
2009
Rule Book
Washington

WASHINGTON MIDGET RACING ASSOCIATION 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| President | Tony Seidelman | 253 226-8003 | blindside108@hotmail.com |
| Vice president | Skeeter Flake | 206 947-0288 | rwf_arch@hotmail.com |
| Secretary | Dolan Lannan | 360 681-2313 | dolan@olypen.com |
| Treasurer | Karl Hoffses | 503 209-7860 | karlh@ridgecresthms.com |
| Board Member | Steve Gatrell | 503 761-1271 | profabracecars@comcast.net |
| Board Member | Glen Seidelman | 253 535-5849 | glenrace@hotmail.com |
| Business Manager | Tony Seidelman | 253 226-8003 | blindside108@hotmail.com |
New rules for 2009 are in bold and underlined.
The rules and/or regulations set forth herein are designed to provide for the
orderly conduct of racing events and to establish minimum acceptable
requirements for such events. These rules shall govern the conduct of all
events, and, by participating in these events, all participants are deemed to
have complied with these rules. NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF SAFETY SHALL
RESULT FROM PUBLICATIONS OF OR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS.
They are intended as a guide for the conduct of the sport and are in no way a
guarantee against injury or death to a participant, spectator, or official.
The race director shall be empowered to permit minor deviations from any of the
specifications herein or impose any further restrictions that in his opinion do
not alter the minimum acceptable requirements. NO EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF SAFETY SHALL RESULT FROM SUCH ALTERATION OF SPECIFICATIONS. Any
interpretations or deviations of these rules are left to the discretion of the
officials. Their decision is final.
The Washington Midget Racing Association Board of Directors
WARNING: The following safety rules are to be used without warranty,
expressed or implied. No warranty or representation is made as to these minimum
requirements ability to protect the user from any injury or death. The user
assumes all risk.
The safety rules shall be those contained in the
2009 Car Construction Rules, with the following additions:
The technical specifications shall be those contained in the 2009 WMRA Car Construction Rules, with the following additions and modifications:
WMRA officials shall be empowered to permit minor deviations from any of the specifications or impose any further restrictions that, in their opinion, help the racing program.
ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE FLAGPERSON/STARTER, THE PIT BOSS OR REFEREE ARE FINAL, PROVIDING THEY DO NOT CONFLICT WITH WMRA RULES OR BY-LAWS.
a. All fines and/or suspensions must be satisfied before competing in subsequent events.
| Finish | Qualify | Heat | B-Main | A-Main |
| 1 | 10 | 10 | 24 | 85 |
| 2 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 75 |
| 3 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 70 |
| 4 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 65 |
| 5 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 60 |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 57 |
| 7 | 4 | 14 | 54 | |
| 8 | 3 | 13 | 51 | |
| 9 | 2 | 12 | 48 | |
| 10 | 1 | 11 | 46 | |
| 11 | 10 | 44 | ||
| 12 | 9 | 42 | ||
| 13 | 8 | 40 | ||
| 14 | 7 | 38 | ||
| 15 | 6 | 36 | ||
| 16 | 5 | 34 | ||
| 17 | 4 | 32 | ||
| 18 | 3 | 30 | ||
| 19 | 2 | 28 | ||
| 20 & down | 1 | 26 |
Car Construction Rules
1. Design and Construction
All phases of design and construction are subject to the approval of the
Technical Director. The Chief Steward and the
Technical Director may exclude any car, design or construction, which they deem
unsafe or not meeting the
specifications, the spirit and/or the intentions of the rules contained herein.
2. Inspections
A. All parts indicated on the USAC inspection forms must
be tested by the appropriate non-destructive testing
techniques in accordance with the USAC Non-Destructive Testing Manual. This
inspection shall be performed by an
approved USAC inspection station prior to the start of each year’s racing
season. The Chief Steward or the Technical
Director may require proof that this inspection has been done.
B. Decorative chrome plating cannot be used on any parts
requiring magnetic inspection.
3. Dimensions and Weight
A. The wheelbase must be at least 66 inches and no more
than 76 inches.
B. The overall width will be a maximum of 65 inches.
C. FOR ALL EVENTS The maximum width of the right rear
tire shall be fourteen and one-half (14.5) inches. The
maximum width of the remaining tires shall be twelve (12) inches. All
measurements shall be made sidewall to side wall,
race ready.
D. FOR PAVED EVENTS ONLY The maximum rear wheel offset,
from center, is three inches (six inches overall)
measured from the inside bead seat to the centerline of the rear end center
section. Front wheel offset is limited to a
maximum of 5-1/2 inches (11 inches overall) as measured from the inside bead
seats to the centerline of the chassis.
The right front tire cannot be farther out than the right rear tire when the
right rear wheel is set at maximum offset.
