2009 Southern Outlaw Wing 600 (SOW6) Rules

THE FOLLOWING RULES AND GUIDELINES ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE A SPEEDY AND WELL ORGANIZED RACE PROGRAM

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  The Southern Outlaw Wing 600 (SOW6) organization has prepared the following rules and specifications for the officials and members as guidelines for the safe and fair execution of the race program.  In conjunction, no warranty of safety is expressed or implied as a result of this publication of rules.  These rules are intended as a guide and are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to participants, spectators, or others.  Continuous developments in the technology of our sport may necessitate changes in these specifications and rules.  If a change is necessary, its acceptance will be by a vote of the membership. Accordingly, the SOW6 Rules will be updated on the organization’s Web Site (www.sow6.com). This will be considered the most recent revision of the rules and regulations.  There may be situations where the SOW6 officials must make decisions without a membership vote. It is our intent to enforce and police the rules and policies listed below throughout the 2009 season.

AGE:  All drivers must be at least 14 years of age.  Both the SOW6 President and Competition Director must approve drivers less than 14 years of age. Special provisions (i.e. starting in the rear) may apply. This also may apply for any new driver with the SOW6, based on experience. There are different provisions for Young Guns (see “Young Guns” section for details).

MEMBERSHIP:
All members must pay their annual dues of $50.00 and fill out their competition form at or before the first points race attended. Competition form and annual dues may be mailed to the SOW6 Director of Competition prior to the start of the season.  Failure to pay dues and complete competition form will result in no series points being awarded to that driver until the requirements are met.

CHECK IN POLICY:
Most races start between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Every member needs to check in and draw for starting position at the Director of Competition’s trailer 1 hour before the first heat race. The draw fee will be $10 for SOW6 members and $20 for non-members. This money will be split between paying the SOW6 Officials and going to the points fund. Failure to draw on time will result in starting LAST in the last heat race. If you miss your heat race, you will start on the LAST ROW of the feature race or depending on car count you may start last row of the B or C main. Only the driver may draw for starting position.

HEAT RACE:
We will draw for position for each heat race. The lowest number will start on the pole for the 1st heat race. The 2nd lowest number drawn will start on the poll for the 2nd heat race. The rest will follow in sequence.

FEATURE RACE:
For regular program races, the winner of the first heat will draw a chip for the invert.  Up to 3 rows may be inverted.  Races with larger purses will have no invert, but may contain a “dash” to set the first three rows. When possible, this will be announced at the previous race.

SAFETY:
Racing is an inherently dangerous sport.  Following the SOW6 regulations for personal safety gear are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to participants.  In the end, it is each driver’s individual responsibility to ensure they have the proper personal safety gear to comply with SOW6 regulations and that all equipment is properly maintained to fulfill its intended purpose.

Helmets: Helmets must be full-face with an approved face shield and functioning chin strap. Exterior shell should have no damage so as to expose the fiber sheets. Helmet must have a Snell rating of SA2000 or newer, or an SFI rating of 31.2a. The certification stickers will be affixed to the inner foam liner or the chin strap.  A sticker on the exterior of the helmet is a manufacturer’s advertising logo, and is in no way a statement to the certification level.

Suits: A one or two-piece suit of at least one-layer (SFI 3.2A/1) made from a fire  retardant material, such as Proban, Nomex, or CarbonX, must be worn.  Two-layer suits (SFI 3.2A/5) are recommended.  Additionally, long underwear (top & bottom), foot socks, and head socks made from Nomex or CarbonX are also recommended. Suit should be clean and free of oil, grease, or fuel stains.

Neck Collars: Neck collars made from a fire retardant material are required.  Head and neck restraint devices like the HANS are recommended. 

Arm Restraints: Arm restraints are required. It is recommended that these be replaced every two years.

Gloves: One-layer gloves made from a fire retardant material (SFI 3.3/1) are required. Two-layer gloves (SFI 3.3/5) are recommended.

Shoes: Shoes made from a fire retardant material are required.

