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Old 25 May 2018, 16:24 (Ref:3824581)   #1
JohnD
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JohnD should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridJohnD should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
That yellow earth lead...

The MSA Regs say, "J. 5.14.5. Have the battery earth lead, if not readily
distinguishable, identified by a yellow marking."

I've been told that this was so that a marshal with a bolt cutter could disable the battery quickly. That need was made redundant by the FIA cut-out switch that is now mandatory, but is still there.

Does anyone know when the yellow earth lead regulation fiirst came in? Is this the oldest regulation of them all?

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Old 26 May 2018, 21:27 (Ref:3824830)   #2
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It was in the Blue Book in 1991 when I started hill climbing.
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Old 27 May 2018, 13:17 (Ref:3824921)   #3
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It was in the blue book when I started in 1970. We always had a master switch, but when it's turned off the cable from battery to switch is still live.
But don't remember an one having the earth lead cut by the marshals.
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Old 27 May 2018, 16:33 (Ref:3824965)   #4
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Thank you, 911thillclimber and Unit 2 Racing (John)!
That takes it back to 1970, but John recalls a 'master switch' as well.

So another Q is, when was a cut-out/master switch in the main live battery lead made mandatory? Before 1970, I presume?

The Blue Book is a mish-mash of old and new regs, which an evolving body of rules will and should be, not letters writ on stone. I just wonder if this one is a fossil, introduced before living memory, and never repealed, when the Cut-out (save for John's point on the battery-to-switch cable still being live) makes the bolt-cutters redundant.
I don't think that marshal's posts carry bolt-cutters, but Rescue Units do.
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Old 27 May 2018, 17:37 (Ref:3824998)   #5
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I raced a Special Saloon until the end of the 1970 season, and we were not required to have an external cut-out switch, or a yellow earth lead.
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Old 27 May 2018, 17:39 (Ref:3825001)   #6
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So another Q is, when was a cut-out/master switch in the main live battery lead made mandatory? Before 1970, I presume?
Doesn't have to be in the main live lead. All the electronic versions (Cartek etc) cut the earth not the live.
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Old 27 May 2018, 20:50 (Ref:3825100)   #7
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Late 70s when I started, we didn't need a cut out switch (speed events) but did have to have a yellow earth lead.

Looks like it's a "legacy law".


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Old 28 May 2018, 12:09 (Ref:3825216)   #8
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I raced a Special Saloon until the end of the 1970 season, and we were not required to have an external cut-out switch, or a yellow earth lead.
The requirement for external cutout came out in 72 or 73.
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Old 28 May 2018, 12:23 (Ref:3825222)   #9
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I started hillclimbing in 1991 in a road going car, only the yellow tape on the earth was required. Cut-out switch was required for 'non road spec race cars' (I think)
These rules stick because they are still relevant.
The Blue Book is a 'masterpiece'
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Old 29 May 2018, 18:06 (Ref:3825504)   #10
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ISTR that if the earth lead was obvious (a braided lead) there was no need for yellow marking.

I suppose even today if the cut off switch is mangled or inaccessible then bolt croppers through the earth will do the job.



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