2022/2023 RulesMay 31, 2022
Rules and schedule changes:
1) No track will be open on Friday.
2) Saturday open practice until 2:45pm then 1 qualifier round.
3) Sunday 2 rounds of qualifiers starting at 9am. Then mains after. Will try and do hour break in between last qualifier and 1st main. Have to see how we are doing on time.
4) All Nitro qualifiers will be 4 minutes with a 3-minute warmup. A Mains will be 30 min, B - 25 min and all others 20 min.
5) Electric GT will have a 7-minute qualifier - Double A Mains 7 minutes each.
6) Classes - Not sure if we will have a sedan class. A lot have switched to 1/8th. Will have to see who plans on running and maybe split in 3 classes, example Masters, Pro and Open. Also, we will have GT Nitro and GT Electric.
7) Race Fees - Race fee will be $45.00.
8) All the tracks will have Danny for our Photo and Video needs. I sent him the dates so let's hope he has no conflicts.
9) Drops: 1 drop from 3 double points races and 1 drop from single point races.
Rules:
We conform to all ROAR required rules. For a complete list of ROAR's rules, please visit their site at www.roarracing.com
Florida On-Road Gas State Series (FORGASS) By Laws. Established 1975
2015-2016 Edition
Rules are as reviewed from Sour Grapes with corrections.
FORGASS follows ROAR rules and these following additions are to clarify the normal procedures. Please review them and contact any FORGASS representative with comments or questions.
Have a great season, and may the best racer win...
I. PURPOSE
Florida On-Road Gas State Series (FORGASS) is established to promote FUN and the hobby/sport of radio controlled automobile racing in Florida, of the United States of America, in Region 4 as organized by ROAR. To develop, organize and promote FUN, safe races and events with fair competition, sportsmanship, and hobby advancement as its primary goals.
II. ROAR MEMBERSHIP
All FORGASS competitors and participants are required to be current members of Remotely Operated Auto Racers Inc. (ROAR) and are subject to its rules and regulations.
III. INSURANCE
As members of ROAR (above) all participants and Tracks are insured via ROAR coverage. In addition, all hosting organizations are required to obtain liability insurance for their respective sites and have proof of insurance on record with the secretary no later than (45) forty-five days prior to their first event of that year. This insurance may be secured through ROAR by registering the club as an affiliate.
IV. ADMINISTRATION
A. Definition - The Series Committee is the governing body, which administrates and publishes the rules, formulates the schedule, and makes race decisions. The Committee is composed of elected representatives from the previous year's racers and participants.
B. Eligibility - A Committee candidate must have actively participated in a minimum of four Series events in the preceding twelve months prior to election. "Participation" includes pit crew, drivers, or team members approved individually by the presiding Series Committee.
C. Communication
i. The Committee shall maintain communication channels to its members thru website updates at www.forgass.com, E-mail, posts on the rc-tech forum.
ii. Event schedule and any rule changes will be communicated (30) thirty days prior to the first race via the noted channels above.
iii. Committee members will be available to ALL racers via e-mail.
D. Series Meetings
i. Sour Grapes
a) General meeting to review the past years series and establish changes governing the new season.
b) Common items for review;
(i) State rules
(ii) Classes and their parameters. (Voted on by current class participants.)
(iii) Bids form tracks/clubs desiring to host a series event.
c) Elect Series Committee officers.
(i) President (Jim Rice)
(ii) Vice President (Greg Esser)
(v) Webmaster (Tony Rice)
d) Award presentation, fun race and food celebration known as the, The Sour Grapes Event
ii. Committee meetings
a) Series Committee meetings will be called as needed to discuss important issues, generate race schedules, and make necessary procedure changes.
b) Current officers should meet with Track owners to review issues and create agenda for the meeting
c) Series meetings may be called periodically at series events.
d) To review needed changes in Series procedures and ROAR rules changes during the racing season.
e) Any proposed procedure changes shall be submitted, in writing, to the Series Committee for formal discussion.
f) To clarify rules and issue warning and suspensions.
