About CFRA

Checkered Flag Racing Association

Exhibition Race Regulations

See Also: General Rules & Guidelines

Contents

  • General Rules
  • Appendix A: Vehicle Safety Rules
  • Appendix B: Roll Bar Requirements
  • Appendix C: Racing Apparel
  • Appendix D: Rules of the Road

General Rules

The following regulations govern CFRA exhibition races. These rules are to be used in conjunction with the CFRA general club rules. Where these rules conflict, the Exhibition Race Rules take precedence.

  1. Entry Procedure: To enter events, complete a CFRA official registration form and mail to CFRA Motorsports Director.
  2. Entry Refusal: CFRA reserves the right to refuse an entry at any time with only such notice as circumstances permit.
  3. Entry to Pits: Persons under 16 years of age may not enter the hot pits. Persons working on a vehicle in the pit lane must wear at least a T-shirt, long pants, and closed toe shoes.
  4. Driver Eligibility: A participant must be a current CFRA Race Team member to drive in CFRA Exhibition races.
  5. Driver's License: A current CFRA racing license will be accepted as proof of current CFRA membership.
  6. Registration: A driver must show his or her competition license at registration.
  7. Technical inspection: All cars must meet the technical requirements described in the CFRA tech form.
  8. Cameras on Cars: Cars entering the course at any time with mounted cameras must have some type of restraint device (eg strap) that will prevent the camera from leaving the car or interfering with the driver in the event the mount fails.
  9. Permanent Numbers: All cars must display their CFRA permanent numbers on both sides of the vehicle. Numbers must be displayed on each door and must be a minimum of 10" tall and of a contrasting color with the car. Participants must obtain their own numbers.
  10. CFRA and Class decals: All cars must display an official CFRA logo decal on both sides of the car. All cars must display an official CFRA class decal on both sides of the car indicating the car's competition class. Failing to have the required decals on the car may result in disqualification.
  11. Results: Exhibition race results will be made available to be posted as soon as is reasonable after exhibition race completion.
  12. Supplies: Oil, water, electric power, fuel, and compressed air are the responsibility of the entrant. CFRA reserves the right to regulate fuel storage containers.
  13. Lost Equipment: CFRA, Thunderhill Park, or any persons connected with the operation of the exhibition racing event are not responsible for the loss or theft of any item brought on the premises.
  14. Pets: Pets not on a leash or caged will not be permitted at any time. Leashed pets should be restrained by an adult at all times.
  15. Protests: Protests will be accepted only at the discretion of the Chief Steward. Most matters can be resolved by the Chief Steward without necessity of protest.
  16. Intoxicants: No participant (driver, crew, or worker) may consume intoxicants in the paddock area or elsewhere on the premises at any time.
  17. Paddock Rules:
    1. Absolutely no tent stakes, barbecues, or oil/fuel spillage allowed on the asphalt.
    2. CFRA reserves the right to allow fueling only in designated areas.
    3. Entrant provided boards shall be placed under jack stands to avoid damage to the paddock surface.
    4. Entrants are encouraged to bring water and kitty litter (or equivalent) to neutralize spill damage and must report any spills as soon as possible to the event staff. Entrants are responsible to track management for any damage caused to the paddock.
    5. A valid driver's license is necessary to operate any wheeled vehicle in the paddock.
    6. Skateboards, roller blades or roller skates are not allowed in the paddock.
    7. The speed limit in the paddock is 5 MPH for any wheeled vehicle.
    8. Only designated automotive fluid disposal barrels, as appropriately marked, shall be used for dumping oil or other automotive fluids.
    9. An entrant taping lines or marks on paddock surfaces shall remove them before leaving the track. Painting marks on any paddock surface is prohibited.
    10. Entrants are responsible for securing their equipment within their paddock space against heavy winds or other adverse conditions. Owners are liable for any damages caused by their equipment.
  18. Refunds/Withdrawals: Due to the exclusive nature of our event, no refunds will be given.
  19. Scoring a race: In the event of a race ending in a red flag, scoring will revert back to the previous, completely scored lap. A completely scored lap is defined as one in which the leader, as well as the rest of the field, up to the car just in front of the leader, passes the finish line.
  20. Unexpected Conditions: The Race Team, as a body, shall be able to determine if conditions at the time of the race would be detrimental to the race driver, spectators, race track officials, etc., and shall be able to vote at the time of the race drivers meeting, prior to that days race, to shorten or lengthen the race event.
    1. This rule is not intended to allow the number of laps to be changed based upon any race car's limitation, for example inadequate fuel capacity or loss of air-conditioning, or knowledge that any given car may not safely complete the determined number of laps due to potential equipment safety issues, for example brakes that may have insufficient brake pad material to safely stop the car during the extended event (these examples are not all inclusive).
    2. Should a driver believe that his or her car is mechanically strained as a result of the extended laps that may be added to the race then the driver is expected to withdraw from the race. Under no circumstances is a driver to jeopardize the safety of participants simply to race a potentially unsafe vehicle.
    3. In addition, if a driver believes that fatigue could be a factor in his or her responsiveness during the event, it is again expected that the driver excuse himself or herself from the race. If during the race a this condition were to occur, the driver should exit the track as soon as it is safe. If the condition is of such distress on the driver that continuing safely to the pit area is not possible then the driver should immediately pull off the course and alert coarse workers, and other participants, with a "thumbs down" hand signal.
    4. The rule cannot detail all extenuating conditions that could possibly occur during the scheduling of the race, or what could possibly occur up to and during the event; therefore, the Race Team is expected to error on the side of safety.

