SAPCAR
Saturday Afternoon Pine Car Auto Racing
Sponsored by the Ridgeway Ruritan Club
Official Rules and Regulations
Season Five Changes are Highlighted in Yellow
Classes
Stock: Youth 0-17yrs old Limited Modified: All ages
Adult 18+ yrs old
All competition classes will award 1st place. Points system will accumulate during the season with a “series” champion for each class awarded at the end of the season based on car owner.
Depending on participation, new classes may be formed and others dropped between seasons.
Racing will heads up timed events. Scoring will be best average time with each car running twice in each lane. Heats will alternate through the classes.
Different tracks and track configurations will be used across events.
Due to the large number of cars that may be competing, practice runs will not be allowed, come ready to race.
Cars will be inspected, registered and impounded. Once a car has passed inspection, no further work can be done to it. In the case of damage incurred while racing, a "garage" area will be set up and repair work can be done under supervision.
Car weight will be checked on two sets of scales, both calibrated using an official 5 oz. test weight. A car must meet weight on at least one set of these scales. If not, underweight cars can have weight added prior to registering and overweight cars must have weight removed before they will be allowed to register.
Templates will be used to measure overall length, width and track clearance. The wheelbase of Stock classes will also be checked using a template. Minimal differences are recognized for production variation and truing but gross violations will not be allowed to compete.
Cars not meeting race specs at the time registration closes will not be allowed to compete. Please pay close attention to the specs as you build your car. If you participate in either the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby or the Awana Pinecar Derby and plan to use the same car, please make sure your car is legal for that race. SAPCAR specs allow both types of cars to participate but individual groups may have stricter rules.
Specifications for stock classes:
Wgt: not to exceed 5 oz.
Lgth: not to exceed 7 in. No part of the car (or accessories) may extend past the starting post.
Wdth: no more than 2 3/4 in. overall, no less than 1 3/4 in. tire tracking
Track Clearance: min. 3/8 in.
Wheelbase: no specification.
Tires: original equipment. Deburring and smoothing allowed. No altering shape or size of the tire. Bushings not allowed. All tires must track.
Axles: BSA, Pinecar or similar. Axles can not be sprung.
Lubricant: Powdered Graphite or BSA Teflon.
Specifications for the limited modifieds:
Wgt: not to exceed 7 oz.
Lgth: not to exceed 7 in. No part of the car (or accessories) may extend past the starting post.
Wdth: no more than 2 3/4 in. overall, no less than 1 3/4 in. tire tracking
Track Clearance: min. 3/8 in.
Wheelbase: no specification.
Tires: original equipment. All alterations allowed (but must be recognizable as original.).
Axles: Axles can not be sprung.
Lubricant: Non-powdered allowed in moderation. Must not be harmful or deface the racing surface.
Specifications for the super modifieds:
Wgt: not to exceed 9 oz.
Lgth: not to exceed 7 in. No part of the car (or accessories) may extend past the starting post.
Wdth: no more than 2 3/4 in. overall, no less than 1 3/4 in. tire tracking
Track Clearance: min. 3/8 in.
Wheelbase: no specification
Tires: no specification.
Axles: no specification.
Lubricant: Non-powdered allowed in moderation. Must not be harmful or deface the racing surface.
No oversized or undersized axles allowed in the stock class.
Cars not meeting race specs at the time registration closes will not be allowed to compete. Please pay close attention to the specs as you build your car. If you participate in either the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby or the Awana Pinecar Derby and plan to use the same car, please make sure your car is legal for that race. SAPCAR specs allow both types of cars to participate but individual groups may have stricter rules.
Series Rules
(rules may be modified at the discretion of the governing body)
1. All cars must meet published SAPCAR specifications.
2. An owner is not “registered” until his or her car has passed inspection. There will be no “reserving” a race spot until a car can be brought to specs.
3. Following inspection and registration, cars will be impounded.
4. Once impounded, no additional work may be done to the car.
5. In the event of a “crash” a garage area will be set up to allow the car, if possible to be fixed. The heat in which the crash occurred will be nullified unless the car can not be fixed.
6. Work done in the garage area will be monitored.
7. Once inspected, no additional lubrication may be added to the car, regardless of the circumstances.
8. No limits on entries per class, however the scoring system will be based on a 32 car elimination bracket. Cars finishingi 33rd or lower receive no owner points for the event.
9. All classes are best average, two runs per lane races. Heats are heads up for efficiency only.
10. After each heat, the winner is to go to the scoring table for verification of the car number.
11. Track configuration (type and length) will vary between events.
12. Point system is a car owner point system, not specific to a car.
13. Car owners with multiple cars will only be allowed to enter one car unless the bracket is not full. Then owners will be allowed to enter additional cars, one at a time, rotating thru all multi-car owners.
14. If, due to work or other conflicts, a car owner is unable to attend an event, he or she may register and compete via a “proxy” owner. Points earned will be awarded to the registered car owner.
15. Per event, each car can only be registered in one competition class.
16. Schedule will be set with between 6 and 12 events.
17. Using a 32-car double elimination bracket, points will be awarded as follows:
|
Finish |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
9th |
10th |
|
# finishers per position |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
8 |
|
Points |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
(The number of finishers is based upon 32 individual owners. If there is less than 32 entries or
there are owners with multiple entries, there will be fewer “finishers”.)
18. Bye runs will be used to balance incomplete brackets.
19. Points will be accumulated across events.
20. Per owner, the highest finishing position will be accumulated (number of 1st’s, 2nd’s, etc.)
21. Multi-car owners will only receive final credit for the highest placing car within each class.
22. Cars removed from impound other than to be raced will be disqualified and will receive no points.
23. No car will advance in finishing position due to the exemption of a multi-car owner’s additional cars or the disqualification of a car. Finishing position is locked based on an individual car’s performance.
24. Owner points will determine class champions. To allow for unforeseen circumstances that force a competitor to miss a race, the final points will be determined by a minimum of 75% of a car owner’s final points, throwing out up to 25% of the owner’s worst recorded or did not run finishes.
|
Races per season |
1-3 |
4-7 |
8-11 |
12 |
|
Throw-outs |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
25. In case of a tie, finishes will be compared. If a winner still can not be determined, then points will be deducted per event for multiple car owner entries. If this does not produce a winner, then the full season points will be examined using the same steps. If this still does not produce a winner, a final run off race will be held, each owner in the tie allowed one car to race for the championship.
Event Rules of Conduct
(rules may be modified at the discretion of the governing body)
1. No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances allowed at the events.
2. At no time should you handle or touch a car that does not belong to you. The only exception is if you are acting as a “proxy” owner.
3. Cursing and other inappropriate language is discouraged.
4. Violent or other inappropriate behavior will not be permitted.
5. Gambling will not be allowed.
6. No running around the track or impound area.
7. No food or drink will be allowed around the track or impound area. A separate area will be designated for concessions.
8. Do not step across the track. If you must get from one side to the other, please walk around.
9. Violators of these rules may be disqualified and will forfeit points and finishing position for all classes in which they are competing.
10. Scoring will be done manually. Mistakes happen. These will be cleared if possible. (Remember that the winner of each heat is responsible to check in at the scoring table immediately following the heat to verify the correct car number is advanced.)