E. FORGASS Series Committee Responsibilities
i. Grow the series locations and participation of racers reflecting the current R/C desires of FORGASS.
ii. Maintain records of race sites which are insured and ensure that the proper sanctioning and insurance forms are current.
iii. Enforce the Series rules, for tracks and racers.
iv. Publish and maintain the series rules.
v. Establish and maintain the Series Events Schedule.
vi. Maintain the series e-mail list.
vii. Collect and publish race results of each event.
viii. Publish the pointĄs standings.
ix. Publish the Series Info on the RC Tech Forum.
x. Collect the Series income at each event.
xi. Maintain the Series account and pay all invoices.
xii. Host Sour Grapes Awards Banquet and fun race.
V. JUDICIAL COMMITTEE
A. Shall consist of the attending Series Committee members and the Immediate Race Director in order to resolve conflicts.
B. This committee makes the final decision in the resolution of race protests, rules interpretations, voting eligibilities, club violations and race rain-outs.
C. Enforce the series rules and make immediate decisions regarding but not limited too:
i. Weather and time delays and restrictions.
ii. Enforce rules and sanctions.
iii. Ensure host tracks/clubs meet and enforce standards during races.
iv. Conduct infractions, warning and dismissals.
v. Heat qualification and entry limits.
vi. Make sure each host track provides technical inspection equipment for the tech official.
vii. Provide at least two officers on site to assist in enforcing the rules and assist the host club with any incidents or issues.
viii. It is the responsibility of the Race Director, the Scorekeeper, and the on-site Series officers to ensure that the schedule is reasonably maintained.
ix. It is the responsibility of the Judicial Committee to hear protests and fairly and correctly interpret the rules and implement the results.
VI. PRE-RACE
A. Forty-five days prior;
i. Site permission and proof of current site insurance is provided to the Series Committee.
ii. Trial race is held by any new tracks for final approval by state committee.
iii. Any additional information or requirements must be met by host clubs/tracks.
B. Three weeks prior to an event;
i. Race announcements and any up-dates are e-mailed and posted.
ii. Host clubs / tracks shall provide proof that all of the minimum requirements are met
a) A safe, clean and prepared track as specified in the CURRENT years ROAR rule book.
b) Electronic lap counting system, personal transponder systems are
mandatory.
c) Drivers stand to accommodate 15 drivers, shade is highly
recommended.
d) Safe environment without conflict from other radio frequencies,
radio controlled models, Ground or Air.
e) Corrected deficiencies in systems or conditions as reviewed with the
State Committee.
C. Cancellations - due to adverse weather conditions and acts of god will be decided by the Judicial Committee and posted no-less then the Thursday night prior to the weekendĄs event.
V. REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE
A) FORGASS series is 8 races with 2 drops.
2015/2016 FORGASS SCHEDULE
September 12,13 2015 Kissimmee
October 3,4 2015Arcadia
November 7,8 2015Fort Myers
December 12,13 2015 Homestead
---------------
*January 9,10 2016Homestead
*February 6,7 2016 Fort Myers
*March 5,6 2016 Kissimmee
*April 2,3 2016 Arcadia
May 14,15 2016 Fort Myers - Sour Grapes
* is part of the 4 race ROAR Regionals
i. Maximum number of entries is 120 racers / 12 heats. This number can be deviated by series officers at the event.
ii. Qualifying heats are seeded according to current state series points in reverse. IE: 30, 29, 28 position etc.
B. General registration is open on Saturday at 8:00 AM. Closes at 9:30AM SHARP
i. Drivers cannot practice unless they are registered.
ii. New series racers are seeded on a first come basis, behind current series point racers.
iii. Second classes can be entered by ALL racers.
iv. There is a maximum of 12 heats divided by any class combination. This number can be deviated by series officers at the event.
a) Heats with fewer entrants may be dropped in favor of heats that have more registered drivers
v. All Sunday entrants will be added to the earliest race.
C. Entry Fee
i. Race day registration:
a) $ 35.00 per class
IX. CLASSES
A. 2013 - 2014 Classes
i. 1/8 OPEN 4WD .21 ROAR rules Open bodies
ii 1/10th SEDAN 200mm 4WD .12 ROAR rules see tech
Iii 1/8th Super GT Rules see below
B. Newly proposed classes must complete at least one year of exhibition racing with a minimum of 6 entries at each series event to be considered for participation for the following year's series.
