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Re: Rules for Tech Inspection

To: "Craig Boyle" <craig_boyle@yahoo.com>,
Subject: Re: Rules for Tech Inspection
From: "Jerry Mouton" <jerry@moutons.org>
Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 07:13:24 -0700
Craig,

Well, I guess my point has been well taken!  All I
did was to publish the official rules.  You have done
an excellent analysis of how badly we suck in
carrying them out.  I know I sure would not want to
have my initials on a tech card of a car which failed
on course and hurt someone given the existence of
these rules and our acknowledged record in this area.

The "real" reason I put them up was that the Divisional
page suggests we all read them, and I figure, why not use
the hypertext function of the web to make that easy to do?

Perhaps some thought about our effectiveness here
would be in order.  You have given us a good start!

Jerry

Jerry Mouton        mailto:jerry@moutons.org    Laissez les bons temps
rouler!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Boyle" <craig_boyle@yahoo.com>
To: "Jerry Mouton" <jerry@moutons.org>; "Bay_Area_Autocross_List"
<ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: Rules for Tech Inspection


> Well, is your point that we don't check most of this
> stuff? Or is that the rulebook should be rewritten to
> reflect reality? If we did this level of tech it would
> take forever. What SFR does isn't close to the
> rulebook, but it is typical of what is accepted in
> other regions. Do you want to see this changed?
>
> Over the years I've seen only a few cars that got
> through tech that I don't think should have: 1) A
> Scirocco with really dangerous looking suspension at
> SFR in '98, 2) A Mustang with a leaking beer keg   in
> the trunk for a gas tank (not SFR) 3) An Eclipse that
> shed a wheel because of loose wheel nuts (not SFR)
>
>  Looking at the link, what will generally pass at SCCA
> events is much looser than the rulebook, I'll use the
> term "General Practice" for what I see at SFR events,
> i.e.:
>
> A.
>      All loose items, inside and outside the car,must
> be removed.  Passenger's seat back and squab shall be
> secured.
>
> *General practice allows loose floormats, suction
> cupped radar detectors etc.
>
>
> B.
>      Snap-on hubcaps, detachable fender skirts, and
> trim rings must be removed.
>
> *GP sometimes gets people to remove hubcaps. The local
> interpretation seems to be that little hubcaps that
> don't come off easily are OK (e.g. Miata 94-7 alloys)
> C.
>      Wheels must be safely affixed.  They shall not be
> reversed so that the lughole taper does not mate with
> the chamfer of the lugs.  All studs and lug nuts must
> be
>      present and functional.
>
> *never seen a lug nut torque-down test, would like
> this.
>
>
> D.
>      Tires must be in good condition, with no cord or
> belts showing or cracks in the tread or sidewall.
>
> *GP allows the more experienced guys to get away with
> corded tires within reason. Never seen an
> inner-sidewall check. Never seen a check of the
> entitre tire, just what's easily visible.
>
> E.
>      Minimum tire pressures must be at least 25 pounds
> in cars under 3,000 pounds and 35 pounds in cars over
> 3,000 pounds, or the tire manufacturer's maximum
>      recommended pressure.  Experienced drivers should
> be permitted to use their customary pressure.
>
> *Never seen a check of rookie tire pressures. I have
> dispensed advice.
>
> F.
>      Seat belts must be properly installed with
> attaching hardware secure and tight.
>
> *Never seen such a check
>
> G.
>      Throttle return action shall be safe and
> positive.
>
> *Sometimes this gets checked
> H.
>      No excessive fuel, oil, or brake fluid leaks
> should be observed when the engine is running.
>
> *GP is to check engine with engine off.
>
>
>  For all Prepared and Modified category vehicles,
> engine
>      crankcase and radiator overflow/breather lines
> must terminate in containers of at least one quart
> capacity.  These containers cannot be vented into
>      the driver/passenger compartment.  All Prepared
> and Modified category vehicles must be equipped with
> an engine oil vent tank, and an engine coolant
>      vent tank if coolant is used.
> I.
>      Steering "spinner" knobs shall not be permitted.
> J.
>      No broken or missing spokes or more than one
> loose spoke per wheel shall be permitted in wire
> wheels.  No cracks shall be permitted in disc or cast
> wheels.
> K.
>      Brakes must have an adequate pedal, sufficient
> fluid in the master cylinder, and no apparent
> hydraulic leaks under pressure and must operate on all
> wheels.
>
> * never seen a must operate on all wheels check.
> L.
>      All swing axle cars, except Porsche, must have a
> camber compensator, or negative camber on the rear
> wheels, or have axle-limiting straps.  Stock pre-1967
>      Volkswagen straps are not sufficient.
> M.
>      Wheel bearings, shocks, steering, and suspension
> shall be in good operating condition.
>
> *GP is gets checked adequately
> N.
>      Exhaust must exit behind driver or to the side of
> the car.
> O.
>      On board starters shall be provided
> P.
>      Any wet-cell battery moved from the
> manufacturer's original location shall be in a
> non-conductive marine-type container or equivalent,
> and the hot terminal
>      shall be insulated.  All batteries (on-board
> power supplies) shall be attached securely to the
> frame or chassis structure independent of the
> marine-type
>      container.
>      NOTE: This will allow the use of gel cell
> batteries without a non-conductive marine-type
> container where applicable.
> Q.
>      Helmets for all occupants of the vehicle are to
> be inspected for condition, fit, and compliance with
> Driver's Safety Equipment - Helmets (4.3.1)
>
> *Never seen a fit check
> --- Jerry Mouton <jerry@moutons.org> wrote:
> > Ever wondered what has to be checked at tech?
> >
> > I just added this rule and the Helmet rule to the
> > Misc rules
> > on the car classification web site.  Please read
> > this and make sure that
> >
> > 1. Your car conforms to these safety rules before
> > coming out to any event
> > 2. If you work at tech, you check and enforce all
> > these rules carefully,
> >     especially for newer drivers.  Their safety and
> > that of our workers
> > depend
> >     on you doing this job right.
> >
> >
> http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/misc_rules.html#3.3.3
> > Safety
> >
> > This link may not work perfectly because of the
> > blank.  I think it will get
> > you real close.
> >
> > Jerry Mouton        mailto:jerry@moutons.org
> > Laissez les bons temps
> > rouler!
> >
> >
>
>
>


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