Rules and Regulations of the Western Suburbs Slot Car Racing Club (WSSCRC).

 Competitors

 1.  The race competition will be an annual competition held over twelve race meetings, therefore requiring attendance at monthly intervals at the designated race track. The following rules will be enforced at all tracks which come under the jurisdiction of the aforementioned racing Club.

 2.  Competitors are required to attend race meetings at the designated time. If members are to attend after racing begins, but still within the time of the first group, the member will be accommodated until the meeting is unable to arrange the race roster otherwise. From that period the member will be unable to accumulate any points in the group/groups missed thus far.

 3.     Competitors that are not able to attend a race meeting are to be given their average of the year in each category. This means that, similar to the system used by the Australian V8 Touring Cars, the total tally in a category may not be known until the last round of the year. For example, if SCX rally was raced as a category in February, May, August and November, and a racer missed it in May, he would be given the average of his scores in the other three months eg. 9 (February) + 10 (August) + 14 (November) = 11.

 4.    Each competitor’s tally will be recorded monthly and displayed on the Club Website. This record will show both a cumulative championship points tally as well as a breakdown of the individual’s pointscore in the categories raced.

 5.    Competitors will earn the following points for their placing’s 1st=4 points, 2nd=3 points, 3rd=2 points, 4th=1point. A competitor who does not finish the race (DNF) will receive 0.

 Cars/Categories 

 1.    Cars will be raced in “out of the box” condition. That is, the car may not be modified to any degree outside of what the manufacturer has supplied as standard. This does not prohibit tyres, braids, magnets or motors being replaced as long as they conform to the manufacturer’s original specifications.

 2.    Cars will be raced in categories identified by brand, motor, magnet and shape. The racing committee will determine these categories. Club members can challenge this determination until a unanimous decision is reached.

 3.    Cars that are considered inferior to the category racing will be allowed to compete as it is believed that this will be to the competitor’s detriment rather than to his advantage. These cars, however, must still be of like branding and formula. (Eg. Branding = Ninco, Formula = Le Mans)

 4.    Cars may not be substituted during races unless there is substantial damage engendered by the competitor. That the car can no longer be driven shall be determined by the marshals collectively and not the competitor. 

 Race Marshalling 

 1.    Each race is to have a minimum of three race marshals. One marshal shall be designated the Grand marshal and will have control of the mains power. This marshal shall determine false starts as picked up by the race computers and inform competitors of such starts. Jump-starts made by competitors under race conditions may also be penalised by the Grand marshal only and at his discretion. No other marshal may make this decision and may not influence the decision of the Grand marshal unless that advice is called for. A false start will include a penalty of the competitor beginning a lap down on the field, while a jump-start will incur a penalty of one deslot.

 2.    The second and third marshals shall be stationed at the crossovers and chicanes. Their decision shall not be influenced by any competitor or marshal, including the Grand marshal. They shall make the decision impartially and that decision will be final. If an offender cannot be determined then both competitors shall abide by the outcome of the action. That is for example; if two competitors were to enter into a chicane together and one car was to deslot while the other did not, the result would be as it appears. The deslotted car would incur one deslot while the other would not.

 3.    It is reiterated that spectators and competitors cannot influence the decision of the marshals. As such, these should not comment on any race infringements especially when they are party to such incidents. Competitors are to accept the marshal’s decision in a gentlemanly manner and in doing so; they shall uphold the dignity of the night’s proceedings.

 Race Start

 1.    A race may only begin when all competitors are ready. Any competitor or marshal may ask for a restart right up until the point that the race begins.

 2.    If a competitor false starts the race, he will continue with the other competitors in taking the start, however with a penalty of the first lap not being counted.

 Race Incidents 

 1.    Competitors are to compete in a sporting manner and are therefore discouraged from behaviour uncharacteristic of the sport. Unsporting behaviour includes laying in-wait at chicanes under the pretext of “settling” and causing competitors to deslot when they unwittingly run into the back of the malefactor.  Increasing race speed at corners in order to take off other competitors is also considered unsporting and shall be heavily punished with a black flag (disqualification from the race) if deemed intentional. A unanimous decision is required in this case from all race marshals.

 2.   The general rule upon entry into chicanes is to allow the leading car to enter into the hazard first.  If contact is made between the cars in the chicane this rule can be enforced. If the offending party deslots, the deslot stands. If the offended party is deslotted the deslot stands with the offender only. If no deslot occurs, racing resumes as normal.

 3.     Deslots which occur in any area of the track other than at the chicanes remain, regardless of whoever was the instigator. This is, of course, unless the marshals believe there to have been unsporting behaviour present.

 4.    When a competitor’s deslot is in doubt, for example when a car slides around a corner and the braids fail to make contact; the car must NOT be checked by any of the racers in that race. This is to avoid any claims of impropriety.

 5.    A car is deemed to have “crashed and burnt” when the car is totally bottom side up. This disqualifies a competitor from a race immediately.

 6.    When a car has deslotted on three separate occasions the car is immediately disqualified from the race.

 7.    If a competitor has reason to believe that there is a problem with the track itself, the Grand marshal is to inspect the problem immediately or designate somebody else to. If fault is found with the track, any prior deslots that were associated with the faulty section of track are to be omitted.

