engine sealing for inspection?

[Brian]

Do the SCCA engine rules for Formula Ford include a requirement to drill various external bolt heads to allow sealing wire to be installed in the event of a protest or need to seal the engine for later inspection?

Brian

[Roland V. Johnson]

Nope. When I was chief of tec I would go to an art supply store and buy a few tubes of the most off the wall colors I could find. If a protest was filed, that could not be settled at the track, I would make several paint trails across parting surfaces. I would also put the same paint on the protest form for comparison. I'm sure the system could have been beaten, but it would have taken some work.

[Larry]

Once a mechanical protest has been filed, the car is to be under positive control of either tech or the stewards until such time as the inspection has been completed. We put the car in an enclosed trailer, lock it and then put seals on the doors. If the crew needs to work on the car, we have an inspector present at all times.

If the inspection cannot be performed at the track, the tech/steward must accompany the car 100% through the process until it has been resolved.

...not much fun, but that's why we get the big bucks!

Larry Oliver
International Racing Products

[Brian]

Thanks, that's what I thought. The CASC rules this year include a requirement to drill about 6 bolt heads, including head bolts, so that they can apply seals. Since a subsequent bulletin says that all SCCA eligible engines are CASC legal, the bolt drilling thing essentially got over-written. I wonder if they know?

Brian