Notes Regarding Allowable Fuels and Fuel Testing
The SSRA does the best it can to ensure fair racing and a level playing field for all competitors. To this end, they have acquired fuel testing equipment have have made extensive use of it with hundreds of samples being tested.
ISR rules do not allow the use of power adding substances in fuel. These include but are not limited to nitrates and oxygenators. Higher octane is not a concern and it is not octane that is measured. Higher octane fuel actually burns slower, lending to it's most usefull property, detonation resistance. What the rules are concerned with are power adding substances in the fuel. There are very simple and efficient methods of testing for these and the results are very consistent.
But what does that mean for the racer? Race fuels are ok as long as they do not contain any of the power adding substances. If the fuel you plan on using claims a boost in horsepower in its advertising, it probably will not pass the fuel tests. Some examples of fuels in the VP lineup which are ok to use are the popular C12 and C14 blends. Popular examples of fuels which will not pass are any of the "U" or "MR" fuels and DRT (to name just a few). These fuels are heavy in oxygenators.
As a rule, gasoline purchased at the pumps is OK as long as the competitor does not add anything to it. The SSRA has found many circumstances where the fuel failed even though the racer claimed it was purchased at the pump. Indeed the fuel was purchased at the pump but additives were then mixed in. Some of the additives that were used and caused fuel to fail included OE brand fuel conditioners and de-icers, octane boosters (not because of the octane boost but because of the other additives in the product), NOS brand additives and several other types of additives containing nitromethane.
In field testing of fuel, it is simply a "pass" or "fail" situation. The sactioning body does not have to provide an indepth chemical analysis to determine exactly what brand addtives are there. Rather, they just determine whether they are there or not. The equipment used is very consistent, quick and accurate.
Fuel testing, while sometimes a source for some heated discussion, has been found to tighten the competition significantly and contribue to fair racing.
Allowed gasoline and lubricants:
a. Only a commercially available non-oxygenated pump gasoline that complies with these rules is allowed. (The term “pump gasoline” includes fuels dispensed from service station pumps and racing fuels that are commercially available in fuel cans and drums.) The gasoline may be mixed with petroleum, vegetable, or synthetic based lubricants. The use of oils, fuels (including gasohol), and additives that provide power-boosting characteristics are strictly forbidden.
b. Only motor fuel compounded of standard pump gasoline and an acceptable lubricant are allowed. Additives that produce power more than that produced by standard pump gasoline and petroleum base oil shall not be permitted. The list of unacceptable additives includes, but is not limited to, alcohol, nitrates, and other oxygen bearing compounds.
c. Aerosol cans of ether are allowed at sanctioned races for starting purposes. No driver will be allowed to carry such cans on their person or their snowmobiles during the race.
d. Driver statements as to their fuel components will be binding and may be verified by various fuel tests. Drivers must allow officials to test their fuel at any time.
e. In these specific classes: Pro-stock, Mountain Open, and Outlaw - commercially available oxygenated pump gas allowed (including VP Import and Q-16) and may be used as an alternate fuel. This does not include methanol or nitro-methane. All standard fuel tests still apply as they pertain to the type of fuel used.