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Articles > Advice for Sprint Days (incorporating New Rules for 2010)

Introduction

In preparation for the Sprint series, I thought it would be worth explaining in more detail, how things work on race days (and this will incorporate any key new rules for this season). As soon as the new rules are officially released to the CLUB100 web site, it is essential that you read them before the first race as not all rules will be covered during the drivers briefing. As in all sports, the key to the rules is interpretation and hopefully this article will help tidy up any misinterpretations in drivers minds. This article is focused on the new drivers, but I would like ALL the Sprint drivers to read it in order that we all have a common understanding of not just the rules, but the operational issues we must overcome to all be more effective on race days. In the interests of clarity, I have split this article into various sections.

Booking in to Sprint races

Drivers can book in on a race by race basis, but it is first come, first served basis. Drivers can book in by email, phone or in writing and we request that drivers pay as and when they submit their entry. Those that have signed up for the entire season will automatically be put into each race and they will be charged either up front or as they go, depending on what they have chosen as a payment option. If you are signed up for the entire season and cannot compete in one or more rounds, then you need to inform the office so we can remove you from a particular race meeting

We would also like to point out that just because you receive a membership pack, it does not mean that you have been booked in for any event. You must phone up the office and book in for each Sprint race that you want to participate in.

Number plates will be issued at signing on, at the drivers first event of the season.

All drivers that have submitted an email address will receive an online rules and regs pack before round 1. Those that have not submitted an e-mail address are expected to read and comprehend the rules on this web site.

Finally, members must notify the CLUB100 office if any details change, ie address, email, phone number, credit card number and so forth.

If in doubt, call the office.

Number Plates

If you are misfortunate enough to misplace (i.e. lose!) your number plate, then call the CLUB100 office and we can get a replacement, all for the bargain price of £5.00. This price includes admin, postage and packaging. Once you have been sent your number plate - please remember to bring it to all the races!

Turning up / Signing on / Administration

On a general note, it is essential that you all turn up in a timely manner on race days. ! Always allow a little longer if you’re going to a new track or one you haven't visited before as you may get lost! If you oversleep (!) or get lost or get delayed, then please make every effort to call us (JV's mobile number is 07768 486692) so we know you are at least turning up. That way, we can reserve your space rather than allocate it to a reserve driver who may be waiting to race.

For those racing in the morning, we request that you are at the track around 8:30am in order that we can get you signed on before the briefing at 09:30. There will be a track walk at 09:00 prompt and we strongly recommend new drivers and those who haven’t raced at a particular track attend this track walk. We also advise you to get kitted up and ready to race before the briefing. Therefore, you need to allow yourself time to sign on and get changed before the briefing, remembering that we tend to go straight into the racing after the briefing!

For those racing in the afternoon (alternating between LW and HW classes), we advise that you aim to arrive at 13:00 and be ready to be briefed at 14:00ish. Again, we request that you are fully kitted up and ready to race at this time. We may decide to brief you whilst the finals in the morning are taking place, so don't always expect to be able to watch the racing! We will allocate buddy drivers to new drivers and allocate the transponder right after the briefing, and this always takes 5 -10 minutes extra, hence it is essential that you are ready to race as soon as this exercise is finished. We hope to have you on track by 14:30ish. Due to operational (time) constraints there will NOT be a track walk for the afternoon event.

Seat inserts are available to hire on race days, but we only have 6-8 of our own that will be allocated on a first come first served basis. We suggest you purchase your own (see one of the other news articles) if you intend racing with us on a regular basis. These seat inserts are usually available in the pit lane from the CLUB100 pit lane staff or mechanics and must be returned to the same team at the end of your racing. Race suits, helmets and gloves are also available for hire on race days and the signing on team will advise where these are on race days. These must also be returned to the signing on team at the end of your racing. There is a rental charge for race gear and ballast hired on race days.

