Just a reminder...

[Curt Luther]

...of this:

3.7 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
A. All vehicles must display numbers and class letters on both sides,
which must be readable by Timing & Scoring, Course, and Grid
workers at all times.
B. Only one set of numbers and class letters may be visible while the
vehicle is running.
C. Class shall be represented by the upper-case abbreviated form rather
than be spelled out. Ladies’ classes shall be indicated by the letter
40 — 2012 SCCA® National Solo® Rules
“L” following the class letters. (Example: “BSPL” instead of “B Street
Prepared Ladies”).
D. Numbers and class letters should be positioned next to each other.
All letters and numbers must be on body panels, not on windows.
All numbers and class letters must use the same typeface and the
same color, and this color must provide adequate contrast to the
background color (see Appendix F for examples).
E. Numbers must be a minimum of 8” high with a 1.25” stroke. Class
letters must be a minimum of 4” high with a 0.75” stroke. In all cases,
the height of the class letters must be between 25% and 75% of
the height of the numbers. Stroke width must be at least 10% of the
height (see Appendix F.)
F. The “1” on two-driver cars and the “L” on Ladies class cars are subject
to all of the above requirements with regard to placement, color,
size, and stroke.
G. Karts may use numbers and class letters of reduced size provided
that the following conditions are met:
1) Numbers must be displayed on the front and rear in addition to
both sides.
2) Class letters must be on both sides.
3) In no case may the numbers be smaller than 6” in height with ¾”
stroke, using a high-contrast color and background.
H. For National Championship and National Tour competition, current
official SCCA® required decals must be displayed on each side of
the vehicle in a prominent location.
For National Championship and National Tour events, one (1) official
SCCA®-approved National sponsor identification logo must be
displayed in an upright position, in a prominent location on each side
of the vehicle. Additional sponsor and/or event specific decals may
also be required; refer to event supplemental regulations. Further
information is contained in Appendix F.

Now, for those of you that lost interest in the above after 2 sentences and went to the "Off Topic" board, you're screwed. For those of you still with me, thank you. Let me introduce myself. I'm Curt Luther and I am the Chief of Tech for the next event the weekend of 3/17-3/18. While I will have a crack staff of people that understand waaaaay more about the nuts and bolts on a car looking your over your vehicle, my number one concern will be the above. I, like many, are sick and tired of:

1. Dark (read: blue making tape) numbers on a dark colored (read: red) car.
1a. Light (read: white masking tape) numbers on a light colored (read: white) car.
2. Permanent numbers "covered" by a 1/2" wide piece of masking tape that cannot be seen.
3. A number such as 7(slash through 8)42.
4. Numbers that are just to plain small to be seen.

These are just a couple of examples. Feel free to add your own. The biggest abusers are not new people. They are people who have done this far too long. In the trailer, it makes things chaotic when markings are bad. When you're wondering why you hear "hold the start" many times it's because they're trying to figure out a car number and/or class and why the registration is not matching up. On course, the radio people have a hell of a time reading poor markings and, I know because I've seen me do it, a cone or DNF can get logged incorrectly because they are trying to figure out if that was 721 or 574.

You have 19 days from today to fix your problem. Yes. Your problem. I simply will not issue a tech sticker to any car I feel does not meet the rules for above. The event chairman, Ken Lord, is free to overrule me but he will probably be to busy running the event to care about your problem. That's why he hired me. KJ Christopher, our CSCC Solo Chairman, can also overrule me but he once threw someone out of a window "because he was bothering me" so that may not work for you either.

We have an excellent local source in jaycomvinyl.com to serve your number and class letter needs. I'm sure he can even deliver to you at the event. Others feel free to offer up any other sources.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

[Max Hayter]

And if I may add, Curt...

1. If you are doing X Runs, put an X on your car. Doing the X-Factor sign with your arms out of the window is not acceptable!

