Tech

[SR Racing]

But frankly you bring up another very good point which I would like our class to work on. Very few of the tech personel within SCCA are FV literate. I submit that we should undertake a program to get FV specific technical information distributed to the tech people throughout the country. This could/should consist of basic information (pictures and/or samples) of what to look for on our cars. We now have people both on the BOD and the CRB who are amoung the most knowledgeable in our class that might be able to put something like this together. I haven't spoken with any of them about this, but wouldn't this be something to push for?
SteveO

Excellent point Steve.

We had considered this in FST and may still do so. The tech guys are volunteers and I don't demean them in any way for not staying up late at night to study the GCR on every class. Most only check to see that the wheels aren't falling off, the battery cable is taped over and the rain light / kill switch works. We (FV drivers) know that as far as safety goes these things are probably pretty low on the list of failure causing incidents. Something like an assignee for each event from a class, might be an idea. Or as you suggest better documentation per class. Obviously this would only probably pertain to safety/reliabilty issues since performance items in the event of a protest are handled differently. But even that would be helpfull if a FV knowledgable person were available for consultation.

We are the oldest class out there, yet most tech people are not really knowledgable in the FV issues. And with the apparent pressures of getting volunteers it won't get better.

[FV80]

I think this idea has merit and am going to propose to my region that we attempt to implement that. I can certainly see 'issues' (privacy) with it, but I still don't see a better solution. It can start with the 'normal' tech people who could call on their 'class tech volunteer' when the situation warrants. In some cases, they would need to have PERMISSION from the subject party to allow the class volunteer to view the offending? part/situation - but it's still a LOT better than nothing .

That person could also serve as a region consultant for newbies interested in the class.
Steve

[billinstuart]

since the Vee community is pretty tight knit, isn't scrutinizing by the club kinda unnecessary? Now it's been a couple years since I was at the track, but we knew pretty much what everyone had since we'd probably worked on it at one time or another. This applies to both safety issues and performance issues.

BTW, I've gotta shallow and 250cc extended sump extension free for some needy owner.

[SR Racing]

In some cases, they would need to have PERMISSION from the subject party to allow the class volunteer to view the offending? part/situation - but it's still a LOT better than nothing .
Steve

I thought of that, but figured none of us have secrets any more....

[Mad Dog Racing]

Not trying to drum up business for SR, but would the FV book be appropriate? Maybe it would only have to be exerps from one or two chapters, not to burden them with the whole thing. Sorry, I have never really seen the F/V book. Finally got the book for F/F, but not the one for F/V yet.

Don't know how far you would want to go, I could probably walk up to almost any vee on a grid and find something if I just wanted to agrivate the driver/owner. Don't see where you would need to talk about generic stuff like washers to retain rod ends, so what would be the vee-specific items? Steering boxes, link pin spindles, zero roll suspension, maybe the air-cooled engine plumbing. Outside that, almost anything I can quickly think of is common to formula cars or all race cars. Oh yeah, drum brakes.

I would really see this as more of a good-will gesture. Giving the tech guys (and gals) a two to four page vee reference guide could help unless they got the idea we didn't think they knew their job. I just don't see the tech guys asking us to pull the wheel bearings so they can look for a crack in the spindle as part of annual tech. But I would understand if they asked me when was the last time I had checked my spindles.

Last week for my annual, the biggest discussion was my suit not being adequate, I needed to get a multi-layer and not rely on the single layer with the SFI patch and new underwear I presented and since my helmet is painted, he inspected the inside of every orifice with a light to see if he could find any overspray so the helmet foam could be declared damaged (there was none, keep em plugged when I paint). This was only the second time in about fifteen years the regular formula car tech guy wasn't there yet to do it and I got the door-slammer tech guy.

[brianmetcalf]

All you guys bring up good points. I was a tech guy and was enamored with the vee class. When I was chief I tried to always do something different with the Vees at every race to get my tech guys and girls more familiar with the rules for the class. For the most part most tech guys unless they are interested in the class skim over the rules and try to be somewhat knowledgeable of the class then move on to the thousand other rules they have to know. I was lucky as I had a GT guy, a Formula guy (me), and an IT guy and we all tried to cover the sports racers. I cannot speak for the other tracks but I know if there was a formula Vee specialist in the tech crew it would make the drivers a little more at ease as they could at least have a “go to” person when they had a question. The specialist would also be the one who would be the determining voice when the class was in impound and going thru tech. This is just my opinion.