CHECKLIST FOR  COMPETITORS

For  ENTRY FORMS see Regulations

Here is a list of basic requirements, mainly for the benefit of new competitors wishing to know where to start in preparing both themselves and their cars for Hillclimbing.

Firstly yourself:

1. RAC COMPETITION LICENCE/DOCUMENTS - Apply to the RAC Motorsports Association Ltd., Motorsports House, Riverside Park, Colnbrook, Slough SL3 0HG (Tel. 01753-681736). They will send you an application form. For our sport, you will need a National B Non-Race licence, which currently costs £30 ish per annum. This will cover you for Speed events, also including Rallying, Autocross, Rallycross, Drag Racing, etc., but not circuit racing. No medical is required, just a self-declaration of good health.

With the licence will come the RAC MSA Yearbook, or "Blue Book" as it is known. This contains all the rules and regulations for motorsports in the UK - our own Club rules are additional. The sections that mainly concern you are L and Q. When reading these, bear in mind that all TR’s are now "Period Defined Vehicles" (Section P). Where relevant I will quote paragraph numbers.

2. CRASH HELMET - See Q.10 - mandatory, buying the wrong type can be costly! Of the commonly available types, only those marked BS 6658 - 85 "A" are acceptable (blue sticker).Try to buy one manufactured as recently as possible, preferably in the last 12 months, a further sticker inside the helmet should tell you this. In addition, the helmet has to be authorised by the RAC, this is a yellow sticker, some come marked thus from the manufacturer, otherwise it will cost you £5 from a RAC Scrutineer at your first event. Helmets from race suppliers/motorcycle shops.

3. FIRE-RESISTANT OVERALLS - See Q.9 - mandatory. Manufactured from Nomex III or Proban material, typically starting at £60 from race suppliers. They must be marked BS 6249, Part 1, Index A or B, or to BSEN533 or to pr EN533 : 1995 Index 3, or to FIA standard.

4. OTHER CLOTHING - Gloves, balaclavas, boots etc. to RAC standards are recommended by them, but are not mandatory. The incidence of fires at speed events is low. However do not wear plastic shoes or any nylon.

5. ENTRY FORMS TO EVENTS - If you register for the Championship, we will send your selected ones to you as they become available (otherwise contact the organising Club direct). Read the Supplementary Regulations carefully and send them off quickly to avoid disappointment.

Secondly your car:

A. FIREWALL - See E13.2.3 - TR2-6 models will require this, cut a thin aluminium sheet out and pop-rivet this behind the rear cockpit trims, to separate you from the fuel tank, then seal around the edges with GRP or mastic sealant, preferably the heat-resistant type from race suppliers (but ordinary silicon will do if your gaps are small!).

B. ELECTRICAL - (i) Mark the battery earth lead with yellow paint/tape (see E13.14.5); (ii) cover your battery live terminal (E13.14.2); (iii) mark the ignition switch clearly ON/OFF (L10.8.1). An external circuit breaker switch is recommended (see Q.8), but only mandatory for non-road licensed, closed cars.

C. SEATS - (See Q14.1.5) - Any tipping mechanism must be locked or bolted down.

D. SEATBELTS - (See L10.11.2 & Q2.1.2) - A harness with straps over both shoulders is not mandatory, but advisable for both comfort and safety. Normally only one bolt is needed to be drilled to mount this. From race suppliers/TR specialists.

E. ROLLBAR - (See Q1.5.1) - Not mandatory, but we insist on one for an open car at any event which we organise. Competition carries risks, but running an open car without a rollbar is simply madness! they save lives and stiffen the car’s handling.

F. TIMING STRUT - (See L12.10.1) - Make this out of ally or thin steel plate, paint it in non-reflective black, mount it as per the prescribed dimensions, unbolt it before you drive home!

G. COMPETITION NUMBERS - (See E12.311 & L9.4.5) - your own number will be advised with the Final Regs. received a few days before the event. You can buy race numbers and backing roundels from race suppliers, or make them from Fablon material, even insulating tape may do on the day as long as the timers can read your number against a contrasting body panel.

H. OIL CATCH TANK - (See L10.6) - if your engine does not breathe back in to the induction system, feed the hose in to a catch tank of minimum 1 litre capacity. Even a plastic bottle strapped in the engine bay (away from direct heat!) will suffice.

I. SILENCING - (See L10.12.2 & E13.17) - be careful here, restrictions are tightening and can cause elimination from the event. There should not be a problem if your car is near standard and road legal, but some events like Goodwood are imposing lower than RAC standard decibel limits, so if you have bought a rorty exhaust or a competition car whole from someone else, have it checked if possible.

J. STEERING LOCKS - these do not have to be removed for our sport.

K. HILLCLIMB & SPRINT RAC LOGBOOKS - (See E12.3.2 & 3 and L9.3.7-10) - All cars not currently licensed for road use and not in a road-legal condition, must have a valid RACMSA Logbook.

These notes can in no way be as comprehensive as the Blue Book, which is the definitive instrument, however it can be mind-bending trying to fathom it out, so do call me if in any doubt, also refer to our Technical Regulations. However after your first year in hillclimbing, it will be assumed that you will keep yourself abreast of any new rules and regulations, highlighted by the RAC in the Yearbook and/or notified to you in our own annually published Regulations and minutes of the Drivers Meeting.

Have fun out there!