An important part of driving your car on a racetrack is passing the required technical safety inspection prior to getting access to the track. While the level of scrutiny will vary by organization, the goals are the same: minimize the possibility of injury to the driver due to a mechanical malfunction, and ensuring that required safety equipment is properly installed.
A few track-day clubs will have their own staff inspectors, but most will recommend an inspection by a qualified mechanic prior to arriving at the track. Items of importance include good condition tires and brakes, working brakelights, the absence of fluid leaks, properly secured seatbelts, and minimal steering wheel play. The removal of all loose items will also be required, such as floormats, cellphones, spare change, and all that junk in your trunk. The staff scrutineers with a race organization will have a much more thorough list. It will include properly installed fire supressant systems, insuring fuelcells, helmets, and harnesses have not met their expiration dates, hot electrical terminals are covered to prevent short-circuits, firewall grommets or bulkhead fittings are in use to prevent line chaffing, and that rollcages and seat mounts are of proper thickness and design. Inspectors will then put notes in the racecar’s logbook about items that need to be resolved prior to the next event.
At my last VARA race wknd, an inspector pointed out to me an improper fix that I had done in a hurry. I had ziptied a loose wire leading to the brakelights to a stainless braided brakeline, a big no-no, and easily remedied. A quick fix that I had forgotten about could have led to big problems down the road…
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