SUNSET SPEEDWAY - General Track Rules 2003 (Updated 13 August 2003)

All competitors are responsible to familiarize themselves with, and are subject to all policies, rules and regulations set forth herein; as well as those, which may become effective during the racing season. Rule information that is posted on the pit bulletin board, which may amend or update these rules, shall become effective when posted.

The registered driver shall assume full responsibility for the car and all members of their crew. The drivers shall serve as sole spokesman for the car and crew. The registered driver shall carry all points and handicap percentages for the car.

1. PIT RULES

a. The pits are restricted to five (5) people per car; consisting of one(1) driver and four (4) crew. Additional crew may be admitted at the discretion of the track management. Everyone must sign the release wavier form at the pit gate. People not signed in during a racing event are considered trespassers. Such people are not covered by the liability insurance provided by the speedway. The entrance fee shall be posted on the pit gate each race night.

b. Any person under the age of 18 years must have a release form signed by their legal guardian and presented to track management before they are allowed to compete or enter a restricted area. Drivers at the age of 14 to 17 years must possess a valid driver's licence or those who do not have a valid driver's licence must have a notarised release form from their legal guardians. Sunset Speedway reserves the right to reject any car or crew for any race meet.

c. The speedway will open at least 3 hours prior to race time for cars to book in. No car will be permitted into the pit area until such time as it is signed in properly. No car will be permitted on the speedway until ambulance personnel & the fire and rescue crew are present.

d. Any car arriving at the speedway 20 minutes or later prior to the start of that nights racing program will lose their proper percentage starting position in the heat and be given scratch position in whatever heat the handicapper selects. If they qualify for the feature event, they will be given their proper starting position based on their percentage. Any driver arriving less than half (½) an hour prior to the start of racing could also lose the privilege of their paid parking spot or concrete pad for that night.
e. All drivers and crew must vacate the speedway property within one (1) hour of the completion of the racing, unless there is a special program taking place on a given race night. Under no circumstances will Sunset Speedway be held responsible for property left on the premises.

f. On a given race night, any car may be subject to a weight and equipment check, prior to an official finish being declared. Cars found illegal at that time may lose all points and money won that night (depending on the severity or the disqualification): Any car that refuses inspection at the request of the track staff or as a result of a protest will be declared illegal.

g. The driver will be held responsible for the actions of themself, as well as all of their crew, on and off the speedway, and should govern both their actions and those of their crew accordingly.

h. Fighting, or striking any track official will result in a minimum 2 week suspension of driver and crew, for all parties involved. Depending on circumstances, permanent suspension may be imposed by track management.

i. Drivers and crews who have been suspended from competition for a period of one week or more could also be suspended from competition at other race facilities for the same length of time. After consulting with the other race track promoters on the seriousness of the suspension, a decision will be made as to whether the suspension will also be enforced at the other raceways. It is the driver's responsibility to find out whether the suspension will be in effect at the other speedways.

j. Alcoholic beverages and controlled substances are forbidden on speedway property during any race event. Any driver found to be consuming either item in the pits, or found to be under the influence of it would be suspended for the balance of the face meet. Any subsequent offence may result in suspension for the balance of the season or longer.

k. All drivers and crew must be clean and neat in appearance at all times when on speedway property.

l. All drivers in all divisions must wear a complete approved fire suit of the nomex type, properly fitted and capable of being properly fastened. (Nomex type gloves, socks, underwear, neck collar, balaclava, and shoes highly recommended but not compulsory.) Fire suits must be clean and free of grease and oil. No nylon shoes.

m. All drivers must wear a properly fitted crash helmet free of visible damage, with a proper fastening device, meeting at least 1995 Snell standards.

n. All drivers in all divisions must wear either approved goggles or full-face protection when on the track.

o. No crew member is allowed on the speedway at any time during the course of the race meet, (feature victory pictures excluded) without the specific permission of the pit manager/steward or the track manager. No crewmember is allowed to stand in the pit entrance at any time. Crews going on the speedway to repair a car will result in having their car disqualified.

p. All cars will be subject to a full safety, technical and weight inspection. Cars that pass this inspection will be issued a current inspection sticker to be placed on the upper left hand corner of the windshield. Any car that is not properly prepared will not be allowed to compete until such time as corrections have been made to the satisfaction of the tech staff. On opening day or any time that a new car arrives at the speedway, the duty of the track (techmen) is to check for safety items, only. Technical specs of a legal or illegal nature are the responsibility of the driver.

q. Any driver not respecting a track official or pit manager/steward with regards to speeding in the pits or on the on/off ramp will be suspended for a period of time determined by the track management and be subject to the loss of money and points earned in that race.

