After another successful season of BAC RallyCross events, with more competitors, and more experience with bigger events, members of the club and organizers of events have proposed some changes and updates to the current rule set, in order to continue to run smoother and more efficient events that are fun for all participants. The BAC executive would like participants’ feedback before voting on these proposed rule changes. Outlined below are the proposed rule changes which were brought forward at our March 28, 2017 BAC club meeting. Voting on these proposed rule changes will take place at our June 27, 2017 club meeting while the information is fresh in everyone’s minds, and to allow time for competitors to review any rule changes implemented while preparing for the next season. This poll will close on June 20, 2017; one week prior to our June meeting, so that the data may be gathered and recorded in time for the vote. Please note that this poll is for feedback purposes, and official voting will be by BAC members at the June club meeting. If you would like to propose an additional rule change to be discussed and voted on at the June meeting, please feel free to write a short comment below describing your proposal. Thank you in advance for your participation in this feedback poll!
Topic #1: Course Design - Stopbox Definition: is the double cone part of the course or part of the stop box? Which penalty should apply if the double cone is hit? Discussion: Key points noted include speed of entry, the need to know your course and adjust your driving to the course and conditions, knowing when you can't drive “full out” similar to how driving abilities need to be judged throughout the rest of the course. If there is a defined finish line and then the stop box follows, this could be 6" or 6' apart. It was suggested that a set of cones be paint checkered to be clearly identifiable as the finish line. Proposed changes to current GCR wording: 3.3 i) A set of specially marked double cones will mark the finish line of the course, with a separate stop box to follow. This finish line will mark the end of the timed run and the penalty for hitting these cones is to be assessed as a regular pylon penalty. Poll: a) Double cone (finish line) should be considered part of course and only given a 2 second penalty, b) Double cone is part of stopbox and should be given a bigger penalty.
Topic #2: Scoring – Stopbox Penalty: Should penalty be decreased to match CARS rules? Discussion: Originally the tough penalty of ‘slowest time + 10 seconds’ was implemented to keep the stopbox ‘sacred’ in the interest of safety when approaching the paddock. With more defined course designs and rule, should this penalty be lessened? Proposed changes to current GCR wording: 3.3 h) A stop box or slow down box will be used at the end of the run. A competitor will be considered a DNF if they do not stop in the stop 5 e) Did Not Finish – Stop Box Penalty – Striking any pylon in the stop box and or failure to stop in the stop box - a time penalty of 10 seconds will be assessed. Poll: a) change stopbox penalty to a 10 second penalty for hitting a stopbox cone or not stopping within the stopbox, b) keep the stopbox penalty of ‘slowest time + 10 seconds’.
Topic #3: Scoring – Classes: After a successful trial last season, will Spec Yaris/Echo be included as a class this coming season? Topic #4: Scoring – Classes: Should existing classes be expanded to include rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, with each having a stock and an open division? Overall, “Spec Yaris” and Novice classes would still be scored separately as well. Proposed changes to current GCR wording: 4.3 – Classes: a) All Wheel Drive / 4 Wheel Drive – stock, b) All Wheel Drive / 4 Wheel Drive – prepared*, c) Front Wheel Drive – stock, d) Front Wheel Drive – prepared*, e) Rear Wheel Drive- stock, f) Rear Wheel Drive – prepared*, g) Novice (anyone competing in a season of RallyCross for their first time), h) Spec Yaris/Echo *Prepared: Including (a) Rally and Race prepared vehicles, (b) vehicles with other than OEM (as the vehicle in question came from the factory) drive train (engine, transmission, rear ends, etc…) and or suspension modifications, and Harness (c) vehicles that have had parts removed that cause a weight reduction (seats, carpets, headliners, air conditioning, ABS, etc…) Topic #3 Poll: a) include Spec Yaris, b) do not include Spec Yaris. Topic #4 Poll: a) expand existing classes, b) do not update classes.
Topic #5: Scoring – Point System: As we are now getting 50+ competitors at each event, does that mean we should adjust scoring? Discussion: Initial discussion was that scoring doesn’t tend to matter after top 10. It was then pointed out that novice class was designed to create competition among those not in top 10 slots, so a bigger spread in points allocation could be an improvement to include the entire field and recognize/reward the finish position of all competitors. It was suggested that organizers could adapt scoring to something like IndyCar's scoring. It was asked if this would create more work for Pidge/organizers' but noted that it is just a matter of assigning different values in the scoring matrix / formula. Proposed changes to current GCR wording: this update would affect section 4.4 – Results subsections b & c, however exact changes would depend on the new scoring matrix chosen. Examples of how this year’s results would have turned out with other matrix options are attached for comparison. Poll: a) adopt a wider scoring matrix, b) maintain the current scoring system.
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