| ARTICLE: |
| CR22:
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND FIRE BLANKETS |
|
22.1
|
An on-board fire extinguisher
system is mandatory under certain class requirements. When required, a minimum
1kg capacity extinguisher, securely mounted (no tie-straps) and within easy
reach of the driver when he/she is wearing a safety harness. |
|
22.2
|
If the extinguisher is not fitted
with a gauge, it must have an empty/full stamp and a recent inspection/service
label. It is the responsibility of the competitor to weigh the extinguisher
prior to each event. |
|
22.3
|
Funny cars - All cars must be
fitted with a manually controlled pull-type only, on-board fire extinguisher
system with the primary nozzle(s) directed to protect the driver. Bottles
and lines must be permanently mounted, i.e. no hose clamps or cable ties. |
|
22.4
|
In the case of more than one
bottle, each bottle must have its own steel distribution tubing and nozzles.
Nozzle placement is extremely important. Two nozzles are placed at the front
of the engine directed into the compartment on either bank of the exhaust
headers whilst another nozzle or nozzles should be positioned into the drivers'
compartment using an atomising unit placed at the drivers' feet or near
the steering column. |
|
22.5
|
Upon activation of the system,
the contents of the bottle(s) must be totally discharged. Partial discharge
systems are not permitted. The bottles must be mounted in such a manner
that should an explosion or failure of any mechanical component of the vehicle
occur, the bottles will be protected from flying parts as well as being
high enough to not come into contact with the track surface, following a
loss of tyres or wheels. |
|
22.6
|
Bottles should be protected
from excessive temperature and remote cables must be metallic without plastic
coatings that will melt and jam the mechanism in cases of fire. |
|
22.7
|
"Fire Windows" measuring
no greater than 60 square centimetres on either side of the firewall in
the vicinity of the valve covers to warn driver of fire are mandatory. Best
results are obtained from laminated safety glass or fire resistant plastics
like Lexan or Plex 70. |
| CR23:
FIRE BLANKET |
| Blankets may be fireproofed
by immersing in a solution of 240 grams of Boric Acid dissolved in 5 litres
of water. Hand-wring and hang to dry. Repeat after each wash. It is recommended
that each entrant have a treated fire blanket on hand in the pit area. |
| CR24:
FIREWALLS |
| Each car must be equipped with
a flame proof and fuel proof firewall extending from the body sides and
from the top of the engine compartment upper seal, i.e. hood, cowl or deck,
to the bottom of the floor and/or bellypan. The firewall must be constructed
to provide a leak proof bulkhead between the engine and driver's compartment.
All holes or openings must be sealed with metal or a fireproof material. |
| CR25:
FLASH SHIELDS |
| Injector tubes may extend through
individual holes in the hood/bonnet, but carburettors must not be openly
exposed or uncovered. In place of a hood/bonnet, carburettors must be equipped
with a metal flash shield or velocity stack that prevents fuel from being
siphoned into the air stream or blown into the driver's face. |
| CR26:
FLOORS |
| All cars must be equipped with
floor pans made of steel or aluminium which must prevent any part of the
driver's body from touching the ground or track surface. Bellypans and sub-floors
enclosing the engine or driver's compartment must contain suitable drain
holes throughout so that liquids and foreign matter cannot collect and thus
create a fire hazard. |
| CR27:
FLYWHEELS |
| All vehicles in competition
with the exception of sedan vehicles known not to be capable of quarter-mile
performances better than 11.99 seconds are required be fitted with either
a steel or alloy flywheel or an acceptable scattershield as outlined in
the following regulation. No excessively machined unit of cast iron or any
other material will be accepted. Vehicles revving over 6000 rpm may not
make use of any cast flywheels. |
| CR28:
FLYWHEEL SHIELDS (VEHICLES QUICKER THAN 13.50 SECONDS) |
|
28.1
|
All rear-wheel drive manual
gearshift vehicles capable of running 13.50 seconds or faster, must be equipped
with a suitable shield made of 6mm minimum steel plate securely mounted
to the frame or frame structure and completely surrounding the bellhousing
(full 360°) to protect frame, driver and bystanders from fragments in
case of clutch/flywheel disintegration. |
|
28.2
|
Alternatively, a 13mm thick
piece of conveyer belting may be securely wrapped around the required area
or fastened permanently to the floorpan inside the vehicle. Any vehicle
utilising an aluminium bellhousing, regardless of performance, must at minimum
adhere to the conveyer belting regulation. |
|
28.3
|
Shields must not be attached
to the bellhousing in any way. The flywheel shield must be constructed in
such a manner that it covers the top, sides and rear of the enclosed bellhousing
completely, shielding the transmission bell and mounting flange to stop
fragments entering the driver's compartment. |
|
28.4
|
The 6mm steel plate must at
minimum extend forward to a point 25mm ahead of the flywheel and also another
25mm past the rear of the clutch and pressure plate. |
|
28.5
|
28.5
An engine support strap either in the form of a 3mm steel motor plate, 6mm
T6 aluminium motor plate or aircraft quality cable (chain is unacceptable)
must support the rear of the engine in case of clutch of flywheel disintegration.
