2009 Runoffs Fuel Rules

[BrianT1]

Can someone please fill me in on the Fuel rules for the 2009 Runoffs. I think it said you have to use track fuel but my question is how is it going to be policed? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

This issue always comes up and as always it is never resolved with any confidence.

Brian Tomasi

[Dave Gomberg]

Yes, track fuel is required at this year's Runoffs. This is covered in the Supps. The test procedures are more varied than those available at other club races. Copies of the testing "manual" for the Runoffs will be available at Tech for those who want the complete details.

The tests include examination for a specific tracer "tag" in the fuel (a laser-based instrument is used for this), specific gravity, color matching and dielectric constant.

The combination of these tests (and others, if necessary) are sufficient to identify fuels that are not the track fuels or those that have been doctored. (And, yes, that includes the addition of C44.)

Dave

[BrianT1]

That sounds great.

Thanks Dave.

[DaveW]

Good to hear! Thanks for asking, Brian! And thanks, Dave, for the answer!

[Drivers Services]

Dave,

Couple recommendations/ideas, especially if we're using and reusing plastic test bottles again.

Dedicate particular bottles to particular fuel types

Discard any bottles that contained a failed sample

Thanks

Yours for the Sport,
Jim Little
Drivers Services

[GP15]

One other suggestion to all competitors, based on what happened to me last year at the Runoffs.

Ever since they mandated 'track fuel' at the Runoffs, I have made it part of my routine to drain the cell, add a gallon or two of fresh track fuel and drain, and then run track fuel for the paid test day and then submit a sample to confirm I got all of the old stuff out.

I did this last year during Sunday's test day.

I ran qualifying on Monday, but did not burn off much fuel due to it being a wet session.
I did top up for my next session and was randomly picked for impound where they drew a sample. I was informed that I was non-complient as I only had approximately 80% of the tracer detected i.e. I still had too much of the old fuel in my cell.

I asked how that could be as I submitted a sample on Sunday and was told it passed the fuel test (I still had the test result slip to prove it).

The response was "Oh...we weren't checking for the tracer on Sunday, just that it passed the regular SCCA fuel test".

Needless to say I was quite livid!
Had I known, I would have drained and flushed the cell a second time before the qualifying sessions began. Lesson learned!

So just a heads up for those submitting a sample prior to offical qualifying begins...make sure you specifically request that they test for the tracer! Probably not a bad idea to have a sample tested before you put it in your cell. I'm still suspicious of the fact that the tracer might not have been fully blended in the tank when I bought fuel for the test day but couldn't prove it. BTW - I always use the track fuel when ever I run, and at Blackhawk, RA, Autobahn, and HPT this was Sunoco 110 leaded, so I wasn't worried about failing the regular test due to different fuel blends reacting in a weird way.

[Marshall Mauney]

The tracer density brings an interesting question to mind. I had been under the impression that if I run fuel from RA in the last race before the Runoffs that I would be OK even without draining the cell. Is this not true?

Is there any chance of having the tracer added to the track tanks before the National at the end of August? If not, can the competitors be told when the tracer will be added so that we can avoid using fuel purchased prior to that ttime?

Also, are we certain that the track fuel at RA is

1) Legal, per the current rules?
2) Free from ethanol (which has reportedly caused problems with FE engines)?

[budawe]

The tracer used is similar to NASCAR's program and will be unique to the Runoff week. Anything bought at RA prior will have to be drained or used up during testing.

[GP15]

I can only relate how the fuel testing was handled last year. I can't speak for this year but assume the procedure will be the same.
Last year they were looking for some minimum percentage of the tracer (I think the number was 90% but I can't remember for sure).

So no, if you had track fuel in your cell without a high enough percentage of the tracer you would not pass. On a 5 gallon cell, you need to get below 0.5 gallons at a minimum to get to that number, despite it being the exact same brand of fuel.

I don't know when the tracer will be added to the fuel tank at the track. Last year I was told it was added before the paid test days, so that it had time to circulate and work thru the lines and the pumps.

At a minimum, you will want to drain your cell, add 1-2 gallons to rinse, drain, and then refill and have a sample drawn to test if you pass, including testing for the percentage of tracer. But you have to request that this test be performed. Don't assume it will be done automatically. This was my mistake last year.

I would try to get above 90% to insure that you have some margin. The optical test unit they used had about a 1% to 2% variation just based on the optical quality of the glass. To the racers benefit, they would rotate the test jar in several positions and use the highest reading. Just to show how close I was, I originally came in at 80%. I had about 4 gallons of mixed fuel in my 8 gallon cell. My fuel cell uses an internal surge tank with trap door baffles and my return line dumps back into this tank. This does a great job of keeping the surge tank full, but doesn't do a good job of circulating the fuel in the cell When I was told I failed the fuel test, I was given permission to jack up the car on one side and run the fuel pump to try and circulate the fuel in the cell to mix it up better. I was also given permission to reached into the cell and push the return line over so it dumped outside of the surge tank, to help mix the fuel. We ran the pump for about 10 minutes and then took another sample. I came in at 84%. We did this again for another 10 minutes and I came in at 85%. We did it one more time and saw no more increase in the percentage.

[Dave Gomberg]

The 98 octane unleaded GTX260 is ethanol free. The 93 octane unleaded fuel does contain some ethanol. See http://www.scca.com/eventitems.aspx?...nt=13506&hub=1

Dave

[Tom Valet]

Thanks for the info Dave.

Would it possible to find out when the tracer is going to be added this year? Will it be added before or after the track sponsored test days the week before the Runoffs? Or will it be added the week of the Runoffs after all the track sponsored test days are over?

Thanks

Tom

[Dave Gomberg]

Sorry, I don't know when the tracer will be added.

Dave

[Marshall Mauney]

Sorry, I don't know when the tracer will be added.

Dave

Dave -

What would the best way be to request that this information be made public? It would seem to be fairly important for those who will be at the track prior to the "official" event days. The supps simply state that we must run track fuel, and do not specify WHEN the fuel must be purchased. I can bet that someone who got DQ'd for running fuel bought at the track during the test day(s) would be fairly upset...

[Hardingfv32]

Do we know for sure that the tracer is added at the track?
Is there a standard for the mixture ratio? Is this verified by anyone during application?
How do we know it mixes well if it is in fact just put into the tank.
Who has possession of the tracer and does the mixing, fuel supplier or SCCA?

Brian

[Dave Gomberg]

The tracer will be in the fuels from the beginning of the test week prior to the start of the Runoffs. There will be no testing available until sometime on Saturday (Sept 19). The exact time is dependent on Tech getting everything set up and testing the track fuels for baseline comparisons.

If you choose to run non-track fuel during the test week, be sure to empty your cell before putting in track fuel to "flush" your system. Last year, we had a competitor fail the test three times before he admitted that he was adding track fuel to whatever had been in the car before. All he was doing was changing the mixture and never getting only track fuel in his cell. Once he drained and refilled, he had no problems.

Dave

[Tom Valet]

Dave,

Thanks for the follow-up on this. Good to hear the tracer will be in the fuel early so that anyone doing the test days hopefully wont have to fill and drain their tank multiple times.

Take care.

Tom