Landracing Forum
El Mirage => El Mirage Rules Questions => Topic started by: FADED on March 18, 2010, 04:45:46 PM
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Getting my bike ready for May and I have a million questions. I am going out in May for the first round of tech, my question is what are the main things they are looking at for a motorcycle. I know I will probly fail but I want to be ready as possible. thanks for any advise
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Don't give Tom Evans any back-talk.....most important........be nice to his back Dog........
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That is BLACK DOG.....sorry................
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Do you have a rule book?? What kind of bike?
Fred
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I'm building a 100cc yamaha, I do have a rule book from 2009. It doesnt really get specific on the small things? For example: gas cap? It has a scew on type on the current tank. I'm going to be safety wireing all obvious nuts/bolts. How detailed should I get? Like I said this is just the start and I am a beginer.
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There is no reason to fail tech when you live in the heart of SoCal. If you're not in club call the folks listed in the rule book or the SCTA web site. You can take the bike to them for a pre-inspection. Shouldn't be a big deal.
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You have nothing to fear but fear itself (and Tom Evans! LOL) Just make sure you have everything wired that the rule book calls for and wire anything you think might fall off. Overkill is not a bad thing. Your helmet must be Snell 2000 or better. If you have to go get a new helmet get a Snell 2005. The helmet must have a Snell rating sticker on it. Tom won't take your word on it. Your leathers must be ALL leather. Cloth vents under the arms, crotch, behind the knees aren't allowed. In reality the tech guys aren't a bad lot. If you have problem they will work with you. And remember being in tech is like being a lollipop stick. No matter what you're the fuzzy end.
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COOL thanks a million guys. I do have a club in mind (no comment) as far as the rule book, like I said I have last years, where do I look for the answer to the questions Im askin? All I see is classifications and classes, not really the details?
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Do you have: www.scta-bni.org -> docs -> Tech Inspection Form - Bikes -> http://www.scta-bni.org/pdf/Motorcycle%20Inspection%20form%20back%20side%20April%202009.pdf (http://www.scta-bni.org/pdf/Motorcycle%20Inspection%20form%20back%20side%20April%202009.pdf) ??
Mike
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MIKE, I DO NOW! THANKS THAT EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!
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One more question (for now) brakes in my class do I need front and rear brakes? I was planning on just rear.
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Faded.....
It's all in the rule book but I'll try to summarize and leave it to others to fill in the blanks.
REMEMBER THESE ARE JUST THE HIGH POINTS. READ SECTION 7 (MOTORCYCLE COMPETITION SPECIFICATION). Read all of Section 7A, read all of Section 7B, read all of Section 7C, read all of Section 7D.
Then read the Section 7? that pertains to the specific class you'll be running in.
1- Front and rear axles safety wired as well as the pinch bolts on the front axle. To prevent my rear from being able rotate I safety wired the rear axle to the frame.
2- Steering dampner. (cannot act as a steering stop).
3- Steering Stop must limit the fork side travel to 15 deg. right, 15 deg. left for a total of 30 deg.
4- Ball ends (at least 1/2 inch in dia.) on your brake and clutch lever.
5- Metal valve caps on your valve stems.
6- Tires rated for the speed of the class you'll be running in. (example 100 cc A/G is a 98.510 record at El
Mirage. This means if you run this class you would have to run a tire with an H speed rating even if
you think your bike will run slower).
7- You'll need a current, valid, State drivers license with the motorcycle endorsement.
8- You'll need an engine shut off switch that can be operated with your hands on the handlebars.
9- Ignition kill switch with a lanyard attached to the switch and to the rider.
10- Gas shut off valve that you can operate from the rider can reach while seated on the bike.
11- A self closing throttle.
12- Any glass on the bike (headlight etc.) must be taped over or removed dependig on the class you'll be
in.
13- Mirrors can be removed.
14- Foot pegs, one set only and you must be able to operate the foot controls with your feet on the pegs.
