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On this page are subjects that pertain to Tech Inspection in the Northeast Division, Sports Car Club of America.

Tech Bulletin 2009 Steward Training – March 14, Hazelton, PA
Bill Etherington
NEDIV Tech DA

A. General Notes

1. Annual Inspections Performed at the Track

When performing annual inspections at the track and post qualifying/race compliance checks please note that there will be no waivers (“Fix by Next Event”) given for any safety related item found out of compliance. The stewards have been instructed to grant no waivers for out of compliance safety items. It is the responsibility of scrutineers to report all items of non-compliance to the Chief Steward (GCR section 5.9.1.C.). The chief steward has the final say on matters of compliance with the rules.

2. Annual Inspections/Pre-race Tech - General

As a reminder, annual inspections shall be performed by a licensed scrutineer (divisional/national) on each car once every 12 months. If an inspection is performed in November, it is good until the following November. In later events during the year (September/October), it could be a good idea to ask the drivers for volunteers for out of cycle annual inspections to lessen the annual inspection load at early events.

While performing the annual inspection make sure the seat belt expiration date is written on the annual inspection page. During the annual inspection, pay close attention to the mounting of the seat belts and make sure it meets the requirements of GCR 9.3.18.D, E., & F.

When performing the annual inspection on the car (w/o the driver’s gear) it seems like a good idea to place a note on the page “Car Inspected Only, Driver’s Gear Not Seen” (or something to that affect). This is an indicator that the driver’s gear could require inspection (or the car could be a rental).

3. Post Qualifying/Race Impounds

Before each race it is a good idea to get together with the Chief Steward to discuss the items being examined during impound and the classes that are to be pulled after the qualifying/race. Having an agreement between the Chief Steward and the Chief of tech on items to be checked during the event before the event starts should prevent potential problems during impounds. After the event has started, changes to the agreed impound list should be made with the agreement of both the Chief Steward and Chief of Tech.

Please keep in mind there may be seat belts that expire before the next annual inspection is due. It is a good idea to look at the seat belt expiration date during impounds at races early in the season.

Cars found to be underweight at impound are subject to penalty and shall have it noted on the next page of the Vehicle Logbook. The car shall beweighed at the next event and must meet the proper minimum weight before being allowed to qualify.

4. GT and Production Based Roll Cages (Section 9.4 in GCR)

When performing annual inspections or post qualifying/race impounds on GT and production based cars (Production, Touring, Showroom Stock, Spec Miata, Improved Touring, American Sedan, and Super Touring classes) please note that the requirements contained in GCR section 9.4 only apply to vehicles registered (issued a logbook) after 1/1/08. Cars registered before 1/1/08 may continue to use their existing cage as specified in Appendix G. Production class cars registered before 1/1/08 may continue to use their existing cage as specified in Appendix H.

5. Spec Miata Compliance Program

In 2008, SCCA added an additional fee for each race (regional and national) to all Spec Miata (SM not SSM) drivers to provide money for the creation of a Spec Miata Compliance program. The national tech staff visited Summit Point and Watkins Glen to perform Spec Miata Compliance and provide training to the local region tech staff.

The national tech staff (with help from a few Divisional Tech DA's) will visit the divisions (including the northeast) in 2009. The Chief of Tech, and the Chief Steward (with the Executive Steward copied) will be notified if the Spec Miata Compliance team will visit during a race.

The division received a "Spec Miata compliance kit" which contains: a Whistler (to measure compression ratio); an automotive multimeter that measure rpms, temperature, and the usual items; an ultrasound material thickness gage; and a cylinder bore measuring tool (used without removing the cylinder head). Since the division has a compliance kit, there is the opportunity to provide training to regional tech staff would like to visit a few tracks this year to provide training to the tech crews. If the region is interested in receiving Spec Miata Compliance training please let me know and we can arrange a visit to a track near you.

B. GCR Rule Changes

The 2009 season is about to begin and enclosed are some of the rule changes in the 2009 GCR. I have also included some changes through the March Fastrack.

2009 GCR is available on-line at the SCCA Site

The 2009 GCR is available on the SCCA website at the following address: http://cms.scca.com/documents/Club%20Rules/09%20GCR/2009GCR.pdf. The monthly Fastracks are also available on the SCCA website. The new GCR and subsequent Fastracks (January – March) contain several rule changes and are included below. There are a few rule revisions that the all drivers and scrutineers need to look at. The main changes are:

1. Driver’s Safety Equipment – Driver’s Suit (GCR section 9.3.19.C.1.) The accepted list of materials used in suits and underwear has been removed from the GCR. All suits shall bear an SFI 3.2A/1 or higher (e.g. /5, /10, /15, etc.) certification label or FIA 1986 Standard or FIA 8856-2000 homologation label. SFI 3.2A/1 suits shall be used with fire resistant underwear while fire resistant underwear are not required with suits with FIA 1986 Standard, FIA 8856-2000 label or SFI 3.2A/5 or higher (e.g. /10, /15, /20, etc.).

2. Grand Touring GT2, GT3, & GTL rear wing (GCR section 9.1.2.F.4.b.13.E., page 271, 272) All GT2, GT3, and GT-L cars are authorized to install rear wing meeting the specifications in the rule, and are of similar configuration to the wings authorized in the GT-1 rule section.

