Targeted Scrutiny Program

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August 22, 2008

The Targeted Scrutiny Program was trialled in Western Australia during 2006 and then introduced nationally in 2007. Throughout this period it has been refined, and from the start of 2009 will be the only scrutiny system mandated at CAMS circuit events.

Why the scrutiny system was changed

Prior to 2007 scrutiny involved every vehicle being checked for safety and compliance at each day of every race meeting. At most race meetings this system, by nature, allowed only one or two minutes to inspect each vehicle, resulting in long frustrating queues for competitors. The onus was on the Scrutineers to sign off that each vehicle and competitor’s equipment was compliant with the rules; a system built on a lack of trust of the competitor.

The new scrutiny program is designed to addresses the following key points.

• The onus is on each competitor to present their vehicle and equipment at race meetings in a condition that complies with the rules. As part of their entry documentation they now sign a declaration to that effect. This responsibility is unchanged from the previous system, however Targeted Scrutiny acknowledges and respects the competitor’s effort in their preparations. Put simply, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear from the Targeted Scrutiny process.

• The new system eliminates queues for scrutiny at race meetings because not all vehicles need to be checked at each race meeting. This time can be better spent on final preparation or systems checks for the event.
• When you are checked, Targeted Scrutiny allows Scrutineers to thoroughly inspect vehicles rather than the superficial checks that were conducted under the old system. The vehicle will be presented to scrutineers to allow 15 - 20 minutes for the audit.

• An essential safeguard in the Targeted Scrutiny process is the Chief Scrutineer’s ability to nominate any competing vehicle for a random audit, irrespective of whether they were audited one or three meetings previously.

Documentation

It is important that you read through the following documentation. This paperwork applies to all levels of circuit racing events.

Competitors & Drivers

• The ‘Scrutiny Responsibilities Matrix’ covers what you should be doing pre-event and at an event. You must organise for a baseline check to be conducted prior to entering the Targeted Scrutiny system (this is the same as the “Pre-Race Check” for a new vehicle on issue of the Log Book).

• The ‘Entry Form Disclaimer’ has been condensed from three forms into one disclaimer, and will be used on all future entry forms. Importantly for the new scrutiny process, the ‘Recent Competition and Scrutiny Audit History’ section of the form (along with your vehicle’s log book) tells event organisers that your vehicle:

- has been audited during any one of its previous four events, or it has had a Pre-Race Check prior to entering the Targeted Scrutiny system and is therefore not due for mandatory audit at the race meeting you are entering. If your vehicle isn’t due for an audit you will be given an ‘Authority to Compete’ sticker at document checking prior to the start of the event. (This doesn’t mean that your vehicle won’t be randomly audited or apparel won’t be spot checked, it just means that it isn’t due to be audited. Also be aware that your apparel and equipment will be subject to spot checking in Parc Ferme.)

- hasn’t been audited at its previous three events and is therefore due for a mandatory audit at the race meeting you are entering. If this is the case, the Scrutineers will organise a time with you during the meeting to do an audit. This doesn’t prevent you from practicing, qualifying or racing at the meeting prior to the audit being done. You will have signed the disclaimer to confirm that you have presented your vehicle and equipment in a condition that satisfies the rules. Key areas for audit are broken down into Safety Critical, Non-Safety Critical and Non-Safety Non-Critical according to the level of risk that the regulations are safeguarding. Non-compliances are also managed according to the underlying risk with: the Non-Safety Non-Critical requiring rectification by the next race meeting, Non-Safety Critical requiring rectification before continuing in the competition and Safety Critical resulting in referral to the Stewards. If your vehicle is due for audit, you will be notified at document checking, an appointment will be made and you will be issued with an ‘Authority to Compete’ sticker. This will allow you to compete at the event until your audit is completed.

• The ‘Scrutiny Audit Plan’ document shows you the items which will be checked at an audit and which items come under ‘Critical Safety’. It also provides a good list of items you should check as regular maintenance items prior to every race meeting.
To fill out the ‘Recent Competition and Scrutiny Audit History’ section of the form you simply duplicate the last five entries from your vehicle’s log book. If you are filling out the form and competing at another event prior to the one you are filling the form out for, let the event organisers know this in the space provided at the base of the ‘History Chart’. This assists the organisers and Scrutineers in event planning.

Scrutineers

• Download and utilise the new forms from the CAMS website. These are the only forms to be used for scrutineering at all CAMS circuit race meetings in Australia. They are not to be altered.

• Read through and take note of the ‘Scrutiny Responsibilities Matrix’. It covers what you should be doing pre-event and at an event.

• The checks listed on the ‘Scrutiny Audit Plan’ are minimum requirements. The 15 to 20 minutes you should be allowing for each audit should allow you to thoroughly make these checks and spot check some eligibility issues. This is the form to be used at both Pre-Event Checks and checks at events.

• The ‘Recent Competition and Scrutiny Audit History’ section of the “Competitor Disclaimer’ form will assist in planning and estimating the number of scheduled audits.

• Scrutineer(s) are to be present at document checking to check and stamp Log Books, issue ‘Authority to Compete’ stickers and make appointments for any audits which are due. Depending on venue facilities these checks may be in the same location as document checking or could be at the Scrutiny Bay.

• There is no CAMS mandated requirement to provide for the ‘previous’ scrutineering process at any circuit race meeting. If a vehicle hasn’t had an Audit prior to a race meeting it will show up as being due for an Audit. The Competitor can make an appointment with You for a mutually convenient time to perform the Audit at the race meeting.

• These audits can be carried out in the Competitor’s garage area on a stable surface suitable for jacking and having the vehicle on jack stands or in the Scrutiny Bay.

Organisers

• Download and utilise the new forms from the CAMS website. These are the only forms to be used for entry forms and scrutineering at all CAMS circuit race meetings in Australia. They are not to be altered.

• Read through and take note of the ‘Scrutiny Responsibilities Matrix’. It covers what you should be doing pre-event and at an event.

• The ‘Recent Competition and Scrutiny Audit History’ section of the “Competitor Disclaimer’ form should allow Organisers and Chief Scrutineer to plan an approximate number of required audits at a meeting prior to the meeting.

• Scrutineer(s) are to be present at document checking to check and stamp Log Books, issue ‘Authority to Compete’ stickers and make appointments for audits which are due.