Rules and Regulations for the 18th DHORC
Le Mans 24 hour H:O Slot Car Race
(Last update 15Aug10)
1.0 Referees / Race Controller
2.0 Race
3.0 Cars
4.0 Teams
5.0 Track
6.0 Equipment
7.0 Facilities
1.0 Referees
The following drivers have agreed to become Referees of the DHORC Le Mans 24 hour events and have underwritten these rules and regulations.
1.1 Adrian Owen Who is also official Race Controller and who can designate any
of the following in his absence:-
1.2 Rob Hayes
1.3 Dean Wragg
1.4 Nick Sismey
1.5 Phil Rees Who is also the Chief Scrutineer
1.6 Gary Skipp
1.7 Alan Bullock
1.8 Cliff Roythorne
1.9 John Fearn
Any problems regarding any part of the weekend should be brought to the attention of at least four of the eight Referees who will act as adjudicators. Their decision is final.
1.11 Race Controller
1.11.1 The Race Controller will be in charge of the race itself monitoring the timing
equipment. They will also be custodian of the spare chassis, together with
spare bodies etc.
1.11.2 Race Control will ensure drivers book in and out correctly against the relevant race time and team name and monitor for rule infringement.
1.11.3 The Race Controller will maintain the Race Control Drivers Log.
1.11.4 Race Control will decide if the race must be stopped at any time following discussion with at least three of the Referees above.
2.0 Race
2.1 The race shall have a Total Running Time of 24 hours run in one
hour segments (for lap counting purposes).
2.2 Each team will be given equal amounts of time (3 hours) on each lane, unless the event overruns. See 2.4 below
2.3 With seven lane changes together with hourly stoppages to reset the Timers the whole event will take, including down time, approximately 25 hours.
2.4 If, due to unexpected problems the race takes longer than envisaged, the maximum total running time allowed is 27 hours. Therefore if the race has not been completed by 1600 hours on the Sunday it will be stopped and the result will be taken at that time.
2.5 Following the initial lane choice, at the end of each 3 hour interval, the cars will be move from the inside lanes outwards and the car on lane 8 will be moved to lane 1.
2.6 Any time when the race is suspended is not included in the running time of the race. The race can only be suspended if agreement is reached between four of the above Referees.
The race will be suspended if: -
2.6.1 The entire track breaks and cannot be quickly and easily repaired. Loss of
power to a single lane i.e. its power pack fails, or a wire comes loose, or a piece of track goes down.
2.6.2 Total loss of power to the circuit.
2.6.3 Light failure in the hall.
2.6.4 All counting systems break down.
2.6.5 Fire Alarm sounds
The race will not be suspended if:-
2.6.6 A hand controller and/or its wire malfunctions.
2.7 Repairs and maintenance of the car may only be carried out during the running time of the race.
2.8 During periods when the race is suspended the cars may only be touched by personnel nominated by the Race Controller (ref. 1.0) to:-
2.8.1 place them on the new lane at lane changes
2.8.2 change lane designation sticker
2.8.3 be scrutineered.
2.9 The Race Controller or his nominee will instruct the teams when they are to change
lanes at the end of each three-hour session.
2.10 The following procedure for race day will take place:-
2.10.1 At 0800 hours the hall will open
2.10.2 At 0830 hours the track will be cleaned
2.10.3 Between 0900 and 0930 hours each team member must sign on to verify his or her arrival.
2.10.4 At 0930 hours all team members must attend the drivers briefing which will summarise the weekends events and cover any questions you may have.
2.10.4.1 During the drivers briefing pit boxes, chassis, hand controllers,
marshalling positions and practice lanes will be drawn
2.10.4.2 It is up to the Team Captains to ensure that their marshalling
areas are manned at all times including during practice & qualifying.
2.10.4.3 Non racers’ may marshal, but are under instruction from the
Team Captains.
2.10.4.4 Failure to attend the drivers briefing will mean disqualification of that driver, without refund on any entry fee, unless the Referees are notified before hand and the reason acceptable. (This is as a direct result of problems encountered through non-attendance by some drivers at previous events)
2.10.4.5 It is the Team Captain’s responsibility to ensure personnel are available at the relevant times.
2.10.5 At 1000 hours the track will be open for practice. All teams will practice for one hour starting with the lane they drew at the drivers briefing. All teams will practice together and supply a marshal for the corner they will be marshalling at the start of the race.
If any team wishes to try out any other lane it is up to them to negotiate with the other teams.
