Rules

• 1.1 Insurance Waiver – All participants must sign the waiver form. Participants who have not yet reached 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign, at the event, a “Minor Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement”.

• 1.2 Driver Licensing – All drivers must have a valid driver’s license. Minor drivers must be able to show that they have permission to operate the vehicle in the event.

• • 1.3 Driver Safety Equipment — All drivers must wear at a minimum, a SNELL M2010 or SA2010 or better approved helmet in good condition (no dings, dents, cracks, or scarring), enclosed shoes, and must use seat belts. The Tech Inspector will have final say on any helmet, shoes, or belts in question.

• 1.4 Passengers – Passengers are permitted under the following conditions:
  • 1.4.1 At the discretion of the event chairperson, the only passenger permitted for a novice driver is an instructor who is an experienced autocrosser. A novice may have an instructor on the first competition run. If the driver is a minor, a parent may ride as a passenger in addition to the instructor.
  • 1.4.2 The vehicle must be properly equipped to carry a passenger.
  • 1.4.3 The passenger must have signed a waiver and must wear a seatbelt and approved helmet.
  • 1.4.4 The passenger must be at least 16 years old. If under 18, must have a parent or legal guardian signature on the Minor Waiver. Allowance of any passenger is subject to the approval of the event chairperson or safety steward.
  • 1.4.5 Competitors may NOT RIDE as a passenger until all of their competition runs are completed. See the exception in 1.4.1.

• 1.5 Consecutive Runs in Same Vehicle – There will be a minimum of five minutes waiting period between competition runs for any vehicle, be it a multiple driver car or a rerun.

• 1.6 Run Schedule – All drivers will run with their respective class during their scheduled run group time so as to facilitate event efficiencies. If a driver running for points runs outside their scheduled run group time, they are only eligible for last place in class points. Time only runs will occur after the completion of the session (a.m. or p.m.) as time allows.

• 1.7 Driving of Multiple Vehicles – A competitor may drive two cars in an autocross with the following stipulations:
  • 1.7.1 If time allows, at the discretion of event chairperson.
  • 1.7.2 The driver must declare prior to running which car will be driven for trophy runs.
  • 1.7.3 The declared vehicle must be driven first, in proper run group, with all runs completed before the second car is run for no trophy consideration.
  • 1.7.4 Each car must be registered and have cleared tech.
  • 1.7.5 If the competitor’s original car becomes inoperable, the competitor may complete the session runs with a car that is from the same class or a class with a lower PAX number (see Rule 3.1.1).

• 1.8 Impaired Drivers – Any competitor considered, in the judgment of the event chairperson, to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs of any form, or otherwise impaired, shall be disqualified. Further, any entry fee paid by the disqualified competitor shall be forfeited.
  • 1.8.1 Competitors will be held responsible and accountable for the actions of his/her crew and spectators.

• 1.9 Unsafe Drivers – Any competitor who, in the judgment of the event chairperson, displays unsportsmanlike conduct or drives in an unsafe manner at or around the event site may be disqualified; further, any entry fee paid by the disqualified competitor shall be forfeited. Hard cornering at or around the event site for the purpose of warming tires shall be considered unsafe driving.

• 1.10 Videography and Photography — Use of handheld devices by a passenger or driver during competition or fun runs is prohibited.  When such devices are used they must be safely and securely mounted in or on the vehicle or on the drivers helmet.
  •  Use of such devices by course workers while carrying out their work assignments is prohibited.
  • Videography and photography carried out in any course area, other than in an approved spectator area, must be cleared with the event chairperson or his/her designee and the person operating the device must be accompanied by a spotter.
• 1.11 Conduct
  • All participants and guests are expected to conduct themselves with honesty, integrity and respect while in attendance at Club events, and in posting of messages on any Club electronic format or any other form of electronic forum.
  •  Participants at WMC events have a responsibility to maintain the respect and trust of the public at large, and follow any posted rules specific to the event venue.
  •  If a participant at a WMC event takes part in any illegal activity, or acts in an improper or unsafe manner, and/or deliberately violates these conduct rules, they may be asked to leave the event.  They will not be allowed further participation.  Furthermore, depending on the severity of the violation, they may be denied future event participation. Final penalty determination will be by a vote of the WMC Leadership Board.