 8.    When a competitor deslots, he is to call out quite audibly and as soon as possible, “STOP.” Racing is to be stopped immediately when a competitor calls “STOP.” A marshal should also call out “STOP” if he becomes aware of any incident before the competitor.

 9.    If a competitor jump-starts during a deslot period he may be penalised by the Grand marshal, the penalty being one deslot.

 10. If a car does not move on when racing resumes, the marshal may at his discretion, allow the affected competitor to move his car forward the amount deemed sufficient recompense.

 Race Finish 

 1.    When two cars have been disqualified from the race before half distance, the race will then finish at the half distance period. For example; if the race is set at 10 laps and two competitors earn DNF’s, the race will terminate after five laps.

 2.    When there are two competitors left in a race, the two can declare to have “settled” in their current position. This can only occur however, after a minimum of five laps have been completed and both competitors make their assent to “settle” known quite clearly to the Grand marshal. No settling is allowed at a two lane circuit.

 3.    When the first car crosses the finish line the race is deemed to be over. However, this is not an indication for the other competitors to stop where they are. To secure a finish, ALL competitors must complete the lap they are currently on by crossing the finish line.

 4.    If a car deslots for the third time before the marked finish line, but momentum takes the nose of the vehicle over the line, he is deemed to have finished the race.

 Promotion and Relegation

 1.    From the previous years results, each racer shall be ranked in order from 1-18 in each category (eg. rally). Racers 1-4 shall make up Group A, racers 5-8 Group B, racers 9-12 Group C and racers 13-18 Group D. On the first evening of the year each category is raced, this ranking will determine which group each racer will compete in. Therefore, competitors will only race other competitors from their same group in each category 

 2.    At the completion of the category, the lowest scoring racer (on the night) from groups A and B, and the two lowest scoring racers from group C will drop down a category (ie. 1 from A ® B, 1 from B ® , 2 from C ® D). The highest scoring racer/s in the lower group will replace them (ie. 2 from D ® C, 1 from C ® B, 1 from B ® A). The new groups will then be used the next time the category is raced.

 3.    If two people finish on the same score in first position, or second in group D, the racer with the higher number of wins will be promoted to the higher group. So, a racer with 12 points from 3 wins and a DNF will be promoted before a racer with 12 points from 2 wins and 2 second places. If the number of wins is the same, the racer with the higher number of seconds will be promoted (eg. a racer with 9 points from a win, a second, a third and a DNF will be promoted before a racer with a win, 2 seconds and a third). If two racers finish with identical tallies (ie. equal number of first, second, third and fourth places), the racer who was ranked higher in that category going into the round will be promoted, even if the racers started with equal points). Notice this is based on ranking and not on which racer had accumulated the highest number of points in the category in the race year. 

 4.    If two people finish on the same score in last place, or second last in group C, the direct opposite of the above is put into place to determine which racer is relegated.

 5.  If a racer misses a night, the top ranked racer in the lower group will fill his spot as a "dummy". He will be able to "steal" points from the higher group, but will not accrue points as part of his seasons tally. He will then race as normal in his own group. The racer who missed the night will remain in that group the next time it is raced. They cannot be relegated or promoted. If the absent racer is in Group D, the above rule does not come into play. Instead, the remaining racers will compete as normal with a suitably modified draw.

 Qualifying

 1.    When the need arises Group allocation can be determined by qualifying. Qualifying must always incur some sort of bonus points system for the higher qualifiers. Racers will complete 3 qualifying laps preceded by a practice lap. Practice lap times cannot be counted as qualifying times, as each racer will start in front of the starting grid. 

 2.    Throughout qualifying, marshals are to be at the ready around the track to replace the car in the slot if a racer deslots on one of his qualifying laps. A fastest lap time can still be obtained from a lap on which a car deslots.   

 3.    The best qualifying time of each racer will be ranked 1-18, descending in order from fastest to slowest. This rank will be used to determine which racers are placed in Groups A-D. 

 General Race Room Rules 

 1.    If food is present on a given race night, no car is to be handled before hands have been washed of grease, oil etc.

 2.    No hands of spectators are allowed over the track border area.

 3.    No cars are to be handled or stopped while in flight.

 4.    During race starts, no speaking is allowed to give due deference to the competitors.

 5.    The responsible marshal’s decision is final and no debate shall be entered into.

 6.    No hand controllers are to be left on the track at any time.

 7.    No weight is to be applied on any section of track even when a car needs to be retrieved from a difficult section. There is always time to do something the right way. The wrong way is often the fast way and that is when things usually get damaged.

 8.    No one is to use anyone else’s cars unless the permission of the owner has been given.

 9.    In the interests of harmony; slandering and cat calling are totally banned from the race room, as some members may be offended from the sheer delight of other members revelling in their misfortune, this should also be kept to a minimum and never done in an aggressive manner. Spectators coaching racers is also strictly forbidden.

 10.The race night should begin with a prayer in order to safeguard the harmony between members and to make sure that the night remains harmonious throughout and does not become an opportunity for malfeasance.