General Information For Track Events

[Dano]

Derek, instead of emailing you, i'm posting here.  I'm compiling some information for you guys to have on hand for a quick reference.  I don't know if you'd want to stickey this or not, but it's a good place to add important info, may want to lock it too.

-Dan

Tech Inspection - All cars must pass some sort of tech inspection to get on a track.

- Must have SA2000 or higher helmet. Some sanctioning bodies allow M2000 and up. Please check with the organizers on which one you can use.

- Tires must show good tread and cannot be corded.

- All front seatbelts must be in working order. Harnesses are ok as long as they are mounted correctly.

- Headlights(if night event) and brake lights must be in working order.

- Battery must have a tie down. If the battery is rear mount it must be tied down and covered in a battery box.  If the battery is a wet-cell battery, the box needs to be sealed from the passenger compartment with a vent running outside of the passenger compartment to the outside.

- All wheel bearings must be free of side play.

- Brakes should have at least half their life left. I recommend newer pads if you are track racing.

- Steering system must be in good working order and should not be loose.

- Roll cage abiding to regulation**

- Windshield cannot have any cracks over 1".

- No leaking fluids.

- All lug nuts must be present.

- All body panels must be present.

**Cage requirements are dependent on sanctioning body and vary, and are not currently need for Midnight Madness events. (See below for cage regulations)

[Dano]

Cage Regulations

SCCA/ Formula D 2006 Rule book

5.3 Material: Alloy Steel or DOM
DOM is the preferred material for Roll Cage construction please
contact SCCA Pro Racing if Alloy material will be used. Alloy steel
cages MUST be constructed by an approved supplier
DOM or Alloy Steel
Minimum O.D. 1.5 inches
Minimum Wall Thickness .095
Note: ERW tubing is not permitted in any car registered with
SCCA after of 01/01/2003.
Main hoop: 4 bends maximum, totaling 180 degrees ± 10
degrees.
Front hoop: 4 bends maximum or Front downtubes: 2 bends
maximum.
Rear hoop supports: No bends.

D1GP website as of 01-22-06

Roll cage : Each car must be equipped with a six-point or better roll cage.  Full front A pillar beams are required as well as door impact protection beams.  A competition car with carbon, FRP, Fiber Glass or any non-metal doors must have the door impact protection X bars welded to both front (A-pillars) and center pillers (B-pillers).  Roll cage must be welded or securely bolted and anchored.  If roll cage is bolted then its must be securely reinforced with an anchor plate and backing plate sandwich on each side of the floor pan.  Roll cage tubing must be at a minimum of 1.25 inches OD tubing and no thinner than 0.098 wall mild steel or 1 .25x .083 Chromoly tubing.

NASA HPDE rules as of 01-11-06

15.6.18 Roll Cage Tubing Sizes
For the purposes of determining roll bar tubing sizes, vehicle weight is as raced, but
without fuel and driver. Note: There is an allowance of minus 0.010 inches on all tubing
thicknesses. Minimum tubing size for the roll cage is:
Up to 1500 lbs.
1.375” x 0.095” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
1501 - 2200 lbs.
1.500” x 0.095” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
1.500” x 0.120” ERW* (No issuance of log books for cars with ERW cages 04/30/03)
*Note- Specifications listed for reference for inspection of grandfathered vehicles.
2201 - 3000 lbs.
1.500” x 0.120” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
1.750” x 0.095” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
1.750” x 0.120” ERW* (No issuance of log books for cars with ERW cages 04/30/03)
*Note- Specifications listed for reference for inspection of grandfathered vehicles.

[Dano]

What to bring to a track day

- Money
- Full tank of gas
- Basic tools, torque wrench, jack.
- Helmet
- LOTS of water.
- Good attitude.
- Clean your car out.
- Extra tires if you are at a drift event.
- Extra motor oil, power steering fluid(or ATF for us 240 dorks), brake fluid, coolant, etc.
- Chairs
- Food, if the event does not have food.
-CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!

[ICEMAN]

One thing you might want to add about the battery mounted in the trunk.

-If battery is a wet cell, Battery box must have tube vented to outside of car.

That I know is one thing overlooked when mounting battery inside of the car.

Also,
- Check your EGO at the door.

[Dano]

One thing you might want to add about the battery mounted in the trunk.

-If battery is a wet cell, Battery box must have tube vented to outside of car.

That I know is one thing overlooked when mounting battery inside of the car.

Also,
- Check your EGO at the door.

Whoops yeah, I thought that was in there, I was actually just explaining that to Good Charlotte-Steve last night.  Post edited.

-Dan

[Dano]

RE: Battery relocation:

SCCA rulebook states that the area behind the rearmost seats is not considered to be in the passenger compartment, but i've heard of individuals with S13 240sx fastbacks and like-cars not being allowed to run their relocation unvented.  I will try to get a definitive answer on this, but if your really wanting to get serious in being legal for many sanctioning bodies and plan on doing a lot of events, then it's a good rule of thumb that you use a non-conductive, sealed box and vent to the outside.  NHRA-legal boxes work for just about everyone, and can be had for $100-$200 for the whole kit.

-Dan

[Bloodsport]

dan i need help with my brake lights

[Dano]

Ok, hit me up.

-Dan

[Bloodsport]

ok

[rallyxPOS13]

Tech Inspection - All cars must pass some sort of tech inspection to get on a track.

- Windshield cannot have any cracks over 1".

Just curious, will this rule be enforeced for the regular drift days?  I'm not going to be tandeming or whatever, and I don't see why this would be an issue.

In the 6 years I've been autocrossing, the 4 years I've been rallycrossing and the couple drift events I did with ClubFR in Chicago,  the crack in my windshield has never been an issue.  It would be absurd to have to change it for a parking lot cone dodge event.

I'll put in a new windshield if I have to, but I'd like some clarification as to why this is a rule first.

-Matt

[Dano]

It's all dependent on the specific track's regulations.  For some it's an issue, for some it's not.  It's a safety issue for a few reasons.  One, if it's large enough OR starts to spider, it's much more prone to 'flake' shards when stressed by the chassis flexing, glass on the track isn't something anybody wants if it can be helped.  Two, if the crack is ANYwhere in your field of view, it's considered a hazard... pretty self explanitory.  It's just a safety issue, and may not bother anyone at all.  Three, and this is a bs one, but is the main reason for a few tracks i've visited, and is mostly political bull, but for looks.... they don't want ratty looking cars on their track because they think it'll turn away their wealthier clients.  Is this an issue at HPT?  Nope, not that i've ever seen, but does it exist?  YES... stupid bs, Phoenix Int'l Raceway won't even allow primered-only cars for this reason.  Some wealthier clients complained it looked like trash and a junkyard running the course and that's all it takes.  Doesn't really pertain, but everyone needs useless info of the day.

I can't see it being an issue for the HPT event, but if it's huge, or in your direct field of view [see: driver's side] then you should probably fix it anyway regardless.

[broken__dori]

I'm putting my battery where the driver side legs go, errr should I change this ? I can cover it and make a vent with all that jazz, but would like to have it there

[Dano]

You can if it's a dry-cell battery.  If you ever go to a track and want to have a passenger ride along you may run into issues.  I honestly don't know what the regulations on a battery in the footwell would be.  I mean I would think it'd be the same as anywhere else inside the cabin, where the box has to be totally sealed with an external vent, but i'm not sure.

I've done ride alongs with buddies that had oil accumulators and fire supression system bottles there with no problems.

[broken__dori]

Awesome I plan on getting the buddy club battery, unsure exactly what kind it is, but i'll box it up as well just incase, passengers can be entertaining hehe