2009 Rules
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Southern States Midget Association
2009 Rules
I. General Rules
- Improper language or conduct
- No participant or their pit-crew members will be allowed to use improper language to a race official at the track. Failure to act in a professional manner may result in fines and/or suspension.
- No participant or their pit-crew members shall strike or bodily harm any person at the track. Anyone found guilty will be fined $250.00 and suspended for three SSMA race events.
- No participant or their pit-crew members is to approach the flagman or the scorer during any race event. All issues should be taken to the Competition Director. Anyone found harassing the flagman or the scorer will be assessed a fine of $50.00 and suspended for three SSMA race events.
- All decisions or calls made at the race event will be left to the discretion of the Competition Director.
- All fines are to be paid prior to any further competition.
- Point Standings:
- Points will be awarded at all SSMA sanctioned events.
- Points will be awarded to ONLY SSMA members.
- Owner points go to the registered car owner, driver points will follow the driver. I.e.… the car that wins their heat race earns 10 points, the registered car owner receives 10 points and the registered driver that drove the car also receives 10 points.
SSMA POINTS SYSTEM
|
Position
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Heat Race Points
|
Feature Race Points
|
|
1
|
10
|
29
|
|
2
|
9
|
25
|
|
3
|
8
|
22
|
|
4
|
7
|
21
|
|
5
|
6
|
20
|
|
6
|
5
|
19
|
|
7
|
4
|
18
|
|
8
|
3
|
17
|
|
9
|
|
16
|
|
10
|
|
15
|
|
11
|
|
14
|
|
12
|
|
13
|
|
13
|
|
12
|
|
14
|
|
11
|
|
15
|
|
10
|
|
16
|
|
9
|
|
17
|
|
8
|
|
18
|
|
7
|
|
19
|
|
6
|
|
20
|
|
5
|
|
21
|
|
4
|
|
22
|
|
3
|
|
23
|
|
2
|
|
24
|
|
1
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- Qualifying:
All qualifying (heat race) line-ups will be determined by drawing of positions.
The first heat race winner will then draw for the feature line-up invert after the
Completion of all qualifying heat races. Four chips will be placed in the drawing
numbered “0”, “1”, “2” and “3”. Zero will line the feature event “Heads up” with
the first heat race winner starting on the front row inside and second heat winner
starting on the outside of the front row with the following rows filled in by the
order of the finishing positions of all the heat races. The drawing of the numeral 1
will invert the field one row with the winner of the first heat on the second row
inside with the rest of the field inverted accordingly. The drawing of the numeral
2 will invert the field two rows with the winner of the first heat on the third row
inside with the rest of the field inverted accordingly. The drawing of the numeral
3 will invert the field 3 rows with the winner of the first heat on the fourth row
Inside with the rest of the field inverted accordingly. Note: There will be no more
Than 8 cars per heat race.
- Physical Condition of Driver:
- SSMA recommends that all registered drivers have an annual physical exam and present a copy of the results to SSMA prior to the first event of each new season.
- No participant shall be allowed to compete if it is evident that he/she shows signs of intoxication or any other physical condition that may be a threat to his /her well-being or that of any fellow competitors.
- Any driver seriously injured at a race and/or taken to the hospital shall need a medical release before being allowed to compete in future events.
4. Any driver injured in an accident or involved in a flip (upside down) must
be evaluated by the onsite medical Personnel before competing in another
Event.
- Intoxicants or Drugs
No owner, driver, or pit-crew member shall be found to be “Under the
Influence” of any intoxicant or drugs while on the racetrack or in the pit area.
No liquor or drugs will be used while in the pit area before or during a race
event. Anyone found guilty of this infraction will be removed by security
from the designated area.
II. Membership Requirements
A. No person shall be discriminated against because of sex, race, religion, or
nationality.
B. Terms of membership shall be from February 1st of that year thru January
31st of the following year.
C. Full Membership: Full membership will earn SSMA Championship points, be
Eligible for any contingency awards if they are available. The cost of full
membership for car owners shall be $ 30.00. The cost of full membership for
drivers shall be $ 30.00.
D. Temporary Permit: Temporary permits will be required for all non-SSMA
member entrants for any SSMA Sanctioned events. Temporary permits are
valid for three SSMA sanctioned events. A temporary permit holder is not
eligible for SSMA championship points or any contingency awards. The cost
of a temporary permit will be $ 15.00.
E. All drivers competing in SSMA sanctioned events must be 16 years of age or
older. All drivers under the age of 16 as of February 1st, 2008 that have
previously raced with SSMA will be grandfathered and allowed to compete.
