Tech Inspection

[j3ffbrooks]

I wanted to know how the cars are being tech'd to comform to the rules.

All I've seen is Glenn walking around and pointing things out or a group of directors standing around a car discussing specific issues. :roll:

Is there a formal Annual Tech Checklist and/or General Tech Checklist that is used to address rules stated in the CCRs and Race Series Rules?

Are cars being thoroughly tech'd at the beginning of the season and randomly during the season?

Should they be?




Thanks.......

[GlennCMC70]

to be totally honest w/ you, the checklist list is all things in the CCR's and CMC/AI rules.
so, i'm unclear w/ where you are going w/ this?

[Todd Covini]

This is an excellent question, Jeff.
There are all kinds of tech inspections...

1) Annual Tech Inspection
2) Random Tech Inspection
3) Post-Race Tech inspection
4) Series Tech inspection
5) For Cause Tech Inspection

Most all of these will involve some sort of director standing over/under your car and looking at stuff or point things out or discussing things.

All too often we hear the mis-informed "well...it's been inspected" or "XYZ had it before so it MUST be legal". Both can bring about a false sense of security.

There is no possible way that each or all of the inspections above could possible cover everything on a car and "then you're good". We do our best to tech everything at once, however, focus on different areas during each tech inspection...hoping that by the end of the year we've gotten to everything.

Since your car is new to CMC, and there were a few grey area items...I'd get with the Calif. boyz once you get there to do a once over.

Best of luck to you and your former AI car, Jeff!!!

Take care of our Texas brotheren, Tony!!!

-=- Todd

[Al Fernandez]

There are two different concerns: safety and competitiveness. Sometimes these are handled together, sometimes they are no.

Annual inspections are strongly oriented towards safety regulations, most of which are in the CCR. In most regions annuals are done by NASA scrutineers. In some regions they are done by series directors. In ours we (directors) can do them but generally will only do so on returning cars and leave brand new builds to the NASA guys. Every single weekend the driver goes through a safety checklist and signs off that each of those things are correct. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure everything in the car/on the driver meets or exceeds safety rules. They/we do spot random inspections regularly. Last weekend out we checked every driver for fire proof socks for example.

Performance oriented rules are checked regularly and randomly. In many locations the annual includes verification of performance oriented rules. Some specific rules are managed by themselves. For example, we check each and every car's dyno sheet and here in Texas leave a copy on file. We put a sticker on the windshield with your allowed weight. After every race we pick at least one random rule and check the podium and a few others. Every weekend we pick a couple of rules and walk the pits and check each and every car. That said, it is the driver's responsibility to ensure their car conforms to the rules, and only the driver's.

It is because of the fact that it is the driver's responsibility to ensure they are complying with the rules that infractions are not generally treated lightly. I mentioned this at our last driver's meeting. I firmly believe that drivers will violate rules by accident now and then; a little too light or a little too low a ride height because the spring settled, or a little too tall a wing because the guy just screwed up. It happens, the driver gets penalized, and we then laugh at him for years (ask Glenn!) This is dramatically different than intentional disregard. That kind of infraction gets the book thrown at the driver...because it is their responsibility.

Hope that helps Jeff. If you think your car hasnt been scrutinized enough...just raise your hand and ask for more harrassment! :lol: :wink:

[GlennCMC70]

it has been pointed out that my post may have been a little harsh. that was not my intent.
after looking @ Todd's and Al's post's, and remembering your moving to Cali, i can see what your worried about.
there is just no way w/ the time alotted, that all things can be checked. untill someone who is not racing wants to show up and spend all day doing nothing but AI/CMC series tech, it will just not happen.
as said, we try to do something each event, and its my intent to go back and tech previous event tech items on cars that have not made all previous events. this particulare efforts will be stepped up over the next event or two (Nats). NASA issues log books and annuals totally based on safety and will look at some series tech also. each director has the ability to log in any infraction into your log book all be it safety of series related.

are we answering your question?

[j3ffbrooks]

I guess what I'm looking for is a series compliance checklist similar to the safety checklist that is used prior to every event and is verified each time as well.

Is there anything that verifies what, where, when and who inspected a car?

I just think if there was an actual checklist that someone could go through and actually checkmark a pass/fail it would be more effective than carrying around a 150 page notebook. This would also be evidence that something has been done.

Is there a plan for this or is it a waste of time?

