Landracing Forum
Tech Information => Safety => Topic started by: Jack Gifford on July 20, 2019, 01:35:39 AM
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Before I go landspeed racing I'll buy and read the 2019 SCTA rules. In the meantime, I've been going through the lakester with the 2017 book. I'll probably only be doing testing at dragstrips this summer, but I intend to comply with all SCTA safety rules. I've followed the discussions here about arm restraint details. Any other important safety items?
Has the requirement for cockpit interior panels (limbs cannot reach outside the cage) been in the book "forever"? Or was this rule added since 2008? I ask because my lakester (sans interior panels) passed tech at Bonneville in 2008. If I add aluminum panels (.040" thick?) is drilling of cage members (for screws or rivets) forbidden or discouraged?
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Bold print in any rule book indicates updates from the previous edition. You can request past books from the sales site. I recommend this because jumping from 2017 directly to 2019 may lose something in translation.
You may want to consider using Deuz buttons instead of screws or rivets. Unable to know when you need to remove a panel.
DW
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Speaking of panels; I had never had trouble with Dzus fastened .090" aluminum sheet for a belly pan until 2017. It was a new car and at least 80 Dzus fasteners held 18' of belly pan to the chassis. All Dzus wires were adjusted for a tight fit. On the third day, something came loose and the belly pan wadded up and spun the car. To this day, I don't know why all those Dzus buttons did not hold. So, to help ensure things stay put, I now have a 3/16" aluminum plate belly pan and replaced Dzus with about the same number of 1/4-20 stainless flat head bolts screwed into welded nut plates and a jam nut over each one. Not a fast and easy way to remove panels but at least they should stay on the car.
John
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The rule about the inner body panels has been in existence for quite some time. The first inspection for the car my son and I built is dated 2010 the inner body rule existed prior to that. The inner body panels on our car are held in place with screws that thread into tabs welded to the inner surface of the roll cage tubing at a height that allows the panels to sit just below the height of the inner tubing surface so these inner panels do not catch on our fire suit or any other object that might come in contact with the surfaces. I find this is much easier than more Dzus fasteners. Like John posted all of the outer lower panes below the car are held in place with 1/4 -20 hardware which are easy to remove if any of the panels need to be removed.
Ronnieroadster
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Panels come off when they flutter . Flat panels flutter but when the whole panel or the edges are curved they don't . Danny Thompson's conventional aluminum streamliner body stayed on .
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You will also need fire doors.... a special construction requirement in 2017 I think. :cheers:
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Thanks guys.
Yes Bob, I'm all set on fire doors.
I still don't know whether drilling/tapping cage members (8-32 or 10-32) for interior panel attachment is acceptable?
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Thanks guys.
Yes Bob, I'm all set on fire doors.
I still don't know whether drilling/tapping cage members (8-32 or 10-32) for interior panel attachment is acceptable?
Your better off welding small tabs to the inner surface of the tubing for 10/32 screws.
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I agree with not tapping the tubes... any opening invites rust on the inside... put tabs on it.
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What is the accepted arm restraint now?
Ours was the one they decided to ban (for good reason), but I?m not clear on the accepted alternative.
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I'm almost finished adding a pair of interior panels. I'm using strap clamps (like for electrical conduit) to bolt them to the inside of the frame/cage members.