SWCS Bylaws

SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RULES

BYLAWS

 

I.  PURPOSE

   The Southwest Championship Series has been established to promote the hobby/sport of radio controlled automobile racing in the southwestern region of the United States, including, but not exclusively, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and/or Oklahoma by organizing and promoting safe races and events with fair competition, sportsmanship, and hobby growth as its primary goals.

 

II.  ROAR MEMBERSHIP

   All Southwest Series competitors are required to be current members of Remotely Operated Auto Racers, R.O.A.R., and are subject to its rules and regulations.

 

III.  INSURANCE

   As members of ROAR (above) all participants are insured. In addition, all hosting organizations are required to obtain liability insurance for their respective sites and have proof of insurance on record with the series no later than thirty days prior to their first event of that year. This insurance may be secured through ROAR by registering the club as an affiliate.

 

IV.  ADMINISTRATION

A.  The Series Committee is the governing body who administrates and publishes the rules, formalizes the schedule, and makes race decisions.                     

1. The Committee is composed of a maximum of seven representatives. A minimum of one representative from each host club, one representative at large (if deemed necessary by committee), and one additional representative for clubs whose participation exceeded thirty Series entrants in the previous year. A non-voting, Series Secretary/ Treasurer will be appointed each year by the presiding Series representatives.

2. Eligibility - To represent a club or serve at large, a Committee candidate must have actively participated in a minimum of four Series events in the preceding twelve months prior to election. "Participation" includes pit crew, drivers, or team members approved individually by the presiding Series Committee. Special instances may be considered by the committee to waive requirements.

3. The Series schedule is decided by the Committee and announced thirty days prior to the first race to all of the previous year's participants.

 

  B.  Series Meetings -

1. To review changes in Series procedures and ROAR rules, general Series meetings will be called periodically at the Drivers' Meetings. 

2. Series Committee meetings will be called as needed to discuss important issues, generate race schedules, and make necessary procedure changes.

a. Any member proposed procedure changes shall be submitted, in writing, to the Series representatives for formal discussion.

 

  C.  Series Committee Responsibilities-

                    1.  Secure the proper sanctioning.

                    2.  Maintain the record of race sites which are insured.

                    3.  Establish and maintain the Series Events Schedule.

                    4.  Maintain the Series Mailing List

                    5.  Collect the race results at each event

6. Publish the point standings, race results after each race.

7. Publish financial statements.

                a. Financial statements to be published after the third race and at the end of the year.   

                    8.  Publish the Series Newsletter

                    9.  Collect the Series income at each event.

                    10.  Maintain the Series account and pay all invoices.

 

D.       Judicial Committee - Shall consist of the attending Series Committee members, the Scorekeeper, and the immediate Race Director in order to resolve conflicts. This committee makes the final decision in the resolution of race protests, rules interpretations, voting eligibilities, and race rainouts. No single person will have more than one vote on any judicial decisions.

 

RACE PROCEDURES

 

I.  PRE-RACE

  A. Thirty days prior - Site permission and proof of current site insurance is provided to the Series Committee.

  B. Two weeks prior - Race Announcements are posted or made available to the participants.

II. RACE DAY

  A. General Information

1.  SWCS races will generally be two-day events. Refer to Section III-B for format.

                    2.  Events will be sponsored for the following classes:

a. 1/8 Scale On Road Fuel –per current ROAR rules.

                                        b. 1/10 Scale .12 On Road Fuel Touring Car-4WD- per current ROAR rules.

                                        c. class Eliminated (1/8 GT Spec/ Open) 

                                        d. Exhibition Class/ classes approved by committee and with a minimum of 5 entrants.

e. Novice class – New or less experienced drivers may choose this non-points class instead of racing with the regular series drivers. Normal race trophies will be awarded for each main event. Drivers who have won two Novice races will race in the existing series classes. Novice class main lengths are 10 minutes.

                    3.                 a. Entry fee - $25.00 divided as follows:

                    $15.00 - Host Club   $10.00 – Series

b. Entry fees for exhibition/ novice classes - $20 divided as follows:

                    $15.00 - Host Club   $5.00 – Series

                         To promote new participants, the first race for a novice is free.

