Tech Inspector Guidelines

Primary responsibility for safety of vehicle is the owners. We will check, but cannot catch every possible defect, ultimatly the decision to allow a vehicle onto the track will be up to YOU the Safety Inspector.

ALL CARS, regardless of Make, Model or Class entered, will be subject to Safety inspection prior to being allowed on the race track. Race cars with a current annual inspection may present the log book at registration and request waiver of inspection.

We will look under the hood at various and sundry things including the following:

1. Radiator and oil breathers must have catch or "burp" cans to contain overflow. Stock Alfa radiator overflows are perfect unless they have holes. The stock Alfa liquid/vapor separator is perfect as it dumps the oil back into the pan (that is the long hose running around the front of the engine and into the dip stick tube). Porsche oil lines run under the right rear fender and should be checked for oil leaks.
2. At least two throttle return springs are required. One spring on each Weber counts as one spring, not two! Some modern cars will have electronic throttle control and thus NO Springs, be aware of this.
3. Inspect all fuel hose attachment points and clamps. You can generally run a finger under the fitting and smell for gasoline to detect a leak.
4. Check brake fluid for level, discoloration, and obvious leaks. Check brake pedal for feel and ask when brake pads were last inspected by the driver.
5. Inspect electrical wiring, specifically looking for worn or frayed wires and loose connections.
6. Look at the overall condition under the hood. If dirty and obviously poorly maintained, expect to conduct a more detailed inspection. Notify owner to clean engine compartment prior to attending another event, as this is a courtesy to us.
7. Battery will be inspected no matter where located. We WILL examine the battery hold down to make sure the battery stays where it is. The owner WILL BE REQUIRED TO INSULATE THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE with something besides duct tape, even if contained in a marine container (black electrical tape will be accepted). Owners will also be required to open the battery compartment for the above, no matter how hard it is to find and open. This is specifically addressed to those non-Alfa people who have no idea where the battery is located.

We will inspect the exterior, interior and trunk areas for:

1. Seat belts should not show evidence of wear nor of grease stains. Stains and discoloration may indicate imminent failure of the webbing material. If equipped with stock seat belts, all attachments must be in place and retractor mechanism will be tested for smooth operation. No four point racing harnesses allowed, that is, anti submarine straps are required. Racing five point harnesses require a full height roll bar for open cars. Open cars in touring class MAY NOT use five point harnesses and must run with one shoulder harness unfastened. (If the car does not have roll over protection, we do not want driver to be held upright in their seat).
2. Make sure owner has removed all loose items and sources of shrapnel from the interior and trunk. Jacks and spare tires should be removed even if bolted in place. They do not need the weight anyway.
3. A Fire Extinguisher is recommended and, if so equipped, mounts must be of metal and have positive locking quick release mechanisms (no Velcro). Augmenting the quick release buckle with duct tape is acceptable if the tape is turned back on itself to form a pull tab. The extinguisher should be fully charged. On board fire systems not having a gauge should be removed and weighed prior to arrival at the track.
4. We will shake the tires to check wheel bearings and turn the steering wheel to check for excessive play. Unless asked, we will not raise the suspension off the ground. If owner has any questions, suggest they have an alignment shop check their suspension.
5. Hub caps and trim rings must be removed, unless held on by stock lug nuts.
6. We will quickly examine tires for inadequate tread depth exposing cords, weather cracking and other obvious defects. Tires and brakes are the owner's responsibility. Tire pressures are the owner's choice. For DOT 'H' rated or lesser tires, we suggest cold pressures of at least 32psi in all tires.
7. We will ask about, but not check the tightness of wheel lugs, unless requested. The owner should torque them to manufacturers specification, a minimum of 80 foot pounds is suggested.
8. Brakes are the driver's responsibility. Clean DOT brake fluid should be the color of white wine. Dirty brake fluid will be very dark or blackish/brown in color. Dirty brake fluid has an affinity for water and water turns to steam during hard braking and will cause a safety hazard. The owner should bring at least one full set of new brake pads plus a can or two of FRESH brake fluid.
9. Helmets MUST HAVE A SNELL 95 or newer rating; M for Motorcycle is acceptable, but SA for Special Application is preferred. i.e. Snell M-90 is the oldest acceptable helmet. The Snell Foundation issues ratings every five years, thus Snell SA-90 is the latest and preferred rating. SFI rated helmets. These helmets are very similar to the standards of Snell and are rated as the following: Competition Helmets: Helmets meeting SFI Specifications 31.1 (Open Face) and SFI 31.2 (Closed Face) are very similar to the standards of Snell, and are comparable to the Snell "SA" rating. Sportsman Helmets: Helmets meeting SFI Specifications 41.1 (Open Face) and SFI 41.2 (Closed Face) are tested to the same requirements as Competition Helmets, with the exception of flame testing. These helmets are comparable to the Snell "M" rating. DOT and other ratings are for inexpensive helmets and are not acceptable.
10. Driver clothing will be inspected on the grid. Gloves of non-perforated leather or Nomex material are strongly recommended. Again, long sleeve 100% cotton or wool shirt or jacket, jeans, no shorts, leather shoes with socks or boots (no open toe sandals).
11. All open cars require a rollover protection. Roll bars may be required in certain targa roofed cars. We are running under the AROC Competition Code, which does say in Appendix III -Roll Bars---A.2. "The top of the roll bar shall not be below the top of the driver's helmet when the driver is in the normal seating position.". Removable sun roofs should be removed, unless bolted in place. Roll bar height will be checked at tech and observed on track. The roll bar must be of suitable strength and adequately supported fore and/or aft. A more complete description of a minimum roll bar for an Alfa spider follows.