Realistic dirt racing tires?

[slothead]

I use everything from PG tires to Pro Track silicone over foam tires on my replica northeast dirt modified slot cars.

Does or did anyone ever make a slot car tire with tread like the ones used on full sized dirt cars?


Even if the traction wasn't as good as the slicks available now, I'd outfit an entire series of cars with these just for realism. I think the sprint car guys would love them too.

Slothead

[TuscoTodd]

You may want to talk to ShotgunDave - he was casting some - thread here: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11049&p=130704&hilit=track+tread+dirt#p130704

Another option is to do what btaylor did utilizing heated screen - thread here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6588&p=76918&hilit=track+tread+dirt#p76918

Hope that helps! :)

[slothead]

Maybe Dave or Bob will share current thoughts on this topic.

Last week I found a Dirt Track Digest article online about ways racer's pit crews add extra grooves to their tires (when legal) and how to do it based on the track surface. It talked about 5 different categories of track conditions and what grooves worked best for each.

That got me thinking about my slot car tires, but I thought taking an Exacto knife to them would turn out badly so I didn't try anything yet. Branding in the grooves might be a better bet, but like the post from the second link stated it could vary greatly depending on what the tire is made from.

Slothead

[strangebrew]

[TuscoTodd]

[slothead]

Brew - those tires look very realistic, and the old Skool modified with them on all four corners is awesome.

If you'll part with a set I'll build a car to try them on - maybe a serious replica of one of the most famous northeast dirt mods - Bizzie Reutimann:


I'll PM you. I have something you might like in return for your generosity.

Todd - I like your attempt too. Now if only there was a way to build a 'dirt' style dirt slot car track. Not real dirt, but a surface that you groomed before a race and it had a sort of texture for these tires to bite into. That's why awhile back I was curious if anyone had been to a track that uses synthetic dirt which was created to limit the dust for horse and car racing.

Slothead

[Abarth Mike]

I believe people who coat sponge tires with silicone roll the tires on a piece of wet glass to make the surface smooth.

Wouldn't take much to secure a piece of screen/gauze to the glass to leave an imprint? Or as has been said a piece of screen attached to a battery like a styrofoam cutter and roll the tires over that.

[SpeedyNH]

at the 95 usra nats, for fun we ran jk steel-chassied (good thing!) sprint cars on an oval. between heats we had to roll our tires on the floor to get 'em real dirty!

[padirtfan]

[strangebrew]

Try painting your track brown & scatter liberal amounts of baby powder around :lol: It worked when we were kids
Not only do you get drifting, but realistic dust too................ :laughing-rolling:

[slothead]

Strangebrew out did himself - sent me a box with 20 grooved tires in it that are absolutely AWESOME! A Thank You PM will be coming soon.

I scrounged around in my junk and found some old Parma wheels that these tires fit on nicely. Next I'll be getting some 'jalopy' bodies and building some cars.

Thanks to everyone on HRW - what a great community this is.

Padirtfan - I had the enormous pleasure of watching Buzzie Reutimann race Saturday nights at Orange County Fair Speedway back in the 70's and into the 80's. We'd go sit in the drive-in section with a grill and have a blast. Not only was he a top driver but that '36 Chevy bodied #00 really stood out after nearly everyone else went to Gremlin and Pinto bodies. He will always be a crowd favorite.

Slothead

[padirtfan]

Slothead, I used to watch Buzzie race Sunday nights at Nazareth. He was always smooth, fast and the cleanest driver I've ever watched. I got to meet him about 10 years ago at the motorsports expo here and got him to sign a t-shirt. He's a really nice guy.

[Flytoo]

:text-coolphotos: Those dirt cars are awesome! Love what you guys did with those tires, as well.