STUPID RULES

[JoshS]

It's a SS based class.

Biggest pet peave: Drivers who "know" others are cheating and will only bitch and complain instead of policing their own patch. Grow a pair or STFU. Rule issue? I would love to see an open hood/trunk policy in impound like in Solo.
[/b]

I have the same pet peeve. On the open hood/trunk policy, I wrote a letter to that effect earlier this year (and including pulling a wheel off too), and was pleased to see the request for member input on that in the latest fastrack. So everyone, write your letters! I don't see how we're supposed to self-police without being able to see anyone else's equipment, so I'd really like to see this happen. As you say, it has worked great forever in Solo.

[lateapex911]

At Watkins Glen, you pull off disabled and stop. The whole course goes yellow, while the tow truck trundles out to pull the car. You pull off your helmet, and then jump in the tow truck for a ride. Nope...no riding unless fully dressed...put that helmet back on you raidical enemy of all things safe.

Yup, ole Bubba is in a T-shirt and jeans, but YOU have to be fully kitted up.

Most uptight place I've been to.....

[Off Camber]

IT Rules. 9-a
The Drivers seat only my be replaced by a race seat.

So you can leave the original passenger seat in but you cant replace it with a race seat.

[MMiskoe]

Washer bottles - well actually I've now taken the time on two cars to hook them up & make them work. Very necessary when driving in crappy weather & everyone keeps going off & coming back on track w/ mud.

And yes, NER can ask for some odd things - we had to surrender our helmets after qualifying this summer, to get them back we had to bring our factory manuals. I think there was one RX7 manual that got brought into the tech shed about 9 times, guys just waited outside the door for their turn with it.

But here you go with some of my favorites:

Why can't we have jack pads? How many cars have you seen w/ big crunch marks on the underside from jacks? Its not like a jack point really adds "competitive advantage", it just keeps the car from getting beat up, or falling on your head.

Why can't we put a vent window in the rear window? No, lets mount the thing in the front window where it either is less effective or blocks our view (or both).

So you can't have anything lower than the wheel rim - except the exhaust. First, why is the exhaust exempt? Second, w/ a 50 series tire (or 45) if its that low, its going to get ripped off and land in the track.

You can run any kind of radiator and engine oil cooler, any kind of diff set up (in the stock pumpkin). Why not a diff cooler?

Fuel testing.... Well, I'll be polite and leave that one alone. I think every knows why the rule got created, but it didn't get very well thought out before being implemented such that nothing that will burn in the car will actually pass. There's no good solution on that one.


Matt

[dj10]

Washer bottles - well actually I've now taken the time on two cars to hook them up & make them work. Very necessary when driving in crappy weather & everyone keeps going off & coming back on track w/ mud.

And yes, NER can ask for some odd things - we had to surrender our helmets after qualifying this summer, to get them back we had to bring our factory manuals. I think there was one RX7 manual that got brought into the tech shed about 9 times, guys just waited outside the door for their turn with it.

But here you go with some of my favorites:

Why can't we have jack pads? How many cars have you seen w/ big crunch marks on the underside from jacks? Its not like a jack point really adds "competitive advantage", it just keeps the car from getting beat up, or falling on your head.

Why can't we put a vent window in the rear window? No, lets mount the thing in the front window where it either is less effective or blocks our view (or both).

So you can't have anything lower than the wheel rim - except the exhaust. First, why is the exhaust exempt? Second, w/ a 50 series tire (or 45) if its that low, its going to get ripped off and land in the track.

You can run any kind of radiator and engine oil cooler, any kind of diff set up (in the stock pumpkin). Why not a diff cooler?

Fuel testing.... Well, I'll be polite and leave that one alone. I think every knows why the rule got created, but it didn't get very well thought out before being implemented such that nothing that will burn in the car will actually pass. There's no good solution on that one.


Matt

[/b]

I like the one's about the diff cooler & exhaust!!

So if you have a baby face you don't have to worry about burns? No head sock required but you better have them on your feet. [/b]

This is good too. :P Some of these make no sense at all LOL!

Keep up the good work guys is is some funny S%#@!!

[Joe Harlan]

E. Face coverings (balaclavas) of accepted fire resistant material for drivers with beards or mustaches. Hair protruding from beneath a driver’s helmet shall be completely covered by fire resistant material. As an alternative to balaclavas, a full helmet skirt of accepted fire resistant material may be used. Double-layer balaclavas are recommended. If balaclavas are used voluntarily, they shall be of accepted fire resistant material.[/b]

So if you have a baby face you don't have to worry about burns? No head sock required but you better have them on your feet.

[zracre]

the fact that there is a difference with stock cams vs. "stock" cams. And the fact that we have such open rules and self policing. I just got back from a roundy round race in orlando where I crewed and did a pit stop (on the front straight!) and watched them tear down the top 3 to the block.

the biggest question I am always asked...so you race cars? cool how much do you win....then the explanation of the piece of wood...

[BMW RACER]

Here's a good one. At Willow Springs I came into the pit lane after qualifying and stopped in the hot pits while my crew guy checked tire temps and pressures, while he was doing his thing I took my helmet and gloves off. I got guff from the tech guy when I pulled into impound for taking my helmet off! My crew guy doesn't have to wear a helmet when he's outside the car in the pitlane yet I do when I'm inside the car ?!?!

[Hotshoe]

Well,

.... I think we should be able to relocate the battery. I don't think that the design of some of these cars that we modify into racers make "Safe" sense.

