A Few Friendly Reccomendations

[Greg_Williams]

Just want to thank everyone who turned out at HPT this weekend.  All of the racers coped with the challenging weather on Sunday. 

Based on what I've seen helping out in Tech I want to reiterate some requests that I've made to a few riders.

1 - Please do NOT use safety pins for drain plugs or oil filters (I'm ashamed to have to even bring this up). 
2 - I would strongly reccomend using a hose clamp and safety wire on your oil filter rather than using the nut on the end of the K&N oil filter.  In addition to be FAR more secure it's a lot move convenient when you change the filter as you don't have to cut the wire.
3 - Please wire everything to pull tight, not loose.
4 - If your water pump has a drain plug, please wire it.
5 - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, as a favor to your fellow racers remove your lower before coming through tech.  We find that crawling around peering into the bodywork just delays tech for everyone behind you and on race day mornings there's little enough time as it is.  We need to see more than just that you have wire on the drain plug or oil filter, we also have to verify that it is wired in the correct direction.

I would also strongly suggest that you wire more than the rulebook requires.  We had a rider this past weekend have a brake caliper come off in turn 6. 

I know that a lot of times it seems like the tech requirements are a pain in the ass but they really do protect both you and your fellow racers.

Thanks,
Greg

[R1Racer99]

That happened to a CRA racer in practice a couple weeks ago. As someone who has lost front brakes and could have been seriously injured, I don't know why anyone wouldn't wire those bolts or why it's not required by CCS. Wire caliper bolts and tighten or wire pad pins frequently, it can be very ugly if you don't.

[red900]

Good info!!!

Also, if i may add...  make sure to use the proper yellow on your yellow plate..

[Noidly1]

Not to be a pain but, I believe we should adopt some of WERA's requirements.
When I started, back in '90, I was running in WERA and had too wire almost everything.
I don't think "Everything" is neccesary but, ALL of the Important things are.

If it is in question, or you think "Ehh", WIRE IT...

It may be an "Inconveinience" to you but, it could cost someone their, or your, life.
Think about it.

Good info!!!

Also, if i may add...  make sure to use the proper yellow on your yellow plate..

Also use the proper white on your white plate too...


Hey Greg, where's my $100.00???

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Good info!!!

Also, if i may add...  make sure to use the proper yellow on your yellow plate..

Problem is what IS the correct proper yellow?

[LJ Ken]

Based on what I've seen helping out in Tech I want to reiterate some requests that I've made to a few riders.

5 - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, as a favor to your fellow racers remove your lower before coming through tech.  We find that crawling around peering into the bodywork just delays tech for everyone behind you and on race day mornings there's little enough time as it is.  We need to see more than just that you have wire on the drain plug or oil filter, we also have to verify that it is wired in the correct direction.

My thoughts exactly Greg.  I was discussing this same issue with someone in the pits on Fri. or Sat. night and he was surprised to hear me say that the belly pans need to be removed prior to coming to tech.  He thought it only applied to certain year GSXR's and later (ex. - '03 and newer).  I told him that this used to be the case, but was changed to a blanket rule a year or two later.

Also - COME TO TECH WITH YOUR PERSONAL GEAR!  It's in the rulebook, and it makes life harder for the tech's and your fellow racers waiting in line when the tech's constantly have to stop what they're doing to check the gear of the someone who was allowed to get their bike inspected, then go back to their pits and get their stuff.  It messes up the flow of things and the whole process takes longer than it should - which means everyone has to wait longer, including you.

I heard lots of people say Thursday evening that they didnt have someone to carry their gear or dont have a cart to put it in.  Whatever happened to wearing your gear to tech?  This was S.O.P. for everyone when I started racing in '05, what changed?  Please don't say "It's too hot!"  Most of the weekend is spent sweating in the pits, waiting for the next race or wrenching on the bike. It's a lame excuse for a racer.  Besides, 90% of our TD participants here can figure out that this is the easy way to get through tech....  and they usually arent racers.