One critical operational element of race days is the return of transponders after the finals. During the mornings racing, we will have the transponder cases in the pit lane and we will advise where these are before the finals start. You must return your transponders as soon as you have finished your relevant final, although the priority is to get the next race pushed out first. Once we have all the transponders we can work out which daydreamers have forgotten to return their transponders and we can hopefully grab you before you leave the circuit! The same procedure is true for those racing in the afternoon. Don't forget we charge £180+vat for a lost transponder and there will be no debate about this should you lose it!

Finally, if you don't show up on racedays, you lose your money so its in your own interest to be their on the day!

On, and as a final note - DON'T FORGET YOUR NUMBER PLATES!

Weight Limits / Ballast

There are no changes to the weight limits this year. The LW weight limit remains at 75kg whilst the HW limit remains at 85kg (although the entry weight limit is 80KG for the HW drivers – see below). Premier limit remains at 85 kg as well. We will have two weight post's on the karts and these can carry up to 12kg of ballast. We are likely to have some ballast to hire on race days, but at a charge. However, if you intend to race with us on a regular basis we suggest you purchase your own as noted in the current rules and regulations. Remember, if you can't make the weight limit, you can't race!

The C100 scales are always available on race days, either in the pit lane or with the signing on team. It is your responsibility to weigh yourself before you race as we will be doing spot checks throughout the day. If you are underweight, you WILL be disqualified from that race and there will be no debate. It doesn't matter what you weighed on your bathroom scales, it's the C-100 scales that count!

Drivers should fit ballast as part of their seat inserts or as an attachment to the weight posts. Ballast MUST not be carried in pockets of left loose in the seat on the grounds of safety. CLUB100 officials will ensure all weight is securely fastened to each kart. Drivers will be called out at the end of the races to be weighed. Sometimes this will be the top three, other times it will be random and other times we will weigh all drivers in a race. Drivers requested to be weighed should bring crash helmets, seat inserts and pedal extensions with them, assuming they have been used in that race.

The entry limit for the HW drivers is 80kg and this means that drivers must weigh 80kg with race suit and crash helmet. HW drivers will NOT be allowed to use their seat inserts for this 80kg check, on the grounds that their seat inserts may contain ballast to make the 85-KG limit.

We will again run the Super Heavyweight class this year (which will run as part of the main HW series) for drivers who weight 90KG or over (this includes a drivers race suit and crash helmet). SHW drivers will also be checked over the course of the season to ensure they are actually over 90KG.

All female racers racing in the LW class will have to make the 70kg weight limit.

Getting ready for races

The amount of laps for the heats and finals will be communicated to the drivers either during the briefing or before the races begin. The amount of laps will vary depending on weather conditions and length of circuit and please remember this is at our discretion. Its better to be ahead of the game and then get longer finals, although we always endeavour to give sufficient laps in the heats as well.

The pit lane co-ordinator (usually Jeremy Dart, Steve Dart or John Vigor) will call out all the drivers for the next race as soon as the previous race has been pushed out. Drivers in the next race are expected to proceed to the pit lane where they will be allocated their karts. It is always best to check before jumping into the kart you believe is yours for that race, as a driver may be missing and everyone may have moved up one place! Therefore, wait to be allocated your kart. Once this is done, you will need to fit the transponder onto the kart. It is essential that this is done correctly and the pin is pushed right the way through to prevent the transponder popping out. If you don't fit the transponder correctly, it will fall off during the race and you will get no points in that race!

This was a bit of a problem in years done by and we request that you always check the transponder is fitted correctly or ask a member of staff to check it for you. If you notice the transponder holder is loose, broken or likely to fall off, then tell a member of staff and we will check it for you. Should your transponder fall off during a race, try to remember where it flew off the kart (assuming you see it go!) as this will help us find it and save you £180+vat!!

