MSA rules Catalytic converters

[robmar]

spotted in the latest MSA mag

Proposed: (E) Common Regulations for Competitors

Date of implementation: 1 January 2009

 

Exhaust catalytic converters _{must be fitted to all production based saloon, touring and sports cars, including specialsit production and kit cars, manufactured after 31/12/99 They}may be specified for certain _other formulae, Competitors are reminded of their obligation to maintain such equipement on a vehicle used on the high way where government legislation requires it.

 

Reason: It has been a legal requirement for new cars to be so equipped since the mid-nineties. For motor sport to be regarded as environmentally friendly it is considered necerssary to demonstarte that exhaust emissions are controlled. It is noted that some ASN's have applied this requirement to all categories and have done so for many years

---

 

glad I kept that old cat exhaust then

 

also noted the need for timing struts to be an extra 16mm long

 

rob

[Mrs Kipper]

Date of implementation: 1 January 2009

 

So we have a bit of time before we have to change it then

 

Mrs K

 

[Adrian Williams]

Great idea, I can't think why they haven't implemented it before

 

I'm so glad I have a 1996 car.

 

Adrian

[KenEvans]

This is the thin edge of the wedge. How about emissions tests by 2012 using equipment similar to VOSA roadside tests?

[rgrigsby]

Hmm interesting, I'm a 1992 Q plate so visible smoke test only for me 😬

 

Rob G

www.SpeedySeven.com

[peterg]

Not sure how they could insist an amateur build kitcar needed a cat if it was on a 'Q' plate as they're visible smoke only.....

 

Let's hope they don't include single seaters at some stage later 😬

[Grahame W]

I can see this creating some interesting 'equivalency' arguments, so may as well start the ball rolling as we can look forward to 16 months of debating the pros and cons.

What about all non cat plenum chamber cars being limited to original 48mm throttle bodies!!!!

(Don't think it would have much effect, you could put square wheels on Adrians car and he would still be seconds ahead of me)

[RichardO]

Hmmm....

 

all production based saloon, touring and sports cars, including specialist production and kit cars

 

What the **** does that mean? If it's a kit car how can it be regarded as production?

 

Looks like my race exhaust is doomed ☹️

 

 

R

[Irrelevant]

Absolutely pointless . . . how many race tracks are in town centres?

Have they forgotten that cats DO NOT REDUCE EMISSIONS (infact, they actually increase overall pollution when their manufacture is factored in) . . . all the do is speed up the breakdown (i.e. act as catalysts) of exhaust gases, something that naturally happens in the envt and pretty rapidly, e.g. CO to CO2, NOx to whatever, etc.

The main reason for the introduction of cats was to reduce the levels of nasty gases in city centres by ensuring that nasty exhaust gases were broken down into not so nasty gases before they left vehicle exhausts, not after as would normally occur.

[Jason Plato]

can we have a "smug" smilie please Barry

 

besides - if your in a road going class for sprints then you should have one fitted anyway to a car that was originally specified with one at registration - otherwise your car is not road legal and wouldnt pass and MOT and could be protested

 

here is C7 TOP

 

[RichardO]

Unless it's a graduates car, that is

 

R

[Graham Perry]

So does this mean that pre-cat cars will now be attracting a premium ? 😬

 

I bet that rule will add more than a few quid to the cost of an aftermarket performance exhaust for a seven ? ☹️

 

It might be an opportunity for Ammo to make a freeflow Cat for the Raceco silencer

[Simon.Rogers1]

Class 6 is going to have a good entry in 2 years eh

[Mike Molloy]

At the top of the page it says:

"Consultation and ratification

All new regulations proposed by specialist committees must be considered by the Motor Sports Council. They are then published in Motorsports Now! so that comments may be received before the regulations are re-presented to the Motor Sports Council and ratified (i.e. before they become final), with any modifications resulting from the consultation process (which may have included them being reviewed by a Specialist Committee or advisory panel)."