And to back up my statements....
2009 Rulebook, Page 29, Section 5 "Equipment Standards", Second paragraph,
"Motorcycles and Rider Equipment must be brought to Tech in a race-ready condition. The only exception is that enough body work must be removed for the drain plugs to be visible to the Tech Inspector.  In cases where securing by other approved means is applicable, the Tech Inspector will have final approval."


Ok - getting off the soapbox now.....

[Xian_13]

Guess it is time for me to speak up.

I am all for the lowers being removed, to help with inspection.
Gear should be brought to tech also...

But give me a freaking brake if you expect me to bring it all at once.
In fact, setup up your tech inspection so people DO NOT need to bring it all at one.

I think it is stupid, to think anyone should try and juggle their bike, gear and a unattached lower.
All it takes is one dropped helmet, to realized how bad of an idea that is.

Not all of us have help in the pits.
If tech is so important, maybe have a list for the tech inspector to review.
This way they can avoid having to ask each other questions about what is acceptable. (slowing down the line)

Maybe a separate line for gear and Lowers.
So the tech guys can save the comments like "wheres your lower".


XIII

[tstruyk]

2009 Rulebook, Page 29, Section 5 "Equipment Standards", Second paragraph,
"Motorcycles and Rider Equipment must be brought to Tech in a race-ready condition. The only exception is that enough body work must be removed for the drain plugs to be visible to the Tech Inspector.  In cases where securing by other approved means is applicable, the Tech Inspector will have final approval."

yeah that was me 

whats up Ken! 

Just to back up my statements...

If no bodywork needs to be removed for the drain plugs to be visable, wouldnt you agree that the belly pan does not need to be removed?  I know my R6 doesnt take more than the tech inspector taking a knee to see it, vs bending over really far... My SV I can darn near see from a standing postion.

Not trying to be difficult, but the process of pulling a lower and juggling it to tech seems kinda over kill, I'm with X on that one... IF they need to be pulled.

If it really is in the interest of saving time, Imagine if we had tech to WERA standards... how long would tech take then?  They seem to get it done. 

timmay

[truckstop]

I'm cool with removing the lower, and bringing all the gear, but I disagree with having to bring it all at once. I have two bikes to bring through tech while also trying to make it to Group 1 practice which usually ends up being missed.

Taking the belly pan off and bringing it unfortunately means having to push the bike there. Pushing two bikes to tech and back, in hot humid weather kind of sucks. It would be nice to have a system in place so that it's ok to make more than one trip if you have to. We try to help each other, but I can see it being a real drag if you're there completely solo.

That all said - everyone should be prepared when they get to tech, and if not, they should be skipped over until they have everything in order. It's good to have the reminders.

[R1Racer99]

My lower is hard to keep on the bike even while pushing it, so walking across the paddock with it and then add in the gear, it's a real pain so I usually make two trips.

It would be cool if you could get a permanent approval for your lower, it's not like it changes in between rounds, all it has to do is hold liquid. I guess contingeny stickers would affect it though. Maybe one run through without the lower and gear and then a second pass through before you go on the track to check your lower and contingency stickers.

It would be nice to be able to get permanent approval of your gear too, does it really make sense to check the same stuff 5 or 10 times a year when you know it's totally legal?

[truckstop]

They look at gear for damage too (although I'm not sure how closely it's inspected. usually the helmet is just checked for a number.) Perma-checks on gear doesn't work 'cos what happens if you fall down in it? Lots of peeps do trackdays between races. What if you gain 50 pounds and buy new leathers or your head grows 2 inches and you need a new helmet?

Same thing for the bike. Say you fall down or damage it or get something new or decide you think you like purple better than red and repaint? I don't expect CCS to be able to keep track of all that.

[R1Racer99]

Yeah, that makes sense and I'm sure there is reasons they don't do it, just throwing it out there.