Hillclimb/Sprint safety Regulations

[Lakeland997]

You will be glad to know that as part of the rich pattern of my life, I got pulled in at the sprint I did recently at Cadwell and had a scrutineer check the thickness of the polycarbonate windows which proves I am not a thieving, cheating bastard that you might have mistaken me for….

Having just met Tim properly in the flesh for the first time at Blyton and thought 'he seems like a right thieving, cheating bastard' I am much relieved to hear that he is not

See you at Prescott Tim

Andy

[Pete]

Got an entry list Andy?

[trevorhp]

Well Goodwood was an absolute delight
Organisation and marshalling etc. was thorough and impressive.
Gloves were checked for both front and back in the pit lane.
Windows checked for thickness and laminated screen was inspected.
The addition of the fire extinguishers was duly noted by the thorough scrutineer.
Despite the thoroughly unprepared car setup, which threatened to kill both of us repeatedly, we both had an amazing bucket list day
Highly recommended club, Brighton and Hove MC, and venue.
T

[Pete]

On my list to do the Goodwood sprint in August Trevor!

[Julian Harber]

Re Overalls as per Blue Book 3 specs are currently compliant for Hillclimb/Sprint as follows:
FIA 8856-2000
FIA 8856-2018
FIA 1986

[Exminiman]

Well Goodwood was an absolute delight
Organisation and marshalling etc. was thorough and impressive.
Gloves were checked for both front and back in the pit lane.
Windows checked for thickness and laminated screen was inspected.
The addition of the fire extinguishers was duly noted by the thorough scrutineer.
Despite the thoroughly unprepared car setup, which threatened to kill both of us repeatedly, we both had an amazing bucket list day
Highly recommended club, Brighton and Hove MC, and venue.
T

Paranoia setting in, for peace of mind, can I ask what minimum thickness for plastic windows is, thanks

[trevorhp]

"If plastic windscreen, side screens or rear windows are fitted they must be Polycarbonate with a minimum (nominal) thickness of 6mm for the windscreen and 4mm for all other windows. the thickness must not be less than 4mm"
Lexan not Perspex

[trevorhp]

On my list to do the Goodwood sprint in August Trevor!

Quite right too, not to be missed

[Lakeland997]

Got an entry list Andy?

Sorry, missed this earlier comment Pete:

Competitor Vehicle
Baker, Stuart Morris Mini (1330) Class: C
Blacker, Wayne Mini Cooper s (1600) Class: E
Brayshaw, Jason BMW mini Cooper S (2) Class: E
Brayshaw, Ethan Mini Cooper S (2) Class: E
Clark, Peter Unipower GT (1298) Class: F
Cox, Terence Austin Mini Ritz (1380) Class: A
Cox, Simon Austin Mini Ritz (1380) Class: A
Davage, Brian Rover Cooper (1380) Class: C
Davies, Mike Austin Mini Cooper S (1293) Class: D
Davies, Martyn GTM Coupe (1380) Class: A
Dee, Chris Mini Cooper S (1598) Class: E
Dewe, Christopher Austin Mini Cooper (1275) Class: A
Dickinson, Karl Austin Mini (1293) Class: C
Edgell, Michael Austin Mini Racing Flame (1330) Class: A
Fisher, Phil Citroen AX GT (1600) Class: F
Fox, John Austin Mini (1293) Class: D
Gadd, Stuart austin mini (1380) Class: C
Godfrey, Clive Morris Mini Cooper S (1293) Class: D
Godwin, Richard Mini Cooper S auto (1998) Class: E
Gough, Will alfa romeo 4c (1750) Class:
Harber, Tim Austin Mini (1293) Class: B
Hayes, Dominic Austin Mini (1380) Class: A
Hook, Stuart Mini Cooper (1600) Class: A
Howard, Ian Maguire Mini (1380) Class: F
Humphriss, Josh Morris Mini Cooper (1293) Class:
Lugger, Stuart Rover Mini Cooper (1380) Class: A
McQuillan, John Mini Cooper (1293) Class: A
Nicholls, Carole Austin Mini (1340) Class: D
Nutland, David Austin mini cooper s (1300) Class: B
Paddy, Nick Austin Mini Cooper S (1293) Class: D
Palmer, Roy Austin Mini Cooper S (1275) Class: B
Parry, Shane Morris Mini (1380) Class: A
Pearce, Mathew Morris Mini Cooper S (1293) Class: D
Ponting, Mark Rover Mini cooper (1275) Class: A
Powell, Steven Austin Seven (998) Class: B
Risk, Alex Alfa Romeo GT 1600 Junior (1600) Class: A
Salmon, Lewis Austin Cooper (1380) Class: C
Salter, Tony Riley Elf (1380) Class: A
Sims, Tim Austin Mini Cooper S (1293) Class: D
Sollis, Bill Morris Mini Cooper S (1293) Class: D
Talbot, Paul BL Mini 1275GT (1380) Class: C
Thomas, Ross Austin Mini (1380) Class: C
Thynne, Piers AUSTIN MINI COOPER S (1293) Class: B
Tooth, Mark Austin Mini 1275GT (1380) Class: A
Tooth, Claire Austin Mini 1275GT (1380) Class: A
Turner, Neil Mini Cooper S (1380) Class: C
Turner, Huw Austin Mini Mini (1380) Class: A
Walkingshaw, Andy Austin Mini Cooper S (1275) Class: D
West, David Rover Mini (1399) Class: C
West, Nick Rover Mini (1399) Class: C
Wild, Duncan Austin Cooper (1293) Class: A
Wilkins, Derek Mini Cooper (1293) Class: B
Wren, Louise Rover Mini Coooper (1275) Class: A

[Pete]

Pretty healthy entry list! Thanks Andy.

