OK then bring a drill, drill bits and a clamp big enough for the oil filter to the track, I'm sure someone will help. If you have that little ability, how are you even prepping your bike for the track?
Dont try this at the track ....why ? I can see it now, oil every where people running around looking for more oil , drillbits and God knows what else . TWENTY MINUTES :roll: Im good and I am lucky to get FOUR holes out of a ONE/SIXTEENTH BIT . Some bolts are Stainless Steel ...there a bitch . Get it done before you leave for the track .
You have to drill one maybe two holes tops in metal. One in the drain plug and usually one somewhere in the block, which is aluminum. Not rocket science. I've seen first hand what happens when you don't, think about not just yourself but the riders riding through the mess us leave behind. I'm not going to debate this, it is just my opinion.
I don't have the equipment to properly drill bolts, either, but you can purchase predrilled ones. Then all you need is some safety wire and the pliers, which isn't that expensive. I may have mentioned this before, but Ed Bargy makes a predrilled trackday prep kit that includes a drilled OEM bolt, filler cap, a clap for the filter, safety wire, and instructions/items needed to disable the kickstand switch. On occasion, the predrilled bolts may not end up in the idea spot once torqued, but more often than not, it's workable. Purchasing predrilled bolts does make it a simple job.
Pre-drilled kits are great, if you have a supersport type of bike or something the racers love to put on the track (GSXR, SV, CBR, R6/R1, ZX). It's those other street bikes, and even motards, that are more sport-touring or standard riding positions that will be more difficult to convince folks to safety wire (Triumphs, EX, FZ, etc). I do think the safety wiring is a good idea, I'm just not sure how practical it will be to require it, particularly in Novice. I do see it as a business opportunity for someone though -Safety wiring service on-site
Safety is safety, why should a novice rider be any different? I'm rather confused on that point. Drilling a 5/16" hole is not that hard. Don't complain when your the one that ate sh@t after falling in someones oil if you did not wire your bike yourself.
My bike has holes and wire all over it. Never said I can't or don't do it, I said I'm slow. Also, go back to the part where I say I agree that everybody should be wiring the crucial stuff. I'm just playing devils advocate. All I was trying to say is that just because it's easy for you, doesn't mean it's easy for everyone. Here's some yarn and size 10 needles, knit me a sweater.
Man, I hate to suggest this, but maybe tech will have to double check the drain bolts with a wrench? If this is the case, then the rider should at least provide the bike in a state where the drain bolt can be accessed. Yea, it's a serious pain, but how else do you make sure the rider's drain bolt is tight? Just don't know what the best solution is, short of safety wire. Possible stupid question here, but why don't drain bolts have a lock washer? I'm assuming a brass washer would be needed as well.
I think I'm qualified to understand the situation, worked with STT long enough. When I stated AMA, I was trying to prove the point that all they look for is those "oil" items, they expect your team to be in control of all else. To your point 2, a customer service oriented business I totally understand, saying that someone is less at risk going a bit slower is ludacris. Do race org's make guys in the squid race not have lowers on their bike, you get the point. SAFETY IS SAFETY. All I'm saying as far as "prepping" a bike this is a pretty simple task and if you cannot do it yourself, either ask or pay someone a couple bucks. What's a pre-drilled oil drain plug, $20? Not sure how to check it in tech, that is a tough one as is the coolant one. For the record, race prepping a machine and wiring a few bolts and changing the coolant are a lot different. You are on a track with other riders, start thinking about them too.
Sorry can't knit, but I'm smart enough to find someone to do it for me if I have to do it to get on a race track.
I have kept my opinions out of this for a reason. Now I feel that I should step up, and offer them. No one... I mean No one, wants to lose an oil plug. It happens. With that stated... This is NOT racing. I think everyone should use care in prepping their bike. Yet, every weekend, I see people that can not seem to put tape on their wheel weights. This is a safety issue also... Why is it so hard? If STT implements higher Tech rules, who is going to tech the bikes? At club level and Pro level racing, there is a Paid crew for tech. If this is the route that is needed, then expect the costs to increase as a direct result. Furthermore, seeing as safety wiring the plug is so important... Lets require belly pans also. Then... maybe we should start giving out trophies as well. Trackdays are for street riders and street bikes. Drilling for safety wire will decrease the value of the bike! While I do agree that oil on the track is a problem. Implementing higher tech rules take resources. This might be the route that is needed to be taken. I stand firm... If a rule is made, it needs to be enforced. Without enforcement, then there is no point to the rule. To enforce it, expect to have the ill effects passed down to the end users. It is my opinion... STT should hire one person to do tech. That person should have a check list of a tech items. And on the oil cap and drain bolt, that one person should apply silicon to them, if they are not safety wired. This of course will make getting through tech longer. It would require removing of body work. And I would expect it would add to the already high cost of running a trackday. XIII
Silly question and yes it is because I am lazy: If you make someone remove the lower to show you a wired drain bolt and the lower has a catch pan is that not INCREASING risk? In the case of leaving it attached you verify the body work is secure and IF the oil bolt is not it would go to the catch pan correct? However by removing the lower to verify the bolt you now could have the entire LOWER come loose. Just a thought. Also not that it matters for the question but I have a catch pan and wire the filter, bolt and cap.
I'm pretty clear this is not racing and this has nothing to do with that at all. Weather you are turn 1:50 lap times or 1:20 lap times oil is oil. I think you are all missing my point that this is a pretty serious issue and can be relatively easily addressed.
I'm not bored. It's a safety issue. Oil does not know what group is on the track. It is uniformly slick and dangerous for all riders at all speeds. Marketing issues should never trump safety issues. The fact there is so large a response and heated discussion on the topic suggests the issue of tech inspection should be addressed in terms of the safety of every rider in every group and not as "if we make a safer track with tougher tech we won't have enough novice riders". Don't go there. It's not only the people that fall who are concerned. There are also 80-90 others who miss a session or two to wait for the track to be ready to ride. Money down the drain. If STT earns a reputation as a safe track organization it will attract more riders than it looses because of tough tech inspections.
Damn it, no Triumph or Husqvarna :evil: Must be some kind of conspiracy! Good thing for drill presses Assuming that the safety wire rule comes into effect for 08, maybe we should give first time offenders a warning? Followed by a double check of their drain bolt of course. Those with safety wire go right through. I would like to see a trackside small business set up that offers drain bolt/filter safety wire and anti-freeze replacement. What's something like that worth in labor? $40? Only have to do it once. Just a thought.
Funny, we were talking with some people about this and $25-40 was about the range for tackside service. I think a lot of people would help people for free though. Obviously this is Monte's call on the overall rule, I just think this minimal wiring would be a step forward in the domain of safety.