Rear trim removal

[Whitey]

Is it within the PRC rules to remove the side platsic trim from the rear passenger ?

I thought it might be a good idea to remove it as i'm sure it will create some toxic smoke in the event of a fire and there is little chance of a rally crew sustaining injury from the sharp metal edges that it usually covers.

[fro]

Whitey, from the CAMS Manual Online, PRC Regs:

3.10 Cockpit:
(iii) It is permitted to remove the soundproofing material from the doors, provided that this does not modify the shape of the doors. In the case of a two-door car, the trim situated beneath the rear side windows may also be removed but must be replaced with panels made from composite material, save for utes in which case such trim is not required to be replaced.

Which says, yes, you can remove that trim, but only if you replace it with something else that is basically trim, anyway!

[Whitey]

Thanks Fro.

I'm sure that I have seen plenty of 2 door cars without this trim including Excels. Are the scrutes relaxed about it providing they don't believe there is a safety issue for the crew?

I'll have to check it out on Saturday

[Crazy Dave]

Very relaxed I guess, or probably coming from a different era. I am sure you could years ago or was it just that everyone did........ Anyway mine never had it on so I will have to pilfer some more stuff out of the wreck now. Good call.

[KBrallying]

What do they call "composite material"?

[Whitey]

I'm not having a go at anyone and would never raise it as an issue.
;)
I was just interested as there is no way you could get the standard trim back in in one piece once the cage is installed. It would look crap with it cut into pieces.

Maybe fabricating some aluminium sheet could be the way to go.

[HMCA]

We run all the trim including the rear boot area trim that only came on the GLS variants.

I could say its to hide all the missing metal but in reality its all still there and the trim helps slow the dust down from entering the car somewhere in the rear quarter area-been chasing dust leaks since day one.

Cheers Mick

[ernysp76]

We had to put it back in to pass scruitinering at Akedemos last year. Does then make it Group N?

[Damo666]

We had to put it back in to pass scruitinering at Akedemos last year. Does then make it Group N?

Its the same rule in Group N as PRC (as Fro has posted above), so I guess that would be yes?

[fro]

Does then make it Group N?

Nope, the section I quoted from was the PRC rules... Group N would be different again (and would depend on what was in the homologation documents)...

[simmo_24]

What do they call "composite material"?


fibreglass, carbon fibre, ect.

[KBrallying]

Was told by a scrutineer ages ago to use black corflute to replace the missing rear trim.