Update From Phoenix

[Duster 7695]

By your reply I assume you won't be willing to bet after all. Since I can't win any money from you, I'll answere your question. The track, and NHRA use PJ1 traction compound. You can check on the internetand see what it is. It certainly is not VP. However you are correct about it not working well on a cold track.

Raul

[Toby Lang]

As II'm making the lovely 1500 mile trip back home I have a few questions:

1. WTF is wrong with VHT?

2. Has the EPA started cracking down on the use of VHT?

3. Was it just discovered this weekend that PJ1 doesn't work well on cold tracks?

4. Is PJ1 cheaper than VHT? If so, is it worth having cars on their roofs and into the wall? Not to mention having to pay all the personnel to work the make up races?


-Toby

[Don Kennedy]

The traction compound pj1 is the same as the vht . the VHT name was sold for some paint names and then the traction compound was renamed pj1 .

The company sells to their customers the traction compound either full strength or diluted 25% . The customer then decides how they want to apply the traction compound.

The Firebird track manager Chuck has never been told on how much traction compound to buy by Charlie Allen and can buy as much as he wants for Firebird use .

I suspect that when NHRA comes to town then they use what ever traction compound they want and most likley deluted to their own desires made by some decision maker unkown to most, not really sure on that though.

[Toby Lang]

OK, thank you for the explaination. I thought they were different products.

In the statement released by the NHRA it said the wrong product was sent to the track. Which product did they have and which is the right one?

If there are only two types I doubt having the diluted one would make much difference. They dilute it with alcohol, right? The alcohol evaporates. Couldn't you just spray more down to get the same result as full strength?

Something doesn't make sense.


-Toby

[Bob Sherwood]

THOSE DAMM SUPPLIERS-- they will do it every time and I have seen those labels on the drums----THEY JUST ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH.

[Duster 7695]

Toby,
The PJ1(VHT) is cut with Methanol before it is sprayed on the track. When you gt the PH1 on your hands the best way to get it off is by washing your hands in straight methanol. They covered the track with straight methanol in an attempt to get rid of the compound that had already been applied. Obviously they did not get the track as good as was needed to be safe.

I'm sorry you, and many others made such a long trip only to see the race canceled. I am lucky, I only had to go 15 miles.

Raul

[Toby Lang]

Methanol, alcohol, pretty much the same thing, right?

Since you seem to know quite a bit about it, maybe you can answer my question.

If Don is correct and there are omly two types of PJ1, full strength and 25% cut, what would be the difference if you ordered one and got the other in terms of prepping the track? And do you think it could cause what happened this weekend?



-Toby

[Andys dad]

OK it must just be me but why does anyone make traction compound that not only does not work - it does the reverse of what it is suppose to do.

Bull I say.

I do not have a PHD in traction compounds, as some who have posted here, seem to have. Not sure where to acquire the knowledge. Have read about solution mixtures. Have read about cold track vs ?? (not cold track).

I can only say one thing in defense of the track and NHRA - I do not believe either of them would have wanted this to happen. Everybody wanted to complete the race(s).

Not sure why they did not do the National on Thursday when they had a crew and the safety equipment there for the test and tune.

Sure glad I reverted to "young and irresponsible" and went to the "race" instead of staying home. As Toby told me Friday "I knew you would come".

Drag racing is an addiction for which there is no cure or rehab.

Sorry for the rambling but I think I am suffering from post "no-race" syndrome.

Until next time.