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I am sure most of you have seen the memorandum below from Erick Prill on the CCC report from Homestead. I like the idea of reporting to the class on the details, but i am sure that is the point to keep everyone advised of what is to come.
I have highlighted the only information in this memo that gives me concern. I understand the need in our class for this approach and the use of an CCC. I understand the need for prompt decisions.
I am not saying its a bad idea, i am saying i am not sure.
From a due process perspective i am concerned about giving anyone absolute power with no right of appeal. But we will just have to wait and see how this process works and how it is enforced.
MEMORANDUM
TO: SCCA Spec Miata Participants
FROM: Eric Prill, SCCA Chief Operations Officer
RE: Homestead 2015 Compliance Program
DATE: January 14, 2015
As you all are aware, it's been a somewhat tumultuous time lately in the Spec Miata community. SCCA has worked along with leadership from Mazda and NASA since the Runoffs to ensure a healthy future for the Spec Miata class. We have received considerable input throughout this process, and this has led to some new regulations and a renewed focus on ensuring everyone competing is compliant.
As such, the group has established a new travelling compliance program. SCCA's Board of Directors has supported this initiative by creating the new Class Compliance Chief (CCC) position, a motorsports professional subject matter expert for the class, who can make non-protestable compliance rulings. SCCA will utilize this at select races this year, and I would like to make sure that we report back to the community after each trip.
At the January 9-11, 2015 U.S. Majors Tour event at Homestead Miami Speedway, SCCA Club Racing Technical Manager John Bauer was designated the CCC for Spec Miata. The CCC led the inspection process for the Spec Miata class throughout the event, determining what items were to be checked, and ruling on any compliance issues.
The event format was a three-day doubleheader Majors event, with 43 drivers participating. The following items were determined prior to the event to be checked for compliance in addition to the typical items a Region would check, with the ability to look at other items if circumstances determined it necessary.
Qualifying (impound all): restrictor plate (visual), random driveshaft material check
Race 1 (Positions 1-3, 14): restrictor plate (measurement), compression ratio (Whistler), cylinder heads sealed for inspection following race two, wheel weight and battery weight.
Race 2 (Saturday Positions 1-3, 14; Sunday Positions 1-3, 8): restrictor plate (measurement), compression ratio (Whistler), intake short turn radius, intake/exhaust throat, intake/exhaust unshrouding and valve seats.
Findings:
Qualifying: All items inspected were found in compliance with the exception of:
- One car was found to have a different restrictor plate. This was dimensionally correct, but not anodized and stamped by SCCA Enterprises. The piece was determined to be pre-production version of the current required plate. The piece was confiscated, but no penalty was assessed.
Race 1: All items inspected were found in compliance. Heads were sealed for removal on Sunday.
Race 2: All items inspected were found in compliance with the exception of:
-#56 Buras: Intake valve short turn radii de-burred beyond the maximum allowed specification (1.5mm).
-#39 Steyn: Valve unshrouding beyond the maximum allowed specification on one of eight intake valves.
-#28 Saunders: Refused to remove cylinder head.
Methodology:
-For short turn radius de-burring, SCCA has developed a gauge machined out of stainless steel, similar in size to a popsicle stick, with a 1.5 mm groove machined into it. The gauge is used with a dental mirror to check for compliance within 1.5 mm. SCCA also has 2.0 mm and 2.5 mm gauges. A drawing is available here.
-For measuring valve unshrouding, SCCA Enterprises produced and sells a set of gauges that fits within a valve guide and turns around the valve shroud on the mating surface of the head. If the gauge drops between the mating surface and valve seat, the casting has been unshrouded beyond the maximum specification.
Penalties:
The findings of the CCC were presented to the U.S. Majors Tour Southeastern Conference Series Chief Steward, who assessed penalties per the SCCA Steward penalty guidelines. The cars found non-compliant were moved behind the last finishing car (and would have had any points earned removed) in both races. The car refusing a teardown was disqualified from the event.
Other Observations:
While not specifically focused on or measured, tech staff observed a variance in body panel gaps across the cars at Homestead. The SCCA Technical Staff wants to remind drivers that the service manual gaps specify a 3.5mm-6.5mm gap where the hood meets the bumper and a 4.0mm-6.0mm gap between the hood and front fenders.
Summary:
This program has been developed to ensure a level playing field in the Spec Miata class through compliance checks. The ruling of compliance vs. non-compliance is based on the written regulations and not a subjective analysis of the benefit of any modification. Also, nowhere will we use the word "cheat," or any derivative thereof, because that would imply intent, and these rulings do not consider intent, only compliance. At each race weekend throughout the season, local scrutineer teams will continue their technical inspections, with the CCC attending select events.
Finally, the goal of the CCC and the compliance program is not to bust people for being out of compliance. Nobody likes penalties—we're all doing this for fun! But compliance is critical to ensure a fair and level playing field. We would like nothing more than to have our inspectors report 100 percent compliance at events. But this requires a commitment by everyone in the community to ensure that their cars meet the regulations bumper-to-bumper, top-to-bottom, inside and out. These checks throughout the season will not only help to achieve compliance at each event, but also ensure a smooth and drama-free Runoffs this September.
See you at the track!
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