Seat Belts: At the minimum, a 5-point seat belt harness is required.  Belts will be made from 3” wide webbing. Belts that are “HANS friendly”, with 2” webbing above the shoulder strap adjustment, are acceptable. Seat belts should be no more than two-years old.

Fuel Cells: There are no restrictions on fuel cells, but one with an internal bladder is recommended.

CAR SPECIFIFCATIONS:

If the competition track has operating scales, minimum weight will be 750 pounds. If there are no operating scales, there are no weight restrictions. This will be announced at every pre-race driver’s meeting.

*BORE: Maximum engine size of 619cc.     

*WINGS: There are no wing restrictions.

*COCKPIT ADJUSTMENTS: There are no restrictions on cockpit adjustments.

TIRE RULE:
All competitors must run a HOSSIER D-35 or NMMA or ASCS2 A-CLASS tire on the right rear. Right rear tire must read 50 on a durometer within 30-minutes after race completion.  No outside source may be used to cool the tire. Failure to run the specified tire and/or pass the durometer reading will result in disqualification and forfeiture of any points or monies for that race.

POST RACE TECH INSPECTION:
THE TOP THREE FINISHING CARS IN THE FEATURE WILL REPORT TO THE SOW6 COMPETITION DIRECTOR’S TRAILER AFTER THE RACE FOR TECH INSPECTION.

If the track is equipped, the top-three finishers must go across the scales and weight compliance verified by an SOW6 official. The feature winner will undergo post-race tech. This will include, but is not limited to: engine bore and stroke, right rear tire durometer reading, and safety gear. The remainder of the top-three are also subject to the same tech inspection. Refusal to undergo post-race tech will result in disqualification and forfeiture of any points or monies for that race.

YOUNG GUNS:

The Young Gun’s class is for junior drivers thirteen and under. 

The following regulations are specific to the Young Gun’s class:

Weight: Minimum weight for car and driver is 700 lbs. If no scales are available,     there will be no weight restriction. 

Engine: Four cylinder 600cc engines. Stock engine as the motor was run on the motorcycle from the factory with the charging unit.  No engine work (no ported heads, no lightened cranks, no cam degreeing, no lightening pistons or rods, no head clean-up, no boring of engine).  Maximum bore is 600cc’s.  STOCK CARBS ONLY.  No flat slide carbs allowed. Carburetors will be restricted with ¾ inch restrictor plate with the NMMA stamp facing up.  No opening is permitted between the outside diameter of the plate and the inside diameter of the intake boot.  Only OEM ECUs are allowed.

Cockpit Adjustments:  No cockpit adjustments are allowed.

Other:  No shifting gears once the green flag is waved.

All other SOW6 rules and regulations apply.

CAR NUMBERS:  All cars must have legible numbers in colors contrasting to the background and in locations to allow easy identification of the number from both sides and the front.

RESTARTS:  All restarts will be single file. A cone will be placed on the front stretch prior to the restart. The first place car will restart the field at approximately the center of the corner. No passing is allowed until you are past the restart cone.  All cars must pass to the outside of the restart cone. Cars one or more laps down may keep their spot between lead lap cars for the restart, however they will continue to be scored one or more laps down until they pass the leader under green flag.  Lap cars may volunteer to drop to the rear of the field as a courtesy to lead lap cars.

YELLOW FLAGS:
If a yellow comes out and you need an SOW6 Official to look at your car, you need to pull to the outside edge of the track (not the infield) to have the car checked out.
If the part can be easily removed (no adjustments or repairs can be made) you may return to your position on the track, if not, the SOW6 Official will make the call that you need to go to the infield for repairs or stay there for the remainder of the race. If you pull to the infield for a part to be removed you will forfeit your position on the track and will have to go to the back of the pack.

