General Club Rules

General Overall Racing Rules

Introduction

The following rules will apply at ALL times when using the facilities at South Manchester Slot Racing Club unless the specific rules for a particular race class state otherwise.

SMSRC races 1/32 scale model racing cars and as such all models raced must be realistic looking versions of the actual car that they are based on. It is recognised that manufacturing and design practicalities dictate that it is not feasible for scale measurements of all commercially available products to be millimetre perfect.

However, realism is expected and if you need any help or clarification you can consult members of the Technical Committee.

Any new models that become available are not allowed to race in any of the SMSRC championship classes until they have been reviewed and approved by the Technical Committee.

General rules

SMSRC is a “hard bodied” slot car club. No lightweight “Lexan” (or similar type) flexible bodies are permitted. Lightweight interiors may be used, if painted to a realistic finish.
Cars must be finished in a suitable racing livery, ie appropriate to the period. Racing numbers must be present on the front and both sides of the body.
Bodies must be mechanically attached to the chassis in a secure manner by means of screws or pins etc.
Chassis may be slightly sanded to allow some body rock to tune handling characteristics. Excessive sanding will not be permitted.
Ballast weight may be added to tune the handling, but must be securely fixed and placed inside the car only.
All cars must have a minimum ground clearance of 0.5 millimetres to prevent any damage to the track surface.
Motors must be completely standard. They must show no signs of being opened, for whatever reason. Motors must retain original labels/markings to prove specifications.
Motors may be glued in place. Only one motor allowed per car.
Guide blades must be standard, commercially available types. Only one guide allowed per car. The guide must not protrude beyond the front of the car when viewed directly from above.
Windows should be present on all cars if they were fitted to the real version.
3D Interiors must be present with at least driver head, shoulders, arms and 1/4 steering wheel. The chassis, motor etc. must not be visible through car windows, or from above the car in the case of open topped cars.
Apart from open wheel racing classes, all cars must have tyres and chassis parts within the bodywork and not visible when viewed directly from above.
Car wheels must sit centrally in wheel arches. Wheels must be an accurate version of a wheel from the period. If inserts are needed they must be a 3D type.
Braid, axles, guides, eyelets, spacers, screws, wire, gears and pinions are free choice.
Front axles may be supplemented with tubes to add strength.
All tyres must be made of rubber. Tyres can be glued and trued. Tyres fitted to air-hubs may be supported using foam inserts.
Front tyres can be coated with nail varnish or similar material to reduce grip.
3 in 1 type oil is the only additive allowed on tyres that are used at SMSRC. No proprietary makes of tyre additive are allowed on the premises.
Surplus oil must be dried from the tyres before any car is placed on the track.

General Race Control Procedure

Introduction

These rules will always apply when using the facilities at South Manchester Slot Racing Club. Whoever is operating Race Control has responsibility to adjudicate on all matters relating to the heat they are controlling.

Race Control must be manned for every race. This takes priority over the manning of marshalling positions.

Operating rules

Arrival / Start times

All persons attending must sign in as soon as they arrive (this is to comply with our fire evacuation procedures and applies to ALL persons present whether racing or not), indicating on the list whether they are intending to race or not.
Non-members must pay visitor fees when they get their car scrutineered. If you are unsure who to pay just ask a scrutineer.
It is each racer’s responsibility to make sure that their name is on the race list 15 minutes before racing is scheduled to begin.
If you wish to race but are going to arrive after this time, you MUST phone or text ahead so that your name can be added.

Track voltage settings

Track voltage is set at 13.8 volts, unless specified in the class rules and will be set at the start of each race meeting.
Track power will be turned off during tea and other breaks in racing to prevent unauthorised practice, and at the end of the evenings racing for the announcement of the results. Race Control can vary this at their discretion.
Cars may be run on the race track not being used that night during tea breaks but not when heats are underway.

Race duration

To be determined by Race Control at each race meeting depending on the number racers and other time constraints. Guidance on the specific race duration per number of racers has been issued by the Club Committee and is available at the control desk.

Lane allocation

Lane allocation is by Race Control at the beginning of the evening. All cars must be clearly marked with the relevant lane colour stickers before being placed on the grid. Each racer will then race on every lane.

Scrutineering

At least 10 minutes before racing commences track power will be switched off and scrutineering will take place. Scrutineering will take place at the separate table at the end of the pit benching.
All cars must be scrutineered prior to racing. Each racer is permitted to have a spare car scrutineered. If asked, a racer must remove the car body to allow full inspection.
Only those cars that have successfully passed scrutineered may be raced or loaned to another racer.
Cars that fail scrutineering may be allowed to run, but points will not count.
Any competitor’s car can be examined by Race Control or the scrutineers at any time.
At the end of the final heat the racers finishing first, second and third overall must present their car with the body removed for a final inspection by members of the club's Technical Committee.
Decisions of the scrutineers are final, and members are expected to respect their decisions, as all rules have been decided by the members in a democratic fashion.

Parc Fermé/Marshalling

At the end of each heat drivers must place their cars in Parc Fermé (by Race Control) and proceed straightaway to the track marshalling post corresponding to the colour of the lane they have just raced.
The requirement to use Parc Fermé may be suspended by Race Control if there are only enough drivers to race two sets of heats. Time will then be allowed between heats for drivers to tune/repair their car.
Race Control can allow a replacement marshal, if significant repair work needs to be done by a driver instead of marshalling. A replacement marshal must be found by the driver making the request.
Marshalling positions are posted on the walls/pillars adjacent to the tracks.
All marshalling positions must be manned for each race, providing numbers of drivers in attendance permit. Race Control must be manned prior to the manning of marshalling positions.
Marshals shall make every effort to concentrate on the section of track they are responsible for, as effective marshalling makes an invaluable contribution to close, competitive racing (which is why we’re all here!). The use of mobile phones, eating/drinking, casual conversation is prohibited for the duration of the race.
In the event of multi-car incidents, marshals shall endeavour to replace the innocent drivers’ cars first.
If a race is stopped for any reason cars must not be removed from the track until permitted by Race Control.

Missing Laps

If a car does not register laps that it has completed, they can be added to the total at the discretion of Race Control. Missing laps must be reported during the running of the heat.
If the problem persists Race Control can ask the driver to carry out repairs or use a spare car. Laps will not be added for any other reason (accident, breakdown etc.).

Spare Cars

Spare cars can be used to replace a car that develops a fault during a heat.
The spare car must be scrutineered prior to the start of racing and placed in Parc Fermè.

If your original car is repairable before your next heat you can change back to it.
If you start your next heat with your spare car your original car is deemed to be retired, and you are not permitted to reintroduce it.

2nd January 2024