E. All cars
must weigh a minimum of 1080 pounds with water, oil, fuel and driver. Cars may
be weighed prior to and/or following any event. Cars weighed at the completion
of an event may not add fuel or ballast to satisfy the minimum weight
requirements. Ballast weight must be bolted securely below the seat and between
the frame rails.
Cars powered by four cylinder, horizontally-opposed, two valves per cylinder,
intake and exhaust valves, in-line and on
the same axis, must weigh 1030 lbs. with driver.
4. Car Construction
A. All cars shall be rear drive only. Engine offset is
limited to a maximum of one (1) inch, (two inches overall), from
the chassis centerline as measured at the centerline of the crankshaft. Engine
inclination is limited to forty-five degrees
from vertical as measured form the vertical centerline of the cylinder bore. V
type engines are limited to 45 degrees
inclination from vertical as measured from the centerline of the cylinder bore.
Only torque tube type drivelines, utilizing
only one u-joint, will be allowed. The driver shall be seated directly behind
the engine and on the centerline of the
chassis. Radius rods may not be attached within the confines of the cockpit.
B. The cockpit must be located directly behind the
engine compartment. The cockpit opening must be at least five
hundred (500) square inches measured on a plane parallel to the ground and level
with the uppermost part of the body
or windscreen.
C. All Body panels must be readily removable. Body
panels rigidly attached to the frame, to prevent chassis flex, will
not be permitted. The car’s bodywork must be on the centerline of the chassis.
D. The nose assembly may not be wider than parallel
lines of the body and may not exceed the width of the frame.
The nose may not extend forward beyond the confines of the front bumper.
E. The engine must be covered with a cowling or hood
secured in place. The sides of the engine compartment need
not be enclosed. Vertical spill plates may be used on the outer edges of the
hood assembly and will be limited to one (1)
inch in height. The outside dimensions of these spill plates may be no wider
than the main frame of the car. The sides
of the frame must be covered from the firewall to the leading edge of the seat.
Forward facing scoops, or ducting,
supplying forced air induction to the injection inlets, are not permitted.
F. Right side cockpit panels may be a maximum of 33 1/2
inches high as measured from the top of the bottom frame
tube at the motor plate and projected rearwards. Left side cockpit panels may be
a maximum of 20 1/2 inches high as
measured from the top of the bottom frame tube at the motor plate and projected
rearward. Any hood or cowl panels
higher than 33 1/2 inches on the right side and 20 1/2 inches on the left side
may not extend rearward past a point 24
inches forward of the rear vertical (or most forward) roll cage tube. Side
panels cannot extend rearward past the rear
diagonal roll cage tube/brace. Sail
panels between the rear cage
upright and brace are allowed. Sail panels may not extent forward past a cross
plane established by the most rearward
part of the seat. Unique sail panel designs will be allowed at the discretion of
the Chief Steward.
G. All cars must have a floorboard or bellypan,
utilizing aluminum or equivalent alloy, extending from in front of the
engine to behind the leading edge of the seat. The cockpit floor or bellypan
must be bolted to the chassis. The bellypan
may not extend rearward past the leading edge of the rear axle. The underpan or
car bottom must be flat from side to
side and no tunnel structures, spill plates, skirts or horizontal panels may be
extended from the bottom of the underpan
of the car or fuel tank contours. For pavement races it is recommended that a
fireproof absorbent pad be used under
the engine.
H. Sun visors are limited to five (5) inches in length
from top to bottom including any tabs, extensions, etc. and may
not be wider than the width of the cage. Sun visors cannot extend above the
cage.
For fan recognition, all teams are encouraged to place the drivers’ name on
their visors in large letters.
Panels may be attached to the inside of the nerf bars providing they are
parallel to the centerline of the chassis,
perpendicular to the ground and not lower than the bottom frame tube. These
panels must be securely bolted within the
confines of the nerf bar on all sides and not be more than 10 inches in height
and 36 inches in length. Nerf bar panels
may be no thicker than .125 inch. Any loose or damaged panels, during an event,
could subject the car to a black
flag penalty.
I. Airfoils, wings, spoilers or other aerodynamic
appendages will not be permitted. The Chief Steward or Technical
Director may have any panel or part removed which in their opinion is not within
the spirit or intent of this rule.
J. With the exception of suspension components,
induction and/or exhaust systems and nerf bars, no accessory or
component of the car may extend more than 6 inches from the main frame tubes.
Cylindrical oil tanks mounted outside
the frame, behind the engine must be mounted as close to the frame as practical.