Teams are free to work on their chassis during this period within the rules specified elsewhere in this booklet.
2.10.6 At 1100 hours the track will be closed ready for official qualifying.
2.10.7 At 1105 hours official qualifying begins with the first driver to qualify decided by the Race Organisers. Drivers will have been ranked prior to the event, based on previous events, with the slowest (believed) driver on first.
2.10.7.1 All team members who are driving must qualify. Non-driving team members who may decide to drive later in the event must also qualify. Any team member that hasn’t qualified will not be permitted to drive.
2.10.7.2 Each qualifying driver must qualify for three laps with the car and chassis that team will race in the 24 hour race, the best driver in each team setting that teams qualifying position for lane choice.
2.10.7.3 All eight teams’ race cars must be presented to Race Control, prior to official qualifying starting, where they must remain throughout official qualifying. However a nominated member from each team can work on the car during official qualifying to the same rules as the 24 hour race. The car must be ready when it is the turn of a member of that team to race. For every individual qualifying round where the car is not ready when Race Control call’s said drivers name 10 laps will be deducted from the first hour of the 24 hour race. Note: A maximum of 15 seconds discretion will be allowed from when a drivers name is called to when they must start to qualify. Thereafter the 10 lap rule will be invoked.
2.10.8 At 1220 hours Official qualifying ends
2.10.9 At 1230 hours Race Control must be notified which driver is driving first
2.10.10 At 1245 hours the 15 MINUTE board will be shown
2.10.11 At 1250 hours the 10 MINUTE board will be shown and all cars must
be on their correct lanes with lane designation sticker applied. While it is Race Controls responsibility to apply these lane designation stickers to the cars, each team Captain is accountable for their car being labelled correctly.
2.10.12 At 1255 hours the 5 MINUTE board will be shown and power to the
track will be switched on. Marshalls MUST be in place at this time.
2.10.13 At 1257 hours the 3 MINUTE board will be shown and the first driver
for each team must be in place
2.10.14 At 1259 hours the 1 MINUTE board will be shown and following the
green flag all eight cars will be sent round on two slow warm up laps.
2.10.14.1 If any car that fails to start or complete either of the warm up laps, it must be retrieved and fixed by a member of that car's team. The start sequence for the race will not be delayed or aborted, and any cars that are not present at the start of the race, (once repaired) will be required to begin its race from the pits.
2.10.15 At 1259.30 hours the 30 SECOND board will be
shown
2.10.16 At 1259.50 hours the 10 SECOND board will be
shown
2.10.17 At 1259.54 the Le Mans the Tomy Timers will be switched on.
2.10.17.1 The race will begin with a standing start with the sixth beep of the
Tomy Timer. If any car passes the start line before the sixth and final beep, they will be deemed as making a false start and therefore the lap counters will deduct the first lap.
2.10.18 As a back up, lap recordings will be taken manually from the three
systems every 15 minutes by Race Control
2.10.19 Driver changes can only be made during the down time between hour
sessions or at the 15, 30 and 45 minute parts of the hour sessions. This needs to be strictly adhered to.
2.10.20 Driver changes must only take place when the car is stationary on one
of the designated areas marked Pit Straight.
2.10.21 Drivers must log in at Race Control and cannot race until Race Control
clears them to change over which will be by a buzzer and flashing light. They must also pick up and return the relevant driver pass. If at any time the driver racing does not match the Race Control Drivers Log or are not wearing the relevant pass they will be called down to update same before being permitted to continue to race. The current driver and not an alternative team member must do this.
2.10.22 Cars must only be worked on in the designated area marked “Pits”, or
at the Teams designated Table, which are adjacent to the Pits Straights. All other areas of the Sports Hall will be designated as the Paddock and at no time after the start of the race should cars enter this area.
Without this ruling the Organisers cannot police all work carried out on the cars.
2.10.23 Marshals finding cars unmarked, or incorrectly marked will remove
them from the track. It will then be the offending teams responsibility to retrieve the car, mark it correctly and return it to the track at the point at which it was removed. Race Control will have spare lane designation sticker.
2.10.24 After one hour the power will be switched off.
2.10.25 Cars to remain where they come to rest
2.10.26 Timing equipment that requires resetting will be reset once lap scores
recorded
2.10.27 The Race will then recommence with a six second count down on the
Tomy Timers – power will be switched on at the sixth beep
2.10.28 Every three hours when the power is switched off personnel
nominated by the Race Controller will remark the cars with the new lane sticker and then place it on the new lane on the same part of the circuit that it came to rest.
