Tech Inspection for Monthly Drives

[Cyclon36]

After talking about it for a while, we have decided to enforce a safety inspection of cars before official club drives. Not everyone seems to maintain their cars as well as others and at the same time they wish to follow along with the faster groups on drives. Starting with the next drive, all cars will have to pass a general inspection by an officer.

This won't be like a track inspection and will mostly concentrate on tires and wheels. If your car does not meet certain standards, you will either be assigned to run in the slow group or at the end of the line if there is only one group. If your car is thought to be really unsafe, you will be asked to be a passenger or not participate.

Things that will be checked are tire ratings and sizes. If you're running an all season cheapie like an H rated tire, you will be flagged. If you're tires are not properly staggered or measures have not been made to compensate for a non staggered setup, you will be flagged. If your tires are lacking sufficent tread depth, or in poor condition, you will be flagged. If your tire sizes are too small or do not meet the OEM width for your particular model, you will be flagged.

If you have non functioning lights or safety equipment, you will be asked to ride as a passenger and not drive. If you're tires are showing cords or are bald, you will be asked to ride as a passenger and not drive. If your car is leaking fluids, you will be asked to ride as a passenger or not drive.

Those are the basics for now. Of course, anything else that an officer deams unsafe can be called out on the drive and you may be asked to run in a slower group or as a passenger.

You won't be flagged for an incorrect oil filter, but I can't stress enough to make sure you have a Honda PCX filter and not an aftermarket or regular Honda filter. The PCX filter is made especially for our cars to maintain high oil flow and is not like other Honda filters. Mobil1, Fram, K&N, and whatever other high performance filter you might have tried or thought about, just doesn't cut it and they have also been known to back off the car on track days.

[Doctor T]

I think this has been a long time coming...will definitely go a long way toward preventing something catastrophic...as we all know, even the most conservative drivers can have bad accidents when something unexpected happens...the chances of it happening shoot up dramatically when there are mechanical issues involved as well...

[afwfjustin]

Well stated Joe. I agree whole-heartedly :)

[KatJ]

It's sad that we officers/leaders have to keep harping on safety, smart driving and proper equipment, but because of the fact that not everyone gives it the proper attention, we do.

I hate sounding like the group Mom, and I know Joe hates sounding like the group Dad, but we have too many accidents reported on this board to keep us from taking the subject lightly.

[WebGod]

Excellent idea... :goodjob:

[Johnyboy]

Unfortunately, the most important safety feature cannot be inspected...common sense. Let's all remember that having sticky tires on a well maintained sports car does not a race car driver make.

[suzukasue]

:goodjob: Thank you to the officers of the club for putting this in place!!! :goodjob:

[1QUICK1]

Excellent idea! :goodjob: We should never be in so much of a hurry that we ignore safety.

[F8d2Blk]

Good idear! I know when I first got my car is was bald on the inner side of the tire and I didn't even know.:goodjob: Until I spun out in the rain at the Dragon.:(

[suzukasue]

Good idear! I know when I first got my car is was bald on the inner side of the tire and I didn't even know.:goodjob: Until I spun out in the rain at the Dragon.:(

I remember that!

[F8d2Blk]

I remember that!

Yeah right in front of the Hotel on our way back from rescueing Dr. T.

[suzukasue]

Yeah right in front of the Hotel on our way back from rescueing Dr. T.

Yep, and you did it right in front of me! I had poor Richard in the car with me...and I was totally on edge because I was riding on bald tires too. NEVER again will I do that. NEVER!

[OvErMiNd]

Why would if matter if someone had a good set of h rated tires? We won't be exceeding speeds of 70 or so on the mountain.

[Cyclon36]

Why would if matter if someone had a good set of h rated tires? We won't be exceeding speeds of 70 or so on the mountain.

It's not just the speed rating, it's the grip. H rated tires just don't grip as well. It would be like me trying to hang one of those corners with my millenia. I would be screaching all over the place.

[OvErMiNd]

Oh well, I kept up with you when I had Kuhmo H rated all weathers ;)

They did scream a bit though :D

[Cyclon36]

Oh well, I kept up with you when I had Kuhmo H rated all weathers ;)

They did scream a bit though :D

I know. And chances are I could kill a few people in the millenia :D The idea is that we don't know everybody's driving skill level and we need to have some sort of standardization. You shouldn't be buying H rated tires for your S anyway :p

[OvErMiNd]

^The dealer put them on!!!

I run on toyo t1rs at the moment. A good grip tire, I might add.

Another thing for the list: Make sure everyone has all of their lug nuts!!

[2seaterlover]

Good advise!

[2seaterlover]

:goodjob: Good Advise, Well Said! :goodjob:

[modifry]

I agree completely, and thanks for making this official. I think we have been doing some "self-policing" at prior events but having a Club Standard is much better.

We should have these printed up so it's easy to check them off at the event.

[TylorWeaver]

Things that will be checked are tire ratings and sizes. If you're running an all season cheapie like an H rated tire, you will be flagged. If you're tires are not properly staggered or measures have not been made to compensate for a non staggered setup, you will be flagged. If your tires are lacking sufficent tread depth, or in poor condition, you will be flagged. If your tire sizes are too small or do not meet the OEM width for your particular model, you will be flagged.

:rolf

good point, wish u were at the last drive :D

-Tylor

btw, i love u joe! :)

[Cyclon36]

bump, keep this in mind for tomorrow.

[Grainger49]

So, has things like "all season cheapie like an H rated tire," been the cause of the accidents on the Dragon?

[Cyclon36]

So, has things like "all season cheapie like an H rated tire," been the cause of the accidents on the Dragon?

It was at the SESM two years ago. Those tires just don't grip. Combine that with someone that wants to keep up and you have an accident waiting to happen.

[S2KJD]

hahahaha so many people have the "all season" tires :D This should be interesting :p

[Grainger49]

It was at the SESM two years ago. Those tires just don't grip. Combine that with someone that wants to keep up and you have an accident waiting to happen.
I guess what is contradictory about this is that the stock tires have one of the worst wet traction ratings out there. Most other tires, regardless of speed rating, have better traction in the wet. And some events are in wet weather.

So, in those outings would you disqualify everyone with stock tires?

P.S. I don't have all season H rated tires, just a technical mind.

[Cyclon36]

I guess what is contradictory about this is that the stock tires have one of the worst wet traction ratings out there. Most other tires, regardless of speed rating, have better traction in the wet. And some events are in wet weather.

So, in those outings would you disqualify everyone with stock tires?

P.S. I don't have all season H rated tires, just a technical mind.

True. We usually call events off if it's raining though except for the large events. The stock tires do fairly well though once heated.

[JayKnight]

Fianlly agroup of responsible people. These rules/guidlines are awesome.

I could not have said it any better my self. Well Done

Later !!!
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