A typical race weekend consists of two races on Saturday and one or two on Sunday. Track set-up begins at 7:00 a.m. each day. Everyone pitches in to help set-up and there is a flurry of activity during this time… the track is swept; hay bales, cones and barricades are placed; timing equipment, scales, starting ramps, scoring tables and the PA system are set-up; and heat brackets are organized. This is also the time you need to go through registration, set-up your pit, and make final adjustments to your car.
When your car is ready you get in line to be inspected and weighed. After your car is weighed no further adjustments are allowed.
At 9:30 a.m. a drivers meeting is held, the racing rules of the day are explained and safe practices are discussed. Now is the time to ask questions! Racing begins at 10 a.m. after practice runs for first time drivers.
The first race of the day is a double elimination— that is, you have to be beaten in two heat races to be knocked out. The second race of the day is a single elimination — you only have to be beaten in one heat to be knocked out.
Each “heat” race consists of two “phases” or trips down the hill–once in each lane– against the same opponent. The winner of each phase is determined by an automatic timer at the finish line—the first car starts the timer, the second car stops it. The difference is recorded for both phases and the winner of the heat is determined by combining the times from the two phases (timer differential).
“Wheel swaps” and “Lane swaps” are made between phases of each heat. The two cars exchange all four wheels being careful that each wheel goes to the same position on the other car. The two cars then switch lanes from the first phase. This eliminates the wheels and lane from being a factor in who wins and insures that the driver and the car are the determining factors—with the driver being the biggest.
Racing generally continues until around 5:00 p.m. at which time everyone pitches in to break down and pack all of the equipment back into the CFSBDA trailer. Everything— return trailers, starting ramps, cones, timer, PA system, tables, awnings, even a couple club cars get packed into the trailer at the end of the day. Only after all the work is done are the winners announced and trophies awarded.
Remember, drivers get better with seat time and cars get better as you and your pit crews figure out the tweaks and tunings that make them run faster, so the more you race the better you’ll get. |
Drivers Ready? One, two, three, go! |