C. If an existing class can not maintain a 6 car average for the current year it will be dropped unless, voted on by the racers at the Sour Grapes
D. Specific Technical Definitions
i. Protest - any car may be protested at any time by any Driver. Protests must be made according to ROAR guidelines.
ii. Open classes are per ROAR rules and any body style the racer chooses. 4WD 1/8 .21 ROAR rules Open bodies
iii. Sedan 1/10 200mm
a) Bodies
(i) ROAR approved Touring Car bodies
(ii) No part of Motor head shall EVER protrude above body shell.
(iii) Rear wing shall be not be higher then the roof line as the car sits upon a level tech box in qualifying or race trims.
b) Motors are teched per ROAR specifications for;
(i) Carburetor inlet diameter.
(ii) Exhaust outlet diameter.
(iii) Cubic Displacement
c) Chassis are teched per ROAR specifications for;
(i) 200mm wide, must fit in box and roll out
(ii) Body width is not a tech. item, just chassis.
(iii) Tire width.
(iv) Safety.
iv 1/8th Super GT Rules:
a) FORGASS rules for the GT category, which it will refer to as 1/8 Super GT to avoid confusion with other categories that are also called GT. The rules pertain to the 1/8 off-road based vehicles that feature on-road passenger and road racing body shells.
b) Super GT cars MUST be based on current production buggy/truck chassis, drivetrain and suspension components.
Specifications: shaft driven, no belts, standard gear diffs only, car length - maximum: 25 inches, car width - maximum: 13 inches, wheelbase: minimum 12 inches, maximum 15 inches, fuel capacity: 150cc maximum
Minimum weight 3500 grams
Fuel nitro content: open
Body: any commercially available GT style body (not Lola style bodies), rear of body can not be cut out, tail lights must remain, rear windows can be cut out, side front windows can be cut out, engineĄs cooling head fins can not be exposed from top or sides of body, front winshield cutout - 70mm max, wings and spoilers: allowed, wings must be built for and attached to the body, no buggy style wings,
Tires: any commercially available rubber tires (no foam tires), must fit completely under the car body (no add-on wheel flares), any tire insert
Engine: any .28 or smaller engine, any carb, 7mm carb restrictor. intake port size - open, must be commercially available, any exhaust pipe, any stinger diameter, radial clutches only, no axial (Centax style) clutches, INS box intake silencer required.
Electronics: No electronic stability control, No electronic aids (D-Box, etc.)
X. GENERAL RACING
A. Heats are organized according to current series points as accounted from previous race.
i. New entrants are added to heats on a first come first serve basis.
ii. Halfway thru the Series the FIRST DROP will be factored into the points and the qualifying grid set accordingly. (After 4th race.) The SECOND DROP will be figure after the 6th race.
iii. First series race is organized according to the previous years finishing results from the Prior Year.
iv. Resort after Saturday Qualifying.
B. State Series events follow a two-day format.
C. Personal Transponders are mandatory.
D. Event Schedule
i. Track opens at 8:00 am each day
ii. Registration at 9:30 am sharp on Saturday.
iii. Controlled practice starts (If Needed)at 9:00 am
iv. 15 minute sessions of controlled practice are divided proportionality into the number of cars per class.
a) Each class has its own controlled practice sessions.
v. Saturday drivers meeting at 10:50am, qualifying starts at 11:00am
vi. Sunday Registration closes at 8:30, qualifying starts at 9:00am
vii. On Sunday there is an hour break from 11am to noon (Approx) for lunch before mains.
E. Qualifying will be held on days, weather and daylight permitting.
i. Saturday has a maximum of (3) three qualifiers
ii. 1 qualifier on Sunday
iii. Each qualifier is 4 minutes long with a 4 minute warm up session.
iv. A 1 minute parts collection between qualifiers is allowed and shall NOT delay the schedule.
a) Each qualifyng session should take 1:45 hourĄs maximum!
v. Mains are held on Sunday and start at 12:00 pm
vi. A-mains are 30 minutes long.
vii. B mains are 25 minutes long
viii. C and lower mains are 20 minutes long
ix. Exhibition mains are 15 minutes long.
x. Total main time should be 4.5 hours maximum!
xi. Each driver is allowed a maximum of TWO people in the pits during mains. One for qualifying.