  B. Series Responsibilities

                    1. Provide at least one officer on site.

                    2. Provide technical inspection equipment.

                    3. Provide car numbers, lap counting personnel, and system.

                    4. Provide novice class trophies and year-end trophies.

  C.  Host Club Responsibilities

                    1. Provide a layout with a clean racing surface.

                                        a.  Layout specifications

                                                            i.  Main Straight - minimum 140' inside length (18-8' inside boards)

                                        ii.  Minimum number of turns - eight.

                    iii.  Lap length - minimum of 16 seconds (4WD 1/10). If in doubt, a longer or twistier track should be established. All tracks should be pre tested by the club.

b. Drivers' stand - min. 3' height, 24' length, 3' width.

c. Start Location - For Qualifying a rolling IFMAR start is used, each car on its own clock, flag started on the track, not the pit lane. For the Mains a LeMans start is required on the straightaway with the order determined by qualifying positions for the main events. Boards should be numbered on the straightaway for car starting positions which are spaced two boards apart (~16’) with the drivers' vision unimpaired by any of the pit crew.              

                    2. Provide and maintain track equipment which conforms to ROAR rules.

3. Provide a post-race impound/inspection area to help promote corner marshalling and control of the previous heat's transmitters and cars.

                    4. Provide adequate frequency control using frequency clips.

                    5. Provide a public address system for communicating with the entrants.

  D.  Entrant Responsibilities

                    1.  Possess proof of ROAR membership at all times and ensure that his/her car is ROAR legal.             

2.  Rule deleted (car numbers).

                    3.  Purchase a personal transponder and have it securely mounted in the car.

 

III.  RACE FORMAT

  A.  General.

                    1. Seeding                               

a. When there are more than three heats of any one class, those class entrants will be seeded into qualifying heats (+ or - one) on the basis of qualifying performance in their most recent Series race. Racers who don’t normally participate in the series may petition the judicial committee in order to be moved to the top qualifying heat if two or more of their individual lap times are within one second of the top qualifier’s best individual lap time. This petition must be made to the race director immediately after completion of the first round of qualifying.

b. Main events will usually be comprised of 10-14 entries, 8-12 sit outs plus two bump ups from the 1st and 2nd place winners of the previous main, unless entry totals suggest a different distribution as determined by the onsite Series officials, the Scorekeeper, and the Race Director. This decision will be finalized at the drivers’ meeting on Sunday morning prior to qualifying. Car numbers for the main events should match the starting position. 

2. Corner Marshaling.

a.  All racers except the bump ups will corner marshal the heat immediately following their competing heat unless requested by officials otherwise. Failure to marshal is grounds for disqualification.

b.       Substitutes must report to the Race Director.

3. Starting Procedure

a. Qualifying. Staggered Start. The announcer will alert the drivers when there is 30 seconds remaining in the warm-up. Cars should pit for fuel at this time. Cars begin scoring when the cross the loop after it is announced as ‘Hot’. 

b. Mains. LeMans Start. At 30 seconds prior to the start the flagman will hold the flag in the air calling the cars to the pit lane for refueling. Grid positions are determined by qualifying and it is the responsibility of the pitman to know his driver's position. When the flagman places the tip of the flag on the ground all cars are released. Within 1-3 seconds the race director will sound the signal, which starts the race.

4. Restarts

a. Only the flagman or the race director/scorekeeper can call for a restart.

b. Restarts result if the race director feels that a fair race is in doubt due to scoring system failure, lack of turn marshals, etc).

c. Penalty for jumpstart: Offenders are identified and black-flagged to the pits for a stop & go penalty after the car is stopped. If a car does not heed the black flag after two laps then the scoring will cease for that car.

5. Registration

a. When registration is opened drivers cannot practice until registered.

b. Once registered entry fees will not be refunded.

  B.  Format

1. It is the responsibility of the Race Director, the Scorekeeper, and the on-site Series Reps to reasonably maintain the time schedule.

