2008 1/8th IC Circuit Rules

 

1.  CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING RULES

 

1.1       A car must be a 1/8th scale character representation of a racing car within the given dimensions. Maximum width of car is 267 mm.

1.2       The Race Director may disqualify any car that, in his opinion, would be a hazard to spectators or other cars.

1.3       All cars must have a de-clutching device and operating brakes capable of stopping the car and holding the car motionless with the engine running.

1.4       The minimum dry weight (dry car no fuel and excluding the loaned transponder or personal transponder ) of car complete with tyres, body and clips is 2.5kg. A personal transponder weighs 7 grammes.

 

Engines / Silencers / Air Filters

 

1.5              The engine displacement must be 3.5cc. The engine must be fitted with an adequate exhaust-silencing device, which is contained in the current BRCA 1/8th Circuit Section Committee approved listing. (This BRCA list is used for reference only and does not imply that any other BRCA rule maybe enforced).

1.6       Exhaust outlets must face horizontally or below. No additional extensions to the exhaust outlets are allowed. Outlets should be of 15mm length and 8mm inside diameter hole. The silencer and manifold may not be modified in any way other than by its variable length created by the joiner between the manifold and pipe. The silencer has to contain a minimum of three chambers.

1.7       All cars must be fitted with a suitable approved noise reduction air filter at all times. In the case of wet weather, the Race Director will announce when the conditions are wet enough to allow the use of wet weather air filters or the drilling of a 3mm (max diam) drainage hole in the base of  the Ins Box type of air filter (which must be resealed totally in dry conditions). Any driver found not to be using the correct air filter would lose their FTD.

 

Fuel

 

1.8       The maximum percentage of Nitro allowed in fuels is 25% by volume. Fuel should only consist of a mixture of Nitro Methane, Methanol and Lubricating Oil, no other additives are allowed. A testing unit will be available in Race Control for use by competitors, which will be the same one as used by the scrutineers. Random samples of fuel will be taken during the meeting.

1.9       The fuel system capacity including fuel pipe and filter (if fitted in line) from the tank to the carburettor shall not exceed 125cc.

 

Tyres and Wheels

 

1.10     Maximum wheel rim diameter:           54 mm

Minimum wheel rim diameter:            44 mm

Maximum width of FRONT tyre:      36 mm

Maximum width of REAR tyre:         64 mm

Minimum diameter of FRONT tyre:   60 mm

Minimum diameter of REAR tyre:     65 mm 

1.12     Tyres must be black in appearance, and may only comprise of a maximum of four rings of rubber for the REAR tyres and three rings maximum for the FRONT tyres. Treatment of the tyres with additives is prohibited. Axles, quick release mechanisms or any items shall not protrude beyond the wheel rim.

 

Bumpers

 

1.13     Front bumpers must be fitted to the car to the same design and material as fitted to a “standard” kit car. Front bumper maximum width is 267 mm but may extend 7 mm beyond the side of the body but not to exceed 267 mm total width. The bumper must not extend beyond the body at the front edge of the car.

 

 

 

 

Body Shells ( General )

 

1.14     The front, side and rear windows if fitted to a car body must remain transparent. Side windows maybe removed to assist cooling. No portion of chassis, wheels, tyres or any other item (excluding bumper) may extend beyond the body. When initially entered in a meeting the body must be neatly finished and complete. The body and chassis must be securely joined at all times when the car is racing.

Body shells may only be strengthened/supported with the addition of plastic, lexan, carbon fibre or similar non-metallic product. Wing/piano wire must not be used for body support or strengthening. Wings should be mounted using manufactures mounting points only.

 

2.  Group ‘ C ‘ Cars

 

Body Shell

 

2.1       Only body shells from the approved BRCA 1/8th IC circuit list may be used.

2.2       Cut outs - A 10mm allowance is permissible around protrusions through the body shell (engine, roll over bar etc). Suitable apertures are allowed in the windscreen for engine cooling purposes. Fuel tank access - 60mm x 40mm hole is allowed.

2.3       Wings - On Group C any part of  the rear wing must not exceed 203 mm height above the ground. Side dams (if fitted) have to be part of the wing and must not exceed 80 mm x 50 mm. No additional front wings may be fitted to a Group C body shell. No extra wings are allowed to be fitted but an external trim tab can be fitted to the rear of the body and it must not exceed 15 mm beyond the rear of the body.

2.4       All other regulations covering tyres, body widths bumpers and apertures apply.

 

3.  Sports Cars

 

3.1              General - As Group C above with the following exceptions :-

3.2              An additional rear wing (if side dams are fitted to the rear wing they must be part of the rear wing) can be fitted. Maximum size of rear wing side dams to be 80 mm x 50 mm. Maximum wing size 267 mm width  -  50 mm chord - maximum angle to be 45 degrees. Maximum rear wing height including side dams is         191 mm.