• 2.1 WMC will use SCCA Solo classifications with the addition of Over Street Prepared-Under (OSPU) and Over Street Prepared-Over (OSPO) classes, as defined below.
  

• 2.2 Roll-over hazard – WMC adopts SCCA’s exclusions from competition for any Street category vehicle with high roll-over potential. Specific vehicles are listed in SCCA Solo Rules Appendix A. In addition, the event chairperson and safety steward may, at their discretion, exclude any vehicle whose overall height exceeds the average of the vehicle’s front and rear track.
  

• 2.3 Over Street Prepared category – To be eligible for the Over Street Prepared (OSP) category, a vehicle must run on street DOT-approved tires. The vehicle must be capable of being licensed. It must have a glass windshield and both front seats. Door panels are required, but need not be stock.
  
  • 2.3.1 Over Street Prepared-Under (OSPU) – OSP cars with an engine displacement of 2.5 liters (2500 c.c.) or less.
  • 2.3.2 Over Street Prepared-Over (OSPO) – OSP cars with an engine displacement over 2.5 liters.

• 3.1 Responsibility for Vehicle Classification – The entrant is charged with properly placing the vehicle in its category and class of competition. However, any obvious misclassification can be corrected at the discretion of the technical inspector and/or the event chairperson.
  • 3.1.1 A driver may compete in a class with a car that is not classified in that class provided that the car is legal for the competing class, and classified in a class with a lower PAX number than the class in which the driver is competing for points.
    

• 3.2 Open Classes – All categories of competition classes are open to both men and women for competition purposes.

• 3.3 Ladies’ Classes – Women are free to compete in the open class in which their car is legal; however, Ladies’ classes may be established if there is enough participatory interest in doing so.
  
  • 3.3.1 Ladies’ classes would be based on the complete set of parallel classes corresponding to the Open classes and using the same preparation and scoring system as in the Open classes.

• 3.4 Novice Classes – A Novice class will be set up for each event for competitors who have never autocrossed. A driver may only run as a novice once. Novice runs are not scored with year-end championship points.
  

• 4.1 Safety – Each vehicle will receive and must pass a technical safety inspection prior to competition. Each competing vehicle shall maintain a safe operating condition throughout the event or it will be excluded from competition until the condition has been rectified. The main purpose of a technical inspection is to identify any safety deficiencies and not to determine vehicle conformance to class rules. Each vehicle must comply with the following points covered in 4.2 through 4.14.
  

• 4.2 Seat Belts – Seat belts are required for all competing vehicles. The use of a lap belt as the only restraint is permitted only if the vehicle was not originally equipped with driver restraints or if the vehicle was originally fitted only with lap belts. Shoulder belts are highly recommended in all cars; however, shoulder belts having two straps which would confine the driver to an upright position in the event of a roll-over are not permitted in vehicles having open tops and no roll-over protection.
  

• 4.3 Car Contents – No loose items shall be carried in or on the car.
  

• 4.4 Wheels – Wheels must be mounted in a safe manner. No cracks or broken spokes shall be permitted. All lug nuts and/or studs must be used.
  

• 4.5 Suspension – All suspension components shall be in proper operating condition. No excessive play shall be present in steering components or wheel bearings.
  

• 4.6 Fluid Leaks – No excessive fluid leaks will be allowed under any operating conditions.
  

• 4.7 Tires – All tires must be in good condition. All DOT- approved tires must have visible manufacturer’s treadwear indicators. It is not permitted to begin a competition run with tires worn down to the cords or belts. No temporary spares or studded snow tires are allowed.
  

• 4.8 Roll Over protection – Roll bars are recommended for all cars. Roll bars are required for all formula cars, all sports racers and all open cars using non DOT tires. The top of the roll bar shall not be below the top of the driver’s helmet when the driver is in normal driving position, and shall not be more than six inches behind the driver.  
  

• 4.9 Throttle Linkage – The throttle linkage shall operate smoothly throughout its travel. The linkage shall be fitted with an external spring-loaded return mechanism, which will rapidly return the throttle to the closed position when the throttle is released from any and all open positions. All non-stock vehicles must have two throttle return springs.
  

• 4.10 Brakes – Each vehicle must be equipped with a fully operational brake system. All brakes must be actuated using a single common brake pedal. With the brake system pressurized, no fluid leaks shall be allowed in the system. The fluid in the master cylinder shall be above the minimum level mark with the brakes released.

