We had a great season with cars showing up in record numbers, so it’s only fitting to talk about tech inspections, since everyone has to go through them. There are a few items I will mention briefly, and at the end of the article you’ll find the Safety Inspection.

First and foremost, the tech inspection is a safety inspection. All cars go through tech in order to ensure a safe event for everyone involved.

In case we do find a non-compliance we’ll usually try to help by giving advice or finding someone who might be able to help you out, so you can compete in the event. The last thing we want to do is turn you away.

At times we’ll give a driver a notice of a non-compliance, which might be band-aided for that day’s event. We’ll tell you to fix the problem before the next event. If you show up at the next event with the same problem we will not be able to let you run.

The tech inspection is not designed to classify cars or to assure that cars are in compliance with class rules. (For example, if you run in street prepared and show up without a back seat, you can still pass the tech inspection.) If you’re not sure what class you should be in please check at the trailer. Time permitting we’ll help out with that information.

Please pre-register online before arriving. The order is this:
1. Find a parking spot and empty your car (including driver’s floor mat if not pinned down)
2. Go through tech.
3. Sign-in at the trailer. This is where you pay (if you didn’t pre-pay online) and get your worker assignment.

This sequence, if followed, will provide a smooth and painless trip through registration and tech.

As promised, following is an outline of the Safety Inspection. This list should help to prepare for the event and the tech inspection. It is my hope that everyone who takes the time to come out to the events will pass tech with flying colors and have an awesome time out on the course.

So be ready and be safe; see you at the next event!

Safety Rules

1. All loose items, inside and outside the car, must be removed. Passenger’s seat back and squab shall be secured.
2. Snap-on hubcaps, detachable fender skirts, and trim rings must be removed.
3. Wheels must be safely affixed. They shall not be reversed so that the lughole taper does not mate with the chamfer of the lugs. All studs and lug nuts, or wheel bolts, must be present and functional.
4. Tires must be in good condition, with no cord or belts showing or cracks in the tread or sidewall.
5. Seat belts must be properly installed with attaching hardware secure and tight.
6. No excessive fuel, oil, water or brake fluid leaks should be observed while the engine is running. For all Prepared and Modified Category vehicles, engine crankcase and radiator overflow/breather lines must terminate in containers of at least one quart capacity. These containers cannot be vented into the driver/passenger compartment. All Prepared and Modified Category vehicles must be equipped with an engine oil vent tank, and an engine coolant vent tank, if coolant is used. Vent tanks are not required with systems which are completely closed, i.e. have no venting to the atmosphere.
7. Steering “spinner” knobs shall not be permitted.
8. No broken or missing spokes or more than one loose spoke per wheel shall be permitted in wire wheels. No cracks shall be permitted in disc or cast wheels.
9. Brakes must have an adequate pedal, sufficient fluid in the master cylinder and no apparent hydraulic leaks under pressure. Vehicles must have a brake mechanism acting upon each wheel. Karts are exempt this requirement.
10. All swing axle cars, except Porsche, must have a camber compensator, or negative camber on the rear wheels, or have axle-limiting straps. Stock pre-1967 Volkswagen straps are not sufficient.
11. Wheel bearings, shocks, steering, and suspension shall be in good operating condition.
12. Exhaust must exit behind driver or to the side of the car.
13. On-board starters shall be provided.
14. Any wet-cell battery moved from the manufacturer’s original location shall be in a non-conductive marine-type container or equivalent, and the hot terminal shall be insulated. All batteries (on board power supplies) shall be attached securely to the frame or chassis structure independent of the marine-type container. NOTE: This will allow the use of gel cell batteries without a non-conductive marine-type container where applicable.
15. Roll bars, if installed must meet the applicable portions of Section 3.3.2 and Appendix C, with specific attention to roll bar height.
16. Update: Helmets for all occupants of the vehicle are to be inspected for condition, fit, and have at least a Snell 2010 rating. Loaner helmets are available to vehicle occupants not having their own.