WQMA Race Format 2008

Facility opens at 7:00 am.

No car will be started before 9:00 AM per our license agreement. NO EXCEPTIONS!! 

Sign-ins will begin at 8:00AM and close at 9:00AM for Sunday events, and between 12 noon and 1:00 PM for Saturday events. At the discretion of Safety Director and Treasurer sign-ins for Sunday Events may also be opened on Saturday.  Late sign-ins will automatically be slotted to the rear of their first race regardless of time in position or draw number or to the front of the qualifying order.  Each class will be assigned garbage duty on a rotating basis.

Pit meeting is at 9:00AM. Racing begins at 10:00AM for Sunday events.

Pit meeting is at 1:30 PM.  Racing begins at 2:00pm for Saturday events.

Work Rule

There will be absolutely no working on cars that are on the racing surface.  There can be a maximum of two handlers per car in the hot chute.  There can be four handlers making repairs if the two additional handlers are from the same race.  In the event additional help is needed the car must be removed to the “work area”.  Then the number of handlers is unlimited.

Track Records

Track records will be open at all four Saturday non points races for 2008at WQMA, missed track record dates will not be made up.  On qualifying days up to 5 warm up laps will be allowed, with three laps on the clock. Every race day there is qualifying instead of heat races, track records will be open to any QMA member.  Track records will be timed utilizing the WQMA electronic scoring system instituted in the 2002 season. 

In the event that there is a scoring or timing malfunction while a car is on the track for qualifying that prevents the car from accurately being timed during the prescribed number of laps, the car will be black flagged and brought into the hot chute. The car will then be sent out again to start their 5 warm up and 3 laps on the clock after the last car in that division. If there are less than 3 cars left in that division then they will be sent out during the next division so that 3 cars are qualified between their times on the track.

General Rules

With the exception of the rules established within this document as agreed upon by the club, WQMA racing rules will follow those rules as established in the national rule book. In addition, national guidelines established for scoring procedures, flagging and judging will be utilized. 

QMA badges and wristbands received at sign in will be worn in the hot chute area.  You may be asked to leave if you do not have the badge with you. Non-members in the hot chute create a liability and may jeopardize the existence of the club.  Your help in following the rules and making sure others follow the rule is appreciated.

Judging

Judges are required to be on the judging stand prior to cars being pushed off for a race event including the warm up period.  If you are unable to judge a race you must find a replacement.  There must be a minimum of one (1) judge on the stand for the warm up period to begin; all judges must be present prior to the start of the race.  If the judges are not present a red flag will be called for by the Race Director and the race will not begin until all judges are present. 

Judges shall not be handlers, owners or parents of drivers entered in the same class or division at that race meet.

Corner Workers

All corner workers will be in their respective corners, coinciding with the numbers on the racecars prior to the start of the race.  For Novice races two corner workers are required in each corner, for all other classes, one per corner.  If corner workers are not present it is the discretion of the Race Director to red flag the race until corner workers are present. 

Warm Ups

All races will be allowed a one minute warm up period.  In the event of a red flag during the warm up period the clock will be stopped, however, in the event of a yellow flag the clock will not be stopped. 

There will be an announcement that time is up.   At that time, all cars must be past the out-late line.  In the event a car or cars are not on the racing surface they will be placed at the back of the pack.  The race officials will make the determination if the car or cars were beyond the designated line or not.

In the event your car has not started by the time it reaches the end of the hot chute, you must exit the racing surface at the first opportunity so the rest of the field may return to a green flag condition. 

To make things run smoothly in the pit area, direct your driver to pit in the numbered spot corresponding with the number on their car during warm ups.

Any car disregarding the instructions of the flag person may be placed at the back of the pack at the discretion of the flagger. 

Race Time Limits:

All races will have a maximum time limit of 15 minutes per Heat race and 20 minutes per Main. This time begins when the flagger throws the initial green flag. 

Race on Track Called for Time

When time is up per the tower, the race will finish on the next incident flag or at the checkered flag.  If an incident occurs that brings out the yellow or red flag, the field will be lined up in re-start order and that will be the finish of the race signified by the waving of the yellow and checkered flags together.

Move up Points

Novices moving up will start with 1 point less than the last place driver in the new class with the equal number of races in the point series.  Novice drivers must move up by the start of the 4^th club race to participate in the point series.  Drivers moving from Jr. to Sr. will move up one point below the last place driver, in the new class, with the equal number of races in the point series.

Rain Out of Event

There is one Rain Date on the 2008 WQMA Racing Schedule. This is only for making up complete Sunday Club Race events that were called due to rain or other cause when no green flag was thrown for any race..   It is the discretion of the Race Director to call the race for cause.  There will be no points awarded for races called for cause prior to the start of the race day.  Scoring procedures will dictate point awards for any races already run during that day.

