ROAR Elects to Not Evaluate Tank Size Testing Procedures

Press Release From ROAR Racing:
www.roarracing.com

ROAR officials have opted to not evaluate their testing procedures to see if there is a more effective way to test fuel tank size. Claims were made following the ROAR Nationals last year that they would evaluate and test alternatives, but a post made yesterday said otherwise.

"After the 2021 Fuel Nationals some questioned the procedure for testing fuel system capacity. In particular, some folks questioned the use of a pump to “pressurize” the system in order to move fuel into the measuring flask making the argument that the pressure might permanently distort a hot fuel tank. This argument was made without any proof that this was happening nor any real idea what “pressure” was being used. Following the event, ROAR committed to determine how much pressure was used during the testing.

The first part of this video shows that the pump ROAR uses for testing reaches a maximum pressure of 2 psi when connected directly to a pressure gauge. The second part of the video simulates the complete test and shows that this maximum pressure of 2 psi is approached, but not necessarily reached, for only a second or two during that part of the test where the fuel line is pinched or capped to trap it full of fuel. During the phase of the test where the system is emptied into the measuring flask, the system sees a pressure of just over 1 psi for a few seconds maximum. For reference, a reasonably healthy individual (even this 72 yr old) can generate 2 psi with their lungs.

ROAR has elected at this time not to conduct testing to measure the effect of this pressure on a hot fuel tank in the vehicle at the end of a race. That decision was made for several reasons, including:

- The measured pressures are so low that it is extremely improbable they can expand tanks permanently. Frankly, even we expected that the pressures obtained by testing the pump would be higher than they actually were.

- There has been no actual evidence offered by anyone that the test as conducted by ROAR can permanently expand the tanks.

- Replicating the exact conditions present at 2021 Fuel Nationals is not possible because no one knows how hot the tanks in question were. Any test run by ROAR would likely be immediately challenged as not being “hot enough”.

- Testing to prove something did not happen is problematic. Those looking to blame the test or ROAR can continue to theorize that simply because something didn’t happen in our test doesn’t mean it didn’t happen in Pennsylvania. In other words, no amount of testing will satisfy many of our critics.

This test method has been in use for over 10 years at both ROAR Fuel Nationals (Onroad and Offroad) as well as several IFMAR World events. It is also the method used by many other organizations worldwide. It has been used often enough and widely enough that it is the “expected standard” in RC fuel system capacity testing. As such, competitors and manufacturers should expect this test procedure to be used and should prepare accordingly.

This test method will be used at the 2022 Fuel 8th Scale Offroad Nationals.

One comment we received from last year was that courtesy tests were not available often enough. We have staffed the 2022 event so courtesy tests will be more readily available. We will also work to maintain better records of what tanks are tested throughout the event and the results obtained." - ROAR on Facebook