The Sprintcar Control Council of Australia recently conducted their Annual General Meeting where the attending state member clubs put forward motions and recommendations for the 2018-2019 sprintcar racing season. Motions were passed that will see some new rules, amended rules and recommendations go into the SCCA Racing Rules, Regulations and Specification Book to come into effect late August 2018. The meeting involved constructive discussions from all parties attending and the SCCA is now pleased to release many of the changes that will be implemented for the new season. We have included a brief below on the majority of the motions passed but the final wording may be amended before going to print in the 2018 SCCA Rule Book. The Sprintcar Control Council of Australia will once again be conducting their annual Stewards seminar on August 19 for all State stewards to have a clear understanding of the new season rules and amendments prior to the rule book release.The elected SCCA executive positions for 2018-2019 were Secretary - Mark Richards, National Chief Steward Gary Winterbottom, National Technical Officer Wayne Baines & Executive officer Ian Vale. The Presidents position was not up for election. The 2020 Australian Sprintcar Championship was awarded to Latrobe Speedway and 2020 360 Australian Sprintcar Championship awarded to Simpson Speedway. (Both events are subject to final contract signing). SCCA will also be providing support to the Speedway Australia Rising Stars program. Rule Changes:
The rule changes will not come into effect until August 2018 with the final wording to be finalised Rule 5.12 Drivers Licence will now be the minimum age of 16 years. Rule 5.11 SCCA Health Statement - the allowable period for a medical to be lodged to obtain an SCCA License is 3 months. A legible scan of the SCCA medical may be temporarily accepted by a SMC prior to the original Medical being received. The original SCCA must be received within 10 working days of receiving the scan, otherwise the license will be cancelled. Definition of 2 night meeting has been adjusted that the duration of a meeting is one hour before the sprint car drivers briefing and one hour after provisional placings are posted for sprint car racing that night 360 Australian Sprintcar Championship Eligibility criteria has changed. It is now similar to the 410 Championship, requiring 5 meetings in 410 or 360 SCCA Sprintcar events in the previous 12 months, with at least 3 in the current season.
Update - Any driver that attempts to compete that holds a SCCA License and/or has an SCCA Sprintcar, at any Sprintcar event that is not approved by the State Member Club of the State/Territory, may have their license and registration cancelled and may be banned from obtaining a SCCA License and the SCCA registration for twelve months from the time of that scheduled race meeting and further penalties or fines may apply.
The Liquor Policy in Rule 5.6(ii)(c) has now been changed to 0%
Log Books are to be signed by the driver only after scrutineering is completed by the nominated Club Scrutineer(s). (Not before)
Main event Starting Option clarification - Staring option for inside or outside row is for A Main events only.
Time Trials: Due to the variations of time trials used the following rules apply.
If a driver cannot take his position in a time trial event he/she may substitute his/her sprintcar and has one lap at the end with the (best possible position to now be One position less than 50 percent of the field)
Any driver that brings a time trial session to a halt e.g. yellow, red light or causes another driver to abort their qualifying lap can only have one recorded lap at the end of that group. If that driver has recorded one complete lap then that lap will be counted any further laps will be deleted.
Mechanical Defect flag - The sprintcar must be able to restart to receive the mechanical defect flag under their own power then the driver can receive the flag before the race restarts.
Rule 6.6(i) In any restart, any running Sprintcars at the time of the stoppage, one or more laps down will be credited one lap, placing them in the same running order prior to the stoppage, behind any cars that had stopped that were on the lead lap.
Rule 6.6(ii) Restarts will allow in single file or in two rows (if two row restarts are permitted*) *Two row restarts must be agreed by the SMC, (State member club) Chief Steward & the venue.
6.7(i) - Any sprintcar considered by the Chief Steward to be the primary cause of a stoppage, will be sent to the rear of the cars on the same lap.
Rule 6.8(i) - If a driver/s stops on the race track the driver/s will go to the rear of cars on the same lap, in front of the primary cause. Once a driver has been push started, he cannot delay the start and offenders will go to the rear.
Rule 6.8(iii) The rule has been modified to allow the use of a work area for A Main only, if agreed by the SMC, (State member club) Chief Steward and the Venue and add to the end of Rule 6.8 (ii) unless an authorised work area is allowed as agreed by the SMC, Chief Steward & the venue.
