The plan is to have a stock at Exeter scrutineering. As the rule is "no spill kit, no start" the idea is to be able to offer kits at scrutineering to those that don't have them. Hopefully there will be some available at various ACTC events over the autumn, but that depends on how well Tim Wellock's niece get on with stuffing the kits into bags. You can also buy on line (not from Tim) at www.msaspillkits.co.uk but you'll have to pay postage on those.
Cat litter, a pooper scooper, a couple of plastic bags and a pair of rubber gloves from Asda.
And whllst your at it, tell the MSA what a load of rubbish thay dictate to us. One of our farmer friends told me not to cover spilt oil with something that his cows might eat, they are quite capable of avioding smelly oil but are likely to try the remaining granules of absorbent material that we are unable to get out of the grass. Just kick some dirt over it was his response.
There must be a job in Brussels for the bright spark that thought of this rule.
There are no loose granules with the MSA approved kit and plastic bags are provided for the absorbent pads to be removed. Nothing left for those cows to eat. If anyone wants me to bring some down from New pig I should be marshalling at Carsington. Cost depends on how many I bring of course. An indication of numbers would assist. I have no connection with the supplier New Pig.
And remember also that any club organising a classic trial needs to have a medium size kit at every section and Special Test. I rang the MSA to get a specification for the medium sized kit and he realy coudnt tell me anything specific. Apparently there is no requirement to have granules AND absorbant mat/s in the medium kit. So long as you have something that will absorb 7 litres of oil or fuel thats OK. Thats what I was told by the MSA. Anyone know otherwise? So how did the manufacturers of the kits know what to put in them? We will be making our own.
My MSA scrutineer friend tells me not to buy the kits with granules as the granules are hard to clear up, rather buy the kits with absorbent pads. Stuart Harrold
Surely a pad is of no use on rough ground if a spill has already occured rather than in the process of occuring (if that sounds OK) I think this just highlights that there was not enough thought put into designing the specification by the MSA in the first place for trials , (classic, sporting and PCT/PCA) I do realise that we must be seen to be doing something so another answer MAY be that ANY kind of kit is acceptable but if we are going to have a kit it may as well do the job it is designed to do!!! Ile stick with my pad and granules I already have.
Did the MSA in its research , calculate the environmental impact of manufacturing and distributing the thousands of kits , relative to the infrequent usage ?
I have changed a number of broken diffs. 'in the field' ,[ 3 on Normans Hump ! ] I can assure you the oil is collected in a drip tray for refilling the axle . The residue in the bottom of the tray [with 'the bits' in] , goes back in the boot of the car , where it conveniently spills , stopping the boot floor from rusting . Any spillage during the diff. swapping operation is quickly absorbed by the necessary layers of warm clothing , which wick it up ,as it as it runs down ones arms!
What a small item to cause such discussion. I would imagine the thoughts of MSA were mostly to prevent unwary ordinary motorists coming across a patch of slippery stuff on the tarmac roads and ending up in the nearest hedge. If for the cost of a few pounds we are able to continue our sport then the cost is insignificant. The only thing that I think should be mandatory is the addition of a small sticker, similar to the battery cut off label so that the general public can see that we are carrying one and are thinking of the environment.
I suppose it's got to be good for the image of the sport, but what a load of rubbish. What next..... tow a roller behind the car to flatten-out the ruts?
Seems to me that some suppliers are making a healthy profit on these spill kits, some costing upwards of £10. All you need is a number of pads that are capable of absorbing 1.25 ltrs of liquid, usual 2, and a suitable plastic bag for disposal of. Even RS Components sell these pads for less than £1 each, albeit you have to buy them in packs of 20. As for the medium spill kit, all that is needed are pads that will absorb 7 ltrs, typically 9 pads. Most pads are liquid specific, ie oil pads will only absorb oil, not water or acid, so make sure you buy pads that will absorb oil,acid, anti freeze etc. RS do a pad pt no 405 7000 that covers most liquids. Of course you can also carry a bag of absorbent granules, known as "chicken s**t" in the trade, but this is messy. I notice the regs for disposal of contaminents is vaque. I imagine these regs would come under commercial rather than domestic rules. If they do, it is very time consuming, too say the least. On a lighter note, surely a bog roll can be classified as an absorbent pad, and of course has other uses on a trial? I always used to carry a kitchen roll and a few Sainsburys bags, I even kept the oil contents of a diff in a plastic bag in the boot for over a year without any leakage. (other supermarket bags are available).
Lots of comment going on about spill kits lately. Without wishing to detract from Tim Wellocks sales I have purchased mine from good old ebay £5 including P&P for the correct MSA approved small spill kit type, absorbent pads not granules .
Because I earn my living from being involved in agriculture I feel the absorbent pads are the best. If you have a spill in a field & pour granules on and do not clear all material up cattle because of their inquisitive nature will lick them . Ironically if a pool of oil is left to soak into the earth cattle will not touch it because its not very nice on the tongue!
Also because the spill kit rule is mandatory from 1/1/12 I prefer to be ready just say for instance there were not enough to supply everyone at scrutineering. No kit no start
I seem to remember spill kits will be available at scruitineering but I can't remembr if this was ACTC or MCC events
ReplyDeleteMichael
Tim Whellock was selling them at the MCC Testing Trial and I think he said they would be available at MCC scrutineering but don't quote me!
ReplyDeleteThe plan is to have a stock at Exeter scrutineering. As the rule is "no spill kit, no start" the idea is to be able to offer kits at scrutineering to those that don't have them. Hopefully there will be some available at various ACTC events over the autumn, but that depends on how well Tim Wellock's niece get on with stuffing the kits into bags. You can also buy on line (not from Tim) at www.msaspillkits.co.uk but you'll have to pay postage on those.
