Tech check cheat sheet

From Hacky Racers Wiki

Driver Gear:

  • Helmet: Must be a road-legal helmet (motorcycle or automotive). Push bike helmets are not allowed.
  • Shoes: Closed-toe shoes are required. Gloves and full-body protective clothing are recommended but not mandatory.
  • Eye Protection: Required if necessary.
  • Overalls / full coverage clothing is recommended to reduce the severity of road-rash

Vehicle Construction:

  • Sharp Edges: No exposed sharp edges or protrusions that could harm the driver or others. Edges must be rounded, deburred, or covered with protective strips.
  • Materials: Avoid weak or brittle materials that could fail during a race (no glass, ceramics, or brittle plastics).
  • Driver Safety: The driver must be fully enclosed within the vehicle, with no body part exposed to potential impacts. Feet must not rest directly on the front bumper; side protection may be required.

Mechanical Checks:

  • Chain and Gear Guarding: All moving parts like chains, gears, or transmissions must be properly guarded where a person might come into contact (e.g., drivers, racers, marshals).
  • Dimensions: Car should not exceed 1600mm in length, 900mm in width, or 1800mm in height (with driver if necessary).
  • Wheel Setup: The car must have a minimum of 3 wheels, with all driving forces transmitted through them. No caster-like wheels allowed.
  • Driver Exit: The driver must be able to exit the vehicle within 5 seconds. This will be timed!
  • Brakes: A mechanical braking system is required, which does not act directly on the tire or the ground.

Bumper Requirements:

  • Bumpers: Must be flat, impact-absorbing, and cover 90% of the car's width, with a vertical space of 75mm (including 100-150mm height from the ground). Tough plastics (HDPE/LDPE/PP/ABS/PC) are ideal. wood is fine, but will need to be at least 18mm thick to survive impacts, possibly 50mm. If you need a thin bumper for some reason, bring spares.
  • Bumper Attachment: Bumpers should not be secured with sharp (wood) screws and must be firmly attached without posing a hazard to other vehicles or barriers. Don't underestimate the impact forces! It's not unusual for wooden 2x4 bumpers to snap in a race, design appropriately.

Electrical Systems:

  • Wiring: All wiring must be secured and terminals covered. It should be routed to avoid entanglement and pinching.
  • Battery: Must be securely mounted and of approved chemistry (lithium non-LiFePO4 batteries require special handling). Soft/pouch style lipos must be in a robust metal container. VW GTE and similar batteries that are alreayd in a metal housing are ok, but their lower surface needs puncture protection adding.
  • Cutoff Switch: A visible and easily accessible cutoff switch must control all power, reachable by both the driver and marshals. Ideally it should be labelled.
  • Fuse: The correct brand/model/rating of fuse must be fitted and not active-cooled. Its not just any "30A" fuse, it must be of the model number referenced in the rules. All performance-related power should be routed through it.

Control Systems:

  • Motor Controller: The car must use a proportional motor controller (no on/off contactor systems).
  • Driver Control: Only one human driver controls the car, and they must be seated within it.
  • Steering: No remote steering allowed.
  • Motor: Must be motor-driven (no pedals) and operate at no more than 48V RMS.
  • Reversing: The car must be fitted with a functioning reverse. This will be checked as part of the qualifying

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