Club Rules

WELCOME TO RIBBLE VALLEY RADIO CONTROL CAR CLUB

Club Rules Issue 16

The disciplinary procedure will be invoked for:-

  • anyone found to be in breach of the club’s rules,
  • anyone who does not follow the expected driving standard and etiquette.

Booking In

  • Buggy and On-Road Classes run on alternate weeks. 
  • Members for specific classes can book in on-line for the Friday from 12 noon on Monday, Non-Members from 12 noon Wednesday. Booking in forms can be found on the website and in the pinned post at the top of the Facebook page.  If non-members book in prior to 12 noon Wednesday, they will be removed from the list.
  • Booking in will close at 12 noon on Thursday.  At this point Race Control will assess if there is a need to drop a heat of a class in order to accommodate the reserves of another class.  This will occur for Championship and Fun nights.
  • If a driver books in and does not let a Committee Member know prior to 12 noon on Thursday that they are unable to attend they will forfeit their race fee.
  • Payment is by Paypal, ensuring this is made as Family and Friends. Anyone making payment via Goods and Services will be asked to pay the additional Paypal fees.
  • Book In to Race Control when requested.
    • Deadline for booking in is 6:45 pm.
    • If unable to make it before 6.45pm, notify a member of the Committee or pass on a message via friends 
  • It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure their correct transponder number (or crystal) has been allocated.

Track Set Up

  • When booking in, all drivers will need to tick a box to say that they will help with setting up and clearing the track away at the end of the night. BY ticking the box you are agreeing to help set up and pack away.

Race Format and Cars

  • Normal race format will be 3 heats, with the single best heat time used for final grid placing unless notified otherwise.
  • Cars allowed to race are:-
    • Upto 1/10th scale ‘off road’ (no larger scale), open wheeled buggy’s (see buggy construction guidelines on the website)
    • 1/10th, 1/12th or 1/14th scale ‘on-road’ – (see construction guidelines for the different on-road classes on the website)
  • Cars are not allowed on the track until notified by race control that the track is open.
  • Cars MUST be fitted with a secure Body & Gear Case Cover when racing, NB: if either of these items become detached or is NOT fitted you MUST REMOVE your car from the track.  Shock tower protectors must be used for Buggy.
  • Ride height rules must be followed to ensure damage is not caused to the track or an unfair advantage is not gained.
  • Cars must be checked to ensure they are safe to race and that no protruding screws are evident which could cause damage to the track.
  • Reverse must not be used on any car during a race (heat or final).
  • Transmitter aerials of a Metal Telescopic Type MUST have the tip covered to prevent eye injury to others
  • Drivers must wait for the previous race to finish before they walk around the outside of the track to the rostrum. Drivers must not walk across the track. Only marshals are allowed on the track.
  • Cars must not be placed anywhere on the track before the previous race has finished.
  • When you race has finished, drivers must park their car at a safe point pit side, walk round and retrieve their car. Drivers must not walk on to the track.

 

Driving Standards, Etiquette and Behaviour 

  • You are only racing your own time in heats, not other drivers.
  • Drivers should avoid causing accidents to other cars at all cost. Not only does it create a disadvantage for the drivers you caused to crash, it can create an unsafe situation and means you are likely to lose a great deal of time too.
  • If you do cause another car to crash or overturn, you must pull over and wait at a safe place until the crashed car has been marshalled and returns to the race. You can then resume your racing by not having gained an advantage or creating a disadvantage to the other car. 
  • As you race, if you approach the rear of a slower car and wish to overtake or lap it, you must be patient and allow them time to find a safe location to pull over and allow you past.
    • You could also shout (at reasonable volume) that you are approaching or lapping. For example: “green car, lapping”.
    • You must not race up to the back of other cars and ram them out of the way. If you do, you are likely to cause both of you to crash, thus losing more time, or worse, cause the cars to fly off the track and injure somebody.
    • You should also be aware that different cars or drivers brake at different points when approaching corners or obstacles. You could find yourself very close to a cars rear end or hit them if you travel too close to the car in front and they brake sooner than you would normally. This difference in braking rate and point is governed by either skill level, track conditions and type of car,
      • For example, 2wd cars tend to have a slower corner entry and cornering speed and therefore are likely to brake earlier, whereas 4wd cars typically have a faster cornering speed and therefore may not brake or brake much later as they approach a corner. This difference can cause a 4wd car to run in to the back of a 2wd car as corners are approached. The driver of the 4wd car should therefore take this into account when following other cars and build a gap to account for sudden or early braking or erratic manoeuvres.
  • As you race, if a faster car is approaching you from behind, you must ensure you pull over to let them pass at the ‘earliest’ and ‘safest’ point to do so.
    • You could shout (at reasonable volume) that you will pull to the outside or inside at a certain point. For example: “Yellow car, I’ll pull wide at the hairpin”.
    • As a slower car, you are likely to lose more time by holding up a faster driver, than you are pulling wide and letting them past. Although at times this can be frustrating, it will pay-off in the long run in terms of your lap times and earn you respect from your fellow racers.
  • Verbal or physical aggression during a race (or at any other time) towards other drivers or marshals will not be tolerated at the club (see disciplinary procedure on the website).
  • You must not start up a conversation while on the rostrum during the race. The only words spoken should be to inform fellow racers of you approaching or moving out of the way and a car is on the straight.
  • If you crash and need marshal assistance, do not rev car your car to get the marshals attention or while being marshalled. If so, the car will be left alone or removed from the track.
  • Do not step on or off the front of the rostrum at any time during the race.
    • Do not marshal your own car, even if directly in front of the rostrum.
    • If your car breaks during a race, you must lean back on the rostrum and wait until the end of the race to step down and retrieve your car.
    • If the race has started and you are late joining, you must not step on to the rostrum. You may however stand at a safe spot, pit side of the track barriers and drive your car from there, but be aware that the track will feel very unfamiliar when stood from a different location and you are likely to be much slower than other cars in your heat / race.
  • Drivers must not go on to the track during or after the race to retrieve their car. They must wait until the end of the race and walk around the track back to the pit area.
  • Races are often recorded and if a driver is found to be frequently causing accidents and / or gaining an advantage through doing so, they are likely to be given a penalty or have their race cancelled.
  • Racers or visitors must not confront Race Control wrt problems on the track. If any driver or marshal has a problem they need to raise, speak with a committee member, not the race controller.
  • Verbal and physical aggression will not be tolerated at all – please see constitution for disciplinary procedure