K. Rear view mirrors are not permitted.
5. Roll Cage
A. All cars must have a roll cage that is integral with
the frame and does not encroach upon an imaginary cylinder, 20
inches in diameter, extending through the top cockpit opening directly above the
seat. The roll cage must be adequately
braced fore and aft, and side to side, to secure it in an upright position in
case of rollover. The roll cage should extend
four inches above the driver’s helmet when seated in the driving position.
B. Roll Cage Construction
1. Cars constructed prior to 1/1/95
4130 steel tubing - Minimum O.D. 1-1/4
2. Cars constructed after 1/1/95
4130 steel tubing - Minimum O.D. 1-3/8; Minimum wall thickness .095
3. Cars constructed after 1/1/97
Tubular gussets must be attached a minimum of 2 inches from the centerline of
the angle being gusseted.
Gusset material must be a minimum of 11/16 inch O.D. x .095 wall thickness or
7/8 inches O.D. x .065 wall
thickness.
4. Cars constructed after 1/1/98
Main uprights forming the roll cage must be a minimum of 1-3/8 inches O.D. x
.095 wall thickness.
C. No water or oil coolers are to be placed above or beside
the cockpit opening.
6. Fuel System
A. A conventional tail tank, fuel cell and the fuel
contained must be carried on the centerline of the chassis and be
located behind the driver. The conventional tail tank shape cannot be modified
and must be of one-piece construction.
Any tail tank surface that is modified to provide access for the fuel cell must,
when covering this opening, maintain the
same shape as the original tank. Any cover used must be securely bolted around
its entire perimeter. No spill plates,
skirts or air deflectors may be attached or use to aerodynamically enhance the
tail tank. The tail tank must be
constructed and supported in a manner that will insure every precaution has been
taken to avoid rupture or breakage.
Tail tanks may not be made from aluminum, carbon fiber or carbon/Kevlar
material.
The minimum capacity of the tank must be 18 U.S. gallons.
A protective cover may be used on the top of the tail tank providing it is no
more than 9 inches in height, 12 inches in
length and not wider than the top (head rest) of the tank.
B. Fuel tanks may not be mounted to the chassis
utilizing any portion of the access plates or the nut plates bonded
into the fuel bladder. All access covers must be made of material equal to or
greater than 2024 T4 aluminum .1875 in
thickness.
C. It is highly recommended that the fuel tank have an
adequate supporting structure under the forward section of the
lowest portion of the tank. This structure should follow the contour of the tank
and be welded or securely attached to the
frame of the car on each side.
D. When mounting the fuel tank to the chassis, all
mounting points must have inner and outer plates attached to the
shell. These plates must be of adequate size to insure the tank being secure to
the chassis. All tanks must have a
minimum of four mounts to the chassis.
E. A flush-type cap is mandatory. The top access cover
must be installed in direct contact with the fuel cell.
F. The tank vent must have a check valve.
G. The engine must be equipped with a shut-off device
located within easy reach of the driver.
H. All cars must be equipped with a fuel cell and tail
tank meeting USAC and SFI Specifications 28.2.
7. Firewall
An effective firewall of metal at least 0.0625 inch thick or other approved fire
retarding material must be installed
between the engine compartment and the cockpit. It must be as leak proof as
practical. The motor plate may not be
made from carbon fiber, honeycomb, or other composite materials.
8. Revolving Parts
A suitable guard must shield all revolving parts inside the cockpit.
9. Bumpers
A. The car must be equipped with a rear bumper securely
fastened to the structural components of the chassis and
designed without any stubs pointing downward.
B. The bumper should follow the contour of the tail and
have adequate clearance to permit moving the car by the
bumper. The bumper must be squared at the rear.
C. The bumper must be constructed of SAE 4130 or
equivalent tubing with a minimum O.D. of 7/8 inch and having a
minimum wall thickness of .065 inch and a maximum wall thickness of .120 inch.
No ballast is allowed in the bumper
tubing.
D. All cars must have a tubular front bumper with a
minimum O.D. of 3/4 inch extending forward not more than 21
inches from the leading edge of the front axle. Bumpers must be constructed so
as not to cause a safety hazard.
10. Nerfing Bars
A. All cars must be equipped with rear wheel nerf bars.
The right rear nerf bar cannot extend beyond the outside of
the right rear tire when the right rear tire is at maximum offset.
B. Nerf bars must be constructed from 4130 or equivalent
tubing having a maximum O.D. of one inch and a minimum
O.D. of 7/8 inch. Wall thickness is limited to a minimum of .065 inch and a
maximum of .120 inch. A maximum of three
horizontal and/or three vertical tubes are allowed in the construction of nerf
bars. No ballast is allowed in the nerf bar
tubing.
C. With the exception of the exhaust system, no
components or accessories may be attached to the nerf bar
assembly. See 404 H regarding nerf bar panels.