ReplyDeleteCat litter, a pooper scooper, a couple of plastic bags and a pair of rubber gloves from Asda.
ReplyDeleteAnd whllst your at it, tell the MSA what a load of rubbish thay dictate to us. One of our farmer friends told me not to cover spilt oil with something that his cows might eat, they are quite capable of avioding smelly oil but are likely to try the remaining granules of absorbent material that we are unable to get out of the grass. Just kick some dirt over it was his response.
There must be a job in Brussels for the bright spark that thought of this rule.
Try New Pig LTD in Glasgow. Cheap at £4.00 if you buy 20+
ReplyDeleteQuick delivery
Try Fleabay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/msa-regulation-spill-kit-race-rally-off-road-/260841658263. Cheap enough at a fiver.
ReplyDeleteThere are no loose granules with the MSA approved kit and plastic bags are provided for the absorbent pads to be removed. Nothing left for those cows to eat.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants me to bring some down from New pig I should be marshalling at Carsington. Cost depends on how many I bring of course. An indication of numbers would assist. I have no connection with the supplier New Pig.
And remember also that any club organising a classic trial needs to have a medium size kit at every section and Special Test. I rang the MSA to get a specification for the medium sized kit and he realy coudnt tell me anything specific. Apparently there is no requirement to have granules AND absorbant mat/s in the medium kit. So long as you have something that will absorb 7 litres of oil or fuel thats OK. Thats what I was told by the MSA. Anyone know otherwise? So how did the manufacturers of the kits know what to put in them? We will be making our own.
ReplyDeleteThe kits available from several sources all seem to have MSA approval. New Pig certainly have larger kits available.
ReplyDeleteI would take the "MSA Approved" tag with a little suspicion. Have their kits ACTUALLY been seen or the spec approved by the MSA? Marketing talk?
ReplyDeleteMy MSA scrutineer friend tells me not to buy the kits with granules as the granules are hard to clear up, rather buy the kits with absorbent pads.
ReplyDeleteStuart Harrold
Surely a pad is of no use on rough ground if a spill has already occured rather than in the process of occuring (if that sounds OK) I think this just highlights that there was not enough thought put into designing the specification by the MSA in the first place for trials , (classic, sporting and PCT/PCA) I do realise that we must be seen to be doing something so another answer MAY be that ANY kind of kit is acceptable but if we are going to have a kit it may as well do the job it is designed to do!!! Ile stick with my pad and granules I already have.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteAs has been said, New Pig: http://www.newpig.com/uk/spill-kits/mro-spill-kits/pigreg-motorsport-spill-kits/
Another place to try would be suppliers to forestry contractors - people need these for operating and refueling chainsaws.
Cheers
Mike Wood
Did the MSA in its research , calculate the environmental impact of manufacturing and distributing the thousands of kits , relative to the infrequent usage ?
ReplyDeleteI have changed a number of broken diffs. 'in the field' ,[ 3 on Normans Hump ! ]
I can assure you the oil is collected in a drip tray for refilling the axle . The residue in the bottom of the tray [with 'the bits' in] , goes back in the boot of the car , where it conveniently spills , stopping the boot floor from rusting .
Any spillage during the diff. swapping operation is quickly absorbed by the necessary layers of warm clothing , which wick it up ,as it as it runs down ones arms!
What a small item to cause such discussion. I would imagine the thoughts of MSA were mostly to prevent unwary ordinary motorists coming across a patch of slippery stuff on the tarmac roads and ending up in the nearest hedge. If for the cost of a few pounds we are able to continue our sport then the cost is insignificant. The only thing that I think should be mandatory is the addition of a small sticker, similar to the battery cut off label so that the general public can see that we are carrying one and are thinking of the environment.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's got to be good for the image of the sport, but what a load of rubbish. What next..... tow a roller behind the car to flatten-out the ruts?
ReplyDeleteThats coming in 2013 Nigel
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that some suppliers are making a healthy profit on these spill kits, some costing upwards of £10.
ReplyDeleteAll you need is a number of pads that are capable of absorbing 1.25 ltrs of liquid, usual 2, and a suitable plastic bag for disposal of.
Even RS Components sell these pads for less than £1 each, albeit you have to buy them in packs of 20. As for the medium spill kit, all that is needed are pads that will absorb 7 ltrs, typically 9 pads.
Most pads are liquid specific, ie oil pads will only absorb oil, not water or acid, so make sure you buy pads that will absorb oil,acid, anti freeze etc. RS do a pad pt no 405 7000 that covers most liquids.
Of course you can also carry a bag of absorbent granules, known as "chicken s**t" in the trade, but this is messy.
I notice the regs for disposal of contaminents is vaque. I imagine these regs would come under commercial rather than domestic rules. If they do, it is very time consuming, too say the least.
On a lighter note, surely a bog roll can be classified as an absorbent pad, and of course has other uses on a trial?
I always used to carry a kitchen roll and a few Sainsburys bags, I even kept the oil contents of a diff in a plastic bag in the boot for over a year without any leakage. (other supermarket bags are available).
From Greg Warren
ReplyDeleteLots of comment going on about spill kits lately. Without wishing to detract from Tim Wellocks sales I have purchased mine from good old ebay £5 including P&P for the correct MSA approved small spill kit type, absorbent pads not granules .
Because I earn my living from being involved in agriculture I feel the absorbent pads are the best. If you have a spill in a field & pour granules on and do not clear all material up cattle because of their inquisitive nature will lick them . Ironically if a pool of oil is left to soak into the earth cattle will not touch it because its not very nice on the tongue!
Also because the spill kit rule is mandatory from 1/1/12 I prefer to be ready just say for instance there were not enough to supply everyone at scrutineering. No kit no start
By for now Greg Warren .....