2. OFFICIAL WEIGHING AND HEIGHT PROCEDURE

a. The only official weights shall be those taken on the track scales; operated by the track staff.

b. Cars shall be weighed as they leave the track; with no topping up of car or driver. If a car has been selected for weight inspection, they may not go to their pit prior to being brought into the tech area.

c. A car will be weighed with the driver in the seat with their belts fastened, their hands on the steering wheel, and their feet on the pedals and their helmet on their head.

d. If the first weight taken of a car by this method shall show the car to be under the allowable weight minimum, the driver will be notified and has the right to request a second weighing before the car leaves the tech area.

e. If the car weight is 1 to 20 pounds under minimum, or up to 1% off the ratio the car will lose 2 spots off its finishing position. If the weight is 21 to 40 pounds under minimum, or over 1% but not over 2% off the ratio the car will lose 4 spots off its finishing position. Affected cars will move forward one spot.

f. If a car's height is up to 3/8" lower than the minimum height, it will lose 2 spots off its finishing position. If its height is 7/16" to 3/4" lower than the minimum height, it will lose 4 spots off its finishing position. Affected cars will move forward one position.

3. DISPLACEMENT CHECKING

The displacement and compression of any engine shall be determined using the approved P & G Meter (Boob Tube) and / or the whistler as provided by the speedway. A maximum of three (3) readings will be taken and the calculations thus derived will be considered official. A driver who disputes the findings of the P & G Meter readings, may, at his expense remove a cylinder head for a physical measurement. Cars found over the legal displacement or compression will be disqualified and subject to penalties as detailed in rule #1f.

No vehicles are permitted on the speedway after the completion of the race meet.

5. PROTESTS

Protests shall be limited to only those items, which may give an alleged illegal car a distinct advantage in competition. All protests must be in writing on the approved form and must be signed by a driver in the same division, who is signed in and competing on that night and who has competed on two previous nights.

The protest form must be accompanied with the sum of $150.00 in cash or certified cheque, made out to Sunset Speedway. The protested car will be taken into the tech compound immediately following the feature race. Only the driver and three crewmembers of the protested car will be allowed in the compound during inspection. After the inspection, the tech staff will make the decision as to the legality of the car (or part in question) and it shall be considered binding. If the car is found to be legal, $100.00 will be given to the driver of the car protested. In the event the car is found to be illegal, $100.00 of the protest fee will be returned to the protestor and the protested car will be disqualified and subject to penalties as detailed in rule #1f.

The protestor of a race car cannot be protested on the same race night.

If the decision of the tech officials is not satisfactory, an appeal may be made, prior to either party leaving the tech area, to the track manager. After discussion between the tech officials and track manager, a levied decision will be final.

All protests must be made prior to the race of the car being protested. No protests will be accepted once the cars are on the track or at the end of the race. The driver must hand this protest to the pit manager. No one other than the driver may hand in a protest.

5. TRACK REQUESTED TEARDOWNS:

When the speedway requests a teardown the following money will be paid, providing the car is found to be legal.

1) Intake Manifold $30.00
2) Intake Manifold & Cylinder Head $75.00
3) All Else NIL

6. Points and Percentage

The driver, not the car, carries the point's percentage. Percentage will be based on nights run against points accumulated.

To be able to compete in the Mid-Season Championships, the driver must have completed for three (3) weeks prior to these events. To be able to complete in the Season-End Championships, the driver must have competed for three (3) weeks in between the Mid-Season and the Season-End Championships. There will be some extenuating circumstances that will be left up to the track management.

7. RACE PROCEDURES

a. On regular race nights, starting line-ups will be based on pulling a number and/or the percentage system. The car with the highest average percent will start at the rear of races with the cars with the lesser percentages lined up in front of them in ascending order; the car with the least percentage up front.

b. At the start of the season, all cars will draw for their starting positions for the first night. On the second night, the cars will be lined up on the percentage and drawing system. New cars coming in must run one night to obtain a percent. All new cars will start in scratch position in their heat until such a time as they get a percentage.

c. Race line-ups for all meets will be posted on the pit blackboard. Numbers will be posted well in advance of each race, and the pit manager will advise which division is being called up onto the line-up area next. You will also be called on the pit P.A. to advise when cars are required on the staging area.

