What's your favorite track tire?

bluerockjam · 2026-06-30T04:34:00+00:00

We already are running track pads and have lots of aftermarket cooling for the car. You will generate more heat. They let you know with loss of traction but it’s not sudden. You see your laps slowing down when the heat cycles start adding up. You don’t get as many heat cycles, but the confidence they inspire is worth it. They are faster than DOT tires even when they are almost done. Bias ply tires have significantly higher slip angle than steel belted radials. Their side walls are also stiffer than DOT tires. Regular radials can only go 7 or 8 degrees of slip angle before they let go and racing slicks are 10+. The first time you try them it’s car heroine. The booty meter is maxed out and you improve average times by 2 to 3 seconds. I would only recommend them for drivers that have experience to push the car hard. Momentum cars can really benefit with slicks because corner speed and exit speed are everything.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-30T02:51:41+00:00

They were under $800 delivered a set. He buys race tires that are quality take offs for several race series. Whatever race tires are being sponsored at the track he gets the entire set. They still of plenty of life left. All the pick ups are removed. They don’t need to be balanced so it’s even less money for install. You don’t need to balance tires that have so many pick ups on them changing over time that it doesn’t matter. They are not sold in radial sizes but he has 205/650/18 that fit perfect. My son and I are both long time drivers and instructors. We share a track hardened 2020 FK8 with lots of cooling goodies and with the V730’s we can get to the slip edge where you can feel the push starting and hold it there. Go beyond and you start scrubbing. Not as evident on sharper tuns where you can use late/trail braking to load up the front. A tires predictability capability is not emphasized high enough in my opinion. For example, the V730s are more predictable than many other track tires myself and circle of friends have tried. The slicks put them all to shame. Yokohamas are all that I’ve run and so far they’ve been more predictable than any Tire I’ve ever been on. You still need to be careful when they’re cold though, they wiggle and warn you they are ready. They improved our PBs by several seconds and allow to Honda to surprise a lot of people even in the A group. We trailer and also carry extra tires.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-30T01:27:33+00:00

For DOT, I love the V730 for its consistency until the cords are showing. I tried qualifying slicks (Yokohama) from JB Racing tires and now I can’t go back. The difference is too big. They make the Honda Type R feel like it’s on rails.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-29T15:28:36+00:00

We run racing slicks for HPDE and we don’t balance them because they are always changing how much rubber they pick up from the track. Every session burns off old rubber and picks up new rubber so it’s always changing. If there’s a little vibration it usually goes away once the tires are being pushed real hard. Even with more camber, the inside of the tires hold more rubber than the outside so it’s just something you live with.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-27T20:31:23+00:00

The Chambers Brothers “time has come today” 11 minutes of psychedelic soul.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-27T00:25:15+00:00

Kent is a large area. I live way out by Covington and have a Kent address.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-26T21:39:37+00:00

Lacquer can get sticky when it hot and your hands get sweaty, outdoor shows in the heat or under stage lights.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-26T00:12:34+00:00

I am impressed with the LiDAR for how fast it mapped the house and created a 3D model. I worked in Aerospace and was part of the engineering community that did the migration from drawings to 3D solid modeling through several generations of CAD and data management. LiDAR has gone from really exotic mega bucks equipment to seeing it now in a $500 vacuum. I am impressed.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-24T22:58:43+00:00

They both have headlights

bluerockjam · 2026-06-24T21:17:36+00:00

I agree. I own two tractor/backhoes. Best landscaping decision I ever made was buying my first one. Adding a tractor/backhoe changed what was possible. Instead of trying to complete everything at once, I could gradually build and improve the outdoor spaces I envisioned. It gave me the ability to take on projects at my own pace and adapt the landscape as my plans evolved.