3.3              No extra wings are allowed to be fitted but an external trim tab can be fitted to the rear of the body and it must not exceed 15 mm beyond the rear of the body.

3.4              In the case of the PF - 1LMP 1453 body shell. Four slots may be cut out below the rear wing as identified by the manufacturer. The two outside slots not to exceed 42 x 8 mm. The two inside slots not to exceed

 60 x 10 mm.

 

4.  1/8th NATIONAL MEETING PROCEDURE

 

Safety

 

4.1       The Race Director or Committee will designate a smoking area for all Competitors, Marshals and Mechanics. This area will be outside the perimeter of the track and pit area. Smoking outside the designated area will not be permitted.

4.2       No person under the age of sixteen will be allowed to marshal and it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to provide a suitable replacement.

4.3       No person under the age of fourteen will be allowed to act as a mechanic inside the track perimeter or in the pit lane.

4.4              The circuit must meet the safety requirements as laid down by the BRCA and by our own Safety Officer.

4.5              Any authorised person going in to the track area or pit lane whilst racing or practice is in progress must wear footwear that totally encloses the foot (safety shoes preferred), no open shoes or sandals.

 

 

 

 

 

Hygiene

 

4.6       For BRCA recognition a National meeting must meet such hygiene requirements as the Standards Sub-Committee decide appropriate for the venue and occasion, a minimum of which will be flushing toilets and running water for the duration of the meeting. Details of the facilities offered to competitors must accompany details of race procedure and awards in all invitations for entry.

4.7       In order not to interfere with people’s peace and quiet in the on site caravanning/camping facility, generators should not be run between the hours of 10-30 pm and 9-00 am.

It is recommended that no model car engines are run outside the times laid down by local club restrictions.

 

 

Entry Procedure

 

4.8       Details of meeting to be made available not less than four clear weeks before each meeting. Race entry fees to be £14 for seniors or £8 for Juniors, OAPs and Full Time Students. £2 of the Senior fee will be collected as a levy for the purchase of lap counting equipment, until paid for.

4.9       Pre-entry either online to the BRCA 1/8th Section or telephone to the organising Club/Circuit must be made no later than 2100 hours on the Tuesday preceding the race meeting, also any cancellation of an online pre-entry must be made by email to the BRCA 1/8th section by this time as well. After this date/time entries must be made to the organising Club/Circuit by telephone when a £5 surcharge will be added to the entry fee. Entries being taken on a first-come basis. No entries will be accepted after 8.30 am on race day. No substitute entries to be accepted. All entry fees pre-paid to be non-returnable except in exceptional circumstances by agreement with the BRCA.

4.10     Any entry is a commitment to pay the set fee. All entry fees must be paid prior to the start of the last round of qualifying heats, any person who has not paid after this time will be eliminated from taking part in the finals. Any unpaid monies to be notified to the 1/8th Section Committee who will not allow said drivers to compete further until monies have been received.

4.11     From the start of the 2007 season, all competitors are to provide and use personal transponders. It is the drivers responsibility to ensure that the transponder has been logged with the Race Director and exists on the section’s database and also to ensure that the transponder is attached to the car for practice, qualifying and finals. It is also the Race Directors responsibility to ensure that all competitors transponders are registering in warm up for qualifying and finals, and to inform competitors of any problem as quickly as possible before starting a heat or final. The section will have available a loan transponder (for the rest of that meeting only) in case of a personal transponder failure.

4.12          Radios should have at least two frequencies available and should be a legal frequency within the frequency bands as specified by the UKRCC and endorsed by the BRCA. Where frequencies conflict in the finals, the fastest qualifier shall choose, providing it is possible for drivers to change to the available frequencies.

           

4.13          A scratch rated driver may have his/her ranking altered by discretion of the Race Director.

4.14     Where a meeting is abandoned for whatever reason then all completed and correct rounds on the day will be used as the result. In the event that there is no full round then there will be no scores to count.

 

 

Race Procedure

 

4.15     There will free practice on the Saturday (subject to local track operating hours) preceding Sundays racing and where possible, practice sessions will be organised on race day (Sunday) by the Race Director. The criteria for the duration and number of sessions being the engine start time, number of entrants and mix of skill factors. This under normal circumstances will be done in heat order at the discretion of the Race Director. Sunday’s race day will have a pre-defined timetable. I.E - drivers briefing before any engine running, organised practice in heat order and no lunchtime practice.

4.16     Group ‘C’ or Sports Car body shells can be used for racing as long as they appear in the BRCA approved list of body shells and conform to their respective construction rules.