[Todd Covini]

Jeff,
Here's the CMC checklist.
Read each box and check that your car is compliant.
Once completed, sign the bottom and present it to a series director.
We can spot check a few of the checked boxes to verify them for you at the next event.
+++++++++++++

o 2007 Rules and Classifications
o INTRODUCTION
o Camaro Mustang Challenge is a racing series with two classes: CMC and CMC-2. The following rules are not guidelines for this series but an actual listing of allowed and required modifications. All of these rules apply to both CMC and CMC-2 cars unless otherwise stated. The only modifications are those specifically allowed. If not specifically allowed, any modifications shall be prohibited. Some equipment may be required to support the sponsors who have contributed to the year end points fund.
o INTENT
o The intent of the Camaro Mustang Challenge (CMC) racing class is to provide National Auto Sport Association (NASA) members a racing series featuring late model production V8 sedans. The original ruleset for CMC was designed for 1979-1997 model cars with a general 230/300 HP/TQ limitation. With newer, higher horsepower cars now available from the OEMs, CMC-2 was created to provide a place to race these newer, higher horsepower vehicles, while keeping with the same fundamental philosophy of CMC. Modifications will be limited to those necessary to provide for safety, close competition, limited expenses, and positive exposure.
o 3, GOVERNANCE
o 3.1. Selection
o To support and promote the intent of CMC a formal six member CMC Board of Directors will be selected. The Board shall consist of a Chief Director and five other directors. If for any reason a director resigns their position, the Chief Director shall appoint a replacement director. If for any reason the Chief Director resigns the full board shall select a replacement Chief Director. The CMC Board of Directors will appoint Regional Coordinators as necessary to manage CMC activities in the different regions.
o 3.2. Procedures/Goals
o The CMC Directors have nationwide authority, over all regions, and all matters pertaining to CMC. The Chief Director is given the main guiding control and final decision making power for CMC. The NASA Executive Director will maintain oversight of the series as required by the NASA CCR, but the Chief Director shall be the authority for CMC rules interpretation and series direction.
o The CMC Directors may appoint one or more Regional Coordinators to manage day to day CMC activities in the different NASA regions. Day to day CMC activities include determining event procedures as necessary, enforcing CMC rules, and forming Incident Review Boards to assist in determining infractions and driver penalties.
o All requests for clarifications or interpretations of rules shall be made via email to a Director. The Directors will return official clarifications to the competitor via email. Rules clarifications will be used as the basis for re-writing rules at the end of the year, as necessary.
o Jan. 2007 Pg 2 CMC Rules 2007.4
o The Directors and Coordinators, collectively called CMC Officials, shall make all efforts to be available to help answer questions and make new CMC competitors feel welcome to the series. The CMC Official’s goals are to keep CMC weekends and the series as a whole running smoothly, fulfilling the intent of the series.
o 3.3 Driver’s Infractions
o The NASA CCR sections 25-27 regarding on course conduct will be followed with the following exceptions. All on course contact requires each competitor to fill out a body contact report form and submit it to the Race Director. The Race Director or the CMC Officials at an event will form an Incident Review Board, which may consist of CMC Directors, Coordinators, competitors, and NASA Officials. The IRB will review the incident, determine fault if any, and communicate this to the CMC Officials at the event, who will in turn work with the Race Director to determine penalties based on the severity of the on course infraction. Penalties will be based on the list in the NASA CCR section 27.
o 3.4 Appeals
o Any CMC competitor may appeal any decision of a CMC Official regarding technical issues and rules enforcement to the full CMC Board of Directors. Competitors must notify the CMC Officials at the event of their intent to appeal within 30 minutes of receiving the decision they wish to appeal. Appeals must then be submitted to the CMC Directors via email within 3 days of the event. The Chief Director shall inform the competitor of the Board of Director’s decision. The competitor may appeal this decision using the process set forth in NASA CCR section 17.5.
o If the situation must be resolved during an event weekend, all CMC Officials attending that weekend shall meet to decide on the merits of the appeal. The CMC Officials will then vote to support or overturn the decision. This decision may still be appealed to the CMC Board of Directors, via email and within 3 days of the event.
o Decisions of other NASA officials relating to on-course conduct or technical rulings may be appealed using the process set forth in NASA CCR section 17.5.
o ELIGIBLE MANUFACTURERS/MODELS
o Manufacturers:
o Ford Motor Company (Early Ford)
o Eligible Early Ford makes and models:
o 1979-95 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 including 1993-1995 Cobra (1993 and 1995 Cobra R models excluded)
o 1979-86 Mercury Capri 5.0 V8
o 1996-2004 Ford Mustang 4.6 SOHC V8
o 1996-04 Ford Mustang 4.6 DOHC N/A V8*(2000 Cobra R and 2003-2004 Cobra models excluded; 4.6 DOHC may run CMC-2 only)
o IRS cars must replace the IRS with standard Mustang live axle
o Ford Motor Company (Late Ford)
o Eligible Late Ford makes and models:
o 2005+ Ford Mustang GT (CMC-2 only)
o Jan. 2007 Pg 3 CMC Rules 2007.4
o General Motors (Early GM)
o Eligible Early GM makes and models:
o 1982-92 Chevrolet Camaro (all submodels with 5.0L V8 motors eg – RS, Z28 etc)
o 1982-92 Pontiac Firebird (all submodels with 5.0L V8 motors eg Formula, Trans-Am, WS6 etc)
o General Motors (Late GM)
o Eligible Late GM makes and models with 5.7L V8 motors
o 1993-02 Chevrolet Camaro LT-1 or LS-1 (excluding SS; LS-1 CMC-2 only)
o 1993-02 Pontiac (all F-Body models with LT-1 or LS-1 excluding WS6; LS-1 CMC-2 only)
o ALLOWED MODIFICATIONS
o Other than those items specifically allowed by the rules, no other part or component may be modified, removed, or disabled. If there are any "questionable" or "gray" area modifications, the competitor shall contact the CMC Board of Directors for clarification before competition. Replacement parts must be original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or others of equivalent OEM specifications. (i.e. – OEM replacement parts from any retailer are allowed provided they meet OEM specifications and do not offer a performance improvement over the OEM part they replace.)
o SAFETY
o 6.1. Safety Requirements

