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The Rules

This is a set of general rules NCRC will follow for all track events (see ARC Rules for rules related to our race series). Specific additional details, based on the local track's rules, may apply as well. Make sure you're aware of all rules for each track. You should also read through the Logistics section, for handy tips related to your car. There will be a driver's meeting at the beginning of the day to go over rules, flags, instructions, questions, etc. We will only have additional driver's meetings during the day if there is an urgent issue to deal with. At the event, the Track Steward is responsible for enforcing these rules. If you are called in for a violation, it will be the Steward you talk to. He will be the person at the head of the hot pit, monitoring cars entering the track, and will be in radio communication with all the flaggers. Make him your friend!

Car and Equipment Requirements

• Any car in good working order will function well on the track. We do require that cars be in good visual condition as well, and do not allow "project cars" with missing body panels, body damage, primer, etc. We do not allow SUV's or other vehicles that will not handle safely on a track, but certainly a well-maintained street car is acceptable.
• Convertibles - see section below
• Laguna Seca has a strict sound policy, and the other tracks might institute one as well. If this may be an issue for you, please check their rules for details
• The car must minimally have functional 3-point seat belts
• Long sleeve shirt and pants (cotton is best)
• A SNELL SA-00 (preferred) or M-00 (acceptable) or newer helmet is required for anyone in the car.  The helmet must cover the ears as a minimum (no "shorty" type helmets), with a closed faced helmet being preferred, but optional (required in open cars with no windshield).
• You must be at least 18 years of age, 16 with parental consent letter, and have a valid driver's license
• Passengers 18 years of age or older are allowed in the cars for a session or two. We do not want you to have a passenger for the whole day, though, as it causes distraction from your driving. If the officials have any trouble with passenger'd cars going off track or any other issues, they may discontinue all passenger rides, in all cars.

Open Wheel Cars

Open-wheel cars are approved to run at our race events, but not encouraged for NCRC Open Track driving.

Convertibles and Rollbars

This rule wasn't made easily.  It's not a savory prospect to alienate anyone, much less the membership we try hard in every way to please. The truths are: this is a very legal world, convertibles have a weakness when it comes to roll-overs, and we all participate in a dangerous activity. No roll-bar or roll cage will protect 100%, just as a hard-top car is not a guarantee that you'll walk un-scratched from a roll-over. That said, we must address the largest, the most likely areas to cause serious injury.

You all know the NCRC has few rules like this and prides itself on having little bureaucracy. This is a requirement that seems to make perfect sense for the people slightly paranoid about their own safety, and the safety of passengers who may be unaware of how convertibles behave in rollovers.

Passengers will NOT be allowed in convertibles without adequate roll protection (see below for what adequate means). Also, no instruction will be provided in roll-bar-less convertibles. No convertibles will be allowed to participate in NCRC events without proper roll protection as defined below. Drivers may be removed from an event with no refund for failing to follow this or any other NCRC rule:

The above are the minimum roll bar requirements, and will be checked prior to convertibles being allowed on the track. Please note that the broomstick test is dependent on the height of the driver. While we can answer general questions about convertibles, "Is my car legal?" is typically not something NCRC can answer for you - you need to do the broomstick test with *you* in the car. If you wish to increase the margin of safety beyond what's required, which we strongly recommend, consider the following:

1. Arm tie-in straps or a window net to protect your arms from going outside of the car's protected cockpit area
2. A properly constructed and installed roll cage
3. Lowering your seats

These extra options are especially good if you're looking to install or upgrade your roll protection. Don't be lured into a false sense of confidence by cosmetic or poorly installed roll protection. An example of poorly installed roll protection would be attachments into sheet metal without the proper backing hardware. You want to have protection that's going to do what it says, not what it looks like it might do. It's like insurance: you may never use it, but if you need it you REALLY need it.

There are aftermarket roll bars and/or seats which can be used to help meet these requirements. Here are some links to sites that provide acceptable solutions.  FYI, we are not affiliated with any of these groups, or able to vouch for the quality or anything about these products.  This info is not meant to be completely inclusive or exclusive.  It's for reference/example only to save you from some web-surfing or calling around. 

Driving Rules

These driving rules are for NCRC's Open Track events.

