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The following regulations have been approved for Porsche
Club of America, Northeast Region Driver Education Events.
Participants are responsible for the safety of their cars and should know
the condition of all items listed below. Technical Inspectors will not
be held liable for safety of the car. In order to participate in a Northeast
Region Driver Education Event, participants must agree to the following statement
on the technical inspection form found on our
Driving page:
"I certify that I understand that the safety, mechanical soundness, and general suitability of my vehicle
and/or someone else's vehicle which I may drive in this Driver
Education Event (including multiple day events) is my responsibility,
not that of the Porsche Club of America, the Technical Inspectors, or
the event organizers."
The NER-PCA policy of a required pre-event inspection applies to ALL
participating vehicles, regardless of vehicle manufacture. For
clarification, the following describes the NER-PCA pre-event inspection
policy and expectations.
Porsches:
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Must be inspected by an authorized Porsche technical-inspection station.
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Authorized stations are listed on the web sites of the various PCA regions. Please
see http://www.porschenet.com/inspect.html
for the list of NER-authorized inspection stations. Non-NER region
members may utilize local region-authorized inspectors; however,
the NER Tech Form must be used. Under extreme circumstances, such
as when participants live beyond a reasonable distance from an
authorized inspection station, pre-event inspection by a
Porsche-knowledgeable shop or dealer will be accepted, provided the
NER Tech Form is used.
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PCA-authorized inspection stations will sign the form, and apply their official stamp,
indicating that the vehicle has passed the pre-event inspection.
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Non-PCA-authorized inspectors will sign the form indicating that the vehicle has passed
all points of the inspection.
Non-Porsches:
- Should be inspected by a shop or dealer familiar with the brand. Example:
:A BMW should be inspected by a BMW shop or dealer. A Ford should
be inspected by a Ford shop or dealer.
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Non-PCA-authorized inspectors will sign the form indicating that the vehicle has passed
all points of the inspection. The NER Tech Form must be
used.
Inspection Forms:
The intent is to ensure that a consistent
set of safety-inspection criteria are applied, irrespective of vehicle
brand. Non-applicable inspection items, if any, may be so noted
by the inspector. The pre-event inspection form to be used
must be the NER
Tech Form.
NER reserves the right to refuse
acceptance of pre-event inspections which do not comply with this
policy.
A list of approved PCA-NER Technical
Inspectors may be obtained at www.PorscheNet.com/inspect.html
from the tech
inspector.
Exterior
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Glass
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All windows must be free
or cracks or fractures. Small divots or stone chips are acceptable, as
long as there are no "spider" or radial cracks.
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Wipers
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Functional, with good
blades.
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Mirrors
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At least one securely
fastened rearview mirror.
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Brake Lights
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Operational.
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Gas Cap
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Proper cap, seals
tightly.
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Assigned
Numbers
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Assigned numbers must be
displayed on both sides and the front of the vehicle. To ensure
legibility by course-workers, numbers should be no smaller than 5" in
height and in a color that contrasts with the background color so that
it is visible from a distance. Numbers must be those assigned by event
registration and must be applied before entering the event tech
inspection line.
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Under
Car
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Tires
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All tires must be of the
same type (all standard, performance, or rain tire). Front tires must
be of the same size, rear tires must be of the same size. It is
recommended that they be of the same manufacturer. Mixing of soft
compound performance tires and street or rain tires is not allowed. No
cracks, min. 3/32 tread -or- appropriate wear bar/hole indications. No
rubbing.
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Wheels
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Any wheel, except after
market cast imitation Fuchs alloys. Carefully check older wheels for
cracks at lug holes. Under no condition may a repaired alloy wheel be
used. Proper valve stems w/ brace, solid metal stems preferred. No
after market wheel adapters or brake dust shields.
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Steel Lug Nuts
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Steel lug nuts are
recommended for those who change wheels. These are less likely to
fatigue, stretch, and break during wheel changes.
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Wheel Bearings
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All must be correctly
adjusted. If non-adjustable type then zero free play.
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Brakes
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No cuts or abrasions on
lines, no cracks in drilled or slotted rotors. Only cars originally
equipped with drilled or slotted rotors, or OEM purpose built drilled
or slotted rotors are allowed. No after market modified rotors. Drilled
rotors in particular are prone to cracking from heat stress. Cracks
going from "hole to hole" or "hole to edge" or "hole to hub bolt" are
cause for failing the car. Solid manufactured rotors cannot be drilled
or slotted without compromising their safety. Check 914 rear pad
adjustment. Minimum 50% pad thickness for one-day event.
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Front Suspension
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Any safe suspension
modification is allowed. No excessive looseness in steering or
suspension. No leaks. All bolts tight. Ball joints in good condition.
356 steering box - tight cover and lid. 900 series - tight steering
rack. 944/968 - control arm ball joint tight.
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Leaks
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No Fluid leaks.
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Rust
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No structural or
excessive rust.
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Rear Suspension
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Any safe suspension
modification is allowed. No excessive looseness, all bolts tight. Half
shaft boots in good condition, shock bolts tight.
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Exhaust
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Some events may enforce
noise limits. Check specific region/track requirements for each event.
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Engine
Compartment & Trunk(s)
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Battery
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All batteries must be
securely mounted. "Bungee" cords are not allowed, factory mounting is
required. Batteries replace with smaller units must use proper metal
clamps. Twin battery 911 models must use factory or suitable
replacement straps. No acid leaks or corrosion. Check fuel lines under
914 battery.