[hanlminiman]

Thank you for saving me the trouble to create a list of entries.
Humphries,Josh is the grandson of Derek Wilkins and will be sharing his Cooper and is a good driver. Got ftd at the Redditch & District Autosolo event in Warwickshire recently. It's in the Wilkins' jeans or is it genes?
I'll be there all day taking photos - morning in the paddock, maybe 2nd practice on the hill but will be at various locations during the competive runs.
Please let me know if you have special place on the hill you would like me to take photos and your entry number. I can be contacted in the paddock by Derek Wilkins. Please introduce yourselves.
Please keep on the black stuff as I don't like "red flag" interludes!
Have a great day everyone.
Cliff

[Julian Harber]

"If plastic windscreen, side screens or rear windows are fitted they must be Polycarbonate with a minimum (nominal) thickness of 6mm for the windscreen and 4mm for all other windows. the thickness must not be less than 4mm"
Lexan not Perspex

I have not seen this wording but the MSUK official reg is available in section J reg. 5.20.80 on page 154 of the Blue Book 2022

[IanD1965]

Answering your question :Seats do not need to be in Date, Belts do not have to be in date, Extinguishers are a recommendation not a requirement (in hillclimbing Fire marshalls are trackside close and at regular intervals).

Clothing:
For Road going Racewear overalls,and Helmet need to comply with regs. Gloves are recommended but it's not worth not having them.

In modified class - gloves are a requirement as is a Head Restrait Device (Hans) but seriously consider one even if not needed in your class they will save you even in low speed incidents, Fia approved race boots are very often a requirement of a particular venue and will be stated in their event Supplementary Regulations but make them part of your kit.

No way, I thought gloves were mandatory in all cars and have been wearing the bastard things for years! I hate wearing em and just end up spitting on them in a vain attempt to make em sticky!

Or you could get a suede steering wheel. Excellent grip with gloves.

[mk1]

Re gloves, both Adam & I use sparco gloves that have palms & fingers covered in some sort of sticky plastic. They are excellent & save the need to spit on them like I used to have to with my suede ones.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165485689282 ... Swystig1fg

The way cars are scrutineered & the way the rules are applied varies WILDLY across the country & disciplines. There are some hillclimb venues (like my local one) where the emphasis is on whether a car & driver are safe. If they are, it is rare for them to strictly enforce some aspects of the rule book. As a scrutineer once said to me, it's our job to ensure that as many people as possible have a safe fun day, we aren't here to "stop" anyone having fun. Where as there are other venues (I mention no names) where it seems that the scrutineers go out with the intention of pissing on as many bonfires as humanly possible. Measuring Perspex windows with callipers for example!!! Yes, they are only doing their job, but we all know where that leads.

As well as Racing, I have also been involved with Racing once again, generally speaking the scrutineering seems to be done positively, making sure people are safe, not just applying rules in an arbitrary fashion.

Now we come to pre war stuff!!!! Something I am getting more & more involved in nowadays. Scrutineering most of these cars must be a complete nightmare. There is so little you can check & so little that you can comply with. Helmet, overalls, boots & gloves, Make sure no wheels are falling off, 2 springs per carb spindle, yellow tape on Neg terminal, a fire extinguisher & rain light. As long as you fulfil those criteria & prepared to jump clear in the event of a roll, you are pretty much good to go. The drivers are however well aware of the dangers they are putting themselves in & are prepared to take the chance. Personally, I would rather that this attitude carried over into other disciplines too.

Having said all the above. None of the regulations are very difficult to follow or comply with & most suppliers (windows for example) only supply items that comply fully with all current regulations, any scrutineer is always happy to advise, so no one should be put off having a go at any Motor sport because they are worried about complying with the regs.

Just get out there & give it a go!

[Pandora]

As a scrutineer once said to me, it's our job to ensure that as many people as possible have a safe fun day, we aren't here to "stop" anyone having fun. Where as there are other venues (I mention no names) where it seems that the scrutineers go out with the intention of pissing on as many bonfires as humanly possible. Measuring Perspex windows with callipers for example!!! Yes, they are only doing their job, but we all know where that leads.

Kind of sums up my working life!

There are safety officers and safety officers.

Some ask 'how' and 'why', others say 'no'.............



Al

[Julian Harber]

The Rules/Regs are laid out in the Blue Book but many cars have slight infringements - I've been pulled up and the item was not stictly as in regs but allowed to put it right at a later date it was not a safety issue and common sense prevailled and to some degree it depends who checks the car and where.
A good pal and very quick mini was never pulled up for using 2mm polycarbon and thought the 4mm was only required in the windscreen it was very obvious wobbling in the paddock so we just mentioned he made like to upgrade . . . much piss taking of course . . . next meeting it was rectified