Damn Chine tires. So today was the second SCCA Hawaii Rally Cross. Still using the daily driver FX16, the other is not ready yet. It was another blazing ewa day out at Kalealoa, no surprise there, though in the shade the air was cooler. Looks like the track people packed down the oval track area a bit, it was a little firmer and not quite as rough, but eventually it did become rutted in areas. Enough that on my final run, this proudly designed in Taiwan tire debeaded. Silly me, when I went to Sears and asked for cheap tires and they pulled up these Nankang tires, I asked if they were Korean and the sales guy replied affirmative. I didn’t notice until last night when I was hurriedly changing out to the wheels that these were instead “Taiwan Design” Made in China tires. Actually some were marked Made In Taiwan, but one had the Taiwan Design thing going. Damn it, they tricked me! Fortunately airing it with compressor reseated it and I even went for a couple fun runs. And on the drive home they felt just as crappy as on the ride out. Did I rant yet on how crappy these tires drive on the road? Does Taiwan Design mean wiggle like a wet noodle?
Speaking of tires, dang people are getting all hardcore already, there were two rides sporting dedicated full rally tires, and Avery squirreled a set of studded snow tires for his Miata. I’ll have to bug Ron’s again if they still have those Blizzak’s, the guy I talked to last time didn’t give me a straight answer.
Then as the day was winding down, I saw my charge & brake warning lamps on. That’s a sign on Toyotas of this vintage that the alternator has crapped out. Ah, I guess it was the alternator that has been making all that sound lately. Looks like the bouncing and 8000rpm was the final straw. Lucky for me, Diehard Platinum worth its significant weight! Made it home no problem, heck I probably could have pounded the stereo too.
It was great fun again, really do need to get the second FX up though. Someone brought out a Suzuki SX4 AWD and was looking pretty good, maybe it was the big wing? Other than that it was the usual gaggle of Subies and one pickup truck, one Miata, and me and my little Toy.
Darn – there was a compressor about! I would have liked to see if that gasoline and match trick actually works.