Now that we’ve had some in-practice experience with this process, and in judging from some of the heady discussions during events related to this process, it seems that some examination is warranted regarding this rule. The idea of a “Break Fix” as mentioned in the initial rule appears to be too broad to define and leaves the term open for interpretation – as discussions at events have shown.
I spent some time zipping around the web reading the racing rules posted by other clubs and I found that trying to identify what is allowed to be done to cars between the start and end of the event is rarely attempted, probably because these clubs have also found it impossible to create a consistent list of rules regarding what is and is not allowable.
The bulk of rules specify that once the car enters tech, it remains in control of the scrutineer and will reside in parc rotisserie (in our case!) until the beginning of the racer’s heat. Once the racer begins their heat, they may make any changes they like to the car during their heat period within the rules for car preparation, including during the lane change period. Immediately after completing their final heat, the car must be placed back into parc rotisserie where the scrutineer may choose to re-tech any car at their discretion. Racers regain control of their cars once the scrutineer has announced that post-race tech is closed. I would also suggest that the scrutineer is tasked to be available after the event to hear tech requests from any member against any car in the event. I’d rather these requests be on a gentleman’s agreement rather than requiring payment as many clubs require…but that would be something to discuss.
In our races, because we only have 3 lanes, there are cases where racers begin the event, then sit out for a number of rounds before returning to complete their race. For these racers, they must return their car to parc rotisserie immediately at the end of their session prior to their break, and can begin work on their cars during the lane-change period immediately prior to their return to the track.
This design keeps us from having to come up with a handful of “allowable” things people can do to their cars during the races or during the lane change periods. I believe that trying to maintain any such handful of allowable items will only end up in hurt feelings due to a lack of consistency in applying the rules. Requiring cars to go immediately to parc rotisserie after their final heat keeps any “undoing” of changes to be performed. Green flag work on a car, regardless of the result of that work, is its own penalty. If someone can legally tweak their car in the lane change periods, more power to them with the knowledge that they may have a scrutineer have a look-around at the end of the event. I would suggest that we be a bit more on-point with completing the lane change periods in the allotted amount of time.
If someone is genuinely afraid that racers will be making performance mods to their cars during the first lane change period, then removing those during the second lane change period, I challenge you to come up with a race plan where 2 poor heats and 1 good heat comes out a positive, given how competitive our racing is. And mainly, I would like any rules we put in-force to have the ability to keep us all friends – which would be a challenge when a rule is open to different interpretations.
That’s my $1.25 (because 2 cents just doesn’t cut it anymore). Written here so that we’ll have something specific to discuss and vote upon in a future meeting, or to kick-off discussion here that will eventually make it to a vote.