Anyone know anything about Sprint events?

[bones]

I am thinking of doing a Sprint event in July and need a bit of advise rather than being told to read the blue book like I did by the hillclimb scrutineer, I'd asking him simple questions like do I need a fire extinguisher and can I use my ute .
A guy I know has been doing hillclimbs over here on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years and he still can't get his head around the regs in the blue so I thought I would see if someone I here can answer a few questions for me.

Can I use my Holden ute? (it maybe classed as a commercial vehicle) realistically same as a Holden Commodore.
Do you have to have a HANS device and helmet to suit ? (Hill climb guy said that he has to have HANS now but he has changed from using an un-caged Mk1 Cooper S Mini to my old caged S2000 engined Chevette. )
I was thinking that Sprinting is a cheap form of motorsport and would be a bit more suited for the amateur.
Anybody have any insider info?

[Graham]

a ute WILL definatly be classed as a commercial vehicle, i recall someone turning up with a mini pick up and promptly being excluded.

if you are completing in a road legal car there is a lot of the blue book regulation which you dont have to comply with.

you will need a FHR unless you are competing in a pre 1977 vehicle

[bones]

Thanks Graham, for give my ignorance but what is a FHR? and the Ute is 2003.

[Graham]

FHR, msa terminology for a Hans, doesnt mater what year the ute is. its a commerical vehicle you wont be allowed to use it unless regulations specifically allow you to do do

[stevieturbo]

Speak to the organisers of the event, it's really a waste of time talking to anyone else or trying to decipher the blue book which is impossible for anyone to understand

And not all sprinting bodies follow the MSA/blue book rules anyway

I've seen mention on the Uphill racers forum that commercial vehicles are not allowed ( without prior permission )...so again that goes back to same thing, speak to the organisers of the event you want to go to.

FHR is Frontal Head Restraint ( which HANS is one brand ), which is being imposed on certain classes now....and some of the more dangerous vehicle...it isnt. Weird.

But fairly universal are race suit, helmet ( again if you fall into FHR nonsense suitable for this too ) appropriate license and vehicle.

But no point guessing or asking anywhere other than where you intend to race. There will always be conflicting views and opinions.

[bones]

I have emailed one of the organizers to see what they have to say about the ute, it would be a big disappointment if I can't run it.
Thanks for your input guys...

[stevieturbo]

it's a small island, in all honesty I'd try and get in touch and actually speak to someone either by phone or in person.

[Graham]

the no commerical thing is Blue book, which you cannot overide, so unless the regulations are specifically written to allow them with msa approval it wont happen full stop!

[stevieturbo]

the no commerical thing is Blue book, which you cannot overide, so unless the regulations are specifically written to allow them with msa approval it wont happen full stop!

Pretty much every event here, whilst MSA is in attendance and their rules are more or less applied....well that's just it, they're more or less applied. Some events run their own class structures, their own rules some deviating from the blue book. SO until you speak to the organisers, you cannot say it's NO.

And it was mentioned on the other forum that a few years ago some VW Caddy's raced at a few proper MSA events. Largely a PR excercise, but there was no hassle for them.

A lot of events, especially if they dont get huge numbers will be more than happy for new guys to come along and take part, and new or different vehicles can add to to the event.
I'd be shocked if they told you it couldnt take part because of what the vehicle is.

[bones]

I was talking to a guy from Guernsey with a ute and he was saying he had to get special permission to do the hill climb there so maybe doable. And who could say no to a supercharged V8 .

[Graham]

the caddy's had there own race series, which obviously had permission.

the thing is the organising club CANNOT override the scrutineers, so if they pick up on a vehicle not being eligable and report that to the COC, thats it its out. no ifs buts or maybe's. now whether the scruts would realise who knows, it depends which one you get. i dont tend to pick up on incorrect lables, but am pretty quick to see a lot of other technicalities that others dont, i sure as hell would notice and realise a ute doesnt comply, so i cant be the only one

[mexicotait]

Just to add does your helmet have to be in date for sprint like in rallying

[Graham]

helmets dont have an expiry date as such, but they have to comply with current standards

[mexicotait]

Well I was given a helmet that is now not up to standard for rallying
Could I use it for sprinting?

[Graham]

maybe, what labels are stuck inside it? the common one is a snell 2005/2010 etc

[stevieturbo]

Just to add does your helmet have to be in date for sprint like in rallying

Depends what class etc as to helmet requirements, the Snell rating will dictate expiry date of a helmet....doesnt matter if the helmet is still in perfect condition etc Crazy.

[GavinR]

Well I was given a helmet that is now not up to standard for rallying
Could I use it for sprinting?

No - the BS6658 A/FR standard is not legal for any MSA events where helmets are required

[GavinR]

the caddy's had there own race series, which obviously had permission.

the thing is the organising club CANNOT override the scrutineers, so if they pick up on a vehicle not being eligable and report that to the COC, thats it its out. no ifs buts or maybe's. now whether the scruts would realise who knows, it depends which one you get. i dont tend to pick up on incorrect lables, but am pretty quick to see a lot of other technicalities that others dont, i sure as hell would notice and realise a ute doesnt comply, so i cant be the only one

Sorry Graham, that's not quite right

The CoC can override the Scrutineers decision and let an ineligible vehicle run
It's very unusual though

Thanks

[Graham]

Sorry Graham, that's not quite right

The CoC can override the Scrutineers decision and let an ineligible vehicle run
It's very unusual though

Thanks

you are correct in that the scrutineers do not actually stop a car competing they only advise the COC, but the organising club has no power

[bones]

There is a guy who lives here who normally runs a Z28 Camaro on the hill climb and a few years ago he used a Jeep CJ7 Renegade, even had AT tyres on it. If I see at the hill climb tonight I'll ask him if he had any issues.
The guy that I was talking about from Guernsey was saying he was in an invitational class and it wasn't timed, his club had to run it by the MSA.

[bones]

Spoke to Mr Jeep and he said he used his Jeep in a protest as one of the hillclimb roads (The Sloc) for the hillclimb was bumpy and he was in the Jeep class, (by himself as he was the only Jeep). The road is now brand new tarmac and is as smooth as hopefully for next years event.
Thinking about it his Jeep isn't a commercial vehicle and I would say the Jeep isn't as capable as my ute for hillclimbing.
Mr Jeep has suggested having a word on one of the MSA guys that is on the island doing the event this weekend so I'll see how I get on.

[stevieturbo]

Wot ?