[DeTomaso] Halibrand on Magnesium Wheels

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

Besides liability issues with manufacturers, remember- Halibrands are RACE 
WHEELS used in dirt & pavement events since the end of WW-2. Some may be 60 
years old! And on racers, they don't quibble about throwing away a 
questionable rim rather than fixing it. Hitting the wall is always far more expensive 
than a replacement wheel.
Second- most Euro-cast magnesium wheels are made of 'Elektron- a different 
casting alloy than is likely to be used in the U.S.   I have no experience 
at all with mag-Halibrands, although a friend in San Jose does, and he 
anneals his old weld-repaired ones & sells them with a 'cosmetic guarantee'. I 
remember early Champ-car Halibrands not being chromate-coated or painted so 
crewchiefs could see any cracks starting. FWIW- J Deryke