If you ever used pump gas for racing....

[Super Dave]

PUMP GAS IS NOT LEGAL UNDER THE CURRENT RULES (in addition all unleaded racing fuels, leaded oxygenated racing fuels, and most leaded racing fuels).

CHANGE THEM.  YOU NEED TO ACT ASAP.  THE RULES GROUP MEETS ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2003.

PLEASE CUT AND PASTE THE INFORMATION BELOW AND FAX, E-MAIL, OR WHATEVER METHOD YOU FEEL WORKS TO KEVIN ELLIOTT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP SERIES OFFICE.

[Super Dave]

FUSA/CCS Fuel Rules Proposal for 2004
 
Current Rules
1.10 Gasoline – A petroleum fuel whose characteristics meet the following standards:
1.10.1 Specific gravity must range between .700-.775 at 60 degrees F.
1.10.2 Dielectric constant must not exceed a reading of +/-0.4 on the HDE
 G-01 Fuel Analyzer.  Meter is calibrated in cyclohexane.
1.10.3 Lubrication or knock suppression additives are permitted provided
the resulting mixture will meet the specific gravity and dielectric requirements.
 
 The fuel rules in their current state make most competitors in FUSA/CCS events illegal.  Section 1.10.1 is not an issue.  Basic parameters for the identification of gasoline relate to this specific gravity requirement.  However, issues related to the tolerable readings on the High Desert Engineering (HDE) Fuel Analyzer, sections 1.10.2 and 1.10.3, are unrealistic to most competitors.  Most competitors would fail these tests from CCS amateurs to FUSA pros.  The parameters are too restrictive and should be changed to reflect the commonly available fuels to competitors.
 
Dielectric constant must not exceed a reading of +/-0.4 on the HDE
G-01 Fuel Analyzer.  Meter is calibrated in cyclohexane.
 
 A dielectric reading of fuel is a measure of signature hydrocarbons and other products in a fuel.  It is not a measure of performance.  
 
Cyclohexane is a product that is used as a constant to create a "zero" starting point for the fuel analyzer.  
 
 Given that each type of gasoline reading may check within +/- 0.4 points based on aging and batch variation, according to the manufacturers of the HDE meter, the only way to potentially ensure that one will compete with a fuel that should be legal, a competitor would have to have a fuel that measures at 0.0 on the meter.  This would limit competitors to these fuels specific fuels by these manufacturers according to the HDE available information on over 150 leaded and unleaded racing fuels and normally available pump gas for street use:
<sum> ERC A-19DX-TA1
<sum> ERC A-19DX3
<sum> ERC DLDR
<sum> Torco Mach 116
<sum> ERC 110DX2
<sum> Citgo 110
<sum> Power Mist T112
<sum> VP 110
<sum> VP C-16
 
If the readings were allowed to vary by +/-0.4, then about thirty fuels would be allowed.  Still, this would only include some uncommon racing fuels by companies like TrackTek, F&L, and others.  There is little likelihood that a fuel pumped from the race tracks containers would be legal.    
 
These rules will still not allow any unleaded racing fuel used by more current production Grand Prix two strokes.  Their combustion chambers have been designed to work with the different burn characteristics of unleadeds rather than leadeds.  Those fuels would measure in the 5.0 to 12.0 range.
 
The biggest problem is that gasoline that is purchased from local stations for use in cars, trucks, motorcycles, and lawn & garden equipment would NOT be legal under these rules.  Those fuels would measure in the 1.3 to 5.0 range.
 
Gasoline of this type is inexpensive and produces reasonable power in current production machines.  Realistically, any competitor that is using street gas straight will be found illegal.  Any mix of a legal racing fuel and pump gas would potentially skew the meters reading to the polar side of illegal.
 
Common oxygenated leaded racing fuels that are regularly used by competitors in amateur and expert CCS events in addition to FUSA events would also be illegal under these rules.  It is very likely that virtually the entire field could be eliminated because of these rules.
 
Lubrication or knock suppression additives are permitted provided
the resulting mixture will meet the specific gravity and dielectric requirements.
 
 Two cycle oils are required in the fuel mixture in some two-cycle motorcycles.  The addition of a two-cycle oil can cause the fuel analyzer meter reading to increase by 0.1 to 2.0 as per information on the HDE site.  Even if a fuel were legal in its regular form, it is conceivable that the rules would eliminate the ability of a necessary lubricant to be added to the fuel.
 
Proposal for New Rules
 
 Sections 1.10.1 & 1.10.4 do not cause any competition problems.  Leave them as they are.  The following changes should allow for competitors to use street gas and the common leaded and unleaded products that are made available and currently used in motorcycle road racing today.
 
Change rule 1.10.2 – Leaded and Unleaded gasoline may be used in competition.  Oxygen
content must not exceed 6%.
 
Change rule 1.10.3 – Lubrication, knock suppression, and oxygenating additives are permitted
provided they do not contain nitrogen bearing additives the resulting mixture will meet the specific gravity and oxygen requirement.

[Jeff]

Maybe if I spent a season protesting everyone in the field to win a championship by "default" the rules would get changed eh?

[Super Dave]

Well, it could happen.  Trick would be...how long before someone does it to you?

But why should it?

[Litespeed]

How would we know if our fuel was legal before protest time?  Will there be a meter available at the track so we can verify our legality?  I highly doubt it, which means you are enforcing a rule that in some cases can't be verified by the rider.  I think it would be simpler to just allow any commercially available fuel and no nitrogen bearing additives.  We would all know what was legal at that point and there would be no second guessing.  (The reason for this response is the fuel I use doesn't advertise the Dieletric constant and I'm not sure what it would change to after mixing in the Castrol A747.)

[Super Dave]

What fuel are you using?  I might be able to tell you a number, or I might be able to tell you if it were legal under the current rules structure.

No, I have never seen a High Desert Engineering tester at the track for motorcycle use.  

Fuel manufacturers and distributors cannot quote a dielectric number because there are many different ways and meters for measuring it.  

And some organizations have different ways of zeroing the equipment.

But, a FUSA/CCS rider could pay the $200 protest fee (I believe that is the fuel protest fee...but I cannot say for sure.  I don't have a rule book in front of me.) and make the officials take a sample to be tested.

My point is this:

The current fuel rules state certain perameters that do not allow most fuels.  Change the rules to reflect racers abilities, and financial ability, to purchase common pump gas and other racing fuels that are commercially available.

[khanson]

Super Dave I'm just going to run straight moonshine in my bike next year ;D

That way I can get loaded off the exhaust fumes.  That stuff is wicked!

[r6_philly]

Super Dave I'm just going to run straight moonshine in my bike next year ;D

That way I can get loaded off the exhaust fumes.  That stuff is wicked!

no the guy behind you will get loaded... so can I start, and run the race behind you?  ;D I love that stuff, I usually get a gallon a year from GA, but this year's consumption has been high, and I am all out  :D

[r6_philly]

well Dave, if they don't change the rules, you can come down to Daytona in the spring and protest everyone's fuel. I will make sure I use a legal fuel, and we can have the purse money all to ourselves...  :P