In the event that a race is called prior to the race event beginning, no refunds will be given. If that event is made up on a rain date, credit will be given for the sign in fees for that day for individual drivers and their specific class. Drivers signed in will receive credit as an “attempt to race” toward year end award eligibility.

Race on Track Called for Rain:

Races on the racing surface called for rain will move the cars to the hot chute area, cars will remain there until race is resumed or called.  No working on cars in the hot chute during rain delay.  

Race Day Car Count:

If car count for any given Sunday club race day (excluding state and region events, and track record dates) is 51 cars or more, 1 heat and 1 set of mains will be run.  If the car count is 50 cars or less, 2 heats and 1 set of mains will be run. 

Helmet Visors

Clear or amber face shields must be worn by all drivers after dark, or whenever the lights are turned on. The race director shall determine specifically which race number this begins with.

Throw Out Race

There will be one throw out race for the 2008 season. Each competitor will throw out their single lowest daily points total, and it must be a day that other competitors scored points.

Year End Awards

Eligibility for year-end awards will be defined as attempting to race a minimum of 7 scheduled races in the point series. There must be a minimum of two cars in the division for 6 races to qualify for year-end awards.  Eligibility for year end participation awards will be defined as attempting to race a minimum of 7 scheduled races or 60% of the races available to you in the point series for late starting novices.

Sponsor Cup Races

Throughout the season each division will be recognized with a special race day format called the “Sponsor Cup”. The dates assigned to each division will be determined by the Race Director prior to the event.  During the event with a sponsor cup assigned, the featured division or divisions will have special sponsor “cup” style trophies for the top 4 A Main finishers, and will have driver introductions conducted while the drivers are presented and buckled in on the track surface. The A Main order may be altered by the race director to find the best placement for the featured division.

Code of Conduct

Per the WQMA By-Laws, “QMA code of conduct” will be enforced at all events.  During racing events the use of intoxicants by car owners, mechanics, pit attendants or track officials is strictly prohibited.  Any member in the area of a scheduled event violating this rule will be escorted from the event and/or suspended for a period determined by the board of directors without a vote of the membership.

Any person using extreme abusive language will be levied a fine, to be determined by the board of directors and /or escorted from the event.

The WQMA facility is a public venue attended by guests on a regular basis. Positive behavior is an important part of participating in the racing events. In addition to the QMA Code of Conduct guidelines, any handler whose behavior continues to be out of line after a warning by the race director or club president can be immediately removed from all racing and paved surfaces for the remainder for the event. The elected Race Director or Club President shall have final say in these matters.

Transponders

WQMA will use transponders and computer scoring at all club race events.  There will be at least two scorers in the tower in addition to the electronic scoring in order to maintain the racing program should the system fail.  Timing in will be done with transponders on track record dates. 

Transponders can be rented for a fee of $10 per day or $15 per weekend.  Failure to return the transponder at the end of the race event will result in a fine of $10 if the transponder is not returned in time to charge for the next race event.  Each club date that the transponder is not returned by will increase the fine in $10 increments.  If a transponder is not returned at the end of a race season the fine will be the cost to replace the transponder plus any fines accumulated. 

Pit Fees

Sunday - $18 per car

Saturday - $10 per car

Fuel

Fuel will be tested periodically at the discretion of the tech director. Fuel must be purchased at the fueling station, which is to be determined by the tech director on all club race dates, whether it is heat races or qualifying format. Selected station shall be posted on the club website and at the track.

Technical Procedures

The top 4 finishers in each A Main will automatically be impounded to a specified holding for Technical proceedings. Tech tear-downs will be done per QMA rule book. All cars in impound must remain there until released by tech director, not doing do will be considered a refusal of tech.

In addition, cars will be checked for weight and conformance per QMA rules such as nerf bars, tread width, etc., when leaving the track after heats and Main Events.  Do not leave scale area until you are released or you will be DQ'd.

Engine DQ at tech - If you are handling another driver because a handler can't attend the race, the handler handling the driver, and the driver each receive thirty days suspension.

Any car obtaining a track record must have their engine sealed including fuel and QMA sealing points before leaving the scale area. All these seals must still be in place when the engine is teched.

Delay

In the event the race day is delayed, the format will remain heats to be followed by main events except  for qualifying days which will remain qualifying to be followed by main events. The race director will have the authority to eliminate the warm up periods for each race and to alter the number of laps to best fit in all the races.

Sealing

Sealing will be done per QMA procedures/rules on qualifying days immediately after each car qualifies that breaks that division's track record. Those cars required to be sealed that leave the sealing area prior to getting their car sealed will receive a “no time”.

Awards For Sunday Club Races

A-Main Events              1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Place

B-Main Events              1^st & 2^nd Place & Ribbon for 3^rd  & 4^th

C & Lower Mains   1^st & Ribbon for 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th

Awards for Saturday non-points races to be determined.