Rule 6.9(iii) - If given permission by the Chief Steward, a Pit crew may work on a Sprintcar on the infield or designated area under a Red Light situation. Failure to get permission will result in disqualification from the event. Any Sprintcar worked on will go to the rear of the field on the restart.
Rule 7.2 (vii) drivers exiting their car on a stoppage, for yellow light. Drivers are not permitted to exit their car unless there is imminent danger, until approved by a steward, crash crew etc or that their car is in a safe situation on the venue infield. Added under 6.8 (iv) Disqualification and/or a minimum fine of $500
Rule 7.2(iii) Dangerous Driving - penalty to be at Chief Steward Discretion.
add (A) Breaking of traction - any driver breaking traction while under rolling laps or yellow lights prior to being informed by the stewards with the one-way communication thru the raceceivers will be liable to a minimum $500 fine.
Rule 8.11 Transmissions - for the protection of the drivers feet, ankles and lower legs it is recommend the use of a guard or ballistic blanket when using an aluminium or magnesium torque ball and housing.
Rule 8.14(d)(ii) - "All cars to have a bar min 25.4mm (1") OD x 2.1mm (.083") thickness. Located from the left to the right of the chassis behind and below the drivers seat, or device so no part of the drive line can contact the drivers seat, back or base. Check tech spec.
Rule 8.15(ii)(f) - Harness straps to be attached directly to a strong member of the car (which is not used to mount the seat).
Wheel Covers. Recommendation ONLY, not compulsory.
It is recommended that cars use a minimum of 5 dzus button fixing points or 3 screwed fixing points for wheel covers.
(Note some venues may require the use a minimum of 5 dzus button fixing points or 3 screwed fixing points for wheel covers, check with your SMC)
New 2 night format for Australian Sprintcar Championship
Drivers to be seeded into groups.
Time Trials in groups, 2 Rounds of Heats, Preliminary B and Preliminary A-Mains.
Time Trials
Heat Group Time Trials - preferably a maximum of 12 cars per group, subject to nominations received. This can be extended to a maximum of 14 cars if required.
Time Trial and Heat Points:
22, 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, DNF to score zero points.
First Round of Heats:
Time Trial Group 1 will then form Heat race 1, Time Trial group 2, Heat 2 etc, with an 8 or 10 car inversion subject to number of cars per heat.
Second Round of Heats:
Stay in same heat group, with fastest time from Time Trials to the front (heads up)
Tied Points
Tied points will be separated by a merge of the time trials.
Preliminary B Main: 16 cars, 15 Laps Point-scorers 15th through 30th to contest Preliminary B. First 4 to transfer to Preliminary A Main. Preliminary B Points from 5th position: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Preliminary A Main: 18 cars, 25 Laps
Point-scorers 1 through 14 to contest Preliminary A, plus first 4 from Preliminary B.
Preliminary A Points:
30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13
Night Two
Maximum of top 72 cars in points to contest Night 2.
Third Round of Heats:
Final round of heats with a 6 car inversion from night one total points. Heats to be snaked eg) Based on 72 Cars:
Heat 1 Heat 2 Heat 3 Heat 4 Heat 5 Heat 6
36 25 35 26 34 27 33 28 32 29 31 30
24 13 23 14 22 15 21 16 20 17 19 18
12 1 11 2 10 3 9 4 8 5 7 6
37 48 38 47 39 46 40 45 41 44 42 43
49 60 50 59 51 58 52 57 53 56 54 55
61 72 62 71 63 70 64 69 65 68 66 67
Feature Races:
E Main 10 Laps 14 cars first 2 Transfer to D
D Main 12 Laps 14 cars + 2 from E First 2 transfer
C Main 15 Laps 14 cars + 2 from D First 4 transfer
B Main 20 Laps 14 cars + 4 from C First 4 transfer A Main Championshipฎ - 40 Laps 16 cars + 4 from B
A-Main only Up to 2 Reserve drivers may join the field if one racing lap has not completed and there is a complete restart. SPECIAL NOTE:
All 2017/18 SCCA Competition Licence and Sprintcar Registrations expired on Saturday 30 June 2018.
Effective Immediately -To compete in the 2018/19 Racing season all drivers and car owners will need to apply for their SCCA Licences Sprintcar Registrations that are now available from your State /Territory Member Clubs and commence from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