This requirement is mandatory on all vehicles using a manual gearbox from
Street Modified upwards unless it is evident that the headers, frame rails,
etc., will prevent the engine from dropping to the surface of the track. |
|
28.6
|
Vehicles using a conventional
clutch/pressure plate/flywheel to drive an automatic gearbox must comply
with the aforementioned flywheel shield rule. |
|
28.7
|
A totally enclosed 360°
one-piece bellhousing/adaptor fabricated from 6mm steel plate and securely
mounted using all available engine/transmission mounting points is acceptable
in lieu of conventional shields and is recognised as abetter alternative
to the above method of concealing a clutch/flywheel explosion. |
|
28.8
|
Flywheel shields are highly
recommended on all vehicles including streetcars revving higher than 5000
RPM. |
| CR29:
FLYWHEEL SHIELDS |
| Vehicles fitting classifications
TF/D, TAD, A/D, TF/FC, TA/FC, A/F, TF/CA, AA/CA, BB/CA and Super Altered.
The use of a shield constructed to the following specifications is mandatory
in all clutch-equipped vehicles running in the above classes over the ¼
mile. |
|
29.1
|
All existing bolt holes must
be utilised to secure the flywheel shield. |
|
29.2
|
Vent holes must be contained
below the crankshaft centre line and limited to a maximum 10cm². |
|
29.3
|
A clutch inspection and maintenance
hole may be cut on the back face of the housing. The hole may not be longer
than an area covering 90° of the housing rear surface area. |
|
29.4
|
No part of the rotating clutch
assembly may extend past the forward edge of the inspection hole on housings
with a radiused back. |
|
29.5
|
A cover for the inspection-hole
must be at least 6mm thick and be fastened with at least six 10mm high tensile
bolts. |
|
29.6
|
The abovementioned inspection
hole cover must incorporate a 6mm fillet welded precisely to fill the hole
so it is flush in the inside of the housing. |
|
29.7
|
Starter motor pocket if utilised,
must be of the same material and thickness as the bellhousing. |
|
29.8
|
Scalloping of bellhousing flange
is accepted if at least 6mm of material is maintained between the radius
and edge of the flange. |
|
29.9
|
Motor plate must be of 6mm aluminium
T6 plate or 3mm steel for full coverage style with a minimum hole for crank
flange to pass through. |
|
29.10
|
A crower glide clutch-adjustment
slot (one only) is accepted if made precisely to the specifications as outlined
in the illustration using a 6mm steel cover. |
| CR30:
FRAME / CHASSIS |
| All butt-welds must have visible
reinforcement. Flush grinding of welds is not permitted. The use of materials
other than steel is permitted providing it can be proven the material and
welding thereof is stronger than its equivalent in steel. Refer also to
roll cage regulations. |
| CR31:
FUEL |
|
31.1
|
Service station pump petrol,
aviation fuel, racing fuel and methanol as sold to the general public through
normal retail outlets is permitted. Off the shelf Sasol Racing blends are
permitted according to class requirements. |
|
31.2
|
APPROVED INTERNATIONAL FUELS |
|
A
|
VP RACING FUELS |
|
|
C-10 (Unleaded), Red, 110, C-11,
C-12, C-14+, C15, C-16, NOS, C19, C21, C23 and C25 are permitted. |
|
B
|
PHILIPS/TRICK |
|
|
B35 (Unleaded, B32, B33, B38 |
|
C
|
SUNOCO |
|
|
Standard, Supreme, Maximal,
Supreme NOS |
|
D
|
TORCO |
|
|
Mach 104, 110, 112, 114, 116,
116NOS, 118, 118NOS |
|
E
|
76 |
|
|
Competition 100 (Unleaded),
Competition 110, Super Stock 114, Pro Stock 118, Pro Stock+. |
| |
WARNING:
The current method to increase octane in both leaded and unleaded petrol
is to increase the amount of aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene,
