32 replies to this topic

[Noose]

Well since there has been a recent amount of questioning concern tech, I went and pulled this our from the prior Sano and R4 races so it can be a pinned friendly reminder.

I thought I would pass on some somewhat humorous tips on how to get through tech the first time the big Eevents as well as local ones. The busy schedule and format will need everyone's help to make things go smooth. Take no offense to these (unless you thought you were going to really try and get away with them) because they are just really helpful reminders.

Soooo, with that said, here is the Tech Meister's "Top 10 Reasons Why Guys Fail Tech".

1. Rear Clearance: It is all the way from the rear of the car to the motor bracket. Go ahead and run that 29 tooth crown with minimum diameter rears... it doesn't usually work.

2. Body too thin: Yeah, it has to be .007" on the complete side, especially between the wheel arches. The "Spirit Gauge" doesn't lie. Besides one good marshaling job and, trust me, the body is history.

3. Rear Spoiler: One piece. One bend and 1/2 inch from the rear edge of the body. Get all angular and Tech Meister Shears will be on hand to carve those suckers down if necessary. We aren't waiting for you to get in line again.

4. Front grill area: 1/8" on F1s and 1/16" on all others (except Ti22s).

5. Body Height: 1.375" means 1.375". Especially a concern to those running O/S and JK Ti22s and Chevron GTs. You guys raise a red flag for this measurement.

6. Front Track Width: The Cukras Slop is cool but make sure that when we push those fronts outward they still meet the required spec. And oh yeah, your stoppers are part of the width measurement so no Ben Hur Chariot Cutters.

7. Fully Cut-Out Interior Area: We didn't run planes in the '60s and the cockpits were all open. So no cutting them out so just a driver's head sticks out. While you're at it, use at least three different Sharpies on those interiors to at least make them look like a driver.

8. Windows: A tutorial was already given on Ti22 windows. They are clear. Just because JK didn't have the fancy window line doesn't mean it didn't have a window. Those bodies used in GTC that have rear windows must be painted or covered.

9. Guide Flag Showing Up Front: Yeah, so the body you decided to run doesn't cover the guide. Oh well... remount it then. Next time fit the chassis to the body. Those running Red Fox guides usually have a problem in this area.

10. Tape/Lead: Topside. Topside. Topside. Not underneath. It doesn't say underside. Those with fancy stickers proclaiming their companies, their greatness, or something else should remember they better not hang below plane of the main rails.

For those that really don't desire to have a good time, then these will get you home early:

1. Conduct unbecoming a grown adult playing with toy cars.

2. The attempted use of Speed rubber.

3. The attempted use of glue or your spit on the tires before you put your car on the track.

And some other info...

Questions have been posed that I will just answer as follows:

1. No, you will not pass tech by distracting the tech inspector with the Hooter's girl personally delivering a Blue Moon draft to the tech table.

2. Saying "Isn't it close enough" gets you nowhere.

3. Don't even think of asking for the calibration certificate on any tools used for tech. Everyone gets measured with them. You will be asked to provide same when the car is teched with your McDonalds ruler.

4. I'm sorry your kids would not let you on the computer so you could read the 2011 rules or the updates. Remember, the official rules are at the IRRA Website.

5. No, you do not have to thank the tech inspector for passing you through tech. We will thank you for passing because you get it and you want to get to party as quickly as possible.

Some new ones:
No cutting out the rear windows on Chevrons and Lola T70 Coupes.

And last but not least... the now famous plane rule. Simple really. Nothing means zero. Zippo. Nada... can hang below the plane between the front and rear clearance points. Sooo... got yourself some droopy pans out there at the end of your bite bar? Tighten 'em up. Put some little pieces of tape inside the tubing. Works every time.

[Pablo]

Passing Noose tech first time is gratifying.

[Cheater]

It case it isn't obvious from the above post, Pablo doesn't get out much...

[The Number of]

And always remember to buy the tech insurance policy.

[DOCinCanton]

Well, it seems pretty easy... Simply take a legal car to the tech person. After all, everyone should know the rules before they even think about entering.

[Pablo]

Doc,

Two problems.

1) Many people cannot read.
2) Tech at local IRRA races is sometimes less than perfect. Guys like Marty Stanley and Joe Neumeister are few and far between.

[Greg VanPeenen]

The plane rule (other than a drop arm).

Pablo, don't come to Michigan I am not as nice as Noose. I will not force the the tech tool over the rear tires like he does.