11. Steering and Suspension
A. The steering mechanism must be engineered and
assembled in accordance with sound engineering principles.
B. All highly stressed steering parts must be made from
SAE 4130 steel or an alloy, specified by the manufacturer as
equivalent in necessary strength for its intended use.
C. All such parts must be heat treated (including stress
relieving, normalizing, annealing and hardening when
applicable) after forming and/or welding as recommended by the manufacturer of
the alloy being used.
D. Parts may not be joined by brazing, soldering or by
dissimilar metals.
E. All steering parts that are electroplated must be
oven-baked at a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or
minus 25 degrees, for a period of not less than three (3) hours after plating.
F. Parts that have been stripped of plating must also be
baked according to the specifications in 411, item “E”, unless
the parts are to be reprocessed within a three (3) hour period.
G. Shot peening is recommended for all highly stressed
parts. Authorized facilities should be used.
H. The steering wheel hub must be padded with a
resilient material of not less than 3/4 inch thickness.
I. Removable steering wheels incorporating a quick
release mechanism conforming to SFI Specification 42.1 are
mandatory. Pip pin type mechanisms are not allowed.
J. Any welded aluminum or titanium suspension parts are
prohibited. Welded aluminum jacobs ladders (Watts
linkage) may be utilized.
K. The use of carbon fiber or other composite material
as a structural component or suspension component is not
allowed. Carbon fiber torque tubes are prohibited.
L. Shock absorbers must have all valve mechanisms housed
in a single cylindrical unit. Shock absorbers may have
only one external adjustment and may be adjusted remotely only by manual
methods. Shock absorbers cannot operate
or be adjusted electrically.
12. Axles
A. Independent suspension is not permitted. The car’s
axles connecting the wheels must be of one-piece tubular
construction without the capability of camber or independent castor adjustment
to the wheel assembly. Any other
construction will be considered as independent suspension. Offset kingpin
bushings are allowed.
B. Axle spools attached by the coping method must have
the axle wrap around the spool at least two thirds of the
spool diameter. Gusset plates are recommended on all spools.
C. All front axles must be constructed of SAE 4130 steel
or a steel alloy equivalent in structural strength. Titanium
front or rear axles are not permitted.
D. The rear end gear assembly must be of conventional
design with only one set of spur gears located behind the ring
and pinion.
13. Wheels
A. The number of allowable wheels is restricted to two
(2) front wheels and two (2) rear wheels.
B. The rim diameter must be 13 inches.
C. The rim width shall not exceed eight (8) inches
except for the right rear, which may be a maximum of ten (10)
inches. Cars powered by four cylinder horizontally opposed, two valve per
cylinder, intake and exhaust valves in-line and
on the same axis, may use a right rear wheel with a maximum width of twelve (12)
inches. (See Illustration).
D. FOR DIRT EVENTS ONLY - A USAC approved tire bead
locking device must be used on the outer bead seat of
the right rear tire and wheel assembly.
E. Wheel assemblies, which utilize a separate wheel
cover that attaches to the wheel, must have a register that is
continuous with the outside diameter of the wheel cover to prevent slippage. The
cover must be securely attached to the
wheel assembly at a minimum three positions. Small bolts or sheet metal screws
will not be acceptable. Access holes in
the center of wheel covers may be plugged or covered with a soft material such
as a plastic plug with a register.
F. All wheels are subject to the approval of the United
States Auto Club. Manufacturers are required to submit a
certified test report, from an independent testing laboratory approved by USAC,
showing dynamic radial fatigue,
dynamic cornering fatigue and hydrostatic burst tests. All tests must meet or
exceed USAC specifications.
G. All wheels should be inspected, at least annually, by
the appropriate non-destructive testing techniques in
accordance with the USAC Non-Destructive Testing Manual.
H. Splined front hubs/wheels will not be allowed. Direct
mount or spindle mount wheels are not allowed on the
right front at pavement races.
I. The use of full-face brake scoops/wheel covers on the
inside bead of the wheels is not allowed.
14. Tires
A. All tires must be designed specifically for
automobile racing and must be approved by the manufacturer for its
intended use.
B. Recapped tires will not be permitted
C. Any device(s) used for warming the tires prior to
competition is prohibited.
D. Any solvents or chemicals applied to the tire that
alter the chemical makeup of the compound or have
the effect of altering tire durometer is prohibited. Any tire which is found to
deviate from the original factory
specifications will be confiscated. The maximum penalty for chemically altering
a tire is a one year
suspension from competition and loss of all points earned for the season.
E. Any device, which allows the driver to control or
adjust the tire air pressure during the running of an event, is
strictly prohibited.
F. FOR PAVED EVENTS ONLY, all tire sizes and compounds
must be selected from the approved list for the event.