xylene and associated compounds. The higher the concentration of certain
aromatic hydrocarbons, the higher the octane rating. These compounds cause
cancer. The higher the concentration in petrol, the higher the risk of leukaemia
(blood cancer) and other cancers |
| |
The use of
Hydrazine or any other chemicals (other than nitro and alcohol blends) designed
to alter volatility or chemical composition of the permitted fuel, is totally
banned. Use or possession of such material at the Dragstrip carries severe
penalties. |
|
31.3
|
The use of nitromethane will
only be permitted in "Exhibition" or "Top Fuel" classified
vehicles. |
|
31.4
|
Any vehicle that uses methanol,
as fuel must indicate its use by displaying an orange circle of 100mm diameter
beside the "Battery Location Marker" |
| CR32:
FUEL SYSTEMS AND FUEL TANKS |
|
32.1
|
Wherever permitted in class
regulations, fuel tanks and fuel lines should be located ahead of the engine.
Fuel blocks, if used, must be mounted at least 150mm forward of the flywheel/bellhousing
area. |
|
32.2
|
Fuel lines in the flywheel/bell
housing area must be enclosed in a 3mm wall thickness; 450mm length of steel
tubing securely mounted or alternatively re-routed outside the chassis or
frame rails as a protection against fuel lines being severed in a clutch/flywheel
explosion. |
|
32.3
|
In the event of a fuel line
passing the supercharger drive areas, a compulsory steel tube protection
is required if braided steel line with suitable aircraft qualify fittings
is not utilised. |
|
32.4
|
Fuel tanks located in front
of the vehicle's grille and outside the protected areas of the body, frame
and wheels, must be protected against collision damage by some means of
encasement, (i.e. steel bump bars). |
|
32.5
|
All supercharged and/or fuel
injected vehicles as well as vehicles using an altered fuel system (other
than electric pumps), must have a quick action positive fuel shut-off valve
of control within each reach of the driver and must be located in the main
line between the fuel tank and carburettor(s) or injection unit. |
|
32.6
|
It is mandatory that fuel pumps
be located away from the flywheel area wherever possible. |
|
32.7
|
Under no circumstances are any
fuel tanks, lines, fuel pressure gauges or other units containing fuel permitted
in the driver's compartment. All tanks must be completely isolated from
the driver's compartment by a firewall completely sealed so as to prevent
any fuel from entering. All vehicles where a fuel line passes the driver
must be fitted with metal lines except for a maximum of 30cm of approved
flexible fuel hose to allow for connection purposes only. Recognised steel
braided flexible lines may be used in lieu of solid metal lines. |
|
32.8
|
Top of fuel tank must be below
top of vehicle's rear tyres. All fuel tanks must have a positive locking
fuel cap and be vented to the outside of the body or have a built-in check
valve. |
|
32.9
|
When allowed by class requirements,
all fuel cells must have a metal box protecting the part of the cell that
would be outside bodylines or trunk floor. All fuel cells must have a pressure
cap and be vented to the outside of the body, or have a built -in check
valve. |
|
32.10
|
Where the fuel tank is located
in front of the driver and engine in the rear (rear-engined Dragsters) fuel
lines must be isolated from the driver's compartment with a sub-floor or
by use of steel braided liens. The adding of fuel while an engine is running
is strictly prohibited and is grounds for exclusion. |
|
32.11
|
Industry approved push lock
hose and fittings where applicable without the use of hose clamps permitted. |
|
MSA
Technical Committee
|
