Hey guys,
What exactly goes into a scca sanctioned autocross tech inspection. In other words what should I look at before attempting to go to a autocross? The obvious would be decent tires, tight lug nuts, do they check the same thing as a state safety inspection?
Check this thread out.
http://www.scsportscar.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=1939&forum=3
It covers some of the problems we see at tech regularly.
No loose items in car ~ secure battery ~ firm brake pedal ~ good throttle spring action ~ tires in good condition and tight lug nuts ~ overall drivable condition, etc.
I wonder how my neon will do. Part of the battery tray is cracked.
neon4891 wrote: I wonder how my neon will do. Part of the battery tray is cracked.
Battery rock when you try to wiggle it by hand? Problem. Battery no wiggle, no problem.
Don't forget seat-belts too. Also, they might make you remove your floor mats.
Tommy Suddard wrote: Don't forget seat-belts too. Also, they might make you remove your floor mats.
When I did tech I'd definitely make you remove floor mats.
Also wheel bearings. During tech we'd basically grab the wheel and give a shake, if something feels amiss we'll invesitgate further.
Tech inspectors aren't there to bust your chops, I "fired" one of my tech helpers who got that kind of attitude, but we are there to make sure you are safe. A good tech will work with you to try to address any issues and make sure you are safe.
I m Chief of Tech for the NE PA region of the SCCA and by combining all of the preceding posts, you now know what will be checked. A car can also fail for cracked windshield and window glass and (technically) for too much rust, especially if the rust is considered to be a structural issue.
Basically, if something in the car isn't bolted or tied down, it must be removed. If there are obvious leaks, a car can fail. How much leakage depends on the tech inspector. It is a judgement call. Being old and have been around British cars in my lifetime, I use a Brit standard. If the oil stain is no worse than that of an MGB, you are ok.
Also, a good tech inspector will attempt to suggest remedies to any issues. The goal here is promote a reasonably safe experience, not to flaunt one's authority.
Moparman wrote: Also, a good tech inspector will attempt to suggest remedies to any issues. The goal here is promote a reasonably safe experience, not to flaunt one's authority.
Most of us will even loan you the tools, even the parts if we have 'em! 
I run SCR-SCCA autocross tech (bow before me, mere mortals! 
) and the only real hard and fast rule I have is that no one in tech is allowed to class a car. That's between the driver and T&S. Other stuff, I expect common sense to rule.
As far as not passing tech: Loose batteries are the #1 tech fail item. It amazes me the number of people with a 40 pound battery full of sulfuric acid that's held in by gravity and the cables. I have seen them with gouges in the case from spinning engine components. 
Otherwise, the usual as mentioned above: there should be no loose objects, (subwoofer boxes are the #1 culprit here) tires not corded, wheel bearings and suspension not sloppy. On that, you have to be careful: Ford and GM 'C clip' axles have some movement and 'click' when the rear wheels are shaken and that's normal (there's that 'common sense' thing again). Tech also specifies a throttle return spring test but if the car is drive by wire, that's sorta tough to do.
Also we have a sound requirement, the actual sound test is not done at tech. So far the subject of excessive noise has not come up but if we think it's too loud we will let the driver know that it is possible he could fail sound test on the first run and to be prepared to shut it up if needed.
If something doesn't pass, we let the driver know and tell him that once it's corrected bring it back and we'll complete tech (assuming it's fixed properly).
^ I do the same with Indy Region Tech. We even give them directions to the nearest open parts store.
Gearhead_42 wrote:Moparman wrote: Also, a good tech inspector will attempt to suggest remedies to any issues. The goal here is promote a reasonably safe experience, not to flaunt one's authority.Most of us will even loan you the tools, even the parts if we have 'em!
I have done that many times, as have the majority of competitors whom I know. Autocrossers are, by and large, a helpful and friendly group
hee hheeee... he said nuts.
Leave all your crap at home.
Leave the floor mats at home.
Has anyone else seen "Hot Rod Girl" (1956)? Pre-Rifleman Chuck Connors plays a cop who sponsors drag racing, to stop street racing. One hotshoe is talked into coming to the track, then tech rips his car. So much for him racing legally. Yeah, he's a jerk in an unsafe car. Now, he's a jerk with an attitude in an unsafe car on the street. I'm glad to hear that many tech inspectors are trying to help prevent incidents by solving problems, versus riding the safety high horse.
NUMBERS! CAN'T GO THROUGH TECH WITHOUT NUMBERS! (It's an ATL thing, y0.)
poopshovel wrote: NUMBERS! CAN'T GO THROUGH TECH WITHOUT NUMBERS!
Word. And don't put your numbers on using black tape on a dark blue car, or masking tape on a white one. If the average person can't make them out, T&S is going to take you out of the grid..
A couple years ago we had a guy with a black Corvair who FREAKED at the idea of white painters' tape numbers (we no longer allow shoe polish). So he borrowed several sheets of paper from the printer, put his numbers on those in black...
...and then taped THAT to the car with painters' tape. What EVAR.
I'd like to try autocrossing this year - One question though... I've got subwoofers that I'd remove before going - but what should I do with the wiring going into the trunk?
If I just pull the inline fuse on the power cable - can i just leave it dangling around in the trunk or would I have to tape it down / remove it altogether?
Actually, in NE PA, yiu do not need numbers on your car. At registation you will begiven a registration sheet whick you will take to a visible place on the driver's side of your vehicle. The sheet contains your class, number for the event, and boxes for the Chief of Workers and Chief of Tech to have signed. No signiature, no run.
Yavuz wrote: If I just pull the inline fuse on the power cable - can i just leave it dangling around in the trunk or would I have to tape it down / remove it altogether?
Pop the fuse, then either just tuck it under the carpet or (better yet) grab some of those velcro zip-ties (you'll see what I mean, like a reuseable tie, but cloth) and bundle/ tie them down neatly.
Moparman wrote: Actually, in NE PA, yiu do not need numbers on your car.
No (required) numbers here in CPR either... we give you a tag for the window with a car number on it at registration that we ask you to put either in a window or on the quarter panel for ID purposes...
Must be a Pennsyltucky thing!
Speaking for me, I wouldn't get all worried about subwoofer wiring in the trunk. Pulling the fuse and taping it down would be fine with me unless there was something that could hurt someone etc. like maybe one of those big heavy brass terminals and no bulkhead, like in a hatchback. In that case, I'd ask that the cable be zip tied or etc to prevent it from flailing around.
We use the barcode stickers for scoring and there's no way to get a barcode without going to T&S. The sticker goes on the left side of the windshield or on the left side of the drivers' helmet and after the car passes tech the inspector puts his/her initials on it in Sharpie. I randomly pick a Sharpie color that morning and it's never black. If a car comes to the start with no initials, they don't run until the car is teched.
Oh man, I would love to go bar code... I get shot down every time I suggest an upgrade!
Barcode is teh shi*z. 
We used to not see results on the SCR-SCCA Website for a week, now if the chair's in a good mood it's posted before we get home. Schweet.
We went barcode with SETRA to score enduros and hare scrambles in 2003, I don't see how we were ever able to get it done before. The really cool thing: when your helmet got scanned, a display about 30 feet out would tell you your position in class, last lap time and most important of all how far you were behind the next guy in your class. First time I saw that I had no idea that I was only 2.7 seconds behind my nearest competitor. I went berserk trying to catch him. Did it, too.
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