4 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

http://scca.cdn.race...rack-dec 11.pdf

 

J~

[Bench Racer]

Spec Miata
1. #15423 (SCCA Staff) Clarify the SM Plunge Cut
In 9.1.7.C.1.f.3, clarify the plunge cut allowance as follows:
“The throat area of the port consists of the 90 degree angle at the very bottom of the cast steel valve seat as it transitions to
the aluminum casting below. It is permitted to plunge cut the throats in order to correct for core shift that is commonly found
in many cylinder heads. This cut must be concentric with the valve guide axial centerline, and cannot extend further than the
specified number below from the bottom of the ferrous valve seat. There can be no tooling or machine marks in the head below
this point. The area under the seat where the plunge cut ends and the casting resumes cannot be blended by hand, machined,
or chemically processed to create a smooth transition. The 90 degree bend at the bottom of the valve seat and the aluminum
directly below it will be measured with a gauge and must conform to the maximum diameters and depths listed below.”
Note: this was published in Racing Memo RM 14-20 on 11-3-14.

 

Is there really a 90 degree angle or 90 degree bend in the aluminum below the valve seat. These aluminum surfaces their talking about are truly an external angle of the bowl and runner and from my viewing it's not a 90* angle.

 

As Ralph stated, concentric within how much. What's a real number for the machine capabile of doing the the job.

 

Should the red highlited words about tooling or machine marks and blended by hand, machined,
or chemically processed also include the runners. All aluminum surfaces that were tortured in the Runoffs heads. 

 

Seems if there is commitment to this rule, a bit more correctness should be included.

[Johnny D]

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS

Mark Drennan, Tyler Kicera, Craig Berry, Joey Jordan, Charlie Hayes, Andrew Carbonell, Jim Drago and Brian Ghidinelli

vs. SOM, COA Ref. No. 14-07-RO

October 12, 2014

FACTS IN BRIEF

SCCA Fastrack News December 2014 Page 49

On October 10, 2014, at the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs, Will Schrader, the driver of Spec Miata (SM) #87

presented a mechanical protest against the following competitors:

Mark Drennan, SM #10

Tyler Kicera, SM #44

Craig Berry, SM #29

Joey Jordan, SM #17

Charlie Hayes, SM #22

Andrew Carbonell, SM #79

Jim Drago, SM #2

Brian Ghidinelli, SM #12

The protest stated that the competitors violated 2014 GCR 9.1.7.C.1.f.4.:

“No aluminum in the bowl area (other than that specified for the plunge cut) or the ports may be removed, added, or manipulated

for any reason. It is understood that heads may look slightly different from bowl to bowl due to casting irregularities. No material

may be removed or added from the short turn radius in the port.” Mr. Schrader asserted that the competitors removed material

from the short turn radius in the port.

The Stewards of the Meeting (SOM), Barb Knox, Paul Gauzens and Pat McCammon, Chairman, met repeatedly on October 10,

2014 and October 11, 2014, calculated a bond, viewed the cylinder heads and heard witnesses on the protests one at a time.

Their decision of the protests was that the heads were not compliant with 9.1.7.C.1.f.4.

The eight competitors are appealing the decision.

DATES OF THE COURT

The SCCA Court of Appeals (COA), A.G. Robbins, Laurie Sheppard and Rick Mitchell, Chairman, met in person on October 12,

2014 to review, hear, and render a decision on the appeal.

DOCUMENTS AND OTHER EVIDENCE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED

1.

 

Appeal letter received October 12, 2014.

2.

 

Letter from all appellants asking that the COA hear the appeals as one appeal and all are in agreement that

their representatives will be Jim Drago and Dan Tiley.

3.

 

SOM witness statements and documents.

4.

 

Witness statement from Sam Henry (undated).

5.

 

Witness statement from Mike Collins dated October 12, 2014.

6.

 

Witness statement from Dan Tiley dated October 12, 2014.

7.

 

Witness statement from Jim Drago dated October 12, 2014.

FINDINGS

The competitors organized representatives to present an appeal for all of them in order to speed up the process. For this

we thank them.

The appeal is in four parts.

1.

 

The protest and findings of the first court are based solely on GCR 9.1.7.1.f.4. which states that no material may be

removed or added from the short side radius in the port. GCR 9.1.7.1.f.3. allows a plunge cut to the valve pocket

and will remove material from the short side radius. There is no definition to “plunge cut”. The COA agrees with this

argument that paragraph 3 must be considered for compliance as well as paragraph 4.

2.

 

The appeal argues that “de-burring” is the normal practice after the plunge cut and that any marks within the 12mm

plunge cut are legal. The COA sees that the “de-burring” process employed is beyond what a practicing machinist

would consider typical and necessary. We disagree that the 12mm depth of the plunge cut is open to what ever

machining is desired when paragraph 4 is taken along with paragraph 3.

SCCA Fastrack News December 2014 Page 50

3.

 

The appellants state that it took 7 inspectors over 5 hours to make a subjective determination based just on

paragraph 4. We find that each inspector individually performed a blind review of the cylinder

 

heads which the

court feels was very fair and unbiased.

4.

 

The appeal asked us to take into account the fallout of our decision. The COA does not take this into account in our

decision but judges on the appeal itself.

DECISION

The SCCA Court of Appeals upholds the decision of the SOM. The appellants’ appeal fees will be returned, less the amount

[Johnny D]

APPROVED CRB RECOMMENDED RULE CHANGES

 

GCR

 

1. #13565 – (July Fastrack – Jim Wheeler) Mechanical Protests

Change the Time Limit in the table below 8.3.1.F: No later than one hour before the start of the race session of the competition

for the issue in question.

 

Cars in impound may be protested within 30 minutes after any session

[Johnny D]

Recommended Items for 2015

The following subjects will be referred to the Board of Directors for approval. Address all comments, both for and against,

to the Club Racing Board. It is the BoD’s policy to withhold voting on a rules change until there has been input from the

membership on the presented rules. Member input is suggested and encouraged. Please send your comments via the form at

www.clubracingboard.com

 

SM

1. #13377 (Ralph Provitz) Car Lifting Support

Thank you for your request. Add section 9.1.7.C.3.p.:

 

p. To facilitate frequent lifting of the vehicle without causing damage, one

piece of steel angle iron or square steel tubing may be added under the rocker panel inboard of the factory pinch weld flange on

each side of the car. Angle iron and/or square steel tubing dimensions shall not exceed 12” x 1” x 1” x .125 thick. The added

support shall be securely fastened to the car and serve no other purpose.