News from the Scrutineer - Jan 2008
Hi Everyone and a happy new year.
This is a quick update of all that is happening in the world of the scrutineers.
From the 12th of January we have 2 new Log Book scrutineers to hopefully allow more cars to be checked at competitions throughout the year, the new Log Book scrutineers are to be Martin James and myself.
There are a few new regulations coming in from the MSA, plus reminders about other existing regulations that will be tightened up on. See below for further information.
We have had several of competitors turning out with inadequate recovery points: this can put the marshals and other competitors in danger. If you do not have good recovery points front and rear, ensure you get them fitted before attending events.
We have had a report from the ALRC about some tow hitches similar to the Dixon Bate ones that are falling to bits when used for recovery: these will not be allowed at any ALRC or MROC event.
Discovery owners will now be put into modified class at any ALRC event should they trim the rear wheel arch commonly known as the “Camel Cut”, this is due to Camel Trophy Discoveries, being a factory modification, they were not originally manufactured to this design.
At the last meeting I attended it was brought up about diesel engine vehicles running on fuel other than pumped fuel, i.e. oil. This is not allowed to be used under MSA regulations, therefore anyone attending an event who is suspected of using other fuel will be asked to leave the competition. You do have the right to appeal and to do so you must attend an ALRC meeting with me, to put your case forwards.
It was brought to our attention that competitors in RTV’s were ripping off under-slung LPG tanks due to their fixings not being adequate for competition. We would recommend that these should be regularly checked by the competitor. If a scrutineers feels that the fixings are not secure enough ot that there may be a problem with ground clearance on a trial, you may not be allowed to compete
Please be aware that, should you tag not be legible, you will need a new tag to be fitted at a fee of £5.00. Should you turn up for scrutineering with an illegible tag, you will not be allowed to compete. This also applies to tags that are not physically visible.
May I also remind you:
“The act of presenting a vehicle for official scrutiny shall be deemed a declaration of its fitness and eligibility for the event and an acceptance of the consequences by such a declaration not being valid.”
Should any of our members be unsure of their vehicles fitness and elegibility, please contact me to discuss your concerns.
I look forward to seeing you all out there in the coming months.
Richard Smith – MROC Scrutineer.
07817 149969 (new number) / 01527 402536 / scrutineer@mroc.co.uk
News from the Scrutineer 7th July 2007
Hi Guys and Gals
As some of you might have been aware there have been ongoing discussions and applications made to the ALRC for a rule change to allow dislocation/relocation cones to be fitted to trials vehicles. This rule change has gone through the relevant stages and a decision has been made that they are not to be fitted to vehicles competing in any ALRC run events.
There is another ruling regarding handbrakes, after a request had been made for the installation of line locks to be fitted as an alternative instead of handbrakes. The ruling was that all “vehicles shall be fitted with a braking system capable of holding them when parked, it shall be activated by a single operation and shall be external to the engine and gearbox”.
Another issue that has come to light on a recent club weekend was that we had a runaway caravan. Please note: some caravan hand brakes do not hold a caravan in reverse on a steep incline due to the operation of the brake over-run device. If uncoupling a caravan that you have just reversed into a space on any incline, it is heavily advised to put chocks under the wheels.
Scrutineering at events.
I would like to bring the following to your attention.
Taken from the ALRC 2007 Hand Book (known as the ‘green book’!), page 82, sections E 4.1.4 to 8 and E 11.3.4:
An entrant shall, before the event, satisfy himself as to the eligibility and safety of the vehicle…
The act of presenting a vehicle for official scrutiny shall be deemed a declaration of its fitness and eligibility and an acceptance of the consequences of such a declaration not being valid…
…obtaining a scrutineer’s approval at pre-event scrutiny does not indicate that the Scrutineer is accepting responsibility for the safety or road worthiness of the vehicle, not does it indicate that the vehicle complies in all respects…
So if the vehicle is examined during or after an event and found to be out of compliance with the regulations it may be excluded from the results….the entrant has no come-back against the scrutineer.
Please take careful note of the above. Scutineering before an event should only be a spot check of a limited number of key safety and eligibility features of a vehicle’s condition. Contrary to popular opinion, the Scrutineers do want you to compete; they aren’t really looking for reasons to stop you, however if they do find something untoward then they will have to act upon it.
A Scrutineer’s duty is to report an unsafe or ill-prepared vehicle, or one that doesn’t comply, to the Clerk of the Course. It is the Clerk of the Course’s decision to make the judgement as to whether the vehicle is allowed to compete. However annoying or upsetting, this process is in place to protect you (from yourself sometimes!) and others from possible danger – which you could avoid by better preparation.
The reason I have drawn your attention to the above points is that, with the competitions becoming more heavily attended, too much time is being taken up with the detailed scrutineering that we have been undertaking. Consequentially the start times for events are drifting which can make for a very long day – especially in bad weather.
In future, a more limited series of safety / eligibility spot-checks will be performed, which may change from event to event (just to keep you on your toes!).
However newcomers and new vehicles attending an MROC event may be subject to a more detailed examination of their vehicle first time around.
If any of you out there are unsure as to what you should be doing / checking for, everything you need to know is in the Green Book of which you should have a copy. Alternatively, if any of you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me, or catch me at one of the events.
Richard Smith – MROC Scrutineer.
07817 149969 (new number) / 01527 402536 / scrutineer@mroc.co.uk