15- Wheels, Must be a minimum dia of 15 inches and cross ventilated by an area equal to 25% of the
mominal rim circle area (no solid front wheels!).
16- Handle bars must be used for steering.
17- Exhaust directed away from the rider and the course surface.
18- Chain guard must be 3/32 inch thick if steel and 1/8 inch thick if aluminum. It must be secured in at least two (2) places. The chain guard must run from the center of the front sprocket to the rear edge of the rear sprocket. The chain guard must be 1-1/2 times the width of the chain.
19- At minumin a rear brake is needed. The brake can be operated from the foot or the handlebars.
20- No front fender is necessary (unless you're runing in the Production class).
21- One piece leathers, or two piece, if they zip all the way around the curcumerance of your waist. Check
out the section of the rule book on leathers carefully to make sure you're okay.
22- Leather gloves....No half fingers or perforation allowed.
23- Leather boots, zipper, lace-up or buckle..at least 8" high.
24- 5 LB. Fire Extinguisher in your tow vehicle.
25- Working CB radio in your tow vehicle.
26- Helmet---Full face with face shield. Helmet must be Snell M2000 certified or better.
27- Number plate..READ THE NEW RULES ON NUMBER PLATES AND NUMBERS IN SECTION 7.B.1
Good luck, see you in May....
Buzz
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from a non bike guy who has been through bike inspection twice---try to pick a class where the inspectors aren't associated with the record :-D lol
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COOL, THANKS AGAIN, SOUND EASIER THAN I WAS EXPECTING.
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WAIT! I need a motorcycle license? I'm not ridin on the street? I do have a expired permit, will that work?
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I got a Calif. MC lic. in '63. Never renewed it. I'm told it's still annotated on my regular license. Don't know how. Maybe somebody does. Maybe you still got one, too.
Stan
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WAIT! I need a motorcycle license? I'm not ridin on the street? I do have a expired permit, will that work?
It's the first rule in the motorcycle section, 7.A.1.
"Landspeed record attempts or Record Trails are open to all SCTA and BNI members in good standing. A current and valid state driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement is required".
A valid license with motorcycle endorsement and being a member of one of the 12 SCTA clubs is mandatory...or so I've been told.
Buzz
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No, you'll need a valid drivers license with a valid motorcycle operator endorsement.
Other stuff -- the tires must be no more than ten years old. If you don't know how to read the manufacturer's date codes I'll help -- but it's a bit of a hassle for a first-timer, so let me know and I'll send you an email (so I don't take up too much room here).
The metal valve stems and caps: Make sure the metal caps have rubber O-rings inside. Yes, we do check for them.
The Snell sticker on the helmet that inspectors look for is inside, not one that's on the outside of the helmet. They're usually hard to find, hidden under the liner. It'll be a shiny lithographed piece about 3/4" tall by about 2" long (or so) - and is usually hard to read because of the poor lighting down there inside the helmet. They'll look for the sticker inside -- you might do well to find it first so you can easily show them.
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I got a Calif. MC lic. in '63. Never renewed it. I'm told it's still annotated on my regular license. Don't know how. Maybe somebody does. Maybe you still got one, too.
Stan
Kiss it goodbye Stan. Its not annotated, attached or in any way stuck to your license. If you ever find that red hot Parilla you had you'll have to do the M/C test all over.
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Gee, Bill, most people thought that was a tire.
Stan
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Put a "Wheel on a Stiiiiick" on you bike.....and as per law, you do not need a M/C endorsement on your operators license....................................
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Faded,
If you want to bring the bike, gear (helmet, gloves, boots, leathers), CB (not hand held), 5 pound fire extinguisher, to Huntington Beach I will inspect it and let you know if you would pass at El Mirage/Bonneville.
You can run as a guest for two meets a year however the cost is more and you are not able to set any records..
If you need any help send me a PM or call me at work 714-369-8879 and we can run you through the process and get you ready for your first event.
As mentioned you are to be in possession of a motorcycle endorsement on your license, let me know if you need any assistance.