If the right rear tire is changed during an event, under red or yellow flag
conditions, the car will restart at the end of the
restart lineup. If yellow laps are
counted, this restart position could be in addition to the loss of lap/s
incurred in the pits.
The replacement tire must be the same compound as the tire removed.
15. Throttle
A. Throttle toe straps are mandatory. A minimum of three
(3) return springs must be connected to the throttle and at
least one of these must be connected to the butterfly shaft.
B. If the throttle actuating mechanism is the cable
type, the cable must be encased.
C. The throttle pedal must have a wide-open pedal stop.
16. Brakes
A. Cars must be equipped with an effective braking
system.
B. Master cylinders not fixed to the frame must have
flexible lines. Copper tubing is not acceptable anywhere in the
system.
C. Brake discs are limited to being manufactured of
steel, ferrous or aluminum alloy. Titanium, carbon or carbon
composite brake discs are not allowed. The use of carbon fiber or other
composite material in the braking system is not
allowed. Brake pad material is open.
D. If at any time during competition it becomes evident
that a car is without brakes, the necessary repairs must be
completed before the car can continue in competition.
17. Engine Starter and Clutch
The use of starters and a de-clutching device is optional. If utilized they must have a neutral position in the final drive.
18. Engine Size Limits
A. Pushrod Type Engines
1. Four cylinder in-line, two valves per cylinder, water cooled, iron block and
head with intake and exhaust ports
on the same side of the head.
— Maximum 184 CID (3016 cc).
(a) Same as (1) above, except utilizing a “cross-flow cylinder head.
— Maximum 174 CID (2852 cc)
(b) Same as (1.) above except using an aluminum block an a approved non-cross
flow aluminum
“Fontana” cylinder head.
— Maximum of 174 CID (2852cc)
2. Four cylinder in-line, two valves per cylinder, water cooled, utilizing an
aluminum block and/or head.
— Maximum 166 CID (2721 cc)
3. Four cylinder horizontally opposed, two valves per cylinder. Intake and
exhaust valves must be in-line and on
the same axis.
— Maximum 166 CID (2721 cc)
4. Maximum of six cylinders, V-type, (maximum 90 degrees), two valves in-line
per cylinder, water cooled, iron
block and head.
— Maximum 174 CID (2852 cc)
(a) Same as (4) above, except utilizing an aluminum block and/or heads. -
Maximum 166 CID
— Maximum 166 CID (2721 cc)
B. Single Overhead Camshaft Type Engines
1. Maximum of six cylinders in-line or V-type (maximum 90 degrees), water-cooled
two valves per cylinder.
— Maximum 146 CID (2393 cc)
2. Four cylinder horizontally opposed, rocker arm actuated four valves per
cylinder, water-cooled engine.
— Maximum 122 CID (2000 cc)
3. Four cylinder in line, aluminum block and head,” Pinto” engine. Alteration of
the basic design of the head or
block is prohibited.
— Maximum 155 CID (2541 cc) 161 CID (2639cc)
C. Double Overhead Camshaft Type Engines
1. Four cylinder in-line, water-cooled, maximum of four valves per cylinder.
— Maximum 122 CID (2000 cc)
(a) The stock production “Cosworth Vega” four cylinder, in-line, four valves per
cylinder, utilizing the stock
production block and head. Alteration of the basic design of the head or block
is prohibited.
— Maximum 127 CID (2082 cc)
D. Complete engines and/or major components must be available in a reasonably
sufficient supply to all competitors
at comparative prices.
E. All engines must be normally aspirated, internal combustion, four cycle,
reciprocating piston type, incorporating a
maximum of six cylinders. Only one spark plug per cylinder will be allowed.
F. The preceding engine sizes are maximum permitted. No clean up allowed.
G. WMRA reserves the right to disallow any engine for competition, which in its
judgment does not meet the spirit and
intent of competitive racing, in regards to cost and/or performance. Any engines
not covered by the preceding
specifications must be submitted for approval prior to entering a competition.
19. Fuel - Air
A. Fuel is restricted to methanol only. The addition of
any unauthorized material(s) to the fuel is strictly prohibited.
B. The addition of any material(s) to the intake air or
the addition of any mechanical device(s) essential to the
application of this material(s) is strictly prohibited.
C. Any device, which artificially reduces the
temperature of the fuel, is strictly prohibited.
D. All fuel is subject to testing at any time. Any fuel
that does not conform to the USAC standards, as administered at
the track, will be considered illegal. The use of illegal fuel could result in
disqualification from the event and/or the entire
program.
20. Ignition and Electronic Equipment
A. The use of in-car radio transmitting devices is
prohibited. Only one-way communication with WMRA Race
Control will be allowed.