At no time can you or any one else come and work on your car to get you back into the race.  If this does happen you will be black-flagged and will lose your points and money for that race. You may return to the pits to work on your car under caution, but re-entry onto the track is not guaranteed.  It is up to the discretion of the track personnel and SOW6 officials. If allowed to re-enter, the car must start at the end of the field. Any car that causes more than two cautions involving only one car (i.e. spinning out) during the same race (not the entire race night) will be black flagged and required to exit the track for that specific race.

RED FLAGS: Stop at once. No work may be done to the car under a red flag, except cockpit adjustments. No crewmembers may are allowed on the track. Exceptions may be allowed by SOW6 official under extended red flag situations to check on drivers.  Drivers may be given water, but absolutely no adjustments are allowed on the car. Pit repairs of any car in that particular race intending to re-enter before completion must stop. Violation of red flag procedures will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all points and monies for that race.
                                                                                                                             DRIVING:
Racing is a competitive sport. Some accidents and mistakes may occur. Rough driving will not be tolerated. NO bumping, NO rubbing, NO speeding in pits, NO fighting and NO jumping at the start of the race or at any restarts. All restarts will begin at the cone on the front stretch. You must be in single file until you PASS the cone. Do not bump, push, or pass the car in front of you. If you are caught doing so, you will be sent to the back of the pack or you may be black-flagged.

SPORTSMANSHIP:
Each driver is responsible for his or her pit crew, friends, and family members.

PENALTIES:
Any driver who is black flagged for rough driving or unsportsmanlike conduct will be disqualified from that night’s event, and will not collect money or receive any points.

CONFLICTS AND DISPUTES:
If there is a conflict or dispute, you must pay a $100.00 cash protest fee. Only the driver can protest. You must go to an SOW6 official immediately after the race with your $100.00 in cash to let him know you would like to make a protest. Once you make the protest it cannot be stopped without a decision being made. After the protest is made you must have a 30-minute cool down time. The race director will draw 3 chips from the starting chip position bag to pick 3 drivers that were not involved in the dispute to make a decision based on the information pertaining to that incident only. DO NOT GO TO THE TRACK OFFICIALS. If you are caught going to the track officials with a conflict or a dispute you can be disqualified from the night’s event and you will not collect your money or points. The President and/or the Director of Competition must be present during any and all incidents pertaining to the SOW6’s official call. If the decision is made in your favor, your $100.00 will be returned to you; otherwise it will go into the SOW6 points fund. On-track calls made by SOW6 officials and track personnel may not be protested. Scoring and technical compliance may be protested. If the protest requires a technical inspection on the car, the protested driver will be given the $100 for his/her inconvenience if found legal.

POINTS: Points will be awarded as follows for the  2009 season.

            Heat Race:

1^st – 15 pts        6^th – 6 pts                                                                                    

2^nd – 12 pts       7^th – 5 pts.

3^rd – 10 pts        8^th – 4 pts

4^th – 8 pts          9^th – 3 pts.

5^th – 7 pts          10^th – 2 pts.

            Feature Race:   

1^st – 45 pts.       6th – 32 pts.       11^th – 22 pts.    16^th – 17 pts.    21st - 12 pts.

2^nd – 40 pts.      7^th – 30 pts.       12^th – 21 pts      17^th – 16 pts.    22nd - 11 pts.

3^rd – 38 pts.       8^th – 28 pts.       13^th – 20 pts.     18th – 15 pts.

4^th – 36 pts.       9^th – 26 pts.       14^th – 19 pts.     19th – 14 pts.

5^th – 34 pts.       10^th – 24 pts.     15^th – 18 pts.     20th -  13 pts.

Additional: All drivers who sign-in and pay the $10 draw fee will receive 5 show-up points.  All drivers starting the feature will receive 5 points. THE GREEN FLAG MUST BE TAKEN IN THE FEATURE TO RECEIVE POINTS AND PAYOUT.

WE, TOGETHER AS DRIVERS AND OWNERS, HAVE MADE THE SOUTHERN OUTLAW WING 600’S WHAT IT IS TODAY, THE MOST ORGANIZED, AND MOST COMPETITIVE RACING PROGRAM AVAILABLE!