Rain Lights

Alex Hodgkinson · 14 Jan 2005, 18:01 (Ref:1201031)

This season I'm doing some long circuit karting & one rule particular to this devision of karting is the requirement of an MSA/FIA approved rain light.

I am yet to get my blue book for '05, so could anybody give me a list of MSA/FIA approved rain lights please?

Thanks,

Alex

**dtype38** · 14 Jan 2005, 20:26 (Ref:1201160)

Sorry, error post

Alex Hodgkinson · 15 Jan 2005, 01:34 (Ref:1201333)

D'oh thought I had a reply!

ianpearson · 15 Jan 2005, 10:24 (Ref:1201474)

Try having a look at this maplin electronics link, I've used these in the past on F renaults & FF2000's. The lights with standard bulbs in are very unreliable due to the vibration, these are the best alternantive i've found compared to a standard issue tatuus LED light retailing at about £100

maplin

ianpearson · 15 Jan 2005, 10:27 (Ref:1201475)

Don't think that worked very well, go to maplin site look in components then LED's, look for a 52 mm red LED cluster in black plastic housing for a tenner

ianpearson · 15 Jan 2005, 12:57 (Ref:1201533)

maplin LED light

Try this link

Alex Hodgkinson · 15 Jan 2005, 17:43 (Ref:1201621)

thanks Ian, what about the MSA approved bit though? Apparantly some of the scrutineers at (my local tracks) Mallory park and Donnington are quite picky about what can and can't be used.

It specifies in the rules that the light must be clearly visible at 45degrees either way, is this not an issue with this light?

Lola · 15 Jan 2005, 18:08 (Ref:1201638)

when using one of these l.e.d lights its a good idea to fit a 60 ohm resistor inline to drop the voltage to around 9v. Otherwise you will see them go out one by one throughout the year. I have seen these lights in catalogues with a FIA approval but they retail at arond £40 each whereas in for example R.S components they are just £12 each.

**Tim Falce** · 15 Jan 2005, 18:56 (Ref:1201659)

I can't find anything in the Blue book that says MSA approved, if you can find it in the 2004 book let me know where and I will check this years book.

Alex Hodgkinson · 15 Jan 2005, 21:21 (Ref:1201751)

the rule I'm referring to is N14.18

it doesn't actually say that it should be msa approved, my bad, but having spoken to people about it the scrutineers are quite insistant that they should be..

**Tim Falce** · 15 Jan 2005, 21:45 (Ref:1201773)

The rule is unchanged from 2004. How can you get an MSA approved light when they don't give a list? I did see that it must have a built in power supply. You can get some good high intensity LED lamps for push bikes that may fit the bill

Alex Hodgkinson · 16 Jan 2005, 14:49 (Ref:1202241)

Strangely I think that the "built in power supply" bit is open to interpretation, with many people using a seperate battery to power them and officials quite happy to accept that. It's a "fluffy" rule.

I'm now not sure wether to go for high-intensity a bike light or get that light from maplins and build a power supply on to it.

gearbox · 17 Jan 2005, 21:14 (Ref:1203259)

I'm in the same boat as you Alex. It doesn't actually say that the rainlight has to be MSA approved in the blue book, but I have also been told that it needs to be MSA approved by a current long circuit competitor. Grandprix Racewear have a cheap rainlight at around £25 + VAT which is about half the price of a similar looking one at Demon Tweeks. My brother has always used a standard fog light on his single seater which is cheaper again (around a fiver). He hasn't had any problems with scutineers, but hasn't raced it for a couple of years. I personally think I will go for the Grandprix Racewear one and run it through a seperate battery (I will be running a electronic fuel pump so I will be carrying battery anyway).

**Tim Falce** · 17 Jan 2005, 21:49 (Ref:1203285)

gearbox, I think you will find the light you are talking about is the one from Maplins for £9.99

JCR · 17 Jan 2005, 21:52 (Ref:1203293)

I am not sure if this applies to 750 Motor Club only (formula Vee regs) it states; An 'E' marked LED stoplight/rear fog lamp or an FIA homolgated LED rear warning light is MANDATORY and must be mounted in accordance with Q5 (blue book).
So there you go , it looks to me that it has to be 'E' marked, of course this could be just this particular club, probably worth reading your formula regs.

gearbox · 18 Jan 2005, 09:03 (Ref:1203574)

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcemob

gearbox, I think you will find the light you are talking about is the one from Maplins for £9.99

I think your right falcemob. Thanks for that.

Alex Hodgkinson · 18 Jan 2005, 13:15 (Ref:1203740)

I'm going to put my faith in you falcemob and get a light from maplins. Thanks for your help.

Btw gearbox, where are you racing this season?

gearbox · 18 Jan 2005, 13:55 (Ref:1203766)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Hodgkinson

Btw gearbox, where are you racing this season?

I'm going to run in the series at Darley Moor. I'm just of novice plates on short circuit and I am still a long way off the pace, so it will be a steep learning curve for me, but I can't wait to have a go!
If everything goes ok then I may enter some of the BSA rounds later in the year.
What are you running Alex?

Alex Hodgkinson · 18 Jan 2005, 14:12 (Ref:1203779)

The series at darley moor!
It's only fifteen miles or so from home for me, so it's a great oppertunity. I only stepped up to the 125 class(es) last September, on short circuits, after a couple of seasons of 100cc racing. It'll be my first experiance of long circuit karting and I really can't wait. I'm really concentrating my efforts on short circuit g/box for now though.

Are you running in the 250 or 125 class? What engine are you using and on what chassis, if you don't mind me asking

gearbox · 18 Jan 2005, 14:35 (Ref:1203813)

I'm running a 125 Formula 1 chassis with either a TM rotary valve or an SGM reed valve engine, probably the SGM as this has already been used for long circuit and will be the cheaper option initially. I've been using the TM on short circuit, but it needs some work to fit on to the F1 chassis (new exhaust system mainly) in long circuit trim. The SGM will just bolt straight on and the difference in power is very slight.

Alex Hodgkinson · 18 Jan 2005, 15:30 (Ref:1203836)

Interesting. I dont know much about the 125 engines yet as we're new to the class, but SGM and TM engines seem to be quite popular at darley. So if you have any problems specific to those motors or need any spare parts I'm sure you'll have plenty of willing helpers or doners.

I'll be using a gold typhoon chassis, which is basically a 100cc chassis, with a CRS F9 reed engine. It's been quite sucessfully run in the british long circuit champs. Inititally I'll be running in short circuit trim at darley, so I should be easily recognisable (and probably unsucessful) lol.

Have a look at this amazing video I found online btw:

http://www.kartvideo.com.au/ICC%20Ty...Compressed.avi

- now that's why I want to race long circuits.

THR · 22 Jan 2005, 23:24 (Ref:1207460)

scrtineering i come across dont seemed fussed. as long as its bright, there aint too many LEd out, and it goes off with the main switch.

but they do ALWAYS check it!
and its a right pain when it dont work, and its a half a mile walk to your pit to get a bulb, or when you do one out lap at thruxton and a mashall points at you, and your driver,comes in and the light dont work and they wont let u out again.
ever been so lucky as to change the bulb in a red flag instance and start the race again?
god i was knackered after lol.

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