B. Electronically controlled fuel injection systems are
not permitted.
C. The use of electronic logic processors to control any
function of the race car, and/or any system for gathering
continuous data from any function of the race car is strictly prohibited.
D. Any ignition, other than magnetos, must be approved
by USAC prior to their use in competition. It is the
responsibility or the participant, not the manufacturer, to obtain proper
approval.
E. Ignition electronics that provide traction control
are prohibited. All ignition components may be
inspected, sealed or confiscated by USAC at any time. The maximum penalty for
utilizing traction control is a
one year suspension from competition and loss of all points earned for the
season.
F. All cars must be equipped with an ignition switch or
emergency shut-off located within easy reach of the driver.
G. It is recommended that all cars utilize an emergency
shut off switch in conjunction with the throttle
return strap.
21. Oil Supply
A. Oil may not be added to the engine supply during a
race, without first receiving permission from the USAC
Technical Director or Chief Steward.
B. For events held on paved tracks the entire engine
lubricating system must be of the dry sump type.
C. Oil tank vents and/or breathers must be located so as
not to endanger the driver.
22. Exhaust
A. Exhaust systems must be designed to create a minimum
fire hazard and a minimum hazard to other competitors.
B. Cars having exhaust pipes passing the cockpit in
close proximity to the driver must have raised metal guards
adjacent to the cockpit to afford protection to the driver and mechanics.
C. The car may be required to have a muffler if local
conditions warrant. If so, this will be stated on each individual
entry blank. Mufflers should be bolted and clamped to the exhaust collector.
Mufflers should be attached so as they
follow the angle of the nerfing bar as closely as possible.
23. Seating System
A. Aluminum seats are mandatory. The seating system
should provide a lateral support on both the left and right
sides. It is recommended that the seat provide left and right lateral support
for both the shoulders and head.
The seat bottom must be mounted on the centerline of the chassis.
The seat must be mounted to the chassis in a minimum of four positions with a
minimum 5/16 steel bolt and nut. Each
mounting hole in the seat must have a steel (minimum .060 thickness) or aluminum
(minimum .125 thickness) doubler
with a minimum 2-inch diameter.
B. It is absolutely necessary to provide a kick-up
(roll-up) forward to the buttocks of sufficient height and strength to
prevent forward movement and/or rotation of the torso under the seat belt.
C. It is mandatory that all cars have a headrest of high
impact, shock-absorbing material meeting SFI Specification
45.2 behind the driver’s head with a minimum thickness of one (1) inch. Seats
with built in headrests must also comply
with this requirement by having padding on the seat back or on the A-Frame
behind the seat.
D. Adequate padding must be used under the buttocks to
absorb impact.
E. Seat Belts - The use of an approved seat belt with a
latch/lever release mechanism is mandatory. Rotary
mechanisms are not allowed. Both the fastening design and condition of the belt
are subject to the inspection of the
Technical Committee. Life of the belts in use shall not exceed two (2) years and
must be date stamped by the
manufacturer. All belts must have a label showing that they meet SFI
specification 16.1.
1. Seat belts must be worn as tight as possible.
2. Seat belts must be worn in such a manner that it
passes around the pelvic area at a point below the anterior
superior iliac spines. Under no condition may it be worn over the area of the
intestines and abdomen.
3. Seat belts must come through the seat at the bottom
on each side thereby wrapping and holding the pelvic area
over the greatest possible area. At any point where the belt passes through the
side of the seat, the seat edges
must be rolled or have grommets to prevent chafing or cutting of the belt
material.
4. Five or six point (crotch) belts connected to the
main belt quick release mechanism and securely attached to
the chassis are mandatory.
F. Shoulder Harness - The use of double
over-the-shoulder straps is mandatory. The minimum width of shoulder
straps is three (3) inches. Both the fastening design and condition of the
straps are subject to the inspection of the
Technical Committee. Life of the shoulder straps in use shall not exceed two (2)
years and must be date stamped by the
manufacturer. All straps must have a label showing that they meet SFI
specification 16.1. (See Illustration.)
1. Shoulder straps must be attached directly to a strong
structural member of the chassis close behind the
driver’s head and neck. At points of attachment they should be four (4) to six
(6) inches apart. They should be
attached in a line approximately 90 degrees to the seat back and be
approximately level with the top of the
driver’s shoulders.
2. Where the straps pass through the seat, the edges
must be rolled or have grommets to prevent chafing or
cutting of the strap material.
3. Shoulder straps must be secured behind the drivers
shoulders so that they are prevented from sliding
sideways more than one (1) inch in either direction.
4. Two belts joining in a “Y” behind the neck to form
one strap may not be used.
5. The shoulder harness should be worn as tight as
possible.