This rule applies to only future competitors.
F. All drivers without previous experience (completion of 3 midget feature
events of any club ) shall be eligible for SSMA rookie status. That driver
must register as a rookie at their first SSMA event to be eligible for rookie of
the year honors. Rookie drivers will be placed on probation and placed in the
back row of all events for three ( 3 ) race events. After the completion of the
third event and with the authorization of the Director of Competition, the
driver may be removed from probation and placed in a regular drawn starting
position.
III. Car Appearance.
A. All cars must pass a technical inspection by the Competition Director before
being allowed to race.
B. All cars must be neatly painted and presentable to the race fans as well as to
track promoters.
C. All SSMA members are required to have an SSMA decal affixed to the right
side of the car.
D. Each car will be required to have a number and must be prominently
displayed on the nose and each side of the tail tank.
E. Car owners desiring a particular number must make a request prior to
February 1st of each year. Numbers will be assigned in the order of the
request received. Car owners who have had the same number for a period of
several years may retain that number by completing an application prior to
February 1st of each year. After a particular number has been assigned to a car
and owner, it will remain with that owner until the end of the racing season.
F. If the championship car owner wishes to have the numeral 1, they may take the number for that current year. The regular number for that car will be held in reserve for that year should they want it back at the tenure of their championship.
IV. Specifications.
A. Design and Construction: All phases of design and construction of any car is
subject to the approval of SSMA. Any car may be excluded from competition
if deemed dangerous by SSMA.
B. An inspection shall be performed by the Director of Competition at any event
during the season.
C. Car Construction:
1. All cars must be of the “Open Wheel, Open Cockpit” style.
2. The engine must be covered with a cowling or hood and firmly secured in place.
3. All cars must have a floorboard or “belly pan” that extends from the firewall to the front portion of the seat.
4. All cars shall be rear drive only. Engine offset is limited to a maximum
Of one (1) inch, from the chassis centerline as measured at the
centerline of the crankshaft. Engine inclination is limited to forty-five
degrees from vertical as measured form the vertical centerline of the
cylinder bore.
5. Seats: It is required that all cars not running a full containment seat must have cage nets on both the left and right sides of the roll cage for all events. All roll cage nets must conform to SFI Foundation Certification 37.1 and labeled as such.
a. The life of roll cage nets shall not exceed two (2) years.
b. Caution should be used when positioning roll cage nets to be certain that the driver’s head cannot get under the net in case of an accident.
c. The bottom of the roll cage net should be as close to the top of the shoulder as possible.
d. The connection of the roll cage net to the chassis must be a rigid connection that does not allow the cage nets to slide up or down.
6. Seat Belts: The use of an approved seat belt with a quick opening clasp is mandatory. The seat belts must be SFI approved and shall not exceed three years of age. Each belt must be the standard 3” minimum and include a submarine belt of suitable size. No “Y” style shoulder harnesses will be permitted. Shoulder harnesses must be individual type.
7. Weight: All cars will weigh a minimum of 900 pounds; including water, oil, and fuel, but not to include the driver’s weight. Cars may be weighed prior to or following any event. Cars weighed at the end of an event may not add any fuel or ballast to satisfy the minimum weight requirement. Cars powered with four cylinders, horizontally-opposed, two valves per cylinder must weigh a minimum of 850 pounds.
8. Roll Cage: All cars must be equipped with a roll cage that cannot encroach upon the imaginary cylinder extending upward from the cockpit opening. The roll cage must be adequately braced fore and aft to secure in an upright position. The roll cage should extend a minimum of 3” above the driver’s helmet when the driver is seated in the car. All cars constructed after January 1997 require roll cages and uprights constructed of 4130 seamless steel material, 1 3/8” diameter with a minimum wall thickness of .095”. All roll cages must be designed as to permit the lifting of the car in the event of an accident. SFI approved roll cage padding is highly recommended.
9. Water / Oil coolers: No water or oil coolers are to be placed above or beside the cockpit opening.
10. Axles: Front axles must be constructed of 4130 Steel tubing.
11. Steering: The steering mechanism should be in accordance with sound engineering principals and subject to inspection. A quick release steering wheel is required. No pin-type quick release or plastic quick releases will be permitted.
12. Bumpers and nerf-bars: Cars must be equipped with adequate bumpers that are securely fastened to the car. No titanium rear bumpers are allowed.
13. Airfoils, wings, spoilers, or any other aerodynamic appendages will not be permitted. The Competition Director may have any panel or part removed that in his/her opinion is not within the spirit of this rule.
