Grass Roots Motor Sport – UK

Well, due to the diversity of vehicles it is impossible to detail a procedure to cover all. That said there are certain areas that should be considered in all preparations.

External

• Bodywork in good condition with no sharp edges.
• Battery secure and negative terminal marked with yellow tape.
• Front wipers operative [where fitted].
• Exhaust system sound and free from leaks.
• Fuel system in good order and free from leaks.
• Brake system including handbrake [where fitted], disks, pads, brake lines and fluid in good order and free from leaks.
• Suspension and steering in good order.
• Wheel bearings in good order.
• Wheels and tyres in good condition with tread depth 1.6 mm minimum.
• Wheel nuts securely tightened

Interior

• Steering column secure.
• Area above pedals clear of loose or hanging pipes/wires.
• Seats and seatbelts/harnesses in good condition.
• No sharp edges.
• All loose objects removed.

Video Cameras

Video cameras are allowed so long as the mounting is secure and mechanically mounted. Helmet cameras are expressly forbidden, and suction mounts on the windscreen are normally forbidden unless a secondary tether is utilised [always check with the organisers].

Engine Bay

• Engine bay clear of fluid leaks.
• All fluid reservoirs at correct level.
• Throttle assembly in good order.
• All pipes and wires secured and free from chafing.

Other

• Lights, indicators, brake and hazard lights operative [where fitted].
• Headlight glass protected by tape or security film [optional]

Non-Mandatory items that are recommended [road-going cars]

It is a good idea to securely fit a fire extinguisher somewhere in the cockpit and in any case, some supplementary regulations call for the mandatory fitment of a fire-extinguisher. If a fire extinguisher is fitted, it should conform to MSUK regulations and be ‘in date’.

Both a Front and Rear Tow Hook with suitable arrows indicating their position is desirable in the event that you have an ‘off’ or mechanical failure – if no tow hook is available, a recovery operator might rig their recovery hook in car areas that might cause damage…

Your lap/diagonal seat belt is fine for road-going cars, but a full harness will hold you more securely when cornering hard. Because the harness is not mandatory, the scrutineer will not fail a harness for being ‘out of date’ in Road cars and will only check for condition and secure installation.

A roll-cage is not mandatory for road-going cars, but those cars that fall into modified categories do require one.

Windscreen anti-mist may be useful for wet days.