 

In other words this rule is still at "proposal" stage and therefore subject to comments.

Question is, to whom do we address said comments?

Does the Blue Book state anything I wonder?

 

31/12/99 seems a bit of a strange date to me...

Weren't cats required on road cars from around 1992 onwards?

[neil.cavanagh]

in this months MSA news it has the rules in with a 'green' colour code. Meaning it has been ratified unchanged and WILL take effect from 2009.

 

So sounds like we have missed the boat to be able to comment before the rule is ratified. Still worth writing to the MSA though to point out:

 

1) it will have NO environmental effect. So it is an empty gesture to the mindless masses.

2) It will be impossible to police, unless they plan on emission testing every car at each event.

3) It will have a large £500+?? cost impact to many many competitors. (cats, lambda sensors, ECU upgrades to closed loop correctly)

4) It will actually have a negative environmental effect from all the extra cats being manufactured and fitted.

 

So well done some muppets in the MSA... 😔 😔 😔

[RichardO]

Neil;

 

What's the "MSA news"? This reg was only last week put out for consulation in Motorsports Now, so if the MSA are calling it ratified already I think they've bypassed their own procedures.

 

 

R

 

 

[neil.cavanagh]

Richard,

Sorry.. Motorsport Now. I might have read it wrong but I'm pretty sure the rule was in a 'ratified' status rather than 'out for consultation'.... I'll check this evening...

[RichardO]

Nope, it's for consultation at the mo (I have my copy here - tis colour coded yellow and says "Proposed" at the beginning)

I'm still trying to formulate a response - and figure out where I'm supposed to send it . The mag and MSA website are not very helpful about that ☹️

 

R

 

 

[neil.cavanagh]

cool! 😬

Let me know address details for respones so I can send my comments in to....

[Mark Durrant]

All

 

It is my intention to discuss this with Brian Lyall and to formulate a response on behalf of the club. When I know how and where to send feedback I'll let you know.

 

Mark D

Comp Sec

 

[Graham Perry]

God idea Mark. I can imagine it would be a nightmare to regulate in a kit car championship

[Mr Happy]

well it would stop you all form change your exhaust for the MOT.

 

TM

 

[Powderpuff]

If you're competing in a road legal class, then surely your car should be road legal, including a cat if you need one to pass your MOT.

 

It's easy enough for the scrutineers to police just by asking for your V5 to confirm date of registration, because of course everyone should take their documents with them to present to the scrutineer to prove road legality (silly thing is I've been asked by one scrutineer for mine so I now always carry them)

 

Now where's the pokey stick smiley

[Grahame W]

Although it ought to be, I am not sure it is as clear cut as suggested. It appears my late 2000 reg car was somehow SVA'd without a cat and therefore in the current MOT database has no emissions data so is not tested for emissions at MOT time.

 

If the older pre cat cars end up with an advantage, maybe we could make the class structure really complex with a 'classic' class (not the caterham live axle interpretation of classic) and as old cars always run on cross ply tyres, well then there is a use for all those ACB 10's as well

 

(lights blue touch paper and runs like hell for cover!!)

[RichardO]

If you're competing in a road legal class, then surely your car should be road legal, including a cat if you need one to pass your MOT.

 

A slight problem with that argument being that the proposed reg applies to ALL competing cars, not just the road legal ones.

 

A second problem is that a V5 doesn't show whether or not your car has a cat fitted at the moment, only (perhaps) whether it should have one. But simply going off the date is not foolproof - cat rules for road going vehicles did not have a simple cut off date.

 

I'll grant you that the V5 date gives some guidance as to whether the scrutineer should be looking for a cat. But on a lot of cars cats are not exactly visible - and who's to say what's inside the casing even when they are? A scrutineer is going to have to turn up with an emission tester to check - and you could fail test that even with a cat fitted.

 

Not a very enforceable rule IMHO.

 

R