• 4.11 Battery – Batteries shall be mounted securely. No bungee cords. If the battery is located in the passenger compartment, it must be in a sealed marine container. If the battery is located in the trunk, the positive terminal shall be covered with a non-conductive material such as a rubber boot or electrical tape.

• 4.12 Swing Axles – Swing axle suspensions must exhibit negative camber, or have installed a camber compensator or wheel droop limiting straps. If, in the judgment of the event chairperson, a swing-axle equipped vehicle appears unstable during competition, the vehicle may be barred from further competition, regardless of compliance with the above stated rules.
  

• 4.13 Exhaust Noise Level – The exhaust noise level shall not be excessive for the locale in which the event is being run. The current established noise level is 92 db at 50 feet subject to individual site restrictions. If the run exceeds the established noise level, the run will get a DNF. If the next run also exceeds the established noise level, the driver will be disqualified for the event. In the absence of sound level measuring devices, the acceptable level of exhaust noise may be determined by the event chairperson, who may bar any unacceptably loud vehicle from competition.

• 4.14 Vehicle Markings and Appearance – All vehicles shall have their assigned competition numbers and their class of competition clearly marked on both sides of the vehicle. Competition numbers shall be large enough so as to be seen clearly from the timing booth and of a color that contrasts with the surface on which they are mounted (See SCCA SOLO Vehicle Identification rules for guidance). It is the responsibility of the entrant to assure that the correct car number and class are marked on the vehicle before the vehicle approaches the starting line.
  

• 5.1 Protests – Protests must be made by individuals in direct competition with the competitor being protested. The protester must put up a $100 fee which will be forfeited if the protested vehicle is found to be legal. Tear-down protests will include the protester putting up the entire tear-down cost in advance. The Tech inspector and event chairperson can, at their discretion, determine that the protest has not been made in good faith or is frivolous, thereby disallowing the protest and the protest fee is forfeited. The protester must prove illegality by supporting documents from legitimate sources.
  • 5.1.1 All protests must occur prior to the close of the event.

• 6.1 No Work-No Trophy or Points – A driver will be disqualified if they are assigned to work and do not work, unless arrangements are made with the event chairperson prior to his/her scheduled work assignment.

• 6.2 Scoring – Scoring shall be determined using a competitor’s lowest single time obtained.

• 6.3 Ties – Ties shall be broken by a comparison of the next quickest time of each competitor.

• 6.4 Timer Resolution – The resolution of the timer shall be no less than one-thousandth of a second. Times for competition runs shall be recorded to the nearest one thousandth of a second.

• 6.5 Reruns – Reruns shall be given only in the event of a timer malfunction, an object blocking the course, or if the competitor encounters a course marker that is already displaced or knocked down. Should any of these situations occur, the competitor will be flagged off course as soon as possible. Course marker penalties shall not be carried over to the rerun. If the competitor receives a DNF at a point on the course prior to encountering any of these irregularities, the DNF will stand, and no rerun shall be allowed.

• 6.6 Already Downed Pylons – A competitor encountering a displaced or knocked down pylon (unless the competitor was the one to displace the cone) has the option of completing the run or stopping in the vicinity of the pylon in question. If the competitor continues the run, the resulting time shall stand, unless in the opinion of the Timing and Scoring personnel the pylon irregularity has provided an advantage. If the irregularity is determined to be to the competitor’s advantage, a rerun shall be required.

• 6.7 Off Course – A competitor who deviates from the course shall receive a penalty for each course deviation executed (See Rules 6.9 and 6.10 for penalties and DNFs). A course deviation occurs when a competitor completely misses a section of the course or fails to pass through all sections of the course in the order intended by the course designer. If the vehicle contacts a pylon of a gate or slalom, it is considered on course.

• 6.8 Time Onlys or Fun Runs – Time Onlys will be allowed only at the discretion of the event chairperson. All runs for trophy must first be completed within the session before any Time Only or Fun Runs will be allowed.

