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This guide is written to describe and define a set of standards for maneuvers that represent driving offenses common to racing karts on sprint tracks. It is intended to narrow the gray area of judgment with driver violation, and improve the safety of racing. Drivers, Corner-workers, and Flag-persons should be familiar with these definitions. The offenses may be unintended or intended. With an unintended offense, the judgment for violation is based on what happens after the offense. With an intended offense, the judgment is usually immediate. Summary of
drivers offenses 1. Offenses on
Straights Crowding * Chopping * Blocking 2.
Offense on Turns Stuffing * Choking 3.
General Offenses Bumping * Brake-Checking * Careless Track Re-Entry Penalties Warning – Minor offense, first time P-X – Loss of one or more positions DQ – Limited – removed from race but awarded last place points DQ – removed from race with loss of all race points Ban – DQ with event ejection 1.0
Straight Sections Offenses The Straight is the section between the turn exit point and the turn entry. This includes the braking point prior to the turn entry point on a natural line. The lead kart does not necessarily control the line on a straight. Defending is a legal maneuver so long as no contact is
made. This is a gradual move off the natural line to the left or right,
and may ONLY be made once. In case contact is made, it may become an
offense depending on the sequence of events as defined below. 1.1 Crowding (also known as
Nerfing) If contact is made resulting from the lead kart moving into the passing kart, the lead kart is guilty of Crowding. This is usually an unintended offense. The judgment should be based what happens next; If the lead kart leaves room for the passing kart, then the offense is dropped. If the lead kart continues to crowd, the offense is sustained and should result in penalty – either Disqualification (DQ) or one position set back. 1.2 Chopping If contact is made resulting
from the passing kart moving into the lead kart, the passing kart is guilty of
Chopping. This is usually an
intended offense, if it is done on the Straight.
As soon as entry into the turn is reached, the entry line belongs to the
leading kart. 1.3 Blocking If the lead kart chooses to
Defend, they are reminded this is a one-move action. They may shift off-line,
but in doing so; they automatically provide right-of-way to the passing kart to
the side opposite they moved. If
the defending kart does move back on-line prior to the normal point where the
kart would have to move back on-line to make entry into the turn, they may be
guilty of Blocking. Blocking is an
intended offense, and is sometimes easier to judge when the Blocker looks behind
them. It is the Flag-person's option to call this penalty. It is recommended that the first time is a warning, and the second time a penalty offense. Conditions of the layout of each turn at any given track
will vary, so the zone stripes may tend to be moved up or back at the discretion
of a track official. Reason being
that in some turn layouts the correction margin may be longer or shorter.
Correction margin is a distance added or subtracted. Examples of a correction margin; Subtracted distance may be applied on a turn with a wider
exit path or decreasing radius that allows a wider exit path then normally
taken. Also in cases where outside passes are often made, zone stripe may
be moved deeper into a turn. In any event, a zone stripe should be based on the conditions of the track and turn. Not all track owners are willing to add zone stripes feature, but it certainly makes for cleaner and safer racing. 2.0
Offenses in Turns 2.1 Stuffing If the passing kart tries to
“stuff” their kart underneath a leading kart and contact results, the zone
stripe can practically eliminate any question of who the offending driver is
under normal racing conditions. If the passing driver had not yet reached
the lead at the zone, they should not attempt to continue with the pass by
gaining the lead at the apex. By the apex they should be no further ahead
of the “relative” position they held on reaching the zone stripe. The above description does not mean the passing driver has to now find a way to back off by the apex when making a charge, it only means that if contact is involved, it is clearly their offense. 2.2 Choking Choking is when a passing kart makes the pass at or before the zone stripe and contact results. Choking can be an offense initiated by either driver. Just because the passing driver makes the pass at or before the zone stripe does not mean the former leader now has to yield entirely. It means they must now make room for each other. The inside kart must stay to the inside close to the apex, and the outside kart must stay close to the outside on the exit. Its almost as though there are now two virtual lanes that each driver should be confined to. In the case of contact, if it is clear to the officials which kart was moving beyond their lane, the judgment could be against either kart. Choking is difficult call of all to make, and often is defined as a “racing incident” the equivalent of joint fault. 3.0
General Offenses General offenses can occur on
straights or turns. 3.1 Bumping In a turn, when the trailing kart
enters on the same line as the lead kart, and the lead kart is off the brakes,
and contact is made from behind, it may be Bumping.