[DOCinCanton]

Yea, i know Pablo. Its just that I feel that everyone should know the rules. There's just no excuse. The rules are easy to find and print out as hard copy. When I got into retro racing July of last year, the first thing I did was get a hardcopy of the rules for the car classes that I was going to compete in. Afterall, how am I going to build a scratch built retro chassis without knowing what the rules are. I recall that in some other post, the tech inspector (on Slotblog) said ahead of time that he was going to have a scissors ready to cut the rear spoiler down on those entries that exceded the 0.5" rule. How hard is it to measure 0.5"? I have always teched a legal car (maybe thats why I loose so much ).

[Pablo]

Retro needs more people like Dan and the gentleman from Michigan, Greg VP.

[Noose]

The plane rule (other than a drop arm).

Pablo, don't come to Michigan I am not as nice as Noose. I will not force the the tech tool over the rear tires like he does.

If the tool can get over even pushing a bit then it's not too wide. It also raises a flag that the tire widths may be off.

Interestingly, some guys find that their cars run better a little under as Ron did in Can-Am.


Ah. But th

[Gator Bob]

Is there a minimum hub to hub width?

FCR-NCS rule is a good one:
"The car must fall from the tech tool under its own weight". Clears up any question of how hard the tech tool is pushed on.

[Noose]

OK, the R4 is coming up and yes there are those out there that wonder what is going to be the tech topic of the event. From what I have seen it appears the proverbial "windscreen issue" has once again appeared! Oh my. Yup..this time it seems the ol Lotus 49 or 49B is not getting the proper respect for the driver to actually see out of the cockpit. Imagine that.

So, if you want to know what it is supposed to look like, here is a recent example of one I painted.

[Duffy]

Just my personal observation, but any driver named "Wanker" might not want a whole lot visible from down in that cockpit. Just sayin' is all.

[Pablo]

Duffy, you are killing me

Joe, like the other guy said, I never tire of seeing your work !!!

[Larry Mattingly]

Will the Lotus 49 'pass' tech with a painted windscreen (lot of them out there that way). or must it be clear as pictured?

LM

[Noose]

It has to be clear or tinted but not opaque.

[Lucky Me]

Well, since we are on this subject with the L49 and the "B" version, does the windscreen need to be painted all the way back behind the driver's head ?, Here is an example of a body I did a while back where the windscreen is clear/unpainted back to about the "seatbelt's" on the driver, would this pass tech at the R4 5 ?

[Noose]

Yes that would be allowed and that is a very, very nice paint job.

[Noose]

Ahhh..another one to remind all the good folks coming racing. This was brought to my attention by a fellow "techie".

OPAQUE

Means I can't see through it. The only thing that can be in a tinted state are windscreens such as the front ones on all or the the rear ones on GTC bodies.

Thanks

[Mike Wurn]

Just my personal observation, but any driver named "Wanker" might not want a whole lot visible from down in that cockpit. Just sayin' is all.

Hey Duffy,

LOL.... Wanker is John Austin, AKA Brassrodman. He owns a great track, Lake Barrington Raceway in Barrington Ill. Our next IRRL race is there 27Oct12. He's a great guy, the facility has a nice cafeteria, even serving beer (maybe that's not on your diet) come join us on the 27th or any other time you can make it.

[Duffy]

Hey Duffy, ... Wanker is John Austin, AKA Brassrodman....

Wow, HERE'S a dip into the past! The joke as printed was all that was meant here, no personal snark intended.

Duffy, Retro Shaman sans serif

[Mike Wurn]

I can't answer for John, but I got the joke, didn't think it meant any harm. anyway, we are outside the topic.

[TRM124]

3. Don't even think of asking for the calibration certificate on any tools used for tech. Everyone gets measured with them. You will be asked to provide same when the car is teched with your McDonalds ruler.

.

Noose,

I thought it would be a good idea to get Maximum width to put the rear tires in the Champion gauge and loosen one tire & pull the tires apart
until it was tight. Perfect, right ? Well, the Tech Inspector said it wouldn't fit in his Champion gauge.

So I took my Champion gauge to work, a maching company. They had am Optical Comparison Gauge. The mschine printed out the mesurement
to 0.xxxxxx accuracy.. My gauge was3.25xxxx some number greater than 3.25. So my car was legal, right. It was certified to the National Bureau of Standards.

Well, no, not exactly. You see, it still didn't fit the Tecj Inspectors "Offical" gauge :-) I guess the 0.00xx ?? didn't really matter after all. I still won with the excessive
narrow car :-)

Ted Melton

[Noose]

The tech inspector's gauges are the official ones unless you can prove they are wrong.

[Cap Henry]

I'll say Noose's gauges are on the more generous side of things, possibly from teching hundreds of cars?