4.17     Four rounds of heats will be run if the total number of entries is 40 or less.

 

 

 

4.18     The appointed Race Director may not participate in the days racing. The Race Director will be in control of driving standards, interference decisions, protests, rule applications, etc and will be appointed by the club in consultation with the BRCA. If the host Club/Circuit cannot supply a Race Director, then £1 per competitor will be deducted from the race fees payable to the Club/Circuit, this money to be given to the Race Director towards expenses incurred travelling to the race meeting.

4.19     All interference claims and any protests MUST be referred to the Race Director. Any subsequent action will be made by the Race Director whose decision will be final. Any driver claiming interference must switch off and see the Race Director WHILE THE RACE IS STILL IN PROGRESS. The following guide-lines will be used by Race Directors:- To ensure continuity no qualifying heat will be stopped unless the Race Director is satisfied that two or more drivers have detectable interference. The Race Director will aim to provide each competitor with ONE heat free from extraneous interference. The Race Director will check interference possibilities with all drivers before the start of finals and these races will not be stopped unless the Race Director is satisfied that on site interference is occurring. A driver claiming interference must switch off and report to the Race Director immediately. At the discretion of the Race Director any competitor found with equipment causing on site interference will be asked to leave the circuit.

4.20     The Race Director or a Person who has been nominated by the Race Director will monitor driving standards and competitor behaviour. For a first offence the Race Director will normally impose a 10 second penalty off that heat (adjusted at the end of the heat). For a second offence, a one lap penalty, and for a third offence, disqualification from the meeting.

4.21     The Race Director or a Person who has been nominated by the Race Director may impose penalties without warning where he considers the infringement or misbehaviour to warrant such penalty. As a guide to drivers the following driving standards are expected:-Slower cars are to give way to the faster cars and the driver of the slower car should call his intention of moving off line. Deliberate collision from behind with an on line car at a corner (T-boning) will be regarded as an unacceptable practice.

4.22     Any driver not fulfilling his marshalling obligation will be penalised by loss of his/her FTD. Drivers MUST arrange a competent substitute, with the Race Directors approval, if they are unable to marshal for any reason. Unless the Race Director considers special needs apply and except for the driver performing scrutineering duties, marshalling obligations will be as follows:- Drivers to marshal the heat following the one in which they race, except for drivers from the last heat who marshal heat one. Drivers from the Open Final will marshal the First Final to be run. Finalists four to ten will marshal the Final following the one for which they have qualified.

4.23     The Race Director may request inspection of any entrants car, at any time, to cover any or all applicable specifications. Any part of a car may be substituted during a race except the chassis. The chassis may be changed with the approval of the Race Director. The essence of this is that a car cannot be replaced or substituted once entered into a days racing.

4.24     Racing will commence at the start of the day, and no race, heat or race programme will be stopped, or delayed, due to reasons of change in the weather, except in extreme circumstances that it would be deemed by the Race Director too dangerous to continue.

4.25     The pit lane must be kept clear at all times. Re-fuelling must take place clear of cars passing through the pit lane. Only one mechanic per driver to be allowed in the pit lane during the race.

4.26     Frequency pegs must be used during practice, heats and finals. Every driver must own a peg with his/her name on it which he/she will place on the pegboard in place of the frequency peg he/she is using.

 

 

5.  Scrutineering

 

5.1       This will be performed by a driver from his/her own heat. Instead of having to marshal in the following heat, the selected driver will scrutineer the cars from his/her own heat. His/her own car will be scrutineered by a person selected by the race director or committee.

5.2       The race director will use his discretion to select a suitable person from each heat to perform the scrutineering function. A committee member, will scrutineer first to fourth positions in each of the finals.

5.3       At the end of a heat all cars that have taken part in that heat must be taken together with the fuel bottle to the scrutineering area. Even if a car has been wrecked during the course of that heat it still must be presented to the scrutineer. Failure to do this will result in loss of FTD.

 

6.  Start procedure for Heats

 

6.1       Starts to be of a staggered nature. Order to be:-

3 Rounds - Rnd 1, 1 to 10 - Rnd 2, 4 to 10 & 1 to 3 - Rnd 3, 8 to 10 & 1 to 7.

4 Rounds - Rnd 1, 1 to 10 - Rnd 2, 3 to 10 & 1 to 2 - Rnd 3, 5 to 10 & 1 to 4 - Rnd 4, 7 to 10 & 1 to 6.  

6.2       Any car infringing the start will be penalised one lap, at the discretion of the Race Director. Cars missing the start and restarts during a race must start from the pit lane. Note:- In order to be given a correct finish time, a car must cross the finishing line under its own power.

 

 

7.   Finals – National Meetings

 

7.1              All National Meetings will feature A to Z type finals.