2. If you are doing X runs in the same group as your main runs, please use the 2 driver lane.

[KJ Christopher]

Dwyndle Nelms. It was only a six foot drop to the grass. And rocks. He didn't speak time for quite some time, which was really part of the plan.

I'm about to start a "Curt is Tech Chief for life" movement.

Seriously,I've hinted at this far enough. If the regular crew keeps letting these numbers and such slide, we will be looking for new regulars.

I saw a white car with white numbers pull back in grid from his first run today!?!?!? How did that get thru tech?

[Kurt Rahn]

THANK YOU!!!

[Curt Luther]

http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2833.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2990.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2683.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ed Holley]

Oh, but ORANGE EVERYTHING is fine, you betcha!

I'm emailing all my ES competitors now to tell them that number/letter colors MUST match car color.

Seriously Curt, thanks for the post. It's about time.

[Rick Brown]

http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2833.html
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2990.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2683.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, pet peeve, people that think a single piece of thin blue tape is visible from at distance on a fast moving car.

[Steve Lepper]

This has been a long-standing peeve of mine as well. Coming from Club Racing years ago and knowing what sticklers they are about numbers (with good reason) I've always been amazed at what we allow.

Kurt, if you need backup number-nazi at tech, I'll be glad to do it.

[Mike Simanyi]

Yeah, pet peeve, people that think a single piece of thin blue tape is visible from at distance on a fast moving car.

Exactly. Tape a piece of paper over the number. It's not that tough...

[Steve Lepper]

Doing it properly:
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2859.html
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2718.html

Even through it's a funky font, these are still pretty easy to read thanks to the contrasting outline: http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2801.html
Athough, an inch more space between the numbers wouldn't hurt...

[Marshall Grice]

Since we're going to be sticklers for the rules. These are also illegal.
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2668.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and yes I know those are what the region is giving out, not a problem with the driver who put them on.

[Davin Swanson]

It would probably be a good idea to post a reminder that the numbers rules will be strictly applied in the event details on motorsportreg. If you guys plan on sending out reminder emails, it wouldn't hurt to include it in those as well.

Although I agree with getting stricter on the numbers requirements, there's a good chance that a lot of people will be caught by surprise and be unprepared. Not everyone trolls the forums on a daily basis like some of us do.

[Rick Brown]

Since we're going to be sticklers for the rules. These are also illegal.
http://public.fotki.com/makofoto/2012-r ... -2668.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and yes I know those are what the region is giving out, not a problem with the driver who put them on.

Yes, technically they are. But, they are very readable from a good distance, practical to make and easy to apply. Sure we could make 8 inch individual numbers to hand out, but it's just not necessary for temp numbers we hand out to newbies. Bottom line for local events is are they easy to read for both timing personnel when you are in line and course workers when you are zooming by them.

[Marshall Grice]

Yes, technically they are. But, they are very readable from a good distance, practical to make and easy to apply. Sure we could make 8 inch individual numbers to hand out, but it's just not necessary for temp numbers we hand out to newbies. Bottom line for local events is are they easy to read for both timing personnel when you are in line and course workers when you are zooming by them.

I disagree. I was a radio operator on course this weekend and the numbers that were hardest to read were the ones we hand out. The car had to be right in front of me (~40' or so) before I could get a clear reading. ...and yes i have 20/20 vision with my glasses on!

If we're going to enforce the rules that's fine, but the numbers we give out better be legal too. My piece of tape over legal sized and colored numbers was also readable from a good distance, practical to make and easy to apply.

[Ed Holley]

Not to steal this thread, but my (our) numbers & class letters are extremely readable (white on dark green). Good height, width, etc. But I Know they are not the dimensions SCCA specifies. Will I have a problem at National events?

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Not to steal this thread, but my (our) numbers & class letters are extremely readable (white on dark green). Good height, width, etc. But I Know they are not the dimensions SCCA specifies. Will I have a problem at National events?

It's a "why take the chance" kinda thing. I would hate to lose a win because I had illegal numbers. Though tech may catch it.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I never can figure out SCCA rules wording.... And figuring out wording and rules is what I do for a living.

