After Race Tech Inspection at CMP: Pantas is DQed

#1

Catchy title, eh?
Pantas DQed: Not really.

Will finish later…when I can have time to type my 5 words per minute.For now, I’ll keep you in suspense.

RP

#2

I’m still waiting to read specifics re. the new car contact policy and post race inspection that were discussed at the driver’s meeting.

This, of course, is just long range planning. Eventually I’ll have an engine that will complete a race.

#3

Ranger wrote:

[quote]I’m still waiting to read specifics re. the new car contact policy and post race inspection that were discussed at the driver’s meeting.

This, of course, is just long range planning. Eventually I’ll have an engine that will complete a race.[/quote]
And one day pigs will be able to fly…

Sorry, I just could not resist offering that.

#4

Patton wrote:

Do tell…

#5

Dq’d for too slow???

#6

DQ’d because he couldn’t pass the only 944 on the track without a little help from it’s driver.

#7

We drew a number from the hat and Pantas was the lucky guy.At the next event we’ll pull one from the hat at the driver’s meeting, but the name will not be pre-announced.

I’m certain that Pantas was NOT scrambling to tweak his car into spec shape.

Rear Camber: 2.5 and 2.5,toe out 3/4" (ouch)
Front Camber: 3.75 and 3.5 with driver out of the car.
3.5 and 3.75 with driver in the car.
Toe out 1/8"
Sway bar size: 22mm and 19mm
Weight: 2780
Track width: notes are in the truck-later…
Diff breakaway: 45-47 ft-lbs with the “goober wrench on the lug
bolt” technique.

Per section 9.3.13.2 the ballast was not in the front footwell, but rather in the passenger rear footwell. Jim’s busted for non-tech compliance. We noted such in the log book and Jim knows that it needs to be moved, or should someone protest any future finish of his, we would have to uphold the letter of the rules and do a (oooh, don’t say it)DQ.

Engine compartment (air cleaner box, spec exhaust) and other nic-nacks were good.

RA1s on the front
888s on the rear
We have transitional rules for tires, but I’d rather not get into that discussion, as everyone needs time to wear out their 888s.

That’s the report.

Oh yeah, the top three finishers all were over the weight allowance. Expect some weight checks after qualifing and after Sunday’s race in the future. And, whether it be me (with the 241 and 911) or Chuck with his car, the spec administrator’s cars will be in the inspection area for anyone wanting to cross-check things.

Regards, RP

#8

A man’s setup after my own heart. :stuck_out_tongue:

Jim last year after buying a set of tires from Phils Tire Service.

Me: "Hey Jim, how was the car out there with the new tires?"
JP: "A little loose"
Me: "What did you set the air pressure at?"
JP: "Whatever you guys set them at."
Me: "Uh Jim, we set them to 40psi and let you bleed them down"
JP: “Oh.”

I then proceeded to check his pressure for him…

48 PSI front, 55 PSI rear. :blink:

#9

Pantas takes his racing real seriously.
But, dang-it, on a good day it is fun to race with him.

RP

#10

DeVinney, my advice is to sign up at the absolute last minute and avoid the drivers meeting. That should minimize the chances of your name reaching the “Hat of Truth and Embarassment.”

#11

Pantas needs ballast???

We are talking about Jim, right?

#12

TheRedBaron wrote:

Geegar -

Your smack is about as stale as the 888s on your still-wrecked Chariot of Questionable Past Victories (or whatever you call it).

I’m pretty public about the stuff on my car that is illegal - spacers on the steering column and a welded rear shock tower bar are the only ones as far as I know. Now that Tower has joined us, I can protest you both for illegal push-button starts. And I get the bonus “illegal wiper” protest for him. :laugh:

Let he who is without (non-compliance) cast the first (protest). :stuck_out_tongue:

PS - Ballast rule is kind of silly IMHO. There are so darn many things that function as ballast that can be mounted anywhere you want (extra fire bottle, cool suit box, ‘uninterruptible power supply for my camera system’ (aka additional car battery) etc.)

#13

Now that it has been brought up, I have a question about the ballast mounting rules…

SpecE30 Regulations

The “forward of the passenger seat” part seems arguable if there is no passenger seat.
It also seems that the second sentence could be interpreted to say that the rear seat mounting points can be used. This would put the weight well behind the front foot well and essentially in the rear passenger foot well.

Am I reading this wrong, or do the rules need to be clarified?

Matt

#14

Seems clear to me. You’re trying to read what you want the rules to read.

Technically speaking there are no bolt locations for the rear seat, it snaps in.

RP

#15

Matt H. wrote:

[quote]Now that it has been brought up, I have a question about the ballast mounting rules…

SpecE30 Regulations

The “forward of the passenger seat” part seems arguable if there is no passenger seat.
It also seems that the second sentence could be interpreted to say that the rear seat mounting points can be used. This would put the weight well behind the front foot well and essentially in the rear passenger foot well.

Am I reading this wrong, or do the rules need to be clarified?
[/quote]

Reading it wrong. “Passenger” seat strikes me as reasonably clear. If they’d meant “rear” seat, the rules would say it.

But here’s an issue…The rules punish those that have passenger seats for students. The “alternate” location using the passenger seat mounting points put the ballast under the (missing) seat. But if you have a passenger seat that location is ruled out and instead you have to put it in the footwell where it tangles with the student’s feet.

Cars with and without seats should be treated equally for ballast. Both should be allowed to put the weight in the passenger seat location.

#16

I’m not saying up above the fuel tank where the rear seats clip in. The location I’m talking about is the area around the two rear bolts that mount the stock passenger seat. I think this is where Scott is talking about “under the (missing) seat” and I thought this was a fine location until Patton said that Jim had his in the “passenger rear footwell”.

It seems to me that any rear seat passengers essentially have their feet under the front passenger seat. Where is the separating line between “under the (missing) seat” and “passenger rear footwell”?

Note: I don’t care all that much about the decision since I wont be mounting any ballast for at least another year. It has just been one of the rules I’ve been wondering about.

#17

After a month(s) long struggle with the powers-that-be over exhaust systems two years ago,I learned that you cannot make a rule that pleases everyone or fits the bill for each unique car set-up.

I learned that I aren’t no rules maker guy.
I learned that you can’t please everyone.
I learned empathy for the rules guys.
I learned that the racers in the paddock are forgiving.
I learned that, if push comes to shove, the rules is what the rules is.

RP

#18

The rear footwell is flat. Then, looking a little forward, the sheetmetal slopes up under the passenger seat. Once the sheetmetal starts sloping up, I’d say you’re not in the footwell anymore.

#19

Just my .02, but if things like cross and/or left side-right side weight figures are not regulated, why not just concern yourselves with safe weight securement rather than placement?

#20

Per the rules (9.3.13.2) you can place ballast where the passenger seat would mount or forward of that. And the rules (9.3.9.7) allow for a spare tire and a relocated battery (8.16) whose mount doesn’t exceed 6lb.

If you’ve removed the tar from the trunk, additional weight aft is desirable both for corner balance and front to rear balance. Ballast aft of the passenger seat mounts (this case) is illegal. But other “creative” solutions that are within the rules are possible. As are several illegal methods that would be virtually impossible to detect without disassembly of the car.

I’m of the opinion that ballast rules are less than ideal and perhaps even encourage cheating. A better rule, in my opinion, is to simply say that the car must weigh a minimum of 2750lbs and you can put weight where ever you want.