Cheers to 2022! Season Schedule Released
As you know we surveyed everyone and value the feedback to help shape the direction for 2022. The two takeaways from our survey was that you guys REALLY wanted to see Thunderhill back on the calendar, and you also really didn't want to see events with big entry fees. So we tried to keep those things in mind as we started to put a calendar together. As most of you also know, many 2022 schedules were released very late this year and there were several conflicts already. So what we have is three races to start with, with the plan to add one or possibly two more over the coming weeks. We have been flooded with emails and text messages over the past weeks to get the schedule out so we wanted to do that now; we will update all of you moving forward.
The Crossflow season will start a little later than usual this year, starting with the Laps for Laguna event on May 21/22. We then move to Thunderhill for September 9/10/11. And we will close out the season as per usual with the CSRG Charity Challenge at Sonoma on October 1/2.
TIRES
Some of you may know that Avon has started construction of a "new" compound tire: the A46. This is supposed to slot somewhere between the old A25s and the A29s we currently allow. This tire was constructed to accomplish a few things for the UK Formula Ford racers, and it may help some of our racers too. The construction and carcass is exactly the same as the A29. However the compound is designed to get up to temperature a little more quickly than the A29. It was designed to be run in the UK where temperatures are often colder (and wetter) than what we deal with over here. For the 2022 season, Crossflow will be approving this tire, along with the already legal A29 and Hoosier VFF.
Recently, Crossflow set up a test day at Sonoma with three of our fastest racers. A control driver on Hoosiers, and two of our regular front runners on Avon's. The A46 proved to be NO faster than the Hoosier, which we already know to be of close pace to the A29. Wear rate was quicker than the A29 (something that will be mitigated by those running at an more leisurely pace), but it showed that it is not as fast as the A25 was, so we have nothing to fear from people choosing to run the A46.
So why are we allowing the A46? A number of reasons. We feel that by going to the A29's we did a good job in reigning in the rampant spending on tires that we were seeing. The unintended consequence of this was that the midpack and tail-enders struggled on the 29's on cold mornings and on opening laps of races. We had more first and second lap spins this year than we have in the past few years. We think that the A46 will slot in nicely with those of you who have talked to me about missing the A25.
Additionally, we think that allowing another tire that isn't faster, but makes its laptime in a different way will give our drivers and crews another tool in the toolbox. Not everyone's car works with the same shocks, ARB's, gears, etc. By the same token, not everyone's driving style works with the same tires. This additional option will allow us the opportunity to help close the competition up and make our races even more exciting.
Finally, if you have talked to me at all over the past year, you know I am all about inclusion. The SOVREN guys to the north have approved the A46 (as the PNW isn't known for the 325 sunny days a year that we are blessed with..). And our friends to the south in the FFDC run almost exclusively on Hoosiers. I want us ALL to be on equal footing. The more people that come race with our group, the better our series gets. Simple as that. So get a set of A29's, A46's or Hoosier VFF's and come out and join us!
RULE CHANGES
First and foremost and effective immediately, Crossflow Cup will not be allowing any engines built by Picks Racing Engines. We have all heard the rumors and paddock gossip over the past few years. We don't want to get into any of that. We are a small series, we know 99% of you. We know those of you who build your own engines, and we know those of you who send your engines to Jay or someplace else. The simple fact of the matter is that that particular engine builder has a credibility issue. So if you are planning on running with us and have a Pick engine, please contact us now so we can handle this in advance.
2022
We will send another email in January with more information, possible test days, schedule additions (fingers crossed) and membership information. Thank you all for all for a great 2021, we wish you a Happy Holiday season and look forward to racing in 2022!