3. Super Touring Category (GCR section 9.1.4.) – The Prepared Category of 2008 has been renamed and the rule section reorganized. STO (World Challenge GT) class is equivalent to the B Prepared class and STU (World Challenge Touring) class is equivalent to the D Prepared class. Like the Prepared rules, the purpose of the Super Touring category rules is to allow former World Challenge cars to compete in club racing and allow other cars to be built to the same spec as well. Rules within the category have been modified to clarify what modifications can be made and what cars can be classified in the classes.

4. American Sedan Category (GCR section 9.1.6.) – The CRB/BOD added “limited prep” Touring category cars to the American Sedan category. The new classifications shall be prepared to the American Sedan rules with the exception that the engines and transmissions/final drives shall be prepared to the Touring sections 9.1.10.D., 9.1.10.D.1, and 9.1.10.D.4.

5. Spec Miata Driver/Passenger Compartment – Trunk (Feb. ’09 Fastrack) GCR Section 9.1.8.C.8.e. A clarification of what interior components that can be removed was passed. Clarify section 9.1.8.C.8.e, pg 504, add to the paragraph as follows:

Carpets, center consoles, cargo bins, seat belts, floor mat, firewall insulation/blanket, radio system, headliners, dome lights, grab handles, sun visors and their insulating and attaching materials may be removed.

6. Touring Class Interior (Jan. ’09 Fastrack) GCR Section 9.1.10.D.9.d (interior Modifications). 9.1.10.D.9.d reads as the following:

1. Front passenger seat, rear seat back, rear seat bottom cushion(s), sun visors, seat belts and their attaching hardware and bracketry may be removed. In any automobile where allowed removal of rear seats, upholstery, etc., creates an opening between the driver/passenger compartment and an exposed gas tank, fuel cell, or part thereof, a metal bulkhead which completely fills such opening shall be installed (See GCR 9.3.26.1.)

2. Carpets, carpet padding, center consoles, floor mats, headliners, sun roof liner and frame, dome lights, grab handles, and their insulating, attaching or operating mechanisms may be removed.

3. Any removable covers used to cover spare tires, tools, bins, etc., may be removed along with attaching hardware and

bracketry.

4. Removal of radio and speaker components is permitted.

5. All other interior trim panels, except the dashboard, may be removed. Other than to provide for the installation of required safety equipment or other authorized modifications, no other driver/passenger compartment alterations or gutting are permitted.

Compression Ratio

TECH SEMINAR COMPRESSION RATIO (Word Document)

COMPRESSION RATIO MEASUREMENTS (Excel Document)

Master Switch Wiring

This switch must kill all power except for an electrically operated fire system, if so equipped. This switch must also shut the engine off, which means that you will need a 6 pole switch, not a 2 pole. If a 2 pole is used, two things will happen: 1) The car will keep running because of residual magnetism in the alternator, which will keep the alternator supplying power, and 2) the field being disconnected on the alternator will cause the smoke to leak out of your diodes, (and since we all know that electronics runs on smoke, the depletion of this smoke will render the alternator inoperative).

The mounting location for this switch is just in front of the windshield on either side of the car, below the center of the rear window, or mounted on a bracket attached to the roll cage (with the bracket welded or clamped to the bar, no bolts into the cage) in a position easily accessible from the open window. Don’t forget your “OFF” decal.

The easiest way to wire an OMP 6 Pole switch, on most cars is as follows:

Remove the battery ground, then disconnect the positive battery cable from the starter. This will be connected to one of the large terminals on the switch. Find the smaller auxiliary lead on the positive battery cable near the battery terminal and cut it off close to the cable. This lead will be connected to the second large terminal of the switch. Attach another battery cable to this second terminal and run this cable to the starter. Most auto parts stores will make this cable up for you, just let them know how long you need it and what size studs each end attaches to. Also, from the same terminal, run a 12 gauge wire to one of the terminals marked “1” on the bottom of the switch. The two terminals marked “1” are the Normally Closed contacts of the switch. The other “1” terminal will be connected to the supplied resistor. The other side of this resistor is connected to a good ground. This resistor is what protects your alternator diodes. The resistor should be tie wrapped to the other wires and the leads insulated. You have now succeeded in disconnecting your battery and protecting your alternator, now for shutting off your engine. There are two terminals left on the switch, these are marked “2". These terminals are for the Normally Open contacts of the switch. Disconnect the wire going to the “+” terminal of your ignition coil and attach this to one of the terminals marked “2". Run a 12 gauge wire from the remaining “2" terminal to the ignition coil “+” terminal. Now all that is left to do is to mount the switch and reconnect your battery ground cable.

It is actually possible to use a 2 pole switch, but the alternator “BAT” lead must be connected to the battery side of the switch, effectively connecting the battery “+” and alternator output together. This will isolate both “power sources” to the same side of the switch. The 6 pole is preferred since the alternator is not hot when the switch is off.

After installing, start the car and make sure the switch will shut it off. With the switch off, check to make sure that the car will not crank, the fuel pump, wipers, and all lights will not operate. The switch should also be tested after running a session on the track. We have found that even if the car shut off with the first test, it might not shut off after a session at speed on the track.

For more Tech Info, contact Bill Etherington, Tech DA.

Last updated 3/18/09.