You will also have to fit your number plate securely before your race, using pins to help you secure it top and bottom. All the pins for the transponders and number plates should already be on the karts, but the pit lane staff will have spares if they are missing, The same applies for adding ballast to your kart, as the pins should already be resident on the weight posts. Please ensure the ballast if securely fitted before leaving the pit lane.

It is also worth checking a few component parts of the karts before you leave the pit lane. We suggest you check the brakes, air box (ensure the holes are not pointing towards your racesuit), seat (to ensure it is not lose), throttle cable (opening fully?), exhaust and brackets (remember it is hot!) and all steering parts to ensure none are loose. Your kart should have enough fuel for the race, but always ask if you are in doubt. You should also ensure your petrol cap is done up. The more experienced drivers will always give you good advice about what to check for.

One constant problem on Sprint days, is drivers turning up for races at the last moment, doing a few checks and then asking for help. This will no longer happen this year and we suggest you arrive early (once called) and check your kart there and then. Once the previous race has finished and we have all the pushers to get the next race started, we intend to start. If you arrive late and want changes made, it will be too late.

On the subject of pushers, we request that you stay close to the pit lane on all occasions in order that we can call on you to help push the races out. The priority at every event, is to get the next race pushed out and we request that you ALL be prepared to push out the next race when called. The pit lane supervisor will call for pushers once the last lap board is out and we expect you to all rush over to the pit lane and make sure there are two of you behind every kart. As we will still not have enough pushers, we further request that those drivers finishing the previous race park up in the pit lane (where directed) and jump out to help push out the next race. You should leave your transponder and number plate and focus on pushing out the next race, returning to get your bits and pieces when that race is out on track. We lose so much time in turning these races round, so please try to help us overcome this operational headache by adhering to this request. Those who slope off and don't push will be singled out and embarrassed on the PA system by the staff!

Finally, if you miss your race, its your own fault and their will be no chances to race in a later heat in that round. Sorry.

The race

Once out on track you should form up in grid order, remembering who you are starting behind. Try to leave a gap between the two rows of karts forming up (keeping to the outer edges of the circuit), in order that those that had problems starting can catch up and make their way up the grid to pick up their correct starting positions. If you think someone is jumping grids, then pull alongside and make some meaningful and constructive signals to them or signal to the officials that someone is jumping the grid. Drivers who jump grids will be docked places, so if you were meant to start on grid 6 and jump up to grid 4, you will be docked two places. The only qualifier on this rule is if the driver on grid 4 fails to pick up his grid position. It is every drivers responsibility to make every effort to slot into their correct grid position, but if drivers fail to do this or do it in a timely manner we will start the race and not dock that driver who has made up places. This decision will be made by the officials based on what they see.

If you spin off on the warming up laps, we are not at liberty to wait for you and the same applies if you are struggling to keep up with the pack. Its sounds a bit tough, but we have to progress the races as fast as possible to get through the program. At the start of the race, the pace kart will pull off the circuit and leave the pole man to control the pace to the start line. We do not expect the pole man to just floor the throttle at this point, so please keep an even but sensible pace until you see the green light come on or the flag drop. If the grid two man jumps the start, then they will be docked two places for their efforts, unless they wave the pole man back through immediately. The only exception to this is if the pole man deliberately brakes or slows to ensure the grid two driver gets a penalty. Be careful!

During the warm-up laps, any driver seen excessively weaving to warm their tyres, will be deducted two grid positions for the final.

During the race, if your kart is not functioning properly, then we suggest you make the best of what you have and do the best you can (rather than just drive round making silly gestures at us!). At the end of the race, you can report the problems to the pit lane team by parking up in the mechanics bay. If you put your kart back in line, then we will assume the kart is in perfect working order and we WILL use it in the next race. There are only four instances in which we will give you points back for kart failures in the race and these include engine seizure, complete carb failure, complete ignition failure and complete brake failure. In any of these cases, a member of staff will have to validate the problem and then confirm that your points for the position you were in (on the lap before the failure) are to be awarded back to you. Please note the words 'complete' as partial failure will not count. If your brakes are not completely broken, then you will NOT get points back. We therefore suggest you struggle on to the finish unless your kart completely fails from one of the items noted above or you feel it is unsafe to continue. No other points will be awarded and all other failures are covered by the force majeure rule.