You will have 5 minutes to get into your line-up before the race rolls out onto the speedway. If you are not in your proper position on the staging area when the white flag drops, you will be required to take up the scratch position.

Any driver, who wilfully refuses to let a car into the line-up on the ramp in its assigned position, will run scratch.

Once the green flag for the initial start has been given, you will not be permitted to enter the track. If you have been having mechanical difficulties, it is your responsibility to notify the Pit Manager / Steward so that he can scratch you for the night and give someone else the opportunity to qualify. If you feel that you have been missed from a line-up in error, you must notify the Pit Manager / Steward, who will check with the handicapper and make any corrections.

d. All cars signing in for a race meet must be driven by the driver who has registered the car number for the season in the division.

e. A driver may complete in more than one division on any racing night.

f. All driver changes, permanent or temporary must be approved by the Track Manager and Handicapper. Unauthorized driver changes are not permitted.

g. If your car is broken during a race night, you may borrow someone else's racecar, but you must qualify or re-qualify that car. This may only be done when driver has the approval of the Track Manager or the Pit Manager. The driver's car you are borrowing must understand that they are relinquishing all rights that he has for running the car for that night's events. If the driver who has borrowed the car does not qualify the car that means the car is finished for the night and the original driver cannot use any previous qualifications to get the car into the feature race, unless there is a qualifying race left for the car to be requalified again.

h. In the event of injury to any person on speedway property, track management must be advised immediately.

i. After the race is complete, do not pull directly into the pits. Run one cool down lap before
pulling into the pit area.

j. Drivers fighting or giving officials abuse shall or can be suspended at the official's discretion. This also pertains to crew members of your car. You shall be responsible for them. No crew members are allowed on the track and there is no work to be done on the track or the on/off ramp. Only the driver may work on the car without tools. On other person is to touch the car or disqualification can result. Any work to be done on the car by the driver must be done in the infield. If he is not ready to take his position when called on, he will assume scratch position. At no time will a driver get out of his/her race car to argue with officials or confront another driver. Such action may result in being put in scratch position or disqualified for that race and future races.

At no time will a driver get out of his race car on the track to argue with officials or confront another driver. Such action may result in being put in scratch position or being disqualified for that race.

k. In any situation that may cause the yellow flag or lights to be displayed, cars should fall into a single file line, retaining their position before the yellow.

l. All cars must stay three to four car lengths behind the pace car at all times.

m. Any car that takes the original green flag in any race and leaves the track for repairs will be permitted to return to the race under yellow or white flag conditions and at the direction of the pit entrance official. Any car that does not take the original green flag will not be permitted to enter the race at any time. Once the race has gone green, no cars will be permitted to enter the race.

8. FLAGS AND PROCEDURES ON THE TRACK

a. Be familiar with and obey flags, signals, and safety lights. They are used for the safety and protection of all competitors and crew.

b. You must yield the right of way for ambulance and fire crews at all times, without exception.

c. Flags and Signals

White Flag: One lap to go before start or restart of race, or one lap remaining in race before checkered flag.

Green Flag: Start of race or restart.

Yellow Flag: When the yellow flag is displayed, all cars will slow down immediately and pull into line behind the car ahead. If two cars are running side by side when the yellow flag shows, the inside car shall take preference. Proceed with caution until line-up is finalized by starter or assistant starter.

Red Flag and Lights: The red flag means only one thing!! that means stop immediately in the safest manner possible. Failure to obey the red flag / light will result in disqualification.

Black Flag: Consultation / disqualification. Pull off the track to the infield as quickly and safely as possible. Failure to obey a black flag will result in disqualification.

Blue with Yellow Diagonal: Passing flag. You are being lapped by a faster car. Pull immediately to the inside of the racing surface and let the faster cars go by. Failure to obey the cross over flag will result in disqualification and a one lap penalty for every lap that the cross over is ignored.

Two flags held upright: Two laps remaining in race.

Crossed Flags: Midway point in race.

