An extract from the AORCOM meeting 13th September 2009 Quote from a report presented to the NSW Panel:
"BI-ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION OF OFF ROAD VEHICLES It was a view of the Commission that to ensure as best as is practicable that cars remain in serviceable condition, a system of targeted scrutiny be implemented from 1 January 2011.
This will be a bi-annual daylight inspection with panels and floors off with a clean chassis. The Chief Scrutineer will need to be a Silver scrutineer. Pre 2000 vehicles will be inspected in the first year with post 2000 in the second year, prior to any competition. This includes an inspection of tubing for obvious signs of damage or other deterioration. Further information to follow during 2010."
I don't see this as necessarily a bad thing. It is very difficult for a scrutineer at an event to be able to check a cars condition throughly when it has all of the panels on, lots of cars to get through, etc. To present the car once every two years at an appointed time without the panles and floor isn't really too much of a problem, provided that you don't have to travel too far to have it done. I am not sure what they mean by "clean chassis" though. Does this just mean washed properly, or does it mean that gearbox, engine, seats, fuel tank, etc all have to be out of the car? If this is the case, then that would cause issues for a lot of people who don't completely strip their cars very often.
Growing up in speedway where they did a daylight inspection of every chassis once a year I thought it strange that offroad didnt do it.
The speedway club my parents were in did it at their clubhouse at liverpool speedway on a saturday a week or two after the end of the season to give the owners time to strip the cars down for the next season. It would also provide time to fix any problems found as well I guess.
They'd scruitneer the cars in the morning, have a sausage sizzle for lunch and they'd drink away the afternoon... and usually late into the night. A party atmosphere and a fun day for us kids having run of the place. :) If you did most of the cars within a club at the same time it would answer the scruitneer availability question.
Trekka is right as well though, it'd be an issue for those who live a fair distance out from their clubs to tow the car to venue where they dont get to go racing.
From a safety point of view it could only help ensure that our cars are as safe as they should be, and from a political point of view those who have "concerns" about older cars racing (and we know they're out there) would effectively be silenced allowing no complaints about older cars being on track.
I agree with trekka, I cant really see a down side.
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Green Sally up. Green Sally down. Lift and squat, gonna tear the ground.
Sounds like a great idea, anything that makes the sport safer. The idea of a more social atmosphere, beer and barby syle sounds cool. End of season to allow time and money to be spent. Scrutineerings a thankless job at the best of times, but having a look over the cars without the time constraints of a race day situation would have better results. Thank would cut down on the crankyness of people getting picked up with faults on race days. Panels off and clean, no 'fresh' paint!!