If you get a penalty board then, (surprise surprise) you have received a penalty in that race. A minor offence (contact with another competitor that results in the driver gaining a position) will receive a 2 place grid deduction for the final whilst a more serious offence (i.e. contact that means the other party has been knocked off the track) will incur a 4 place grid deduction for the final and any further incidents in that same race will then result in the black flag. If a driver gets two 4 place penalties twice in any race meeting, then they will be black flagged after the second offence. In addition to these penalties, the officials will black flag any driver that causes a multiple accident (involving 2 or more karts). The decision for these penalties rests with the clerk of the course and the observers, no one else. They will only judge on what they see (i.e. if they don't see it, they can't judge on it). Your penalty will be communicated to you at the end of the race and some of you are going to have to learn to live with the decisions made! The pit lane staff will try to convey as much information about the penalty as possible, but as always - they are just passing on the message! Please try not to abuse those passing on the penalty as you are likely to receive a verbal warning or (if severe) you will be disqualified and prevented from racing in your next race (be it heat, final or first race at the next event) or asked to leave the circuit. We all know how frustrating it is to get a penalty (and lets face it, most of you are always innocent by your own account) but try to contain your tempers ... just for once! Also, we have rules for dirty driving such as driving another competitor off the circuit and you will be black-flagged and given zero points if you drive in this manner. You will also be docked a minimum of two grid positions for the final for overtaking on a yellow flag, but this may be more severe if you overtake more than one driver. You are of course, allowed to wave drivers back through into their position, if you realise your mistake, and this also applies if you accidentally knock someone out of the way whilst racing BUT it must be done immediately after the incident.

One key rule that we are very serious about is drivers acknowledging the yellow flag. We want to see drivers raise a hand under yellow flags and back off as required in a dangerous situation. Failure to do so may result in a penalty as identified in the rules.

If you attempt to adjust the carburettor during the race, you will be black flagged and disqualified. If you do this on the practice laps prior to the race you will be black flagged and not allowed to take part in the race.

If you are involved in an accident and your kart is damaged, then you will be out of the race although you will get points for finishing last (or close to last!). This applies under a red flag incident as well, so don't expect to get a replacement kart if the red flag comes out. Under the red flag, you will not be allowed to have any adjustments made to your kart before the restart.

To be classified as a finisher and to score points in the race, you will need to finish the race within two laps of the winner.

During the race, if you receive the blue flag then please move over to allow the leaders past, remembering that there may be more than one driver in the lead group. A lot of good races were ruined by bad driving by backmarkers last year, so please ensure you keep your eyes open and pull right over when the leaders are lapping you.

After the heats, we will work out the grids for the finals and post them in the pit lane. Drivers will have 5 minutes to review these and advise of any problems. However, in order to get things moving, we will start calling drivers in the first final straight away in order to get that race lined up and ready to go. It is each drivers responsibility to check their finishing positions from the heats (these results will be posted after each race in the pit lane) to ensure the results are correct prior to the compiling the grids for the finals. It just holds up proceedings if you need to query results as and when the final grids are compiled and posted.

This year, we have decided to again have 22 drivers directly qualify for the A and B finals with the rest taking part in the C final. Four drivers will again qualify from the C and B final, so please bare this in mind when you are racing. The four qualifying drivers will be weighed before moving into the next final. Drivers should note that any driver involved in an incident (overtaking on yellows, contact etc) who then finishes in the top 4, will be demoted to at least 5th place and will not make the next final.

Miscellaneous

Race control is out of bounds to all competitors during the course of the day, unless you get permission from a member of staff to enter the building.