2. 1/8, 12TC and Exhib./ Novice entries will practice separately, if deemed necessary by committee

                                 

3. TWO-DAY RACE FORMAT (may be adjusted by the Series Reps as needed)

 

                    Sat               10:00- Registration and class practice.

                                        01:00- Track Closed

                                        01:30- Drivers' Meeting

                                        02:00- Begin Qualifying round 1

03:00- Begin Qualifying round 2

04:00- Begin Qualifying round 3

05:15- Open practice- Mains posted

 

                    Sun              08:00  Class practice.

                                        09:00  Track Closed

                                        09:15  Drivers' Meeting/ Announcements

                                        09:30  Lower Mains practice, 20 minutes

                                        09:50  Begin 20 minute Lower Mains (5 min warm-up)

                                        11:00  Middle Mains practice, 20 minutes

                                        11:20  Begin 20 minute Middle Mains (5 min warm-up)

                                        01:00  A Main practice, TC (only) 20 minutes

                                        01:25  A Main practice 1/8, 20 minutes

                                        02:30  Begin 40 minute A Mains (exhibition class mains = 20 mins)

                

 

ONE-DAY RACE FORMAT (may be adjusted by the Series Reps as needed)

 

Sat               12:00  Open practice

Sun              07:30  Open practice

Registration Open. (must be registered to practice on track)

                                        09:10  Track Closed

                                        09:15  Drivers' Meeting

                                        09:30  Begin Qualifying round 1

11:00  Begin Qualifying round 2

12:30  Begin Qualifying round 3

                                        02:00  Begin 15 minute early mains + 30 minute A Mains

 

4. If the total number of heats is seven or more then the length of the Main events may be adjusted.

5. Bump ups will not be allowed if there is not at least one other class main event separation.

C.       Trophies.

1. Per event awards will be presented to Novice class only. Exhibition classes do not compete for awards, all other classes compete for year-end Championship Awards (see below for points and award calculations).  Cash awards are prohibited per ROAR rules.

 

IV.  SERIES POINTS

A.  Scoring (except Novice/ Exhibition classes). Points are awarded to all competing racers based on main event finishing positions. 50 points are awarded to the overall winner in each class, 48 to second, 47 to third, etc. (deleted-The final THREE races will be awarded 55 points to the winner, 53 to second, 52 to third, etc). Drivers who have not competed in at least 2 races before Race #6 will be dropped from the point calculations.

B.  Series points totals are calculated by adding the total points accumulated for all of the races and subtracting the two lowest individual race scores (drop 2). The point standings will be posted using the drop-2 scores when there are two races left in the season.

                        

V.  CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

A.  Final year-end trophies are funded from the Series treasury and will be awarded to the top finishers in each class. Provided there were 10 or more participants during the year in a given class, 5 trophies will be purchased. If 7-9, 3 trophies and if 5 or less, 2 trophies will be purchased. Ties shall be broken by the most number of wins, seconds, or thirds. If the tie cannot be broken by this method then duplicate awards will be given. Year-end awards are not made for novice/exhibition classes.

B.  A "Rookie of the Year" trophy will be awarded by a vote of the Series reps. Rookies are defined as drivers who have not competed in more than two series races prior to the first race of the year.

 

VI.  RAIN-OUTS

A.  Rain-out decisions are made by a committee consisting of the Series representatives present at the event and the Race Director.

B.  A TOTAL Rain-out is defined as a TWO-DAY event in which a minimum of two qualifying rounds could not be completed and the Main events on Sunday could not be completed for all classes by 6:00pm, or a ONE-DAY event in which a minimum of two qualifying rounds could not be completed for all classes by 6:00pm. Rescheduling shall occur at the earliest date possible, preferably before the racers depart the affected race.

C.  Deleted

D.  If the Sunday Mains are rained out then the finishing position is determined by adding the best two qualifying runs together. Ties, although unlikely, are broken by the best single qualifying run. Only the classes whose Main events were rained out are affected. All others would score normally for their respective classes.

   --Underlined items indicate change from previous year. Revised Jan. 2010