Track

  • All racers must wear their own hi-vis vest and gloves when marshalling.
  • Only Marshals wearing hi- vis vests are permitted on the track during racing.
  • Drivers are not permitted to walk on the track before or after a race to retrieve their car.
  • Do not drive on the wooden floor – wait for a marshall.
  • Try not to hit the piping as it needs to be repaired.
  • Do not stand/walk on the jumps.
  • Do not cut the track. Races are often recorded and if a driver is found to be cutting the track to gain an advantage, they are likely to be given a penalty or have their race cancelled.

Charging

  • Lipo bags/sacks must be used for all battery charging.
  • If using a leisure battery to power your charger, ensure it isn’t placed directly on the wooden floor.
  • Sand, fire blankets and or fire extinguishers may be used if there is a fire but this may be too late to prevent harm to people close by.
  • If anyone sees or experiences any issue with a lipo battery fire or sudden smoking, please follow the fire evacuation procedure and vacate the area immediately whilst bringing the issue to the attention of a committee member.

Marshalling

  • This will be self-policing – if a marshal isn’t at their post when racing starts then drivers will need to take it up with person who didn’t take the position (or one of the race reps) – not race control.
  • Marshal as you would like to be marshalled – this means:-
    • being present at your designated marshalling point before the race starts,
    • keeping eye on the track and the race,
    • being aware and responsive, not using mobiles, not talking to others or sitting down,
    • reacting as fast as possible whilst maintaining your own safety,
    • returning the car to the track facing the right direction and not in the path of oncoming vehicles,
    • placing the car back on to its wheels, not flicking, tossing, throwing or picking them up in a manner that may cause damage,
    • vacating the track area as soon as possible to prevent blocking driver’s visibility.
  • A driver must never marshal their own car.
  • Adults must marshal with the young ones (i.e. under 10 yrs) to train them how to marshal correctly and safely, not to push them out into the track when a car is stranded.
  • All junior racers should use the marshalling gloves provided to them by the club while marshalling.
  • All marshals, including supervising adults, must wear yellow hi-viz jackets provided.
  • Be aware that your safety must always come before marshalling a car.
  • If you are unable to marshall then you should arrange for a substitute marshal to stand in and advise Race Control.  If you are unable to find a substitute marshall then you need to contact Race Control.

School Facility

  • The foyer must not be used to play in, only to access the toilets.
  • The equipment store room is not to be used to play in, only to gain access to the club’s equipment. Neither is it to be used to store racers equipment in.
  • You must not pit in front of the fire doors or past the barrier line.
  • Additive / Glue:-
    • Additive to be wiped off with a rag or piece of carpet (to spin tyres up on) NOT ON TRACK.
    • Do not put rag / carpet on floor so it marks floor or is stood on and then that is transferred around floor.
  • Aerosol containers MUST NOT be used (in accordance with Section 3 Item 3 of the Wellfield College LCC Fire Risk Assessment).
  • Spillages – ask race control for cloths to clean up (if spills continue and are not cleaned up then drinks will no longer be available in hall).
  • There must be no smoking anywhere on the school site (including E-Cigs) – any smoking must be outside of the school grounds.
  • Don’t deposit your used cigarette ends at the school gate – use a suitable bin off-site. Normal littering rules apply.
  • Alcohol is not permitted to be consumed anywhere on the school site.
  • Dispose of your own rubbish in the bin provided.
  • If a bin is full, please notify a member of the Committee.
  • Ball games are NOT permitted in or around the school site.
  • The club DOES NOT have insurance to cover activities other than Radio Control Car Racing.
  • All children (aged 16 and under) MUST be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times, if the parent/guardian leaves the school hall then they must ensure that another adult takes on responsibility for supervision.
  • Children MUST be kept away from the track.
  • Children are NOT permitted to run around the race hall or in the school corridors.  Children must not be allowed go outside of the sports hall unless accompanied by the responsible parent/guardian. 

Photography

  • RVRCCC may take photographs and videos for presentations, races, special events or to show positive aspects of the club e.g. the help members give in putting up/taking down the track. 
  • These photographs and videos may be posted to the Club’s Facebook page and website, if you do not want any pictures of yourself or your children to be taken and posted then you should inform race control at the start of the evening.
  • Committee members will be watching during the evening and races are likely to be filmed.
  • If anyone at any time is unfamiliar or unsure, please ask a member of the committee for clarification.