especially little used exits and all pitch in to clean up before use.
I could possibly have issues with all my tires.
JP

[JHPGT3]

I had the same issue, though mine did not go flat, I took them off and tried to remove the rocks since they were buried into the rubber. Not a good place to exit but then WSIR is really not very classy either in terms of facilities. I also have to replace my front windshield because of severe rock damage on the track. Hot sun and a rook flying at me at probably 140 mph make a window rather vulnerable to damage. Not going back in that heat ever again.....

Something like a large rock made a significant gash in my front end during the time trial, maybe 3/8 in. deep. Simone was surprised that anything on the track could do that much damage. Now that I think of it, the disruption of the smooth airflow caused by this damage probably slowed me down by several seconds!

[kary]

I had the same issue, though mine did not go flat, I took them off and tried to remove the rocks since they were buried into the rubber. Not a good place to exit but then WSIR is really not very classy either in terms of facilities. I also have to replace my front windshield because of severe rock damage on the track. Hot sun and a rook flying at me at probably 140 mph make a window rather vulnerable to damage. Not going back in that heat ever again.....

Something like a large rock made a significant gash in my front end during the time trial, maybe 3/8 in. deep. Simone was surprised that anything on the track could do that much damage. Now that I think of it, the disruption of the smooth airflow caused by this damage probably slowed me down by several seconds!

The round spider web cracks in my window were at eye level. I was also hindered by poor vision because it was like using a fighter jet heads up display gun site except it was not that clear

[harnishclan]

Instead of a broom, why doesn't the club just get one of those gas powered backback blowers? I have often wondered why we don't do a quick blow down of Qualcomm for the same reasons. It could be kept in the trailer and used as needed.

[JHPGT3]

Kary,

[David Ray]

The round spider web cracks in my window were at eye level. I was also hindered by poor vision because it was like using a fighter jet heads up display gun site except it was not that clear

...you've never flown the F/A-18 C then.....

[kary]

The round spider web cracks in my window were at eye level. I was also hindered by poor vision because it was like using a fighter jet heads up display gun site except it was not that clear

...you've never flown the F/A-18 C then.....

Nope, but I am willing to try given the fun factor even if the vision is poor