During this time each marshalling post should be refreshed with a marshal from a new team. Teams should rotate clockwise around the track.
Note: The cars move from the inner lanes to the outer lanes.
2.10.29 After the full 24 hours of racing, when the power is switched off final
scrutineering will be carried out by all of the above referees.
2.11 The World Record attempt must be verified either by officials present at the event or to the extent required by the following Guinness Book of Records Guidelines:-
2.11.1 Authentication
The following should be provided:-
2.11.1.1 In marathon events, a signed and dated log which shows that
the attempt has been the subject of unremitting surveillance.
2.11.1.2 Signed statements of authentication by two independent
persons of some standing in the community, on separate sheets of paper, confirming the details. The statements should include a contact address and telephone numbers.
2.11.1.3 Independent corroboration in the form of local or national
newspaper cuttings.
2.11.1.4 Photographs of transparencies of the event, if possible of
reproducible quality and preferably in colour.
2.11.2 Rest Breaks
2.11.2.1 In marathon tests a time-out allowance of five minutes for each
completed hour is medically essential. The taking of these is however agreeable, therefore ten minutes may be taken every two hours, fifteen every three hours etc. The log must show each interval taken. The record is the gross time i.e. it is the total elapsed time from start to finish. Any unused accumulated rest breaks cannot be added to the final figure
2.11.3 Guinness Involvement
2.11.3.1 Guinness cannot always provide personnel to invigilate record
attempts. There are far too many.
2.11.3.2 Guinness do not take responsibility for any accidents that may
occur during record attempts. They do advise that medical attention should be available at the event.
2.11.4 Publication
2.11.4.1 The Guinness Book of Records is likely only to publish records,
which represent improvements on existing records. An inaugural best performance may very occasionally be published if it is considered to be of a kind which is likely to become the subject of widespread and preferably, international, competition. However they will under no circumstances undertake to publish any record and reserve the right to determine in their sole discretion the records to be published.
2.11.4.2 Even if Guinness do accept a claim, it does not necessarily
mean that details will be included in the book, as the record may be subsequently be beaten – the record that stands when Guinness go to press can only be included.
2.11.4.3 All documentation should be clearly marked as to which record
has been attempted and which material needs returning after verification should be clearly indicated
3.0 Cars
3.1 Body
3.1.1 Each team may only use one car during the race. The Tomy AFX bodies that
must be used in 2010 are as follows:-
Jaguar XJR #2 Wht/Prpl/Yel "SilkCut"
Jaguar XJR #2 Wht/Prpl/Yel "AFX"
Jaguar XJR #44 Wht/Grn/Lt Grn "Jaguar"
Jaguar XJR #60 Wht/Red/Grn "Castrol"
C9 Mercedes #63 Silv/Blk
C9 Mercedes #61 Blk/Wht "Circuit Board"
C9 Mercedes #61 Blk/Wht "Circuit Board" w/o Mercedes
Esso Peugeot 905 #44 Wht/Blk/Yel/Blue
Esso Peugeot 905 #45 Wht/Blk/Yel/Blue
Toyota Minolta #36 GTP Blu/Wht
Toyota TAKA-Q #37 GTP Yel/Wht/Blk
Toyota Denso #38 GTP Red/Wht
Toyota Tenoras #50 GTP Silv/Wht
Porsche 962 #1 Rothmans
Porsche 962 #14 AFX Wht/Blu/Gld
Porsche 962 #14 AFX Wht/Blu/Gld w/Porsche
Porsche 962 #17 Shell
Porsche 962 #17 Shell w/Porsche
Porsche 962 #33 Red/Wht/Blu "GoodYear"
Porsche 956 #7 AFX Yel/Blk
Porsche 956 #7 TAKA-Q Yel/Blk
Porsche 956 #10 Kenwood Wht/Red
Porsche 956 #11 Kenwood/Elkron Blu/Wht
Porsche 956 #7 GReddy
3.1.2 All bodies must have a paint scheme of either fictitious or factual origin.
3.1.3 All bodies must be fitted with all of the body manufacturer's original accessories such as: bumpers, windows, heads, rollover bars, wings, etc. Each piece must be in its complete form and in its stock location.
3.1.4 Should any of the body parts mentioned in the body regulation become fully detached from the body during the race, the object must be glued back into it's proper place within 2 laps of it becoming detached or a penalty will be assessed. To allow teams a broader choice of bodies to be used, i.e. Group C’s, original rear wings can be mounted using rubber, however they must be positioned as the original, including height.