.... Take for instance the new Miata. The Battery is setting right in front of the engine ....... Duh

.... A set standard (like a certain box mounted a specific way) makes better sense. I have seen batteries on the track ...... Now is that safe????

.... And that Washer Bottle....... Let's get a grip ...... lol Can you imagine what Newbs think .....

.... Should I throw in Port matching for Rotories? ........ Whah


.... Rick Thompson

[JoshS]

.... And that Washer Bottle....... Let's get a grip ...... lol Can you imagine what Newbs think .....
[/b]

I just don't see that as an issue for "newbs." More often than not, a newb either buys/rents a built car, or builds his own by starting with a street car (i.e., it already has a washer bottle, so it's not hard to keep it.) Besides, they really are useful ... I always keep some fluid in mine just in case I get mud thrown up, and I have used it more than a couple of times.

As I go through my current build, the only rules that strike me as silly are:
- Can't remove amps/speakers/antennas, but the rest of the interior gets to go
- Tremendous amount of wiring required for things that are removed
- Can't remove emissions stuff except for a few explicit items (EGR, cats)
- No guidelines for window nets. Doesn't even explain what it's for. Could have a VERY small one and it would be legal. (Seriously, does anyone know how to pick the right size net?)

But generally speaking, I think the IT ruleset is pretty great!

[Chris F]

No lightened flywheel? In a racecar? Blasphemy!

Hi, I'm Chris, and I don't have an IT-legal car... Is there a troll smiley icon in here?

[Joe Harlan]

SFI seat belts= 2years
FIA belts = 5 years?
Belts by the same manufacture but different labels? do they just make them better in the land of FIA?

As far as PS VS None PS goes the issue is the car was classed with the power steering pump as a consideration...Most Japanese pumps use 7 to 9 HP on the dyno.....

[leggwork]

I can't find the text of SFI 16.1 since I'm not a part of the trade association, but in the FIA 8853 standard for belts, they don't specify any material requirements, or require any aging tests on the belts - they only test the new belts to a certain performance level, so who knows how the belts will perform at the end of 5 years or what they're basing the 5 year rule on? They test the belts at 20 degrees F. The air force puts a 13 year life on pilot harnesses using similar materials. I'm sure the SFI spec is equally insufficient.

And another good one for the future rules - many FIA or SFI belts break when they are put through the SFI 38.1 sled tests...

cheers,
bruce

SFI seat belts= 2years
FIA belts = 5 years?
Belts by the same manufacture but different labels? do they just make them better in the land of FIA?

As far as PS VS None PS goes the issue is the car was classed with the power steering pump as a consideration...Most Japanese pumps use 7 to 9 HP on the dyno.....
[/b]

[RSTPerformance]

The lack of an impoound ALL and open hoods/doors/trunck etc. rule after each session...

How can we "self police" things if we never see the cars other than when we are lapping them on the track?

Raymond

[JLawton]

I hope you guys realize that Kirk's blood pressure has gone up 40 points because of this discussion!!

[dj10]

I hope you guys realize that Kirk's blood pressure has gone up 40 points because of this discussion!! [/b]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!



These are with out a doubt some of the greatest posts I've ever seen. I would never have guessed we had so many comedians.


Why in NASA do you have to replace the window net every 2 years? Maybe they have more exhaust pipes going through their window nets than SCCA does?

[Ron Earp]

No, he's doing fine. There is a new Kirk on the block and he's turned in his rules nerd card - saw it myself!



R

[Knestis]

Seriously - you crazy kids go for it. I'm AOK.

So far, Joe's the only one who's found rules that actually rise to the level of "stoopid" in my book - the balaclava and SFI label dumbness. We have collectively been lulled into a happy place where fire protection is required only because it's a rule, not because anyone really expects to catch on fire. And SFI is a trade organization - nothing more.

Add to that list the complete lack of any requirement for eye protection. That's a stupid rule.

The rest are simply manifestations of our individual fantasies about what a "real race car" is supposed to look like.

(He said, with appropriate academic detachment because from here on out, IT is one more case study in creep that he expects to support his existing hypotheses about influences causing road racing classes to wither and die.)

K

[Joe Harlan]

Seriously - you crazy kids go for it. I'm AOK.

So far, Joe's the only one who's found rules that actually rise to the level of "stoopid" in my book - the balaclava and SFI label dumbness. We have collectively been lulled into a happy place where fire protection is required only because it's a rule, not because anyone really expects to catch on fire. And SFI is a trade organization - nothing more.

Add to that list the complete lack of any requirement for eye protection. That's a stupid rule.

The rest are simply manifestations of our individual fantasies about what a "real race car" is supposed to look like.

(He said, with appropriate academic detachment because from here on out, IT is one more case study in creep that he expects to support his existing hypotheses about influences causing road racing classes to wither and die.)

K
[/b]

What do I win?

cause I have more? Why allow cars without fuelcells and with full carpet...(ss/touring) have a hand held fire extingisher and reqiure a full system in a GT1 car?

Cages....bolt in for SS/IT and the weld in full tilt boogie cage required for prod....Most IT/SS cars weigh more and are more likely to actally use the cage.

Why not have safety rules for the club instead of the class.

[dickita15]

Why allow cars without fuelcells and with full carpet...(ss/touring) have a hand held fire extingisher and reqiure a full system in a GT1 car?

[/b]

that one is easy, because more fires are caused by poorly constructed plumbing to fuel cell than by a factory installation.