General Rules
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to present the currently supported rules of NJHOSCR. This document represents the standing rules by which in NJHOSCR participants shall follow.
Overview
The following rules are in effect for the entire NJHOSCR year. NJHOSCR reserves the right to change the rules in the interest of maintaining the fairness of all of the competition. These rules are based on the use of Aurora Thunder Jet OEM parts, new parts, aftermarket parts, re-manufactured parts, and those made by "cottage industry" vendors. All parts must be specifically manufactured for the Thunder Jet chassis with the exception of wheels, tires and axles. Modifications, adjustments or practices not specifically addressed in these rules are not allowed. Assuming and not asking prior to a race may render your car illegal.
The Honor code is the NJHOSCR credo. Err on the side of caution. Any Challenge of Rules or interpretations of the rules. Shall be addressed by 3 attending members. (Chosen at random) The discretion comes into play for any rule infringement case. The decision of the NJHOSCR members will be final. If it is not mentioned in the rules via, Parts or modifications it is NOT LEGAL. No one off parts allowed. (Modification of parts or making your own) All parts must be readily available via internet or store purchase. Any new parts to be allowed in competition must be approved by NJHOSCR members by majority vote.
Race Specifics
If a racer is not sure his or her car is legal, they may have their car checked prior to the start of the races. If any driver suspects that another car may not be legal, they may "challenge" the other car once all racing for that particular class is complete. The car in question must remain in the tech box till it is teched, or that car is deemed illegal and that racer is DQ’ for that class only. This is within accordance with NJHOSCR Rules. The overall top 4 finishers will have their cars fully inspected at the end of the final heats completion once the statistics are tabulated.
Tech Procedure
NJHOSCR will appoint 3 members to act as a “Tech” to determine legality and compliance to the NJHOSCR rules. It shall be the sole responsibility of these appointees to do so. NO outside observers or other racers shall be permitted to assist or consult in this undertaking. No Parts manufacturers will be allowed on the Tech Committee. The decision of the Tech Committee is final. Each member of the Tech committee will be provided with a “Yea” and “Nay” secret voting device to be used if a question arises. This vote will be read by the NJHOSCR Race Director.
Definitions
False Start: A predetermined point on the host track where each starting car must pass in order to declare the heat a valid race. Typically after the first turn set.
Cottage Industry: Any manufacturer of T-Jet parts whose parts are not obtainable on the common mass retail market. Typically these products are obtainable directly from the manufacturer or specialized store or location, such as an online auction site, slot car show, etc, as opposed to from a distributor or authorized dealer.
Post-Inspection: The act of disassembling a racer’s car in order to verify the car is within proper rules compliance for the event. Pre-Inspection: Cars are inspected by the Tech person(‘s) or a delegate responsible for car inspection
at the current event. Upon passing pre-inspection the car is deemed “legal” ,But must also pass post-race inspections.
Track/Track Call: In the likely event of an accident during a race, or a de-slot in a location which is not easily reached by a Turn Marshal, either the Racer or a Marshal may call out “Track”. This signals the host or track operator to halt the current
race. Drivers are not permitted to work on or modify their cars unless the “Track” call is for a mechanical malfunction. The race will resume once the accident or de-slot is cleared. If a marshal is slow to react to a crash/de slot, (2-3 sec.) The power will be shut off to take care of incident.
Mechanical Malfunction: An occurrence by which the car or controller is not physically operable. For example, slipping gear, missing tire, meltdown, etc. would constitute a mechanical malfunction. In such case the driver may make use of the second car they put into tech or fix the current car under racing conditions.
“On Market”: In reference to a new product either by a Cottage Industry or known manufacturer who introduces a new product to the slot car market. Announcement of new products must be made to NJHOSCR 30 days prior to the event to be allowed. For car bodies only: bodies must be from a production run that renders the body available to the public in mass quantity for at least 60 days prior to the event. It is up to the manufacturer to ensure proper market availability and announcement of the product to the racing public. Announcement of new products must be made by NJHOSCR 30 days prior to the event to be allowed. It is also suggested that a sample of the body be presented to the NJHOSCR for review and acceptance prior to the 30 days release requirement. All other items must be announced to NJHOSCR 30 days prior to the event to be allowed.
Manufacturer: Designation for mass production and cottage industry producers of HO slot car related items and accessories.
Handling Pan: Any metal or plastic piece attached to the bottom of the car to improve handling. This also includes extra molded or attached plastic/resin into a body to produce a handling pan effect.
Nonferrous: Any metal substance that does not contain iron. Therefore the material does not have magnetic properties.
General Event Rules:
01. NJHOSCR will determine the means for deciding the starting positions of drivers for the individuals race(s). If it is a Team based event, the predetermined racing order of teams will be drawn lottery style. Order of racers within the teams shall be determined by the teams themselves.
02. Drivers will be given ample time to run practice laps prior to racing on race day. Track will be set on rotation. Practice will be for 1 hour and forty five minutes only on race day. It may become necessary to limit the practice time of each driver should there be a large number of drivers. Practice times set on the tracks shall be controlled by one main timer and therefore cannot be tampered with to extend practice times. Those refusing to comply will be disqualified from event participation. Note: Once the track is shut down for practice no driver may have additional time to run. ( Late arrivals)
NOTE: If you need practice time, plan on getting to the event early enough to do so. Late starts due to last minute practice sessions are not permissible.
03. Each driver will race all lanes in a rotating order under TrakMate. This also includes the format of the individuals race as well.