Does the typeface of the numbers have to match the class letters? If so, the example given of Henry's (which are outstandingly legible) wouldn't be within the technical reading of the rule.

I hope we don't start some lame zero tolerance approach. A little common sense goes a long way.

BTW-My apologies for the number scrunch. I'm normally OCD about number placement, but Will and I were doing driver swaps on near hot laps in the second run group and things got sloppy.

[Ed Holley]

Not to steal this thread, but my (our) numbers & class letters are extremely readable (white on dark green). Good height, width, etc. But I Know they are not the dimensions SCCA specifies. Will I have a problem at National events?

It's a "why take the chance" kinda thing. I would hate to lose a win because I had illegal numbers. Though tech may catch it.

Thanks Aaron. I'm not anticipating a "win", but I'd certainly hate to be denied a chance to run.

[Mako Koiwai]

Ed, I don't believe you can use your 912 number at a National event. National events only use two digit numbers ... and add a 1 in front of that for a co-driver. So you could be 12, if you register for the event in time to snag that number ... while your wife could be 112.

Each class can repeat numbers, ie. you can have a number 12 and 112 in each class.

One of the reasons that the "National" types rightly covet the two digit CSCC numbers.

Keep your eye open for our local San Diego and El Toro National event registrations to go live. You also get a discount registering early.

[Ed Holley]

Ed, I don't believe you can use your 912 number at a National event. National events only use two digit numbers ... and add a 1 in front of that for a co-driver. So you could be 12, if you register for the event in time to snag that number ... while your wife could be 112.

Keep your eye open for our local San Diego and El Toro National event registrations to go live. You also get a discount registering early.

Actually, San Diego is already "live". I have already registered and got the "early" discount. Although I could not get numbers in the 900 series, my number for National is 12. Sharon is not entering. She's not ready for BIG TIME like me.

As it is, I'll be the one running street tires against R-Comps. Let's just say I'm in it for the experience.

[John Stimson]

Yes, you'll have to choose a 2-digit number if you don't have a co-driver.

Steve, that's a good question, although you could easily claim that in your chosen font, the numbers and letters happen to look completely different.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Steve, that's a good question, although you could easily claim that in your chosen font, the numbers and letters happen to look completely different.

You'd make a good attorney!

[Arthur Grant]

Ed, I don't believe you can use your 912 number at a National event. National events only use two digit numbers ... and add a 1 in front of that for a co-driver. So you could be 12, if you register for the event in time to snag that number ... while your wife could be 112.

Keep your eye open for our local San Diego and El Toro National event registrations to go live. You also get a discount registering early.

Actually, San Diego is already "live". I have already registered and got the "early" discount. Although I could not get numbers in the 900 series, my number for National is 12. Sharon is not entering. She's not ready for BIG TIME like me.

As it is, I'll be the one running street tires against R-Comps. Let's just say I'm in it for the experience.

Thanks for the heads up, I just registered. Got my #14.

[Curt Luther]

I hope we don't start some lame zero tolerance approach. A little common sense goes a long way.

I'm not going for "zero tolerance" but the picture examples I showed were examples of where many of the issues lie. I really don't plan on bringing out a measuring tape and color wheel but I posted the rules to let everyone know what is expected at best.

The 600 numbers we've had in the past have been bigger and the last time I worked radio on course I wished they were bigger. I'm not sure why we have to have "CSCC Solo" on them but if wishing that into the cornfield gets us bigger numbers I vote "yes". That being said, as I said in my original post, the 600 numbers aren't where the biggest peeves come from for most people.

[Ryan Young]

Hey everybody, I've got a noob question that fits into this category. I purchased a set of magnetic numbers and class letters for my car, but I'm running in the novice class this weekend and did not buy extra "NOV" magnets to stick to my car. Is it alright if I print them out and stick them to my car with tape, even though they won't match the magnets?