CMC Inpound / Tech for 2017 season

[michaelmosty]

Inpound / Tech discussion:
We have done a lot of checking ride height, track width, air dam height, subframe connectors, etc. over the years.
I would like to get all racers opinions on other items you would like to see tech'd throughout the year.

Please either PM me here or send me an email to michael.mosty@capitalone.com with any suggestions you have.

I will turn over a large list of possible Tech items to NASA / Hank at the beginning of the event and have them determine what will be tech'd after the various sessions.

[Fbody383]

Are we trying to ID performance related issues, safety, both?

Not that it would have changed my Hallett results, but if something is supposed to be "as raced" it needs to be tech'd as close to coming off track as possible.

I think I would rather see safety items generally done in the paddock save personal gear - socks/gloves/balaclava/etc.

I'll take a look at the rules anew.

[michaelmosty]

NASA can Tech whatever they want regarding safety and the CCR's. I'm more looking for any thoughts on the CMC rules to Tech.

[mach1]

What was tech'd on "subframe connectors"?

[Wade]

Only certain attachment points are allowed on subframe connectors, so generally, you can't stitch them down the length of the car, just fore and aft.

[Fbody383]

I'm a "sunshine" guy - I would like to know what was teched at each event. I don't see any reason not to publish the results of each car either.

I got teched with the Top-5 because I came in to weigh; still working on how I feel about that. First blush is either tech the announced Top-X or everybody - pick one.

[michaelmosty]

Dave, tech was for the Top 5. If you were outside of the top 5 and made to tech, that is not right. I'm guessing it was a misunderstanding of just Tech-ing the CMC cars that were there. If not please let me know and we can get that worked out.

Tech for the weekend:
Race 1 - track width
Race 2 - socks (NASA)
Race 3 - front sway bar
Race 4 - no tech

[michaelmosty]

I am going to get a master list of Tech items to NASA for the remainder of the year. Please get me any suggestions you have within the next week.

NASA, Tech (Hank), and our Race Director will determine the Tech items for the weekend from the CMC rulebook as well as from any requests I have submitted from the racers.

[mach1]

I am going to get a master list of Tech items to NASA for the remainder of the year. Please get me any suggestions you have within the next week.

Will you be making this list public?

[Fbody383]

Will you be making this list public? After the fact I would guess.


Dave, tech was for the Top 5. If you were outside of the top 5 and made to tech, that is not right. I'm guessing it was a misunderstanding of just Tech-ing the CMC cars that were there. If not please let me know and we can get that worked out. I suspect you're right, and am not offended since my understanding is the car can be teched any time. To be fair, I didn't say "not top five, just here to weigh" either.

Oh, BTW... I watched Hank do some annuals - he has the patience of Job. I made a point to tell him I appreciate the way he runs Tech. Why other groups don't have some folks approved to do annuals astounds me.

[mach1]

Oh, BTW... I watched Hank do some annuals - he has the patience of Job.

Agreed, Hank is AWESOME. I have told him many times that he is great and his consistent positive attitude is inspirational.

[michaelmosty]

Will you be making this list public?

Sure, I'll post a list of everything submitted. I will keep the "submitter" private but don't think there is an issue listing what others would like to see inspected.

[Fbody383]

Sure, I'll post a list of everything submitted. Cool.

[RichardP]

Sure, I'll post a list of everything submitted.

I would like to see the list. I believe it would be helpful. On the other hand, I don't really think it should be published. Realistically, "the list" is the CMC rule book. Anything in there is up for checking at any point. A condensed list might be useful, but it implies that anything not on that list is fair game to ignore. I don't think that's the right message to send.

Whatever you do, don't pull a Covini. Todd was a great guy but a bit clueless. Way back when the series was younger, he would put all the driver's names in a hat and pull a couple out to have their hoods sealed and sent to the dyno after the event. Getting sent to the dyno after the event was a huge pain in the ass. I was sent a couple of times and it was always a big scheduling and logistics challenge. But I did think it was good for the series. Power to weight is the cornerstone of our series. Anyway, Todd would do this name selection thing at the Saturday evening party. Great. Now whoever was going to the dyno had Saturday night and all day Sunday to make sure their car would pass before their hood was sealed...

There was also that time at Nationals. In the second day driver's meeting before the qualifying session as the meeting was breaking up, Todd yells out that there would be no inspections after qualifying. There was this pregnant pause as everyone stared at him. Then there was a scramble to get back to the pits to pull ballast and whatever else before the session. It's OK not to tech but it wasn't OK to telegraph that...


Anyway, I would love to know what is going to be teched ahead of time. But I don't think anyone should know ahead of time.


Richard P.

[mach1]

I would like to see the list. I believe it would be helpful. On the other hand, I don't really think it should be published. Realistically, "the list" is the CMC rule book. Anything in there is up for checking at any point. A condensed list might be useful, but it implies that anything not on that list is fair game to ignore. I don't think that's the right message to send.

Whatever you do, don't pull a Covini. Todd was a great guy but a bit clueless. Way back when the series was younger, he would put all the driver's names in a hat and pull a couple out to have their hoods sealed and sent to the dyno after the event. Getting sent to the dyno after the event was a huge pain in the ass. I was sent a couple of times and it was always a big scheduling and logistics challenge. But I did think it was good for the series. Power to weight is the cornerstone of our series. Anyway, Todd would do this name selection thing at the Saturday evening party. Great. Now whoever was going to the dyno had Saturday night and all day Sunday to make sure their car would pass before their hood was sealed...

There was also that time at Nationals. In the second day driver's meeting before the qualifying session as the meeting was breaking up, Todd yells out that there would be no inspections after qualifying. There was this pregnant pause as everyone stared at him. Then there was a scramble to get back to the pits to pull ballast and whatever else before the session. It's OK not to tech but it wasn't OK to telegraph that...


Anyway, I would love to know what is going to be teched ahead of time. But I don't think anyone should know ahead of time.


Richard P.

Great point, the surprise may help keep people even more honest. The dyno thing has always bothered me, they don't appear to always be consistent, I think Michael said Craig's AI spec car put down 230hp on the dyno?
I wish we could all get on the same dyno, at the same time, for the certs. Even then the carb guys are in a tough spot as the carbs don't account for the conditions and they may be over/under at any given race. I feel like at NOLA last year Craig was down 20hp.
To your point on the name selection from a hat, I think it would be better to impound the car in tech, and have a third party literally drive to the dyno if it's on site and run it.