This may or may not be an intended offense. The judgment is based on;
Bumping on straight is may be unintentional in cases where a leader misses a shift or may have a slower exit speed then the trailing kart anticipated. But it may also be very intentional as a way to intimidate the leading driver, to “hook up” in a draft, or even as an “improper passing signal”. Occasional light taps may be
tolerated once or twice before a warning is given. Even the lightest tap
after a warning should result in DQ. 3.2 Brake-Checking Brake Checking is when a lead kart brakes extraordinarily hard to cause someone close behind to hit them. It is usually intended to discourage a potentially faster kart from passing on the next lap. If there are no causes such as traffic in front of the lead kart, or too hot of an entry into a turn, it could be considered Brake-Checking. Corner-workers are advised to
make this call carefully. This is an intentional offense; however this call
requires significant judgment in most cases. It is recommended that a warning be
issued first, and a stiff penalty be assessed on the second occurrence. Brake Checking can result in
serious injuries if it is applied in certain circumstances. There should
have very low tolerance to those who commit a second offense of brake-checking. 3.3 Careless Track Entry If at anytime a competitor leaves the track surface, it is up to them to re-enter the paved racing surface safely and not cause other competitors to change their line as any sort of “dodging” maneuver. 4.0
General Considerations Drivers Must Realize 4.1 Close battles If you are in the leading
position with a closely trailing competitor and you make a mistake, you are
likely to be passed. Say you attempt a pass on another competitor in turn
1, but can’t quite do it. You are likely to go off of your normal line,
and lose speed. If the competitor behind you takes advantage of that, use
your head. If they are right behind you, chances are they may be able to
overtake you. They may be able to do this in places that they would
otherwise not stand a chance to pass. 4.2 Karts with Different
Set-ups or Driving Style Some karts may be faster than
you in areas giving them an advantage. They may brake later in some turns,
accelerate faster out of some turns, or be faster through a turn.
Likewise, some may be slower. You will get the chance to see both sides
through a race weekend of each competitor with the inverted starting orders.
Again, use your head. Don’t give up the war to win one battle. 4.3 The Race Director's
and Corner-workers are the Judges & Juries The Race Officials are always
right, even when they are wrong. 5.0
Penalties Penalties for offenses
should be weighed against the intent and risk factors. Some offenses may be
unintentional, and if the competitor is given warning it is up to the competitor
to on their best behavior during the remainder of the race or even event. Some offenses may be unavoidable, yet unintentional. Whether it is a simple driving mistake, or a set of unusual conditions that lead to an offense may be considered. Some offenses may be intentional. The Race Director is normally
the party responsible for identifying the appropriate penalty, but in some cases
may not be able to clearly identify the level of intent on behalf of the
offending competitor. Repeated offenses indicate a
competitor’s disrespect to the organization and their fellow competitors. Risk factors of an offense should be weighted. As the risk of injury rises with a potential offense so to should the penalty as both a deterrent and if necessary, as a reason to remove the competitor as the risk warrants. Generally the following
offenses are generally considered unintentional and lower risk that should
result in a warning on the first event. Lower risk in this context means
some minor contact was made, but not enough to have put a competitor in harm or
off-track, or loose a position. (Note that all offenses can be intentional). Crowding * Chopping *
Choking * Bumping The recommended penalty for the above is a rolled black flag for warning, displayed in a manner that the offending competitor should see it. The flag should be pointed at that competitor on a straight section with the flagpole actually pointed at them as they go by. The competitor should be informed in the drivers meeting of the black flag and warning procedures. In the event an offending
competitor commits an unintentional offense resulting causing another competitor
to go off-track, or loosing a position, they may be given an additional penalty
at after the race is complete in fairness to the affected competitor. It
is recommended that the offending moved back in position(s) as deemed
appropriate by the Race Director for the particular offense. If a competitor repeats an offense after being warned, it can be considered an intentional offense. All offenses can be
considered intentional depending on the situation. Penalties for
intentional offenses can range from;
It is the driver’s
responsibility for the actions of their pit personnel. A driver may be DQ’ed
or banned for any inappropriate behavior resulting from either. |