24. Fire Equipment
The entrant or crew chief of each car must have in his pit a fully charged
five-pound dry powder extinguisher or its
equivalent. A gauge or current inspection tag shall be attached to each fire
extinguisher.
25. Fire Prevention
A. No smoking will be permitted in the pit area whenever
fuels may be exposed to the atmosphere. Anyone found
violating this rule will be removed from the pit area and will be subject to
fine.
B. Extreme care should be taken in the handling of
fuels. Where local regulations are posted, they become a part of
the United States Auto Club rules. Any individual found violating these
regulations will be subject to fine and may be
removed from the pit area. The car entrant will be responsible for the actions
of his crew.
26. Safety Equipment
It shall be the responsibility of the Technical Committee to inspect all safety
equipment prior to each event. Any
participant not complying in full with all safety requirements in this Rule Book
will not be permitted to compete.
A. Helmets - All participating drivers must wear safety
helmets designed specifically for auto racing that meet or
exceed the 1995 or 2000 Snell Foundation or SFI Foundation 31.2 Specifications
and are labeled as such. Helmets will
be subject to inspection at each event by the Technical and/or medical
representative. The use of an approved head
and neck restraint is highly recommended.
B. Uniforms - All drivers must wear fire resistant head
sock/helmet skirt, underwear, socks, shoes, gloves and a onepiece
uniform fitted snugly around the neck, wrists and ankles. It is recommended that
these items meet SFI
Foundation Specifications 3.2A and 3.3
C. Arm Restraints - Arm restraints are mandatory and
must be worn at all times during competition.
D. Roll Cage Nets - It is recommended that all cars be
fitted with roll cage nets on both the left and right sides of the
roll cage for all events. All roll cage nets must conform to SFI Specification
37.1, which specifies a functional quick
release opening mechanism. The life of roll cage nets shall not exceed two (2)
years. Caution should be used when
positioning head restraining nets to be certain that the driver’s head cannot
get under the net in case of an accident. The
bottom of the roll cage net should be as close to the top of the shoulder as
possible.
E. Roll Cage Padding - All chassis protrusions, roll
cage tubes and roll bars in close proximity to the driver’s helmet
must be padded with a securely attached high impact material conforming to SFI
Specification 45.1.
27. Dentures
All drivers are required to remove all dentures before starting an event.
28. Car Numbers
A. All car numbers are assigned by the Director of
Competition or his designate.
B. Every car must carry its assigned number prominently
painted on the nose and on each side of the tail.
C. The numerals shall be in white on black background or
black on white background or contrasting equivalents. The
final decision on the adequacy of the number will rest with the Director of
Timing and Scoring.
D. Numbers 2 through 99 will be assigned to entrants on
a permanent basis providing a car registration has been
received prior to January 15 of each year. The number 1 is reserved for the
National Champion driver and will not be
reassigned. The use of the number 1 is not cause to relinquish the competitor’s
permanent number. Numbers may be
voluntarily released by the holder at the end of the season. The Director of
Competition may reassign numbers at the
conclusion of the season. Any number released by a competitor must be reassigned
by the Director of Competition.
Numbers may be reassigned if the number was not actually used in competition the
previous season. Other numbers
will be assigned in the order that car registrations are received.
E. After a number is assigned to a particular car and
entrant, it will remain with the entrant until the end of the racing
season.
F. Should two or more cars with the same number be
entered in a competition, the Stewards will require that one or
more cars be temporarily renumbered.
29. Car Names
A. A car may not be named after a manufacturer or
organization, unless the manufacturer or organization has given
its written consent.
B. A car may not be named after a car manufacturer
unless at least the engine was designed by the manufacturer.
C. If a car is named after an automotive product, other
than a car, the product must be used in its proper relationship
to the car.
D. A car may be named after a person, who is its
entrant.
E. Names that are undignified, might confuse the public
or might detract from the interest in competitions are
prohibited.
30. Appearance
Cars, crews and all pit personnel, whose appearance detracts from the character
of the program, may be excluded.
1401 Qualification-Order
All entries in the race, including post entries, are eligible to participate in
a single drawing for qualifying order. This
drawing will be closed no later than the start of qualifications.
1402 Qualification Procedures
All qualifications will be held in accordance with PART VIII in the current USAC
Rule Book and the Official Entry for the
event with the following additions and exceptions.
1. Any car not able to qualify within three draw positions of its original
position in the qualification draw order may
line up at the end of the qualifying order with the loss of one lap from the
qualification attempt.
2. Any replacement(s) or alternate(s) necessary to complete the starting field
for a race will be based upon the
posted results of the qualifying race(s) and/or the fastest official
qualification time, or by draw order if no times
are posted, and will be lined up at the rear of the starting field.