Appendix A: Vehicle Safety Rules

In addition to the CFRA tech form requirements, the following apply:

  1. Appearance: All cars must be in clean condition with no major paint or body damage.
  2. Roll Bar: A roll bar which complies with CFRA roll bar requirements (Appendix B) is required.
  3. Seat Belts: All cars must have at least a five point harness with nylon web in good condition and a metal to metal buckle.
  4. Fire Extinguisher: All cars must be equipped with a dry chemical fire extinguisher, securely mounted inside the vehicle with a metal bracket.
  5. Mirrors: It is the responsibility of the driver to have sufficient rear view mirrors to see following cars.
  6. Brake Lights: All cars must have at least one working brake light.
  7. Brake Systems: Brake systems components must be in top condition on all cars. Hydraulic fluids should be fresh and reservoirs full. These should be verified at the technical inspection.
  8. Battery: The battery must be securely held down and the positive terminal covered.
  9. Suspension and steering: The suspension and steering must not have excessive play.
  10. Wheels: Wheels must be free of cracks and faults.
  11. Tires: Tires on all cars must be free of cuts, checking and rot. D.O.T. tires must start the day with at least 1/32" of tread depth.
  12. Leaks: Fluid leaks of any kind are not permitted.

Appendix B: Roll Bar Requirements

In addition to the CFRA tech form requirements, the following apply:

  1. The basic purpose of the roll bar is to protect the driver if the car turns over or is involved in a serious accident. The purpose should not be forgotten.
  2. The top of the roll bar must be above the top of the driver's helmet when the driver is sitting in the normal driving position and shall not be more than six inches behind the driver.
  3. The roll bar must be designed to withstand compression forces resulting from the weight of the car coming down on the roll structure, and to take fore-and-aft loads resulting from the car skidding along the ground on the roll structure. CFRA requires at least a 4 point roll bar in both open and closed cars.
  4. The two vertical members forming the sides of the hoop shall not be less than 15 inches apart inside dimension. It is recommended that the roll bar extend the full width of the cockpit to provide maximum bearing area.
  5. Any portion of the roll bar or bracing which might be contacted by the driver's helmet, shall be covered with an energy absorbing material securely held in place.
  6. CFRA reserves the right to disallow any roll protection deemed not to meet the intent of a roll bar by the CFRA Technical Director or Event Director, regardless of the above stated rules.

Appendix C: Racing Apparel

In addition to the CFRA tech form requirements, the following apply:

  1. Helmet: All drivers must wear helmets conforming to the current CFRA SNELL standard helmet specified on the CFRA tech form.
  2. Driving Suit: All drivers must wear an approved flame resistant suit that meets specifications on the CFRA tech form.
  3. Gloves: Gloves made of fire resistant material must be worn by all drivers.
  4. The use of fire resistant undergarments is advised but actual use is at the discretion of the driver.

Appendix D: Rules of the Road

  1. Flags:
    1. YELLOW: To "slow down" for a yellow flag means to reduce speed sufficiently to make any avoidance maneuver necessitated by the situation. Drivers should signal recognition of the flag by a nod of the head or hand signal to the corner workers. The yellow flag will be displayed at all stations in use during race pace laps. It is solely the responsibility of the driver to know the station at which the yellow flag may be shown in his/her particular race. NO PASSING IS PERMITTED UNDER THE YELLOW FLAG.
    2. BLACK FLAG OR MECHANICAL BLACK FLAG: Shown with your car number means to immediately stop in the pit lane at the Black Flag station.
    3. WHITE: In addition to the GCR definition, the white flag may be displayed at all manned flag stations for the first lap of any practice and/or qualifying sessions to indicate possible slow moving vehicles. Drivers are reminded to note the location of these flag stations.
  2. Passing: The responsibility for the decision to pass another car, and thus the safety of the pass, lies with the overtaking driver. The overtaking car must leave racing room for the overtaken car and the pass must be completed without requiring the overtaken driver to take evasive action to avoid contact with the overtaking car or remain on course. It is the responsibility of the overtaken driver to maintain a consistent and predictable line or course of travel, so that the overtaking driver will not find himself or herself committed to a passing line only to have the overtaken car suddenly swerve into that line. Overly aggressive actions by either the overtaking or overtaken drivers will result in immediate black flag and expulsion from the event.
  3. Body Contact: Body contact is absolutely contrary to the spirit of exhibition racing. CFRA has adopted a standing policy that drivers at fault in the event of body contact will be automatically expelled from the event. Complaints against a particular driver for overly aggressive driving may also result in being expelled from the event. This will be an "Exhibition" race, not an all-out door-handle-to-door-handle competition. A driver judged to have made deliberate contact, or for repeated contact, or for contact involving great negligence may be banned from further participation in future events and expelled from CFRA. Any violations of the above will be evaluated and determinations made by CFRA Board of Directors.
  4. Rules of Conduct
    1. Any on-track spin greater than 180 degrees will result in an automatic black flag
    2. Any 4-wheels off will result in an automatic black flag
    3. Three black flag situations within any event will result in automatic expulsion from the event.
  5. Hand Signals
    1. A driver shall signal by raising his or her arm before entering the pits from the circuit.
    2. A driver being overtaken by a clearly faster car should point to the side on which the overtaking car should pass.
  6. Driving or Towing a Car on Circuit: It is forbidden to drive or tow a car during the course event on the circuit or in the pits in the direction opposite to that in which the event is being run. A car which over shoots its pit must be pushed back by hand or continue for another lap.
  7. Stopping a car on the Circuit: If a driver is forced to stop his or her car during the event, it is his or her first duty, insofar as possible, to place it in such a manner as to cause no danger or obstruction.
  8. Unsafe driving: Any driver who is operating a car in a manner deemed to be dangerous will be black flagged and required to stop in the pits to be either warned or removed from the circuit.