• 6.9 Pylon Penalties – The position of a course marker shall be identified by a line marked on the road surface completely around the base of the marker. A two (2) second penalty shall be added to a competitor’s time if a pylon is either knocked down or displaced completely beyond the edges of the marker location lines. If the pylon remains upright while any portion of its base remains in contact with the outermost edge of the course marker lines, no penalty shall be assessed. As a clarification of WMC practices, slalom cone and “spin” cone penalties are two (2) seconds and not five (5) seconds each and a pointer cone that is knocked down, displaced, or missed does not result in a penalty to the competitor. Course markers that are subject to penalties include markers both before the start and after the finish.
• Cone Penalty Illustration
  6.10 Did Not Finish (DNF) – A competitor may be assigned a DNF rather than a time for a run that is not completed as determined by the person(s) conducting timing or the event chairperson. Examples include mechanical breakdown, a competitor who has become lost on course, or driving off the designated course area such as driving onto the grass bordering the course or unsafe driving, per rule 1.9. Multiple off-course deviations, as in missing several gates in a row, may not always result in a DNF.
  

• • 7.1 Year-End Trophies – To earn championship points for an event, a driver must be an active member of Willamette Motor Club on the day of the event. To be eligible for a year-end Performance Driving Series Championship trophy, the driver must compete in at least 50 percent of the Championship events and be a current member of Willamette Motor Club.
  • Championship Points will be tallied at year-end as follows:
    • 7.1.1 If WMC holds one or more hillclimbs, or other scored/timed events during the season, they will be included in the Performance Driving Series Championship events.
      
    • 7.1.2 The number of events counting towards the Championship will be two less than the total number of events held. For example, if there are seven Championship events and the driver competes in up to five events, they all count. If the driver competes in six or seven events, only the best five results will count towards the Championship.
    • 7.1.3 To qualify for a Class Trophy, a driver must compete in at least two events in that class.
      • 7.1.3.1  Points will only be scored in the declared vehicle for that event (see 1.7.3).
      • 7.1.3.2  A driver may only qualify for a championship trophy in one class per season.
      • 7.1.3.3  If a driver has competed in multiple classes throughout the season and is potentially eligible for a trophy per 7.1, they must declare their trophy class prior to the start of the final event.  If no declaration is made, then the class in which the driver has competed in the most events will be their trophy class.
      • 7.1.3.4  If a driver is potentially eligible for a trophy per 7.1.3, will have scored championship points in an equal number of classes after the final event, and did not declare their trophy class prior to the final event, then their trophy class will be the class in which they have scored the most points during the season.
    • 7.1.4 The Class Championship Trophy will be awarded to the driver with the highest total points for that class.  In the event of a points tie, the trophy will be awarded to the driver who has the most first-place finishes during the season. If the number of first-place finishes is equal, the trophy will be awarded to the driver who participated in the most events during the season.
      • 7.1.4.1 If two or more drivers in class are tied for points, tied for first-place finishes and tied for event participation, they will be awarded co-winners of the position.  This would include the top Championship position.

• 7.2 Points – Points will be awarded on the following basis:
  • 1st = 20 points
  • 2nd = 17
  • 3rd = 15
  • 4th = 14
  • 5th = 13
  • 6th = 12
  • 7th = 11
  • 8th = 10
  • 9th = 9
  • 10th = 8
  • 11th = 7
  • 12th = 6
  • 13th = 5
  • 14th = 4
  • 15th = 3
  • 16th = 2
  • 17th and below = 1

 

• 7.3 Rookie of the Year Award – To be eligible a driver must be an active member of Willamette Motor Club prior to the last Championship Points Event of the current season. Also, the driver must be a true “Rookie” in the current year.  Not just new to Willamette Motor Club, but new to the sport of Autocross and Hillclimbing. A driver who has only participated in a single event the prior year, will still be considered a “Rookie” for the current year.
  • ROY Points will accrue as follows:
  • 7.3.1  10 points for participating in the Novice School/Driver Skills Clinic.
  • 7.3.2  5 points for each subsequent event participation. This includes Non-Championship Points events.
  • 7.3.3  2 points for attending each monthly membership meeting.
  • 7.3.4  5 points for volunteering to take an active role at an event.  The volunteer effort must be communicated directly to at least one of the WMC board members.
  • 7.3.5  After the final Championship Points event of the season, up to 10 bonus points will be awarded to the ROY candidate drivers for demonstrating the most driving performance improvement during the course of the season.  Allocation of these points will be determined by the Board.