3. When the field of cars is insufficient to comprise a complete program, a car
unable to qualify will be able to
start last in the first available event. If more than one such car qualifies for
the feature, these cars will be
placed at the rear of the field in the order of their qualifying draw.
4. The Chief Steward is empowered to change the event format, including the
number of laps to be run, as set
forth in the Official Entry when unusual circumstances arise that demand this
action.
1403 Drawing for Starting Positions
In the event qualifications cannot be held or completed, the starting positions
shall be determined by the current season
point total of the driver and the entrant combined as they are listed on the
official qualification draw list.
1. Starting lineups will be determined as if the point totals were actual
qualification speeds. The driver/entrant with
the most points will assume the fast qualifier position. Driver/entrants without
points will line up behind
driver/entrants with points, in the order of their qualification draw.
Qualification points will not be awarded when
the field is determined by points and/or draw.
2. If more than a full field of cars is eligible and ready to qualify, the Chief
Steward will, at his discretion, provide a
modified format to include additional and/or all participants.
3. The Chief Steward will, at his discretion, provide a starting place at the
rear of the semi-feature, or qualifying
race, for any USAC National Midget Driver Champion not previously qualified for
this event.
4. If qualifications are held and the feature is run before the heat races and
semi-feature, the feature will line up
according to qualification times and started in accordance with the Official
Entry Blank.
5. In the event it is necessary to run the feature event before the semi-feature
or in the event the semi-feature is
not run, the necessary starters to complete the feature line up will transfer
according to the starting lineup of
the semi-feature.
1404 Stopping on the Course
1. A car that stops for any reason after leaving the grid and impedes the start
of the race will be placed at the rear
of the starting field.
2. At certain venues a two-spin/stop rule will be in effect. When this rule is
in effect and in case of a spin and/or
stop, only one assisted restart per race, per car will be permitted. Additional
restarts will be at the discretion of
the Chief Steward.
1405 Pushing
1. Push starts at any time are subject to the availability of authorized push
vehicles and at the discretion of the
Chief Steward.
2. Cars stalled on the course may be pushed to start providing the engine is
running before arriving at the pit
entrance.
3. Push starts under green flag or yellow flag conditions will be at the
discretion of the Chief Steward.
1406 Laps under Yellow Flag
1. In events of 60 laps or less, laps where the yellow flag is displayed will
not be scored.
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2. In events of 35 laps or less on tracks of one mile in length or longer, laps
where the yellow flag is displayed will
not be counted.
3. Yellow flag laps for indoor races on 1/10 mile tracks or shorter will not be
counted.
4. Cars stopped on the course and are restarted will be placed at the rear of
the field.
5. If the yellow flag is displayed before the field completes the first lap, a
complete, two abreast restart will be
made with the exception that any cars not completing the first lap, or stopping,
will be placed at the rear of the
field.
6. If a second restart is required, the cars will line up single file with the
exception that any cars not completing the
first lap, or stopping, will be placed at the rear of the field.
7. If the field completes the first lap under green, the first lap shall be
scored. Any subsequent yellow flags will
result in a single file restart lineup. This lineup will be determined by the
last completed lap scored under the
green flag.
8. Any car not completing the lap in which the yellow was first displayed, shall
be considered involved in the
incident and placed at the rear of the field.
9. If an incident occurs on the first lap where the yellow is displayed, and
after running laps under yellow it
becomes necessary to display the red flag, the restart lineup will be based on
the yellow flag procedure and
cars involved must start at the rear of the field.
10. A car unable to start a race that is later red flagged can enter the restart
lineup at the rear of the field.
11. During a caution period a car may be called into the “designated pit area”,
using the Black Flag, for inspection
by the Officials. If the car is determined to be safe to resume racing, and no
work of any kind is performed, it
may return to its pervious position.
1407 Repositioning
Any driver who improves his or her position during a start or restart by passing
other cars before a designated point on
the track shall be guilty of a violation. The penalty will be a repositioning of
the car rearward two positions for each car
passed. This penalty will be assessed at the next yellow caution period if
possible or in the Official Finish of the race.
1408 Testing - As per the sanction agreement with the USAC Race Organizer,
practice and/or testing during the five
calendar days prior to a racing event is not permitted. The term “racing event”
means all official USAC sanctioned
functions at the track in conjunction with this race, beginning with the first
day of USAC sanctioned practice. Teams
who engage in such unauthorized practice or test runs will be subject to
disciplinary action by USAC
Exceptions: A. For events scheduled on Wednesdays, the five day rule is not in
effect and practices are
allowed up to and including the preceding Saturday.
B. USAC scheduled and sanctioned practices.
1409 Motorized support vehicles are required to have a plainly visible number on
the front and back of the vehicle
corresponding to the race car number