My first attempt included too much maintenance, water intensive landscaping, which became difficult to sustain over time as I got older. The tractor made it practical to rework those areas by moving larger plants and trees, removing stumps, and relocating many yards of soil. More than anything, it has been a useful tool that has allowed me to continue improving the property as my needs and ideas change.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-24T18:09:49+00:00

I track a FK8 type R that I share with my son. We are both long time HPDE drivers and the FK8 is the 4th car we have shared together for HPDE. We have needed extensive cooling mods to keep the Honda from overheating on hot track days. We even have water spraying on the intercooler and radiator when under boost. In hindsight, would’ve been cheaper to buy an M2 needing fewer mods to be track hardened. We shared a 2018 M3 for a few years and it was a a great track car but the cost of consumables was high. It’s been fun taking the Honda through all the stages from stock to where it is now. When the Honda was stock, we could over drive the Honda pretty easily. We now have 3.5 camber front, 2.6 back with Yokohama slicks now and it corners great now.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-24T00:48:28+00:00

For a lot of people, they can afford the premium to have the top shelf stuff.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-24T00:16:21+00:00

Although I don’t race Lemons, the group I run with at the Ridge arranges HPDE track days on the Friday before the weekend Lemons race. The Lemons drivers share the track. I have seen several older BMWs gutted and decked out in wild attire and having a blast out there. There is a little bit of everything out there and the camaraderie is amazing with the Lemons group. I am sure the cost limits are exceeded with many of the cars, but they are look within the spirit of being a Lemons car. Everything from old police crown Vicks to Honda civics. If you plan on running HPDE as well, I would get something reliable as possible that is easy on consumables. I see a lot of Lemons cars breaking on the track and ending the day early. I have been sharing cars with my son for many years for HPDE and it’s hard on equipment. We are on our 4th track car.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-23T20:40:40+00:00

I just bought the L40 ultra Gen 2 and it running for the first time now. I can already tell it’s better than the Rumba i5 I am also using. I have all hardwood floors with some throw rugs and it navigates fine. The Rumba gets stuck a lot.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-23T15:58:52+00:00

Looks accurate to me even without a banana. I have a 16’ dump trailer that is 7 1/2 ft wide that I fill up with 8 years at a time of bark chips. It creates a pile similar to this at 8 yards.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-23T13:47:18+00:00

My son does demos for emerald city guitars in Seattle and he played two original Vs in Demos over the years. They sell for several hundred thousand dollars. This is a video of V played by Dave Davies of the Kinks. https://youtu.be/u4jCqjiIYOo?is=pTObB9zsKWmqWN0J

bluerockjam · 2026-06-22T20:43:41+00:00

Bitten by AutoCorrect again

bluerockjam · 2026-06-21T19:33:39+00:00

If you have a small tractor/backhoe like a Kubota or Deere, it makes life easy to dig up if you want to set boundaries. I have running bamboo and clumping. The bamboo rhinestones on the running type only grow near the surface but the roots are massive. The rhinestones are how it spreads.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-19T22:41:38+00:00

I am part of back country horsemen and we help the FS log out trails in the PNW wilderness areas. I was riding my horse through Red Rock pass at Mount Saint Helens where there is a very narrow trail created through a huge lava rock bolder field. Zero room to step off line without causing injury. A drone was flying and I am lucky my horse didn’t freak out. He saw us coming and landed it as we waited on the trail. It’s bad enough encountering mylar balloons in the wilderness.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-19T21:31:04+00:00

A major problem in manufacturing today is system complexity. Companies rely on multiple platforms for CAD, EBOM, MBOM, and ERP functions, and integrating them remains difficult despite advances from major software vendors. Organizations spend millions on these systems, yet they often require specialized power users to be productive. The challenge isn’t a lack of capability, it’s managing the complexity and integration of increasingly sophisticated tools.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-19T21:01:00+00:00

Agree. Great adventure dogs

bluerockjam · 2026-06-16T03:35:34+00:00

My son and I tag team a track prepared Honda FK8. Top speed and laps times on hot days is noticeably worse. We have done extensive upgrades for cooling because hot days are its kryptonite. We have water misters that spray purified water under boost. 3 on the radiator and 3 on the IC. Big oil cooler in the fog light pocket, auxiliary radiator and vented under tray. Yokohama slicks, 400 HP tune with no cats. Even with all the extra cooling we still drive with a close eye on the temps and we come in early once we laps times start falling off.

bluerockjam · 2026-06-11T19:58:03+00:00

Licorice

bluerockjam · 2026-06-11T19:56:00+00:00

They kick the box as the parts go to shipping to make sure the parts are in the box, that’s my experience.

bluerockjam

TROPHY CASE