RX-Ben

I looked but couldn't find anything - anyone have any info on what the SCCA is looking for in terms of a "crushable structure" for oil tanks?

Thanks.

Don Keefhardt

???

Trying to understand your question.

If you're going to drop a dry sump tank on the passenger side, it really needs to be in a metal inclosure (i.e. some kind of box). That box is not considered to be part of the crash structure (cage / door bars, etc).

An oil tank itself...not considering where it's mounted, does not need a "crush structure".

RX-Ben

the SCCA mandates a 10mm thick crushable structure inside the oil tank box, depending on where it is located. What do they consider to be a crushable structure? I'm assuming they are looking for something other than 10mm of dirty laundry glued to the inside of the oil tank box, but maybe I am wrong.

Don Keefhardt

You gotta give me something more to go on...what class, or what GCR section ?

In the general "Cars & Equipment" section - 9.3.xxx, it only says:

9.3.38. OIL CATCH TANKS, FILTERS, AND BREATHERS
Oil holding tanks and engine breathers, whether directly or indirectly
ventilating the crankcase, and all transmission/transaxle breathers shall
be equipped with oil catch tanks. Minimum catch tank capacity shall be
one U.S. quart for the engine and transmission/transaxle. Oil holding tanks
and oil filters may be mounted in the driver/passenger compartment. A
metal bulkhead shall prevent exposure of the driver to oil spillage. Oil
catch tanks shall vent into the engine compartment or outside the driver’s
compartment. A crankcase vacuum breather that passes through the oil
catch tank(s) to exhaust systems or vacuum devices that connect directly
to exhaust systems is prohibited.

RX-Ben

Sorry - GCR p219, J.1

J. Oil System
1. If oil storage tanks are not located in the original position they must
be surrounded by a 10 mm thick crushable structure. Provided that
the oil tank is not located in close proximity to the outer surface
of the bodywork, and there is some of the structure of the vehicle
between the oil tank and the bodywork, the car’s structure will
meet the 10mm crushable structure rule.
2. If the oil tank is located in the cockpit area, or a trunk area that is
open to the driver, it must be separated from the driver by a metal
enclosure made up of .036 inch steel, or .059 inch aluminum. This
is in addition to the 10mm thick crushable structure that is required
in section 9.1.4.I.2. The floor of the enclosure must be designed to
prevent accumulation of fluids.

RX-Ben

Sorry - GCR p219, J.1

J. Oil System
1. If oil storage tanks are not located in the original position they must
be surrounded by a 10 mm thick crushable structure. Provided that
the oil tank is not located in close proximity to the outer surface
of the bodywork, and there is some of the structure of the vehicle
between the oil tank and the bodywork, the car’s structure will
meet the 10mm crushable structure rule.
2. If the oil tank is located in the cockpit area, or a trunk area that is
open to the driver, it must be separated from the driver by a metal
enclosure made up of .036 inch steel, or .059 inch aluminum. This
is in addition to the 10mm thick crushable structure that is required
in section 9.1.4.I.2. The floor of the enclosure must be designed to
prevent accumulation of fluids.

Don Keefhardt

Yeah...I just looked it up...you're talking Touring class prep rules - 9.1.9.1.J.1 -

J. Oil System
1. If oil storage tanks are not located in the original position they must
be surrounded by a 10 mm thick crushable structure. Provided that
the oil tank is not located in close proximity to the outer surface
of the bodywork, and there is some of the structure of the vehicle
between the oil tank and the bodywork, the car’s structure will
meet the 10mm crushable structure rule.
2. If the oil tank is located in the cockpit area, or a trunk area that is
open to the driver, it must be separated from the driver by a metal
enclosure made up of .036 inch steel, or .059 inch aluminum. This
is in addition to the 10mm thick crushable structure that is required
in section 9.1.4.I.2. The floor of the enclosure must be designed to
prevent accumulation of fluids.

I don't know what the hell that means. Similar language is not included in other classes that could use dry sump tanks. Even the GT classes(9.2.1) don't have that "10mm" requirement.

Best bet - call SCCA HQ in Topeka...ask to speak to John Bauer - he's the Club Racing Technical Manager - you'll get your answer pretty quick.

fatbillybob

They want safety. They want flamables treated like fuel. Fuel cells have a bladder inside a metal enclosure. A drysump in the passenger compartment must be treated similarly.

RX-Ben

Crap, there goes the dirty laundry idea. They are usually heavily impregnated with various fuels and lubricants.

andy3101

If the drysump tank is in stock factory location, I believe the rule not apply. C6 factory location is outside the frame rails, but deemed ok... For the C5 guys, guess you argue that its ok on the C6, should be good for C5... Inside cockpit, needs a box to enclose, but doesn't need the 10mm of crush pad as its inside frame and cage... That's how I read it.. might want to send Phoenix a message as they build corvette race cars everyday...

RX-Ben

Here is the official response:

It appears it is a left over rule from World Challenge and it needs to be clarified. I will put a request into the CRB for clarification.

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

Best bet would be to talk to your local inspector/tech that is going to look over the car.

Most of our race cars the tank is located inside the car, and typically inside of a metal or carbon box to keep some of the heat away from the driver. Most of the cars now are using typically a carbon honeycomb as impact structures but again need to talk to your tech to see exactly what they want.

ALMS we didn't have anything at all around the tank in the car but it was outside of the driver compartment.....but also outside of the frame too.

96CollectorSport

Ben,
Couldn't you just build a box and put 10mm thick alumalite inside? It's corrugated so I would think that would be crush-able enough, lightweight and it's easy to work with. Just a thought.
Joel

RX-Ben

Yes, that is a good idea, though I am thinking of using a circular enclosure. I have other ideas too, just wondering what the "official" line is on this (will revert once I hear).