F. Host Club/Track Responsibilities.
i. Meet ALL ROAR requirements to ensure insurances are effective and participants are covered.
ii. Meet all FORGASS requirements.
iii. Provide a post-race impound/inspection area to promote corner marshalling and control of the previous heat's cars.
iv. Layout Specification.
a) Provide a safe layout with a clean racing surface.
b) Provide adequate turn-marshal locations which are safe and easily identified.
c) Straight - minimum 120' inside length
d) Pit area, safe entrance, minimum of 40ft long
e) Minimum number of turns - eight.
f) Lap length - minimum of 10 seconds (4WD 1/8)
g) Have tickets on site for raffel.
(i) If in doubt, a longer or twistier track should be established.
(ii) All NEW tracks will be tested by the club prior to the event.
v. Drivers' stand minimum requirements
a) 3'height, 30'length, 4'width.
(i) Shade cover is highly recommended.
vi. Pit Specifications.
a) Provide adequate pit and work space for ten teams to compete and set-up their equipment.
(i) Each section of the drivers stand and pit area shall be marked off into 10 equal spaces.
(ii) Pit crew will be required to pit in front of their drivers position on the stand.
(iii) The pit area will be marked off for the pit people.
b) Divide pit area from paddock and general racing area, a fence or structural divider is required.
c) Provide adequate space between the track and drivers stand so that drivers can see their car while it is in the pit lane.
d) Timing and scoring monitor in the Pits is highly recommended.
vii. Conduct Series weekend in a professional and safe manor according to ROAR rules and those items noted in these FORGASS rules.
viii. Provide adequate frequency control using frequency clips.
ix. Provide electronic lap counting system compatible with the AMB personal transponders systems.
x. Provide car numbers for event weekend as required by the racing activities.
xi Provide a public address system for communicating with the entrants
xii Communication to the paddock and the Pits is essential.
xiii. Provide adequate trash disposal locations and or bags.
xiv. Ensure toilet facilities are available. They should be clean and with-in a reasonable distance.
XI. EVENT PROCEDURES
A. Qualifying
i. Conduct qualifying following ROAR guidelines and the IFMAR qualifying format.
ii. Race Director will make sure all turn marshals are in place and track is in good shape and clear of people before the qualifier starts.
iii. Qualifying racers depart from the pits, 10 maximum per heat!
a) Cars line up for qualifying on a first come, first serve basis.
b) Each car qualifies against its own clock; competitors are required to let faster racers pass safety.
iv. Race Director will make sure the track is clear before starting the session.
a) We use a rolling start for qualifiers.
b) Results will be posted for the previous qualifier once the following qualifier is underway.
c) There is no re-sorting of heats.
B. Race Format
i. Conduct races according to ROAR format with the following caveats.
a) 1/8th Open Mains have 8 racers in them to allow for 2 driver bump-ups for a total of 10..
Sedan Mains will have 8 racers in them to allow for 2 driver bump-ups for a total of 10.
b) Seeding is established by the racers best result based on the current weekends qualifying results.
ii. Starts are LeMans style.
a) Should be staged on the longest straightaway to provide ample room.
b) Starting positions are to be numbered on the straightaway 1-10 and should be a minimum of eight feet apart.
c) Drivers' vision has to be unimpaired by any of the pit crew, starter or turn marshals.
iii. Flagging/Starting the Mains
a) At 30 seconds the announcer shall call all drivers into the pits and the Starter will hold the flag in the air calling the cars to the pit lane for refueling.
b) All teams have 30 seconds to check-in at their starting position on the grid.
c) It Ąs the responsibility of the pitman to know his driver's position.
d) Starter shall check that all drivers are ready, timer is ready and the track is clear.
e) The Starter will slowly lower the flag to the track.
f) When the Starter places the tip of the flag on the ground, all cars are released!
g) With-in 5 seconds the Timer will sound the horn or say START!
h) Their is only a 1 time One minute grace called per main.
iv. Restarts
a) Only the Starter or the Race Director can authorize a restart, a violation can be noted by any competitor.
b) Restarts result if one or more drivers (jump) start before the signal or if the race director feels that a fair race is in doubt (scoring system failure, lack of turn marshals, etc).
c) Penalty for jumpstart. Offenders are identified and black-flagged to the pits for a 10 second penalty after the car is stopped. If a car does not heed the black flag after two laps then the scoring will cease for that car and the driver removed from the drivers stand.
