SentraWV
05-20-2009, 06:14 PM
With our biggest events of the year coming up (one of which I'll be missing :frown:), I wanted to set out a couple of things everybody should know about how classing works. We're a pretty loose bunch, but with larger entry lists around the corner, it's important for everybody to help out and make things run as smoothly as possible. With that said . . .
Read the Rules
The rules are online. You can download them for free here (http://scca.com/documents/Solo_Rules/2009_Solo_Rules.pdf). Read them. Know them. Love them. Believe it or not, most answers to classing questions can be figured out by flipping through a few pages. If that doesn't work, you'll be in a better position to ask further questions if you can be specific about rules, classes, etc.
Tech is about Safety - Period
In road racing, there are officials who have the sole job of policing the rules. Is that car underweight? Are they using unobtanium gear bits? Is that a V8 stuffed in that Miata?!? Solo events don't work that way. The only official inspection all cars receive is the morning tech inspection. That inspection is all about safety, that everything is in working order, and all necessary equipment is there. It's not the tech inspector's job to figure out if you're in the right class or if your competition is.
Solo is Self Policing
The flip side of not having scrutineers is that it's up to the competitors themselves in Solo to enforce the rules. Obviously, the first step is to make sure you're in full compliance. Read the rules, ask questions, etc.
The next step is to ensure that your competition is playing straight, too. You don't have to strut over to the other guy and say, "damn, you cheatin' bastard, I'm protesting you!" as a first move, believe it or not. Ask the competitor about his car in an open and diplomatic way. If you're not comfortable doing that, bring your concerns to the officials running the event and have them make the approach. If there's going to be a protest, they'll have to be involved.
The bottom line is, really - don't be a dick. Don't be a dick and cheat (what's the point of whipping up on H/Stock in a Corvette, anyway?). Don't be a dick and be needlessly confrontational about any potential issues.
Remember, we're all doing this for fun and giggles. The support apparatus for Solo events are the competitors themselves. Be the best you can, in all facets of the event, and everybody has more fun.
OK, everybody got that? Let's race!
http://www.comicguide.net/images/smilies/rallye.gif
Read the Rules
The rules are online. You can download them for free here (http://scca.com/documents/Solo_Rules/2009_Solo_Rules.pdf). Read them. Know them. Love them. Believe it or not, most answers to classing questions can be figured out by flipping through a few pages. If that doesn't work, you'll be in a better position to ask further questions if you can be specific about rules, classes, etc.
Tech is about Safety - Period
In road racing, there are officials who have the sole job of policing the rules. Is that car underweight? Are they using unobtanium gear bits? Is that a V8 stuffed in that Miata?!? Solo events don't work that way. The only official inspection all cars receive is the morning tech inspection. That inspection is all about safety, that everything is in working order, and all necessary equipment is there. It's not the tech inspector's job to figure out if you're in the right class or if your competition is.
Solo is Self Policing
The flip side of not having scrutineers is that it's up to the competitors themselves in Solo to enforce the rules. Obviously, the first step is to make sure you're in full compliance. Read the rules, ask questions, etc.
The next step is to ensure that your competition is playing straight, too. You don't have to strut over to the other guy and say, "damn, you cheatin' bastard, I'm protesting you!" as a first move, believe it or not. Ask the competitor about his car in an open and diplomatic way. If you're not comfortable doing that, bring your concerns to the officials running the event and have them make the approach. If there's going to be a protest, they'll have to be involved.
The bottom line is, really - don't be a dick. Don't be a dick and cheat (what's the point of whipping up on H/Stock in a Corvette, anyway?). Don't be a dick and be needlessly confrontational about any potential issues.
Remember, we're all doing this for fun and giggles. The support apparatus for Solo events are the competitors themselves. Be the best you can, in all facets of the event, and everybody has more fun.
OK, everybody got that? Let's race!
http://www.comicguide.net/images/smilies/rallye.gif