Points System

*On qualifying race days, points are awarded per Attached Addendum*

Heats:   1 point spread per position 

                        1st – 20

                        2nd – 19

                        3rd – 18   etc…..

Heat race line-ups to be determined by pill draw at sign-in.  Driver pill draw numbers will be posted next to driver's name. 

Main Event:  2 point spread per position

A-Main:    1^st - 150, 2^nd -148, 3^rd -146, 4^th -144, 5^th -142, 6^th -140, 7^th -138 etc.

B-Main:     5th - 130, 6^th -128, 7th -126, 8^th -124, 9^th -122, 10^th -120

                         (Novice & Jr Classes Start at 134)

C-Main:    5^th - 118, 6^th -116, 7^th -114, 8^th -112, 9^th -110, 10^th -108

                         (Novice & Jr Classes Start at 126)

D-Main:    5^th - 106, 6^th -104, 7^th -102, 8^th -100, 9^th -98, 10^th -96

                         (Novice & Jr Classes Start at 118)

E-Main:    5^th - 94, 6^th -92, 7^th -90, 8^th -88, 9^th -86, 10^th -84

                          (Novice & Jr Classes Start at 110)

F-Main:    5^th - 82, 6^th -80, 7^th -78, 8^th -76, 9^th -74, 10^th -72

                         (Novice & Jr Classes Start at 102)

G-Main:    5^th - 70, 6^th -68, 7^th -66, 8^th -64, 9^th -62, 10^th -60 etc.

                         (Novice & Jr Classes Start at 94)

Download Qualifying Points Click Here

YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE POINTS FOR THE HIGHEST MAIN THAT YOU RUN

         If two or more cars are disabled together and are unable to continue, the points will be added together and divided between them equally unless one of the cars receives a call for that incident in which case they will then be scored as the next car behind the others in that incident.

Flagrant black flags will receive no points for that race.  Technical DQ's at tear down will receive no points for the entire event but will still receive credit for year-end awards. All other DQ's will result in last place points for that race.  If more than one driver is disqualified in a race, then both drivers will receive last place points.  For example, if two drivers are DQ'd in a race with ten cars, then both drivers would receive points for 10^th place.  No driver would receive 9^th place points. 

Only the divisions who have completed the A Mains will receive points for the event.

**In the event of a tie for places at the end of the series, two equal places will be awarded. (Ex. tie for 1^st there will be 2 - 1^st place awards given, and the next best finisher would receive third place).  Rollover awards will be given only if the rollover occurred under green flag racing conditions.  (Heat or Main warm-ups do not count).

Drivers who score DNS (Did Not Start) or DNF (Did Not Finish) as the result of a crash, third chargeable DOT, or any other instance identified as a DNF under QMA rules in a race will receive points according to when they drop out in relation to other drivers.  DNS must attempt to warm up and/or race. 

DNA (Did Not Attempt) means that the car was not present for either the warm up or the race and/or did not attempt to start the car for either the warm up or the race.  A DNA will not receive any points for the race they “Did Not Attempt.”

Novice Class is NOT racing for points or championships.  Their attendance is logged for year-end participation awards.

Racing order

The order of the classes and divisions will follow the QMA racing order, however, the club may change the race schedule due to inclement weather or other races not being run due to time constraints.

To Download The 2008 Schedule Please Click here

Quarter Midget Racing...

Quarter Midgets of America is a non-profit organization with over 2,500 family memberships and approximately 4,000 drivers. There are 13 Regions in our organization and 50 Quarter Midget Clubs Nationwide. This sport is definitely the ‘best kept secret' you'll ever come across.

QMA is a family oriented sport that involves racing in special prepared cars. The cars, rules and safety procedures are designed specifically for kids. They race on oval tracks approximately 1/20 of a mile. A child who is 5 to 16 years of age can race. Safety features include full roll cages, multi-point seat harnesses, full face helmets, and other gear. This sport has fewer injuries than little-league football. The Quarter Midget Association is constantly reviewing and evaluating safety rules to ensure that quarter midget racing remains a safe competitive sport. The racing environment is about children and family. Not only do kids learn valuable skills and sportsmanship, but they also make new friends. Mom and Dad will make new friends too.

Quarter Midgets...

A Quarter Midget car is a scaled-down version of an actual midget racer, approximately 1/4 scale.  The cars are built around a tubular frame and are fully suspended with springs or torsion bars and shocks.  The bodies are fiberglass, usually painted to the drivers preference. Surrounding the driver is a chrome-moly roll cage and nerf bars. The engines are single cylinder and are manufactured by Honda, Continental, Briggs & Stratton, and Deco. In the motors stock configuration they produce between 2.5 & 4 horse power. Modifications in the upper classes allow these engines to reach several times the stock horse power. These air-cooled 4-cycle engines are reliable and can produce as much as 10,000 rpm's in their more highly modified forms.

(Content from Quarter Midget Association of America)