3.1.5 The body mounting tabs on a standard Tomy AFX body that does fit a standard Tomy chassis may be moved to lower the body, however no material is allowed to be removed from the wheel arches or the bottom of the body.
3.1.6 If the body requires additional material to be added to prevent the body from interfering with the track surface or to prevent tire to wheel well clearance problems, then a minimal amount of (no more than 4) plastic posts or "stand-offs" (of no more than 0.100" in diameter) may be glued to the underside of the body to correct the problem.
3.1.7 Other than the plastic mounting tab receptacles and the posts stated in regulations 6 and 7, no additional weight can be added to the body.
3.1.8 The body may be lightened by means of grinding material away from the underside and must not weigh less than 3.5 grams.
3.1.9 No extraneous holes may be cut or drilled into the body for the purpose of lightening.
3.1.10 All teams must supply an original untouched body of the kind to be raced, to show modifications that they have made to their race body.
3.1.11 The HOLM technical committee must approve all bodies entered for the 24-hour event.
3.1.16.1 For a valid attempt on the record the chassis and body of the car may not be changed during the race. If either has to be changed in order to continue with the race, the car may still compete and win but will not break the record.
Note; All spare chassis and bodies will be kept by race control. Therefore if any team has brought any spare bodies they must hand them in. All racing bodies will be marked by race control prior to the start of the race and checked on a regular basis.
3.2 Chassis
The following parts may be changed for other standard parts supplied by the Organisers due to wear and tear or loss:-
No Item Qty* in Pit Box
8801 Guide Pin 9
No modification allowed
8802 Pick Up Shoe Springs A Qty
Can be stretched or doubled up only.
8803 Pick Up Shoes 30
Can be bent, flattened and a ‘V’ shaped
groove can be filed into the rear tang of the
shoe (this is to reduce wear and tear on the
track).
8804 Pick Up Shoe Holder A Qty
No modification allowed
8806 Ground Effect Magnet 2
No modification allowed (except shimming with lexan plastic provided)
8807 Motors 8
May be advanced but the can must not be opened up
8809 Chassis with Retainer 1 Chassis (6 retainers)
No modification allowed
8811 Pinion 10
No modification allowed
8812 Front Axle Assembly 3
No modifications allowed
8814 Rear Axle Assembly 8
No modifications allowed except the use of Silicon tyres and rule 3.2.1
Silicon Tyres 2 High pairs
5 Medium pairs
3 Low pairs
Rubber Tyres 2 Pairs
* Note: These quantities will be checked before and after the race. That teams’ result will be based on all parts being returned after the race
3.2.1 A sheet of lexan plastic is included in the pit box. This can only be used to shim the traction magnets or be glued to the outer edge of the rear wheels to help keep the silicon tyres on the hubs. No shims are allowed on any other part of the car.
3.2.2 No further items should be added to the pit boxes
No other modifications are allowed apart from the oiling of rotating parts.
Spray lubricants and tyre cleaning substances are not to be used. The use of any substances (like lubricants and cleaners, with the exception of plain air) that is expelled from a pressurized or "pump" style container, cannot be used. Tyre cleaning substances are also not to be used with the exception of masking tape (made of paper, not cloth)
3.3 All chassis have been provided by Tomy and are standard except for the use of balanced armatures and Silicon tyres. All equipment, including cars, tyres and spares provided by the organisers remain the property of the Derby H:O Racing Club and must be returned after the event. Team captains will be responsible for all equipment supplied to them.
Note: With the withdrawal of the Tomy product line from England these parts will start to become more and more scarce therefore if this event is to continue we need to ensure all unused equipment is returned.
3.4 Cars will be scrutineered by any two of the referees covered in section 1.0 or Race Controls nominated personnel at one time.
They will be scrutineered at the end of each lane change and three times during actual race time. These extra three scrutineering checks will take no longer than one minute each and can be done during a routine pit stop which will be recorded by Race Control.
4.0 Teams
4.1 Each team will consist of a minimum of five and a maximum of eleven people.
4.2 Each driver must be prepared to race for a minimum of two hours in total, throughout the event in stints of no less than 15 minutes with a maximum limit of 3 hours for any one stint, with at least one hour break between stints. There is no overall maximum limit for each driver.