Yellow / Red / Green Flag and Lights: Once the problem on the track has been cleared up and the emergency has passed, the yellow light will be displayed. Only then should you proceed to the start/finish line for a re-line and re-start. You are not permitted to move from a red light situation until the red light is turned off and the yellow light is turned on.

Checkered Flag: The race is officially completed.

9. STARTING PROCEDURES

a. Initial Start

As cars enter the speedway from the staging lane of the pit area, they will form a double line behind the Pace car. If all cars are in order when they exit the 3-4 corner, the starter will display the White Flag, indicating one lap to green. The starter will pick the field up at this point and bring them towards the start / finish line. If all cars are in proper formation, the Start will drop the green flag to signal the start of the race. All cars called for during any race must be on the track before the white flag has been displayed. Once the green flag has been displayed, no car(s) coming from the pit area will be allowed onto the racetrack. Should any car come from the pits once the Starter has placed the cars into their starting positions, and the white flag has not been given, then they will have to start in the scratch positions. This also pertains to restarts. If after the cars are in double file, a car pulls out of line, the cars which were directly behind that car move forward one position. The field will not be stopped to have everyone from there back switch lanes. It is the responsibility of both inside and outside pole positions to have a fair and even start. If they are not able to do so, both will move to the rear of the field and the next two will then start the race.

b. Restarts

In the event of a re-start, the cars will be brought back to the start / finish line, and lined up in the order that they were running when the re-start was caused. This order shall be determined by the scorer as the running order in the last completed lap. All involved cars will go to the back of the pack. An involved car shall be a car that is directly involved in a crash. The decision of who shall be considered an involved car shall be at the discretion of the starter. The starter may get advice from the tower personnel as to involved cars, but the final decision remains with the starter.

Once a re-start, other than a complete re-start, the first three (3) cars shall line up in single file behind the pace car, with the remaining cars in the field behind them in double file. The cars will once again follow the pace car around the speedway, and once the pace car leaves the racing surface, when the green flag is dropped, the action starts.

c. Should more than two (2) re-starts occur during a heat or three (3) re-starts occur during a feature, not counting complete re-starts, all cars will be lined up in single file for the re-start.

d. If only one lap remains at the time of a re-start, the race may be called with the last running lap being official. This is to the discretion of the starter.

Drivers that persist in arguing following a ruling, or who hold up the race by protesting on the speedway, may be disqualified. No driver or crewmember is permitted in the Control Tower or Starters Stand during the race meet. If you have a problem, you must direct it to the Pit Manager who will contact the Tower on the radio for a decision.

Remember: You are responsible for all members of your crew!!!

Any legitimate complaint will receive a full investigation by the track staff and if the complaint is justified then appropriate action will be taken. In the event that the complaint has no basis, then this too will be discussed with you in private. There is nothing that goes on at the speedway that cannot be resolved in a quiet and gentlemanly or ladylike manner.

17. TECH AREA

a. Tech men, pit stewards or other officials will not be held responsible for any accidents incurred on or off the race track.

b. The Tech officials have the right to choose who they wish to be teched after any race.

c. Cars being teched must go directly to the tech area. Cars will be allowed the driver and two crew members only in the tech area. Car driver and the two crew members must stay with the car at all times in the tech area. Drivers or crewmembers leaving the tech area for any purpose other than allowed by the tech person(s) or track personnel will be subject to disqualification. The tech area is defined as the area where all cars that have been called in for technical inspection are lined up.

d. Consumption of alcoholic beverages in the tech area is strictly prohibited.

21. DRIVERS MEETINGS

Drivers meetings will be held most race nights after practise approximately 40 minutes prior to the start of the race meet. This is a mandatory meeting that if you are signed in to compete must be attended. If for some reason you cannot attend this drivers meeting you need to contact the pit manager or track manager and inquire as to what was said of any importance that may effect you as a competitor. Most of the on track officials will also be required to attend this meeting to answer any questions you may have about the previous weeks races. Mostly this meeting is held to advise you of that night's program and any changes that are being made either temporary or permanent. When this meeting is called it is mandatory that your motor and generator be shut off so that the drivers can hear what is being discussed. This meeting is for the drivers and drivers only to allow them to ask questions or put forward anything for discussion. It is up to the driver to relay information of any importance to their crew when they return to their pit area after the meeting.