14. Brakes: All cars must be equipped with suitable brakes that are able to skid the rear tires upon request.
15. Tires: Any tire compound and make are acceptable. You must run the right rear tire in which you ran your heat race on; there will be no exceptions. The maximum tire with will be 12” measured from the outside wall to outside wall with the exception of the right - rear which will have a maximum width of 14”. Front wheel widths may not exceed 8”, rear wheels must not exceed 10” in width. All wheels must be 13” diameter. Bead locks are legal and recommended strongly.
16. Fuel Cells: All cars are required to have an approved fuel cell and bladder. The fuel cell should be supported in a manner that will avoid rupture or breakage. A flush-type cap is required. All cars must also be equipped with a safety check valve.
17. Fuel systems must be equipped with a fuel shut off device located within easy reach of the driver.
18. Fuel is restricted to methanol or ethanol. Top-lube and or fuel fragrances may be used. No nitro-methane type fuel will be permitted.
19. Firewall: All cars must have an adequate firewall between the engine and the driver.
20. Mufflers: Mufflers will be mandatory at tracks that require them. No carbon-fiber mufflers are allowed.
21. Throttle toe straps are mandatory and the linkage must be so constructed that bringing back the throttle pedal with the toe strap will close the throttle valves. There will be a minimum of 3 throttle springs.
22. No rear-view mirrors will be permitted.
D. Engines and Driveline:
1. Any 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder engine may be used.
2. All engines must be normally aspirated. Neither turbochargers nor superchargers/blowers will be permitted.
3. No Nitrous Oxide Injection will be allowed.
4. All chain driven cars are prohibited.
5. A suitable guard must shield all revolving parts inside the cockpit. All cars must be equipped with a drive shaft restraining hoop securely attached to the chassis. Minimum hoop material is 1 inch by .095 inch steel tubing
6. Only torque tube type drivelines, utilizing only one u-joint, will be allowed.
V. Safety Equipment.
A. Helmets: All participating drivers must wear safety helmets designed specifically for auto racing that meet or exceeds the 2000 or 2005
Snell Foundation or SFI Foundation 31.1 Specifications and are labeled as
Such. Helmets will be subject to inspection at each event by the
Director of Competition and /or medical representative.
B. Uniforms - All drivers must wear fire resistant head sock/helmet skirt,
underwear, socks, shoes, gloves and a one-piece uniform fitted snugly
around the neck, wrists and ankles. It is recommended that these items
meet SFI Foundation Specifications 3.2A and 3.3.
C. Arm Restraints - Arm restraints are mandatory and must be worn at all
times during competition.
D. Neck Support: All drivers are required to have some form of head and neck
restraint system. As a minimum an SFI approved proban or nomex covered
neck brace must be used.
VI. Competition Rules:
A. Staging : All lineups will be posted by the score keeper. It is the responsibility of each competitor to get their car properly staged in the staging area for their designated race.
B. On Track Lineups: Once your car has been pushed off, each driver needs to get to their starting position as quickly as possible. NO HOTLAPPING WILL BE TOLERATED !!!
C. Starts : The pole car sets the pace. Any car that “Jumps” the start will be given one warning by the flagman. If any car jumps the start for a second time they shall be sent to the rear of the fiend.
D. Restarts : Single file lineups only. No “Rabbit Starts” will be permitted.
E. Aggressive Driving : All aggressive driving, malicious or not, will be dealt with by the flagman or any track referee. Any driver that exhibits over aggressive will receive one warning by the flagman and placed at the rear of the field. If the flagman or any referee determines that it is malicious or too excessive may “Black Flag” that driver from that event. No contact between cars during lineups or parade laps will be permitted. If a driver is black flagged for over aggressive or malicious rough driving shall forfeit all points and monies for that event.
F. Cautions : All cars that are involved in a caution shall go to the rear of the field. Any cars that are involved in an altercation can restart at the rear of the field 2 times. The “Two Spin Rule Applies” If a car is involved in a third caution, that car shall be disqualified and removed from the remainder of the event. Cars involved in the two spin rule or involved in two altercations that requires disqualification will be assessed points as well as receive their payout as they are not being penalized for rough or aggressive driving.
G. Red Flags : No working on the cars during “ Red Flag “ conditions. Any cars that choose to do so must notify the designated Competition Director or a track official as to their intent. If any fuel is to be added to the car, the driver must exit the car prior to pouring of the fuel. For safety reasons, any team that violates this rule shall be disqualified from that event as well as forfeit all points and monies for that event.
IF THE RULES DON’T SAY IT, DON’T ASSUME IT’S LEGAL… ASK FIRST !!!
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