4.3 Non-racing team members are allowed but they must sign in and attend the whole race.
4.4 Entry fee is £10 per team member, per team e.g. if one person is an official member of more than one team they need to pay £10 per team.
4.4.1 In the interest of sportsmanship, however, during the event, where new teams need outside technical assistance another team’s member (not a person not involved with the event) can offer technical assistance. It should be agreed with all Referees prior to the start of the race which teams are allowed this outside assistance.
4.5 Alternative years the race will be run for Children charities.
4.6 Each team should select a team captain who will make any representations or
contact with the Referees on their teams behalf, unless unable to do so because of their driving stint.
4.7 Each team captain should supply a list of named drivers and entry
fees to:-
Nick Sismey, 80 Chaddesden Lane, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 6LN.
4.8 Each team will be supplied with a box of spare parts (see 3.2), any of which may be
changed by the team during the race as required. No maintenance may be carried out between sessions or when the power is switched off for any reason.
4.9 Maintenance equipment i.e. emery paper, oil, masking tape, Superglue, small pliers, screwdriver and cloths must be supplied by the team. Additional items are left to the teams’ discretion.
4.10 Designated “Pit Areas” will be provided and all car repairs must be carried out there. All parts supplied by DHORC must not be taken outside of the Sports Hall at any time during the event.
4.11 If a car fails anywhere on the track and cannot move under it’s own power, it must be returned to the pit area for repairs as above. Recovery to be by a team member – marshals must remain at their posts – (see below)
4.12 Only team members may recover stricken cars from the circuit.
4.13 Marshals / Drivers from opposing teams can only fix another teams stricken car if they receive permission from a member of the relevant team. The Marshal / Driver should raise their hand if they believe they can fix the car immediately and then only when a member of the relevant team acknowledges this can they fix the car. At all other times the relevant team should fetch their car, fix it and then replace it back on the track on the pits straight.
4.14 Any substance found on a lane must be cleaned by the team running on that lane, at the end of that hour stint. This substance must not be used in excess again.
4.15 The centre of the track is strictly out of bounds during at all times except for those areas of the track that require marshalling on the inside of the track. Failure to meet this rule will result in a ten-lap deduction from that teams total score for each infringement. (Except for nominated personnel during downtime)
5.0 Track
5.1 The track must have a minimum length of 70 feet.
5.2 The track must have a minimum of four lanes.
5.3 The track must have a minimum total of 900 degrees of corners
5.4 Any corner banked at over 10 degrees shall not count as a corner.
5.5 The track must have a minimum total of 180 degrees of corners with a radius of no
greater than 7.5 inches
5.6 Tracks over 200 feet in length must have a minimum 1300 degrees of corners. Tracks over 300 feet in length must have a minimum of 1800 degrees of corners.
Note: The lap length of the track is the average of the slot in each lane (the total length divided by the number of lanes).
5.7 The track can be made by either Tomy, Tyco, Lifelike, Micro Scalextric or from a professional H:O manufacturer verified by the Derby H:O Racing Club.
6.0 Equipment
6.1 Parma hand controls supplied by the Derby H:O Racing Club can be used. Alternatively competitors can use their own “collector arm running along resistor” hand controllers fitted with a 6.5mm (.25") mono jack plug. No diode/rectifier style hand controllers are allowed. All hand controllers must be offered to the organisers before the event begins for Scrutineering.
6.2 The use of radio headsets is permitted.
6.3 Televisions or radios will not be permitted in the hall during the race.
7.0 Facilities
7.1 Sleeping arrangements at the venue will be necessarily basic. It is therefore
recommended that competitors bring their own sleeping equipment. However the DCFG will be providing a number of camp beds. The large car park around the Sports Hall will be available should anyone wish to bring caravans, tents etc. Any local entrants wishing to go home to rest may do so as long as they advise their team captain.
7.2 Toilet / washing facilities are provided as well as showers.
7.3 Please make your own arrangements for food. There are several take-a-ways in the
area including pizzerias, McDonalds and KFC. The Rolls-Royce leisure association Welfare Hall will be available at certain times.
Note: No alcohol or smoking will be allowed in the sports hall.
7.4 The organisers take no responsibility for any loss, damage, or injury to persons or their property during the event, although every reasonable effort will be taken to minimise risks. Ultimately each individual is responsible for the safety of themselves and their possessions.
7.5 In Emergencies should anyone need to get in contact with anyone at the event please call mobile phone numbers 07968 906 491 (Nick Sismey) or 07912 378 652 (Phil Rees).