Your first trip to the MSA scrutineer is a bit like the annual MOT test, the only thing is that if it fails you get about 14 minutes to put it right, not 14 days! Unlike the MOT test, there are no dodgy examiners that invent problems to try and con a few extra bob out of you. If the scrutineer fails your car it probably has a serious problem.

Few people would disagree that the scrutineers sole purpose is to ensure the maximum safety for the driver and his / her fellow competitors, spectators, and marshals.

If he were to pass a car that did not comply with the regs, or he considered to be potentially dangerous, the consequences for himself the driver could be very serious. Scrutineers don't usually change their mind! Having spent a year as the XJS drivers rep, I have encountered several more scrutineering problems than I had when I first wrote this piece. (not all for myself!!!)

I strongly feel that some clubs should do more to make sure their own regs are both correct to MSA regs, and clear! My own view is that it would be better not to repeat regs that are already in the blue book, but to emphasise the importance that all drivers to read, understand, and comply with all the relevant MSA regs. Possibly quoting the sections & paragraph numbers that they are particularly concerned about.

I also consider that clubs should feel a sense of responsibility to alert drivers to mandatory or allowed mods that may make their road going cars unsafe or illegal on the public highway. Unfortunately some drivers wrongly assume that if their car complies to allowable mods in a roadgoing class that it must be legal to drive on the road!

Nearly all scrutineers have common things that they all check, these include:

1. Checking the integrity of the wheels. Check the wheel nuts, wheel bearings, steering components etc.

2. Check obvious faults with Tyres, i.e. splits, bulges, bald patches etc.

3. Loose bodywork. Check that there are no loose parts or panels etc. either inside or outside the car.

4. Lights. In particular that the stop lights, and brake lights operate correctly.

5. Rot. The scrutineer will be particularly concerned if corrosion is found near safety harnesses fixings, Roll cage mountings, or obvious MOT failure areas. Even if not spotted by the scrutineer, I would strongly recommend checking the soundness of the radius arm chassis mount area. Check for holes or cracks etc around seat fixings or structural areas.

6. Checking the operation of the external engine cutout switch. Make sure that the cables are in good condition. The main problems that they may have, will be handles braking on the cut off cable because in time they will go rusty. YOU NEED TO REMOVE CABLE FROM THE OUTER AND GREASE IT THEN PUT IT BACK IN AND PUT A BIG BLOB AROUND THE TOP, also leave the cable loose by a .25 of an inch so that you can move cable to stop it seizing.

7. Checking the operation of the external fire extinguisher pull. As above, but make sure the pin is in place to ensure that the extinguisher is not operated accidentally. Make sure it is removed just before going out onto the track. Make sure that the extinguisher is in date, correct type, and is securely installed.

8. Headlamps are taped up. A cross of insulating tape will suffice. The reason is to stop broken glass falling onto the track in the case of contact with another car. In practice, I am not convinced that this helps much!

9. Noise limit. At many tracks the exhaust noise level will be checked. The limit varies from track to track, but if it fails you will not race! On the plus side, if you have a standard exhaust in good condition with only the middle exhaust boxes removed, you should be well within the limit.

10. Check that harness eye bolts are fully tightened, and that two threads being visible past any nut on the roll cage. Also check the angle of the rear fixing for the seatbelt (see MSA blue book). Ideally this should be either on the rear cross member of the roll cage or near the rear window.

11. Check the operation of the throttle return. The scruitineers love to open the throttle and see it snap shut forcibly. Make sure there are two return springs. Fitting an additional one is easy, and could avoid a nasty accident and makes the scrutineers happy!


12. Some scrutineers wobble the steering wheel, looking for play. They don't always appreciate the rubber mountings that allow the rack to move, although hopefully all of us have replaced with far more suitable rack mounts!)

13. Check that the roll cage fully complies with the regs, including wall thickness, method of mounting, and the need for welded cages to be "fully welded"

14. An external cutout pull switch is mandatory for our cars. I must apologise for the incorrect information previously included in this article. This was included in good faith based on the incorrect information in the JEC XJS regulations for several years. This has highlighted the necessity to make sure your car complies with all of the MSA blue book regulations. Whatever club you are racing with, MSA MANDATORY REGULATIONS ALWAYS OVERULE ANY CONFLICTS WITH THE CLUB REGS!

15. Do not assume that because your club has provided you with windscreen advertising etc. that it will comply with either the MSA safety regs, or the MOT regs if used on the road. It is your responsibility to make sure that your car complies with the rules of the road & the track!

Biggest tip of all ...

Be polite and let them get on with it! They are not there to stop us racing (and will let us continue to do so with minor issues), they are there to prevent unsafe vehicles from being raced and will help if at all possible!

Once you are sure that the car meets all of the MSA & Club regulations, to make sure you haven't missed anything, get it checked over by someone who knows. Simon Currell had a great idea>>>>>>:

"Easy, I went through the Blue Book, found a scruitineer (they are listed in the back) that lived a couple of miles away and got him round (didn't take any persuasion whatsoever!) to give the car a once over. Once he stated "I'd give it a ticket" I knew my worries were over!

Perhaps this could be the most important tip of all, after all there is enough to worry about for the first race as it is, and knowing that someone has already given the car the "green light" removes, perhaps, one of the biggest worries of all!

Admittedly this is no guarantee that "on the day" nothing is going to be mentioned, but at least it should be minor and you should still be allowed to race."

Apparently the "Rally Boys" must have an MSA Log Book with the car and the Scruitineers job is to issue these, hence they are used to calls!

 

Please check the blue book before proceeding with any changes!

 

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