04. All drivers are expected to take their turn marshaling when their series of heats has completed. It is a courtesy to the oncoming drivers as well as a help to the flow of the event. If a driver does not martial there appointed station after racing they will be assessed a 5 lap penalty. It is the martials responsibility to find a replacement for their allotted position. Marshaling will be required after you run your heat and for the first group up, the last group to run shall marshal for them since that would be their turn in rotation.
05. Drivers are not permitted to marshal any cars during their heats in a race. The excitement of the race leads to self-marshaling which we ask the drivers to kindly refrain from doing. Any driver self-marshaling and interfering with another car will be disqualified from that race. If said car is damaged? The racer may have ample time to repair the car.(race directors discretion) Any driver self-marshaling and/or blocking the view of the track shall take a 1 lap penalty for that race. Each Participant we be allotted one mulligan per race day.
06. Between heats drivers will be allowed to clean their tires, clean pickup shoes, and oil your car. This will ONLY take place at the trackside. No driver is permitted to leave the track during their heats unless it's an emergency or a race official allows the departure. There will be a quick turnaround (1 minute) between lanes to keep the races moving along.
07. No chemical additives are permitted on the surface of the tires. E.g. belt dressing, tire dressing, oil, etc.
08. If a driver experiences a mechanical difficulty, break down, broken guide pin, or a chassis-to-body retention screw falls out during a heat. A track call should be made by either the driver or track marshall. The car is rendered unable to finish the heat. Repairs may take place after the heat has completed or a possible substitution will be allowed before the next heat in the succession. All repairs must be done in front of a race official at the stage.
09. In the event of a multi-car accident, (3 or more cars) the timer and power will be stopped to allow the marshals to put the cars back on the track.
10. A "Track Call" constitutes an automatic stop of the timer and power to the track.
11. Turn marshals or drivers in the case of multi-car pileups or deslots may find situation out of reach for some reason. A "Track Call" should result. In the case of a "rider", where a car jumps to another lane and it is then under the control of another driver the power will remain on.
12. A "Track Call" will be called automatically for any car that goes completely off the racetrack table.
13. Turn marshals will do their best to replace cars to the track in the least amount of time and allowing for oncoming traffic to pass without being disturbed.
14. Turn marshals are urged to attempt to replace the "last off" car as the "first on" in a multiple car pileup. The car that caused the accident should be replaced last whenever possible.
15. Only one false start is allowed to be declared per heat.
16. No one will be permitted "free power for just a second" to test their car. (Test strips, or 9 volt batteries are often available as an alternative.)
17. If a car fails to start, a false start will be called. At the next start, a track marshal will "push" any/all cars to ensure that everyone leaves the starting line. Only one false start is allowed per heat.
18. One of a kind, custom, or home-brew parts are not permitted.
19. Swapping of parts once a car passes pre race tech is strictly forbidden. If a racer removes a car from the tech box and makes ANY changes. The car must pass through tech inspection again. The only exception would be to replace tires. Which can be done in any class.
20. TrakMate output screen may show a discrepancy in results. If so members will then access the situation and rule accordingly.
21. Track opens at 8 am unless otherwise noted. Practice will commence for 1 hour and forty-five minutes. The track will close promptly at 9:45 am. After practice has closed, Drivers have 10 minutes to submit as many as 2 cars for tech inspection. A PRIMARY AND A BACK UP. (Second car is optional) Another racer may offer up their backup car to any racer if needed but said racer will not be permitted to use that car if there’s has a malfunction. Once you go to a backup car the primary car is forfeited for the rest of the event. Two racers may not share the same car in a class.
22. Any stock or stock replacement pickup shoe may be used. These shoes must have a factory-formed step and the step must be unaltered except to allow flat pickup shoe contact with the track rail. American Line #313, BSRT #504, Slottech, and Dash 504 #1440, Wizzard #E82 & E90, and stock Aurora ThunderJet shoes are allowed. Ski shoes are not allowed.
Driver Sign in:
All drivers are required to sign in for completion before they run any practice laps.
Race Fee:
There is a fee of $15 to race, which includes pizza lunch
Points:
Each racer will receive points as per their finishing position tabulated at the end of class run. A points champion will be recognized in each class run. Each racer is allowed 3 drop races for the entire season ending points total. All races count towards season point standings.
1. Points will be as follows. You will receive 100 points for first place in class. Second place will receive 90 points and the rest of the field will drop by 2 points per position. Ex.
1. 100
2. 90
3. 88
4. 86
5. 84
6. 82
7. Etc.
Each racer is allowed 3 drop races for the entire season ending points total.
Controllers:
01. Any type of nonadjustable or adjustable (OHM value only) controller is permitted.
02. Any type of controller is permitted as long as it passes tech.
03. Additional electronics on controllers for changing OHM value is permitted.
04. Additional electronics or hardware on controllers for changing any type of output power to the car such as power to run the car when track power is cut are not permitted.
05. Additional electronics or hardware on controllers for changing any type of brake adjustment are permitted.
06. Additional electronics or hardware on controllers enabling "coast" or "autopilot" features where power is supplied to the car when the trigger is fully released by the operator are permitted.
07. NJHOSCR tracks are wired for brakes.
08. Any controller or replacement parts must meet the NJHOSCR defined "On Market" requirements.
A Final Rule:
If anything is not specifically stated or addressed in the above rules it is NOT permitted.
IF A DRIVER FEELS THE NEED TO INTENTIONALLY CHEAT WE DO NOT WANT YOU HERE. If a driver is found to be illegal and it is a blatant attempt at cheating they will be suspended for one calendar year before being able to ask for reinstation.