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Belts
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All engine belts must be
in good condition and properly adjusted.
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Throttle Return
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Freely operating, with
good spring(s). Check both springs on CIS cars.
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Brake Fluid
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DOT 3 or 4 high
performance brake fluid is recommended. The brake system must be
completely flushed/changed in the last 12 months, and the Date Last
Changed must be indicated on the Tech. form. Brakes must be bled
between events, with the Date Last Bled indicated on the tech form.
Tech. forms with missing or invalid dates will result in inspection
failure.
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Interior
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Pedals
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Firm brake pedal. All
pedals have free return and are in good condition.
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Roll Bar
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All Cabriolets and open
cars must have a roll bar or cage installed. Targa, 914, Boxster, and
996/997 Cab are all OK, as is, at NER events.
All tops must be up/on or car must have 5/6-pt. harnesses, proper race
seats (see “Harnesses” below), arm-restraints, & driver must pass
“broomstick” rule.
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Fire Extinguisher
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NER requires a 2.5-lb.
charge (minimum) class BC or ABC fire extinguisher at Driver Education
Events. Extinguishers with metal nozzles preferred. They must be held
by a metal bracket (no plastic straps or brackets, no sheet metal or
self tapping screws allowed); must be secured by at least 2 bolts and
nuts to a metal mounting point (chassis, seat rail, roll cage, etc.);
and must be reachable from the driver's seat.
A one-time
exemption from the fire extinguisher requirement is allowed for
students participating in their first DE event. The student must advise
the pre-event tech inspector of his/her first-timer status. The
exemption will be noted on the participant's tech form, which will be
accepted by the event-day tech inspector. Any questions should be
directed to our Scrutineer.
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Seat Belts
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Standard Original Equipment three point belts used with any type seat, includng "racing" or
"sport seats", are acceptable. Two point lap-only belts are not acceptable with any seat.
Webbing must not be frayed, show signs of impact (i.e. caught in a door) or signs of being
stretched or of significant discoloration. '65-'68 900 series cars require relocation of the
lap belt mounting points rearward.
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Harnesses
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All 5/6 point harnesses must be used with "racing seats" equipped by
the manufacturer with belt routing holes for the shoulder, lap and submarine straps.
No add-on or "home made" modifications of any type to these seats will be accepted. Sport
seats without lap belt holes, but with correct manufacturers built in sub-belt and shoulder
belt holes will be accepted providing the seat design allows the lap belts to be low and tight
around the waist. Harnesses should be anchored to factory-mounting points or roll cage structure,
wherever possible. Shoulder harnesses must route over a harness bar or roll cage/bar.
Connecting directly to a "harness truss" is acceptable. Shoulder harnesses must not be angled
downward more than 45 degrees from the chassis' plane as they leave the shoulder. All belts must
be securely mounted to the vehicle. Eye bolts are suggested for harness waist mounting points so
that the mounting point has a degree of freedom as to not place an uneven load between the belt
webbing and belt clip. Waist belts must be routed in such a way that the belt adjustor does not
get caught in the seat causing it to "dump" when placed under heavy loading. "US Grade 5 or Metric
8.8" or better hardware must be used.
Harness must be replaced after ten (10) years. It is the recommendation of the track committee
that harness users follow the replacement interval of the harnesses manufacturer if it is less than
ten years.
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Harnesses
non-Porsche
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Schroth Quick Fit, Schroth Rallye, and Schroth AutoControl four (4) point harnesses for use in
BMW, MINI, Audi, VW & Subaru WRX, conforming to the Schroth installation guidelines is acceptable.
A 4-point harness is not acceptable for Porsche manufactured vehicles because no provision for
shoulder belt routing is available for single piece seat backs used by Porsche. Only vehicles
on the Schroth vehicle reference list can install Quick Fit four point harnesses.
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Equal Restraints
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Equal restraints are
required for driver and passenger (if a passenger is present). "Equal
restraints" means both occupants have the same level of equipment.
NER/Zone 1 regions require that all instructors' cars that may take a
passenger have equal restraints and that they "default up to the higher
level of protection", i.e. if one has a five-point harness, both must
have them.
The following MOMO
harnesses will not be permitted at any NER/PCA event because of safety
defects: FIA B-143.T/98, FIA C-154.T/98, FIA D-153.T/98, FIA
D-142.T/98, and SFI 16.1.
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Doors
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All must be operable from
the inside and outside of the vehicle.
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Driver
Apparel
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Helmet
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All helmets must be
Snell approved. An eye shield, or other eye protection, is recommended.
The helmet must have a secure chinstrap, which must be used at all
times.
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Acceptable Helmets
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Pre-Snell 95
M95*
SA95
SA2000
M2000*
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No longer accepted
No longer acceptable
No longer acceptable
Acceptable through 2010
Acceptable through 2010
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* A number of tracks
& organizations no longer allow M-rated helmets. If you are
purchasing a new helmet, make sure it’s Snell 2000 or 2005, SA-rated.
Any questions on helmets should be directed to NER's
Scrutineer.
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For more information on Snell
ratings, check out http://www.smf.org/.
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Clothing
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Long-sleeved shirt and
pants. No synthetic materials. No red or yellow clothing
for work assignments.
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Shoes
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Either closed-toed shoes
with rubber soles or Nomex driving shoes (we recommend that you don't
drive in sneakers, as the soles are too thick for proper feel and
control).
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