Survey of US and UK Racing Requirements

[260DET]

We in Australia have sealed circuit track competition events called Supersprints. Basically they are not racing events where the winner is the first one across the line, rather around five cars start one after another and the winner is the one who does the best lap time. There may be several groups of say five cars in the competition but only one group at a time is on the track. The cars are usually road registered cars, not outright racing cars.

The financial viability of such events is being crippled due to safety and control requirements like mechanical scrutineering, numbers of fire and flag marshalls, medical crew, etc.

So I was wondering what the situation was in other countries for similar events in regard to any requirement for safety and control personnel. Do your cars have to be scrutineered for mechanical safety purposes? Do you have to have a fire extinguisher on board? Do you have flag and fire marshalls in groups around the track? What, if any, other officials do you have to have?

Thanks in advance to anyone responding.

[MistressMotorsp]

We have similar events in the US. They are usually called time trials or solo 1 events. Very similar to what you described, with one car at a time being timed. It is common to have three or four cars actually on the track at the same time, although they are spaced so that they shouldn't catch each other. Safety requirements for those type of events vary greatly. Some organizations require full racing equipment, roll cages, nomex, etc. Some allow street cars with the drivers in helmets, but otherwise street clothes. Tech inspection also varies by club, but usually basic safety equipment is checked like seat belts, brake lights, no leaks, good brakes, moving parts in good shape, etc. So, there is no one standard here in the states. Naturally, we also have lapping days, where people can bring their street cars to a track and run them in a non-competitive, passing restricted environment, driving schools using either the students' or the school's own cars, and full on race events. Virtually all events have a medical staff and flaggers/marshals present to assist. Some use the entrants themselves as the flaggers, although this is mostly reserved for non-competition events.

Many clubs are now combining several of these kinds of events so they can serve all audiences. See www.touringcarclub.com for one example. Hope this helps.

Mike

[260DET]

Thanks Mike, unfortunately we have a central body which tries to impose stringent requirements on those sort of events which prices them out of reach for many. However some racing circuit owners now carry their own insurance and run events for road cars with just a first aid crew and a recovery vehicle present which makes for reasonably affordable participation.

[kmack]

I know it's alittle lateon the reply, but here it is.

I'm involved with a Porsche club that sponsors a "Driver's Education" event. http://www.rgvpca.org/faq.htm

This gives a little insight as to the event. All corner workers are either drivers or volunteers (usually driver's family members or friends), fire extinguishers located at corners, the facility is an old airport (which the club pays a fee to use), and club insurance is required (but doesn't cover any damage to cars).

That's the only thing I'm involved in right now. I'm starting to look at another event called an Open Road Race, in Big Bend, Tx.

www.bborr.com

This one is going to be fun!