HPDE Punch List

#1

I am driving in HPDE at RRR this weekend and am trying to get my e30 ready. I have a few points about pre-tech I want to clear up.

  1. Do I have to get my car inspected at a NASA certified Pre-tech location?
  2. What do I do about a "coolant overflow tank"? is this the same as the regular OEM tank?
  3. Am I OK with the OEM battery tie down? Do I need to have terminal covers?
#2

For HPDE you print off and do the pre-tech form yourself. It does not have to be done at a shop, that is for race cars only.

The stock expansion bottle is fine, but if you can somehow put the drain hose into something to catch any overflow even temporarily it would be a good plan. Right now it just dumps fluid onto the ground. A soda can zip tied in somewhere would probably do the trick.

Stock battery tie down is adequate provided it holds the battery firmly in place. Cover the terminals with some duct tape and you’re good to go.
B)

#3

4bimmers wrote:

[quote]I am driving in HPDE at RRR this weekend and am trying to get my e30 ready. I have a few points about pre-tech I want to clear up.

  1. Do I have to get my car inspected at a NASA certified Pre-tech location?
  2. What do I do about a "coolant overflow tank"? is this the same as the regular OEM tank?
  3. Am I OK with the OEM battery tie down? Do I need to have terminal covers?[/quote]
    1 = no. You need to do the in advance but you can do it yourself.

2 = you need a catch can(for racing…)the coolant overflow in an E30 is that little rubber hose that comes off the expansion tank below the cap. The end just empties to the ground thru a hole in the fenderwell

3 = yes, and you need to cover the + terminal.

What level HPDE?

#4

I don’t know what region you’re in, 4bimmers, but check to make sure that your region allows self-tech as described above. In the Rocky Mountain region it needs to be done by a ‘certified’ shop (for free) or at the track (possibly a charge, and you risk something needing to be done delaying your track time).
I don’t think I’d like to instruct in a car self-tech’d by an HPDE1 novice …
cheers,
bruce

#5

You pre-tech your car, but then it goes through a real tech at the track. And yes, make sure the positive terminal is covered. I failed inspection at CMP for that little oversight.

#6

OH/IN is the same - you pre-tech the car yourself, and then it gets looked over at the track.

If you can go the night before at the track or the "official" hotel and get tech-ed, it can help. With these old cars, things sometimes are noticed by the inspector that you may have overlooked - or they might want it done a little better.

I have been initially failed for wiper blades - and twice for the battery hold-down. I can tell you that the factory one is not kosher in these here parts. And the late night Autozone/walmart soultion I had that got me through tech twice before with both NASA and BMW CCA was found inadequate by NASA tech last month at mid-ohio. (shrug?)

Having the night before to make last minute unexpected fixes is a good thing to avoid losing track time.