John
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Put a "Wheel on a Stiiiiick" on you bike.....and as per law, you do not need a M/C endorsement on your operators license....................................
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Be careful who you listen to, that is not correct for racing at El Mirage.
Inspection is not difficult nor an ordeal.
Contact John Noonan or myself & we'll try to get you straight.
Matt
SCTA Inspector
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I'm pretty sure I may have triggered the motorcycle license issue. If you think getting a normal bike through tech the first time is tough, try taking something that is way different through tech. During tech somehow a motorcycle license came up in conversation. Tom and the other two tech guys looked at me like I just dropped in from outer space when I told them I didn't have one.
I rode street stuff a bazillion miles, raced every type of motorcycles, could still do the drivers test on the rear wheel. (Note 1). I got tired of being aimed at on the street and gave it up.
Oh, and don't forget to read the El Mirage Procedures. You can download it from the SCTA web site.
Note 1: Years ago John Hateley worked for my dad. He was 16 at the time and went on to get national number 98 in AMA. Did a bunch of motorcycle stunt work in the 70's and 80's. When he was 16 he looked like he was 12 and could do ANYTHING you could think of with a motorcycle. He failed his first motorcycle test. Smart Acura that he was he popped a wheely and did the entire test on the rear wheel.
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At ECTA events we do check the driver license of (new to us) competitors to make sure they've got the m/c endorsement. We then will note so on the inspection sheet. Once in a while I randomly ask one of the long-established riders to show me their m/c endorsement, too. There was a time a few years back that I had my driver license suspended - so if I had gone through tech I would have failed, assuming someone had checked. No issue -- didn't race during that time.
So it's wise to have a valid license with m/c endorsement no matter how well you can ride or how long you've been riding -- the rule states that you've gotta have the license.
I remember taking my m/c endorsement test a bunch of years ago, on a borrowed KZ 400 "commuter" bike. I did well enough -- even though I darn near dropped the bike once and didn't stop all that well. Don't sweat the test too much (or come to Michigan to take it).
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YOU GUYS ARE AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOHN, MATT, I'm sure I'll be in touch!
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Lance,
Good talking with you and good luck ! ! !
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John Hateley
Dean,
There is a name I have not heard in ages. When I first started going to El Mirage in 1980 John's Dad (Jack) ran a Roadster with a 4 banger in it. In typical motorcycle fashion he ran a megaphone on the exhaust for the collector. I wonder if John still has his Dad's Roadster.
Tom G.
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Lance,
Good talking with you and good luck ! ! !
JOHN, THANK YOU! If everyone in this hobby is as great as John and this website I should have alot of fun!
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Odd. Is SCTA the only org that requires a motorcycle street license for off-road racing?
There are a lot of very experienced motorcycle racers who don't street ride. While I've held the motorcycle endorsement since 1975, and have a few hundred k miles on the street, I don't ride on the street anymore. I can easily see others might only race off-road.
Has there been a history of racers who aren't obeying the rules because they lack the skills required by the DMV (which is riding in circles in a parking lot)? From experience I can tell you that running a motorcycle at 120mph in a desert race is somewhat more complicated than the DMV requires. Heck, they had the whole "railroad crossing" thing wrong for more that a decade.
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Odd. Is SCTA the only org that requires a motorcycle street license for off-road racing!
Pat,
Only a guess, but I would bet it has to due more with trying to eliminate Liability issues and lawyers.
Or better known as covering your a*s. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Tom G.
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Here we go AGAIN........"insurance will not allow it" ........................................................................
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:-D :cheers:
I'm trying to ween myself off of pot-stirring... :evil:
Ignore this post.
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Delage -- I thought you were one of us!
Stan
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Put a "Wheel on a Stiiiiick" on you bike.....and as per law, you do not need a M/C endorsement on your operators license....................................
You do in CA Bob. Ask our Guv...
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Hi guys its me again, on the chainguard does it have to be 3-sided or 2? if 2 which side.
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Two. top amd outside.
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PERFECT, THANKS!!!