o All cars and drivers must conform to NASA's Club Codes and Regulations (CCR).
o 6.2. Class Safety
o The Event Director or any CMC Official may exclude any car for any item that is deemed to be unsafe.
o 6.3. Steering Wheel Lock
o The steering wheel lock must be removed.
o 6.4. Air Bags
o Air bags must be disabled while under competition conditions. The air bag need not be removed.
o 6.5. Sunroofs/Moonroofs
o Sunroofs/moonroofs (glass) must be removed and replaced with a sheet metal piece securely covering the opening. A metal sunroof/moonroof may be retained.
o 6.6. Drive Shaft/Torque Arm Safety Loops
o All cars must use a suitable drive shaft safety loop to contain the front/transmission end of the drive shaft in the event of a universal joint failure. Additionally GM cars must use a suitable torque arm safety loop to contain the front/transmission end of the torque arm in the event of torque arm and/or torque arm mount failure. The installation of additional safety loops to contain the rear/differential end of the drive shaft and/or torque arm is not required but is allowed and recommended.
o 6.7. Scattershield
o The installation of a scattershield or explosion-proof bell housing is not required but is allowed and recommended.
o 6.8 Master Switch

o An electrical master switch is required. The installation of the electrical master switch must meet the requirements listed in section 15.8 of the CCR.
o 6.9. Fuel Safety Cell
o The installation of a fuel safety cell meeting CCR requirements is not required but is allowed and strongly recommended. The fuel cell maximum size is limited to 24 gallons.
o Jan. 2007 Pg 4 CMC Rules 2007.4
o 6.10. Fire Extinguisher/Fire System
o All cars must have at minimum a fire extinguisher meeting CCR requirements. The installation of an on board fire system meeting the CCR requirements is not required but is strongly recommended.
o 6.11. Convertible/T-top Cars
o Convertible/T-top cars in the eligible models and years are allowed. Convertible/T-top cars must have an additional support bar in the roof of the roll cage running from front to back located in the centerline of the car. Convertible/T-top cars must use driver arm restraints as required by the CCR. Convertible cars must run with the top down during competition and provide suitable means of securing the top in the event of a rollover, or may remove the top and operating mechanism. T-top cars must remove the T-tops during competition unless permanently fixed panels have been installed. All OEM structural additions for convertible/T-top cars must remain in place. Hard top cars may not be made into convertible or T-top cars.
o 6.12. Door Safety Bars
o In addition to meeting all of the CCR specifications the roll cage in a CMC car must meet the following additional specifications. At a minimum at least two door safety bars must be used on the drivers side, and one door safety bar on the passenger side. The door window glass, window operating mechanism, armrest, map pockets, door panel, and inside door latch may be removed from both doors. The outside door latch mechanism may not be removed or modified. The trimming or removal of the inner door panel (metal) structure and/or the removal of the OEM side impact beam is only allowed on the driver’s side if the roll cage incorporates at least two National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) style door safety bars, which must extend to the outer door skin, and on the passenger’s side if the roll cage incorporates at least two door safety bars.
o RULES / PROCEDURES
o 7.1. Data Acquisition Systems
o Data acquisition is unrestricted. Telemetry is not allowed.
o 7.2. Radio Communication
o Radio communications devices are allowed.
o 7.3. Non-compliance/Cheating
o Cheating and non-compliance will not be welcome and will receive harsh penalties. At first offense, there will be a two-race disqualification for the previous two races. At second offense, there will be a loss of half of the season points, a two-race suspension, and disqualification from the race. At the third offense, there will be a loss of all season points, a four-race suspension and a mandatory order to return all prizes, prize money, and trophies from the current season. The fourth offense will result in permanent ejection from the series.
