Slot Car Racing Rules @ Arena SlotStox
Issue 5 Mar 2005
Issue 5 Mar 2005
1 Purpose
1.1 The purpose of slot car racing at Arena Slotstox is for all participants to have an enjoyable, fun evening, simulating the excitement of short circuit motor racing.
1.2 Children aged 8 to 108 are most welcome to participate.
2 Venue
2.1 The Arena Slotstox slot car circuit was designed by Jack Branch and Rob Porter in 2000, and built by Jack in 2000-1. The original track is owned by Promotasport.
2.2 Racing is held at Arena-Essex Raceway Tavern, Thurrock, Essex, RM19 1AE start 7.00 pm, finish 9.30 pm.
2.3 Racing in 2005 will be from the last Thursday in February to the third Thursday in November.
3 Race formats
3.1 The Stock Car race format is typically:
4-6 heats (all drivers participate in 2)
Final (heat winners + highest scoring non-winners, determined first by position i.e. 2nd place, then by adding positions, lowest wins (e.g. 2nd & 3rd beats a 2nd and a 5th) in the event of a tie, by number of wins). This will be superseded when the lap counting system is adopted. Grand National (open to all non-finalists)
Arena Bangers etc. (if time)
4 Race discipline
4.1 To ensure optimum racing, drivers for the next race must be trackside prior to completion of the previous race – the race controller should not wait for latecomers.
4.2 All bumping, boring, and contact between cars is an expected and welcome part of the racing.
4.3 But if your car becomes “deslotted” it will not be put back into its lane – it will not be touched, except, possibly, by other cars.
4.4 If you are fortunate enough to be knocked back into your slot, you may continue the race.
4.5 If another car is knocked into your slot there are two possibilities:
1. your car is deslotted, you do nothing (i.e. you do not drive your opponent’s car)
2. your car is still in the slot, you carry on racing, your opponent’s car is officially “deslotted” even though it’s still going round
4.6 Cars may not be removed from the track until the end of a race.
4.7 A driver choosing to remove her/his car, perhaps for repairs, at the end of a race cannot expect the start of the next race to be delayed, and so may miss the next race.
4.8 Damaged cars can be fixed (see the above point 4.7); drivers may only use one car per heat (if car is deemed to be damaged through no fault of driver then at race controller’s discretion a club car may be substituted until damaged car is again trackworthy).
4.9 No stopping – cars deemed to have stopped will be disqualified by the race controller.
4.10 No obstructing another driver’s view while other cars are still running – the culprit will be disqualified by the race controller
4.11 All races normally consist of 8 laps, after which drivers must stop in the allocated section of the track, any deviation will be clearly advised beforehand.
Exceptionally:
any race can be won as “last car running” when the LCR can complete at least one full lap without making contact with another car, as determined by race controller;
if electronic lap counting is used the race will automatically stop when programmed to do so.
4.12 After 1, 2 or 3 races a “lane change” is called, and all cars must be returned to the race controller.
4.13 Typically each car is moved across one lane from inner to outer, except for the car on the outside lane, which is either placed on the innermost lane, or into the virtual lane if there are more than 6 drivers in the race.
5 Championships
5.1 Club (gold top): qualifying rounds are held as per the fixture list; the top 6 then contest the “gold top” race on the last Thursday in September; all 6 drivers receive awards; the winner is “Arena Slotstox Gold Top” for 12 months.
5.2 Points (silver top): points are scored at every meeting (unless otherwise advised) during the season; the highest scorer sports a silver roof for the following season; the top 3 all receive awards.
5.3 Grand National: drivers not in the meeting final enter and score points in the Grand National; at the end of the season the top 6 compete in a final to determine the Grand National Champion..
5.4 Team Race Open: the winners receive a special award.
5.5 Raceway Tavern Trophy: each year drivers unsuccessful in other competitions have the chance to win this prestigious award, either in a straight race at the end of the season, or via a qualifier.
5.6 The Arena Open: normally the first meeting of the year at 11.00 a.m. on the third Thursday in February; all finalists and the highest placed visitor receive an award.
5.7 Midsummer Madness and Hallowe’en Havoc: awards for the winners.
5.8 Bangers, Minis, Caravans, Trucks, Libre: the top 3 receive an award, currently sponsored by Whiteman Builders and the Bexley Suicide Squad.
6 Grading system
6.1 Each month all drivers’ points are totalled. Typically, the top scorers are graded red, the next group blue, then yellow, and finally white. (Drivers new to slot car racing always begin their careers as white tops.)
6.2 These groups should be roughly equal in size, but there are exceptions:
Drivers graded higher than red maintain their grade throughout the season regardless
Drivers cannot be downgraded due to inactivity
Drivers graded red or higher can never return to white
Wellgate and Arena drivers always race under the higher of their two grades at both circuits
Visiting drivers race under their club grade or red, at the promoters’ discretion
There is no grading system for Bangers
6.3 Arena Slotstox points are scored as follows:
Within each race: 5 4 3 2 1 1, and then final positions:
Heats & Grand Nationals: 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 1 Finals: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
6.4 ALL points scored in a meeting count towards your total.
6.5 The new grading list is issued on the first Thursday of every month, after which drivers have 7 days to display their new roof colour (may be on the aerofoil, or the roof down to the waistline, or both).