C. Pitting / Fueling
i. Each driver is allowed two pit people, maximum.
a) Pit people are NOT ALLOWED on the track during a timed session!
b) Pit people must wait at the side of the track for their cars.
ii. All cars must be lifted off the racing surface for re-fueling. Cars must be off the racing surface and on the other side of the pit wall. No fuel past the pit wall.
iii. People/racers and teams that are NOT competing in the current main MUST stay out of the pits / paddock area.
iv. Pit people are required to stand back from the pit wall so other drivers have a clear view of pit lane.
XII. ENTRANT RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Possess proof of current ROAR membership at all times.
B. Ensure that his/her car is ROAR legal.
C. Help to create a Fun and Safe event. Understand and abide by the rules of ROAR and FORGASS.
D. Turn Marshaling
i. All racers will corner/turn marshal the heat immediately following their competing heat. Failure to marshal causes the participant to lose a lap from their BEST qualifying session. Failure to marshall after your main and you will receive no points for the race weekend.
ii. One racer from each heat may be required to conduct tech inspection as designated by the race director.
iii. Substitutes must report to the Race Director.
iv. Bump up drivers will not have to turn marshal the race they won. If the driver does not bump up then will be required to turn marshal.
v. Drivers entering 2 classes will have to have a turn marshal checked in with race director BEFORE they start there car for the next class.
E. Foul Language will not be tolerated on the DriverĄs Stand. If you are advised to refrain from profanity by an official and do not comply, you can be removed from the race.
F. Car Numbers are required. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the proper number on your car. Failure to do so you will be black flagged from the race until your car is properly numbered.
G. All racers and pit personal must have closed toe shoes.
H. All protests must be made in writing with the Judicial Committee within one hour of the end of the Heat or Main.
XIII. RAIN-OUTS
A. Rain-out decisions are made by the Judicial Committee.
B. TOTAL Rainout is defined as a race in which 1 round of qualifying could not be completed.
i. Rescheduling for a Total rain out shall occur at the earliest date possible. Competitors will be notified.
ii. An additional entry fee of $ 10.00 will be charge to re-turning entries.
iii. New entries will be charged according to the race day fees.
C. PARTIAL Rainout is defined as an event which completes at least 1 or more qualifying rounds.
i. Committee will decide the remaining race format.
ii. Preference will always be given to running the mains if time allow.
a) Mains completed before the rain will count. If main runs past
halfway point, it will count.
b) Finishing positions for any mains that have not run will be based on qualifying positions.
c) Mains must be started by 1:00 pm on Sunday.
XIV. SANCTIONS
A. Judicial committee has the final say on ALL sanctions.
B. Any driver is encouraged to get the judicial committee involved on any infraction.
C. Driving infractions:
i. QUALIFYING infractions
a) One warning during a qualifier heat, second warning, youĄre removed from the heat.
ii. RACING infractions
a) Two warnings during a race, third warning, youĄre removed from the race.
D. Sanctions can be imposed for rule violations, but common issues are as follows.
i. Not turn marshaling
ii. Too many pit people.
iii. Pit men going onto track to repair or retrieve car.
iv. Turn marshals repairing cars or leaving turn marshal station to return cars.
v. Rough driving, swerving, corner cutting, or not letting faster driver thru in qualifying.
vi. Boisterous behavior, foul language, blatant disregard to rules.
vii. Setting up in the pits or gathering ON the drivers stand before your race.
viii. Sanctions:
a) First sanction results in a one lap loss off your best qualifier.
b) Second sanction results in a one lap loss off ALL qualifiers.
c) Third sanction removed from race.
XV. POINTS SYSTEM
A. TQ, top qualifier earns (1) One bonus point.
B. A main first place receives 100 points.
C. 2nd place receives 99 points and each subsequent place in that main receives one point less.
D. Points will be published no latter then 10 days after the event.
XVI. CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
A. A year-end award banquet is funded from the FORGASS treasury. This Event is known as Sour Grapes location is to be the Fort Myers Civic Center.
B. Final year-end trophies are funded from the FORGASS treasury and will be awarded to racers who compete in at least 6 events of the same class.
C Ties shall be broken by the most number of first places, then TQ's, seconds, or thirds. If the tie cannot be broken by this method duplicate awards will be given...
D. Year-end awards are not made for exhibition classes.
CREATED 6-7-15 FORGASS
tony rice
Copies
Original copies are available by e-mail and a master set will be available at the track.
Contact David Larry at nitetrax@embarqmail.com if you would like a copy e-mailed.
