Number plate regs and tech inspection

[Jason748]

Feel free to state for the record that you're not talking about me. 

I actaully try and get you when I go thru tech.  becuase of what both Scotty& Ben said.

[backMARKr]

I actaully try and get you when I go thru tech.  becuase of what both Scotty& Ben said.

Oh...I don't know that Weaver is soooo great. 

PIT RIGHT NEXT TO TECH...and just because Lonny opens his big mouth...Rick makes me roll the bike forward 3 feet.

[Burt Munro]

Cut the crap, you'll ruin my reputation! 

What Scotty says, is unfortunately true. 

Riders become predictable and earn a reputation.  You bring a bike thru Tech that shows the attention to detail that you've put into it, it makes it a lot easier on everyone.  I'm not talking about bling or a cool paint job or exotic number plates - but a higher level of maintenance.

That's not to say that it gives you a free pass.  Just that it makes it easier to check the stuff we need to look for.

Unfortunately people earn opposite reputations too.  Bikes that look like they're held        together with duct tape, chewing gum and zip ties get lots of attention !  And usually display lots of shortcuts or trying to skim the rules.

If you're a new guy or we haven't got to know you very well yet, don't be offended when we don't take your word that the drain plug is safety wired.  Not that we take the word of people we've known for years.  It's all about making sure someone doesn't go down on the track from something that can be avoided.

Remember that regardless of the type of bike you ride, if the safety wire on the drain plug, filter and oil fill plug can't be easily seen, the bike needs to come to tech with the belly pan off.  One thing that helps is if you wrap a short piece of fluorescent orange or yellow tape around the safety wire to make it stand out.

Number plates are another issue.  Just because it looks cool sitting on the stand at 0 mph  doesn't mean that the starter, scorers and cornerworkers can read it when you fly by at 120 +.  We all know that it's getting tougher and tougher to work around the limited amount of nose and tail space you've got.  Best bet is if you can't easily read your numbers from 100 feet away, you're most likely going to have a problem at Tech.

[nfcracin]

Rick,
Are you saying I need to replace my duct tape, chewing gum and zip ties on my bikes
That would leave more stuff for you to pick up off the track for me when I do my daily lap. 

And I dont think I can see my bike from 100 ft let alone the numberplate

[2old2fat2slow]

Does this look correct to you tech guys?
IMG]http://i254.photobucket

[Jason748]

Oh...I don't know that Weaver is soooo great. 

PIT RIGHT NEXT TO TECH...and just because Lonny opens his big mouth...Rick makes me roll the bike forward 3 feet.

Do you blame him... Poor Rick has to deal with the three of you    I think he should have made you push the bike to the back of the longestest line 

[backMARKr]

Do you blame him... Poor Rick has to deal with the three of you    I think he should have made you push the bike to the back of the longestest line 

[Jason748]

 

[kl3640]

It all comes down to the person teching your bike/bikes that day. And depending on weather your on the shit list or not. Newer guys just starting out are usually going to sit in tech few minutes longer. Also the cleaner your bike the less time they have to spend looking for issues..I have gone through different techs with different bikes - weather it's CCS/ WERA/AMA/USGPRU or Moto-st - sometimes you just get people that don't really know what to look for or don't care. And sometimes you get guys that are really good - and that's a good thing - sometimes they find something you missed.. But conversely I have gone through CCS tech with mailbox numbers on my tail section(06R6) - and I've taped a stuffed parott to my tail section and gotten through an AMA tech without a problem.....

This is exactly my experience at tech.  For example, last week at Homestead the tech guy who looked at my numbers gave me a rash of crap.  He said that the numbers don't look like those in the book, but ironically, I followed the rules EXACTLY.  For example, I used Arial Narrow Bold, 8" front and 6" rear, just like the book, and he insisted that they didn't look like those in the book.  I was in a rush and didn't have time to apply the numbers quite so nicely.

Yet on another occassion, I used a different font with different size numbers (so they'd fit better on my bike) on a different bike, but they were applied very nicely.  I sailed through tech with the same guy!

The point is, use a font that's easy to read, not too fancy or anything like that, that fits properly, and it will usually not raise any eyebrows during tech.  A sloppy number job, even if technically accurate, will likely receive their scrutiny.  I find that Gill Sans MT in Bold works well, is easy to apply and very easily readable.

[mmelvis]

Remember that regardless of the type of bike you ride, if the safety wire on the drain plug, filter and oil fill plug can't be easily seen, the bike needs to come to tech with the belly pan off.  One thing that helps is if you wrap a short piece of fluorescent orange or yellow tape around the safety wire to make it stand out.

Thanks for the tip on the fluorescent tape on the safety wire.

[Z-man]

I would try my best to get everything right before going to tech.  Tech isn't consistant from region to region.  I found the SE to be much more difficult then the MA.  At Daytona I had three different tech officials yelling at me for different things all at the same time, I had to interrupt them and remind them they would all have equal chance to yell at me but I can't understand any of them.

I had the first 2006 R6 through tech at Daytona in 2006 and they were giving me poop about the number plate not being on the side properly and telling me I would need plates like the vintage bikes to pass tech.  Another guy was yelling about my numbers being to close together and the third guy was yelling about my bike not being exactly in the right spot.  very fustrating.

Then later in that same year at Barber, I had crashed and needed fresh bodywork.  The painter I guess painted the number plates with a little neon color in it.  As I pulled up to tech, the tech marshal started yelling, "don't you even think of bringing that bike on my tech line", I turned around looking for the poor sap he was talking about.  Then the guy yelled, "you know I'm talking about you", I turned around again wondering where this guy was and what his problem was.  Then he yelled a third time, "stop turning around I'm talking to you".  Finally I pointed to myself and said yes you.  I didn't see the number plates as being anything but yellow and there are several MA guys who used the same painter with the same yellow and never had a problem.  But I had to run to a trackside vendor and buy yellow duct tape and numbers to refit my bike so I could race.

Sucked, moral of the story get it 100 percent right the first time.

[gntbldr]

I skated through tech all season at all '07 events.

yes I had all different techs do my bike Including L. multiple times
yes I had NON conforming Yellow for my plates
yes I had my lowers taken off half the time
yes I rolled up and let Tech Do what they Do and didn't make excuses
and most of all showed respect the entire way

and I was let though every time based on what all else was written in this here thread. So read close and do your thing, let them do theirs {it's their right} and enjoy your race weekend!