• This is a driving school event, and we won't be timing laps unless they're a specifically requested by the driver. We won't tolerate any activity that appears dangerous or aggressive to yourself or other drivers. But please be aware that we will be driving at high speed, and while most tracks have safe run-off areas, accidents can happen. Verify with your insurance company if you have concerns. Neither the track or NCRC will take liability for any incidents, and you will be required to sign a waiver at the beginning of the day.
• See the specific track page for passing zones that will apply.
• All passing should be done in a safe manner at all times. I.e., this is a safe pass, for purposes of moving a faster car around the track, as opposed to a racing pass. In the groups which require point-by, that is a mandatory point-by, and violations will be black flagged for a safety violation. All drivers should keep an eye out behind themselves (which isn't anything new) and not use the fact that a car has been coming up fast to test out the new nitrous system!

  The run group passing rules are as follows:

  • Open group has open passing either side anywhere on track no point required
  • Point-By group has open passing either side anywhere on track point by required
  • Solo and Driving School groups have restricted passing with point by required for any pass

All passes are encouraged to be on the side with the inside line to the next turn. For example if two cars are driving down a straight with a left turn at the end, the point-by and pass should occur to the left. But the leading driver always has the final say on side of the point-by, and the following driver should pass, if desired, only on that side. If the leading driver chooses to point to the "wrong" side, that's the side on which the pass should be made.

• When preparing to pass a slower car, the second car in line has "right of way" for the pass. Cars behind the second car should pull in line behind that second car, and note a continued signal from the car being passed.
• Wheels off the track, or spins are a symptom of a loss of concentration, and as such are a leading indicator of more problems to come. The following rules will apply:
  • The first occurrence of any wheels off the track or spin requires a mandatory trip down the hot pit road to talk with the steward (steward should be located at track entrance). You'll have a chance to catch your breath, and discuss what happened before you head back out.
  • The second occurrence of two wheels off the track will require another pit road discussion with the steward.
  • On the third 2-off, or second spin or four wheels off, will cause you to be black flagged and sit out the rest of that session. You will not be allowed to carry passengers for the rest of the day.
  • On the fourth 2-off, or third spin or third 4-off, you're done for the day.
• While new members can select their preferred/appropriate run group, they will not be allowed to start their first NCRC event in the Advanced run group. Members will need the approval of the Director of Instruction to advance to higher run groups. We will realign folks into more appropriate run groups if a car is particularly slow or fast. Every attempt will be made to make the various groups compatible.

Contact

Contact with another car is one of the rare and unfortunate situations on the track. At NCRC events, it is the overtaking driver's responsibility to ensure a clean pass. If there is any doubt about the possibility of a successful, clean pass, it should not be taken. This applies whether point-bys are required in the run group or not.

In the case of contact of any kind, car-to-car or otherwise, you can receive a warning, probation, even up to removal from the club for a period of time or permanently. This will depend on whether contact or accidents are a pattern, even on the first offense, if it's heinous enough. The actions taken by NCRC's management will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and might depend on factors like how avoidable the incident was, definitely the attitudes of the people involved, did injuries result, previous behaviors, how you've decided to resolve any damages (friendly or not), etc. We'll try to be fair, but the bottom line is there is no appeal process and the decision on what actions taken by the NCRC staff are final and absolute, based on our best judgment for the good of the club and those involved.

If All Else Fails

• If the flaggers or track officials see you violating rules, you will be black flagged, and pulled in for a discussion. Flagrant or multiple violations, and your day will be over, with no refund. Failure to know or see the flags is not a good excuse for ignoring them. If you're a novice, read up on the flags ahead of time, and we'll also talk to the flags in the morning driver's session.
• If an unsafe act or failure to follow club or track rules results in car-to-car contact of any type, you will receive a black flag immediately, and can be expelled from the club permanently.
• Conformance to NCRC bylaws and professional code of conduct is enforced
• We'll be generally following the standard track process that most clubs use for high performance street schools and driving events, but we do get the ability to change rules as we see fit. NCRC reserves the right to make the final call on rules, with the track officials.
• Continued violations of rules will result in member expulsion from the club.
• NCRC reserves the right to remove any driver from an event, or from the club, for any reason.

If you have any questions about our rules, or need any clarification before attending an event, please contact Dave. At the event itself, verify rules with the instructors, as the Track Steward is unlikely to be available to you.

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