6.6 The exception to this rule is if you have built a replica car (photographic evidence may be required).
7 Formulas
F1 Stock Cars 1/32 scale Minis 1/24 scale
Arena Bangers 1/32 scale Libre
Caravans 1/32 scale Trucks 1/32 scale
8 Car specifications - F1 Stock Cars
8.1 The car body must be an authentic scale representation of a BriSCA F1 or F2 Stock Car, from 1954 to the present day.
8.2 The car body should be attractively signwritten and include the driver’s name and number.
8.3 A clear forward facing number at least 10 mm square, white on black or black on white, must be visible.
8.4 The grade colour must be painted on the roof down to the waistline or on the optional aerofoil.
8.5 Roof fins are optional.
8.6 All components for the lower chassis must come from the 1/32 Parma kit, and be symmetrical about the front to back centre line.
8.7 Two longitudinal stiffeners (16 swg) may be fitted by soldering to the top surface of the pan.
8.8 Similarly a brace between the motor bracket and the pan or rear axle tabs may be fitted.
8.9 Lead ballast may be securely added to the flat surface of the Parma pan.
8.10 The upper chassis must be constructed in 16 swg material(minimum).
8.11 It must be attached to the lower chassis by hinging around the front axle and tethering at the rear of the lower chassis, to allow a maximum vertical float of 2 mm.
8.12 No other floating chassis sections, droparms, suspension or any mechanical device to enhance handling are permitted.
8.13 The upper chassis must extend past all points of the lower chassis pan.
8.14 The only permitted motor is the standard, unmodified, Parma 16D in-line or Death Star.
8.15 Tyres & braids – only available from Arena (Jack) or Wellgate (Ken); may be cleaned (away from the track) using lighter fluid. Note you may not clean tyres or braids during a complete race (i.e. heat, final, GN, championship, etc.).
8.16 Dimensions:
Issue 5 Mar 2005
PARMA pan width / 36 mm max / Bumper thickness / 5 mm minOverall length including guide / 125 mm max / Bumper width / 54 mm min
Overall width / 64 mm max / Ground clearance (at any point) / 1 mm min
Cab height (from track) / 42 mm min / Front wheels O/D / 18 mm min
Bumper contact point (from track) / 13 mm exact / Rear tyres - width / 12 mm max
Issue 5 Mar 2005
9 Car Specifications - Arena Bangers, Minis, Caravans, Trucks, Formula Libre
9.1 the idea is that you take off your Stock Car top half and replace it with the Banger, Truck or Mini
9.2 control chassis available from Jack (£3), may be trimmed to fit, minimum length 115 mm
9.3 body free (i.e. any manufactured shape, model, etc.) – except for 1/32 scale Bangers 1.) Photo evidence may be required. 2).Must be flat fronted – no scoops.
9.4 lower chassis identical to F1 Stock Car (see above)
9.5 big fat legible forward facing number
9.6 no strengthening (but you may use tape to repair the body)
9.7 Caravan spec. under review.
9.8 Minis to include all versions including BMW
9.9 Trucks to include any 1/32 scale truck – check with organisers if in doubt
9.10 Formula Libre – just about anything goes, maximum width 88 mm, must have backhook and ground clearance, motor(s) free,– if in doubt consult organisers
9.11 All vehicles must have “backhooks” – rule 8.11 applies
10 Scrutineering
10.1 All cars must be presented to the scrutineer on entry to the Raceway Tavern.
10.2 The scrutineer will inspect your car in accordance with these rules and either pass or fail it.
10.3 If your car fails you should make any changes recommended by the scrutineer and re-present it.
10.4 If it is impossible for your car to pass scrutineering, racing that night will be at the scrutineer’s discretion. (see note 10.8). Please note that a car with insufficient ground clearance will never be allowed on the track.
10.5 Should the scrutineer decide to allow you to race, your car will be deemed to have passed scrutineering.
10.6 However, the scrutineer will also make a record of your car’s deviation from these rules, and you will then have 7 days to put it right.
10.7 Arena Slotstox members are happy to help each other present legal cars for racing.
10.8 Only scrutineered cars are allowed on track.
11 Finances
11.1 Subs are collected at the start of each meeting and used to purchase trophies, controllers, club cars, and a whole range of track improvements.
11.2 2005 subscriptions: £1.50 waged £1 unwaged
12 Smashing Times
12.1 Our regular news magazine produced by Jack&Chris.
12.2 All members are invited and encouraged to send contributions for publication to Jack and Chris.
12.3 As the official voice of the club all rule changes etc. will be communicated via this publication and will be deemed active on publication.
Issue 5 Mar 2005
Contact numbers
See Website at www.arenaslotstox.co.uk Arena Slotstox email:
Race night: 07749 924 083 Arena-Essex day: 01708 867728
Jack Branch: 020 8550 0204
Issue 5 Mar 2005
Issue 5 Mar 2005