Official Q&A: VRC 2022-2023: Spin Up

<R9.c> states: *Plastic may be mechanically altered by cutting, drilling, bending, etc. It cannot be chemically treated, melted, or cast. Heating polycarbonate to aid in bending is acceptable.

Is the specification of "polycarbonate" intentional or are all otherwise legal plastics allowed to be heated for bending?*

Yes, this is intentional. This line was included because heating polycarbonate to bend it is a common construction technique that would run the risk of violating R9-c, if it was not explicitly mentioned. Heating other materials may introduce additional functionality / material property changes that would fall under the original intent of R9-c.

<R22.d> states: Fusing / melting the end of legal nylon rope / string (see ) to prevent fraying is permitted.

Is the specification of "nylon" intentional or are all otherwise legal rope materials allowed to be fused/melted?

Yes, this is intentional. The purpose is the same as that stated above in R9-c.

If so, legal rope material such as steel or Dyneema cannot be melted easily to prevent fraying. Does "fused" include other methods of sealing rope ends such as super glue or ferrules provided the method has no effect other than to preventing fraying?

We cannot provide an overarching blanket ruling that would encompass all possible hypothetical materials / processes. The specific examples provided in this quote (super glue & ferrules) would not be legal.