o After the third offense, the driver will be placed on probation for two years. While on probation, the driver's prizes will be withheld until the end of each season. If a driver completes a two-year probation period successfully, he/she will be reinstated. In all cases, a disqualification or suspension will result in zero points. Races resulting in disqualification or missed as a result of a suspension cannot be dropped form the annual points total.
o The CMC Chief Director after consulting with the CMC Board of Directors has the discretion to reduce any penalties if there was no bad faith on the part of the competitor.
o Jan. 2007 Pg 5 CMC Rules 2007.4
o 7.4. Non-conforming Equipment
o Any equipment that does not conform to the rules must have prior approval by the CMC Board of Directors. For consideration, approval must be made, in writing, 30 days prior to the date of competition. It is the intention of this class not to allow any modifications that would increase the cost of competition.
o 7.5. New Drivers/New Model Cars
o The CMC Chief Director may allow a new competitor or competitor in a new model car to enter as a “Fun Run” for a maximum of two CMC event weekends with a car not in complete compliance with CMC Rules. Competitors with non-compliant cars may not collect points.
o 7.6. Impound
o The top four finishing drivers and cars must proceed to impound immediately after each race. Failing to do so may result in penalties being imposed on the driver. It is the driver's responsibility to report to impound with the vehicle. The vehicle's logbook must be in the car and ready to present to any Impound Officials.
o 7.6.1 Weighing procedures
o Unless prior arrangements are made, the scales located in the impound area shall be the official scales. If no scales are setup in the impound area, an alternate set of scales shall be made available. If a vehicle is found to be underweight, it may be reweighed immediately. The greater measurement shall be the final measurement. It is the competitor’s responsibility to know the weight of their vehicle.
o 7.7. Classification, Power and Weight, and Inspection / Testing

o 7.7.1 Classification
o Vehicles competing in the CMC series must declare their participation in one of the two CMC series classes, CMC or CMC-2, and comply with the tables below. Points and any eligible prizes will be awarded separately for these two classes.
...and so on.
.................

Kidding aside...we only spent ~10 minutes on your new CMC car at TWS and I realize we concentrated/discussed only a few things. If you make it out to MSRH, we can do a more extensive look/see for you in preparation for your California trek and note the areas of the rules we inspected in your logbook, if you'd like.

-=- Todd

[j3ffbrooks]

Jeff,
Here's the CMC checklist.
Read each box and check that your car is compliant.
Once completed, sign the bottom and present it to a series director.
We can spot check a few of the checked boxes to verify them for you at the next event.

You proved my point.

So, I guess the answer to all my questions is "no" from the lack direct response.

I'm only trying to promote a more focused approach to Series Tech Inspections as it doesn't seem that there is a formal approach to it.

JB

[mitchntx]

You know, Jeff ... I would have expected more from a series director.

[Todd Covini]

Jeff,
Here's the CMC checklist.
Read each box and check that your car is compliant.
Once completed, sign the bottom and present it to a series director.
We can spot check a few of the checked boxes to verify them for you at the next event.

You proved my point.

So, I guess the answer to all my questions is "no" from the lack direct response.

I'm only trying to promote a more focused approach to Series Tech Inspections as it doesn't seem that there is a formal approach to it.

JB

I'm all ears. Let us know more of what you envision in way of series inspections.

You might be surprised at the formal approach already taken behind the scenes, but if y'all want to tighten things up another notch and have mandatory series inspections on Saturday mornings before heading out on track or some process variation there of....I'm all ears!

-=- Todd