Falken Tire Discussion and Q&A

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by pach233

I have a question regarding the addition of the GTE-AM class in the ALMS. Obviously most of the fans have been asking for a 2nd car to go along with the 17, but I was wondering if this class may provide Falken the opportunity to have customer programs. It may help with the revenue related to racing as well as provide additional exposure by adding Falken shod cars in class geared toward amateurs.

Getting an official answer for you now!

In the meantime, a while back, we asked everyone to send in their questions about the tire aspect of our ALMS program for our blog. We're happy to share that the blog is now life! Thanks to Spyderman and I Rosputnick for sending in questions! http://bit.ly/LxCikQ

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by pach233

I have a question regarding the addition of the GTE-AM class in the ALMS. Obviously most of the fans have been asking for a 2nd car to go along with the 17, but I was wondering if this class may provide Falken the opportunity to have customer programs. It may help with the revenue related to racing as well as provide additional exposure by adding Falken shod cars in class geared toward amateurs.

Having an additional car in the field to collect data, increase exposure and improve performance would be ideal but that requires the necessary funding to do so. We are unique in that we own our own race team so we must incur the costs of the team along with our tire development program. It's not to say if the right opportunity came along, we would not explore that possibility in depth.

[Articus]

This might be slightly off topic but would it be possible to ask Wolf if he knows how Flying Lizard Motorsports got its name "Flying Lizard Motorsports"? since he drove for them a couple years ago!

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Articus

This might be slightly off topic but would it be possible to ask Wolf if he knows how Flying Lizard Motorsports got its name "Flying Lizard Motorsports"? since he drove for them a couple years ago!

Unfortunately not, only Seth and another two or three people know about that, and they still steadfastly refuse to tell anyone. Just listen to any Lizards-related interview on Radio Le Mans, the question keeps coming up and it keeps going unanswered.

[FalkenALMS]

Here's our behind the scenes blog from Mosport! http://bit.ly/MwqNMn

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by FalkenALMS

Here's our behind the scenes blog from Mosport! http://bit.ly/MwqNMn

I always find it rather cool to see the cars come out of the trucks and be lowered on a lift like that.

Plus everything from Germany does taste nice. (Of the sweet kind.)

[Catingaround]

So K2theBru, is it one or two?

please say Two

[HR186S]

Thanks for the effort on the blog. A nice read again. Speedhunters article and pictures were great. I have a new wallpaper

[DeathOrGlory]

You mentioned that Falken's concentrating on GT, so when's the Super GT and GT3 tire supply coming? I have seen Falken supporting Japanese entries in the Nurburgring 24 (most memorable for me was the Falken R34), it can't be long now before a Falken assault!

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by DeathOrGlory

You mentioned that Falken's concentrating on GT, so when's the Super GT and GT3 tire supply coming? I have seen Falken supporting Japanese entries in the Nurburgring 24 (most memorable for me was the Falken R34), it can't be long now before a Falken assault!

Haha- My programs short circuit if I don't stick to ALMS discussion

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by Catingaround

So K2theBru, is it one or two?

please say Two

Haha ohhh Someone's a dedicated follower... An official answer coming...

[FalkenALMS]

To answer Catingaround's question, I'll fill you in a little...

Last Monday, we posted this picture on our twitter, @FalkenALMS (see? It pays to follow us!)



Immediately, questions starting pouring in and man, did the rumors fly! We purposely (and for the first time) didn't respond to any of the questions or comments. We thought we'd just sit back and let watch the hype grow. Only a few observant fans noticed that the second car was the 2010 car--which is only used for display purposes, as it is without an engine.

Moments later, we received a media request from our friends at SPEED, and here you can read an interview with John Dagys and our Program Manager Derrick Walker discussing the possible future of a two car team for Falken Tire: http://bit.ly/OJCiF4

[FalkenALMS]

Wanted to give everyone a quick update on the #17 car...

The team has to do a rebuild of the whole front end of the car. I'm waiting to find out from the data what speed the car it the wall at, but it's estimated to be over 100mph.

A fan on twitter asked if the radio or telemetry went out during the incident... The car had JUST entered the "dead zone" for telemetry at Road America. Before he entered that zone,everything read fine. When Bryan radioed that he felt something was wrong, it was just split seconds later that the crash happened. The whole time, however, the car was recording the telemetry and we're doing extensive investigations into all the details of the crash.

The team was going to spend the whole week prepping the car for Baltimore, but now instead, the crew is trying to rebuild a race car in one week (when it usually takes two to three). There will be a rebuild to the whole front end, take the rear off and the engine out.

Tomorrow, we'll try to get pictures of the panels being welded back on and this whole rebuild process. Here's a few now...

[Creep89]

Good luck rebuilding the car! Hope to see you back in action at Baltimore!

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by Creep89

Good luck rebuilding the car! Hope to see you back in action at Baltimore!

Thanks!


Here's a few more shots of the #17 Porsche Connan's Paint & Body Shop in Zionsville, IN getting her panels straightened out on the jigs. Big thanks to Ed Napleton Porsche in Westmont,IL, and Celette Crash Repair Equipment Specialists for getting us the parts and equipment we needed to get the Porsche ready for Baltimore!




Crew Chief Alex Zaric....

[The Badger]

What kinda cost you talkin about to get the car all straightened out ?

Just be glad its steel as opposed to CF !!!!

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by The Badger

What kinda cost you talkin about to get the car all straightened out ?

And I quote, from Program Manager Derrick Walker, "A very reasonable $75 grand."

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by FalkenALMS

And I quote, from Program Manager Derrick Walker, "A very reasonable $75 grand."

How much does a repair like this have to cost to make a re-shell (or even buying a new chassis) more cost-effective? And what kind and amount of damage must the car generally be for a re-shell to be required?

[FalkenALMS]

Here are some photos of the Porsche arriving back at Walker Racing's shop in Indianapolis and getting a fresh coat of paint.

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

How much does a repair like this have to cost to make a re-shell (or even buying a new chassis) more cost-effective? And what kind and amount of damage must the car generally be for a re-shell to be required?

From Derrick, "If the damage is really bad we would reshell and may well for next year but with less than 8 days before we leave for Baltimore it was the only way to get there. But we bought a bunch of panels and got the beast on a jig bed and the rest was history. Good as new just like bought one."

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by FalkenALMS

And I quote, from Program Manager Derrick Walker, "A very reasonable $75 grand."

75 GRAND ..... Im speechless !!!

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by The Badger

75 GRAND ..... Im speechless !!!

Did you think it would be more or less?

That's one side of the sport a lot of fans don't see--all the money it really does take to go into a program like this. It sheds some light on multi-car programs, marketing efforts and even TV package deals. To call this sport expensive would be an understatement!

[porman]

What was involved geometry wise with the front clip? I imagine it wasn't just a plug and play type of deal.

I wish you guys all the luck!

[911targa]

A question about the 2nd car please

If Porsche offers 991 RSR MY2013 late next year and Falken gets one immediately for PRO class, with enough funding, will you guys prefer running the 997 RSR MY2012 in PRO class or AM class?

2 PRO cars with pro drivers would be nice for tire development and team standings, but an AM class entry may attracts more sponsors & even increase the chances of doing LM24.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by FalkenALMS

Did you think it would be more or less?

That's one side of the sport a lot of fans don't see--all the money it really does take to go into a program like this. It sheds some light on multi-car programs, marketing efforts and even TV package deals. To call this sport expensive would be an understatement!

To be honest , I didnt think it would so expensive , maybe I was thinking 15 grand .

I understand about metal bending , shrinking and stretching , that kinda stuff , its my job , but 75 grand seems to be heavy man !!!