Hal Henard Elementary - Greeneville

[gbwrx]

We'll go measure it and take some pics today.

This is probably covered somewhere else....and this has nothing to do with the school.....but measurement wise, how big does a lot have to be to be within SCCA standards?

[whenry]

The issue is not really the lot size so much as the clearances from the various obstacles that may exist at the lot. A large lot with lots of islands, trees, curbs drainage grates and/or light poles could end up with a small effective area to race within. Safety Stewards and course designers are more familiar with those issues. The next priority is paddock space and accessibility; again there are minimum distances for participants/spectators and the outer boundary of the property.
The only thing that we will always stress is point out to ETR any possible lots and we will check out all leads.

[scottgib]

There are no specific SCCA requirements, just course design requirements. From the 2006 rulebook:

2. COURSE
Solo courses should be open enough to allow good competition
between larger and smaller cars, and should not emphasize high
speed, power-to-weight ratio, extreme maneuverability, memory, or
visual acuity. Divisional, Tour, and National Championship events
shall be conducted on a paved surface.
2.1 COURSE SAFETY AND LAYOUT RULES
Courses must comply with Section 1 of these Rules, which is
mandatory of all SCCA Regions. The following set of course safety
and layout rules is also required for all Solo events. WHEN THIS
SECTION IS FOLLOWED, COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 1.3 IS
AUTOMATIC.
When laying out a course, the size of the vehicles competing should
be taken in consideration and the dimensions specified in the
following rules are only minimums:
A. Courses must be tight enough so that cars run the entire course
in their lower gears. Speeds on straight stretches should not
normally exceed the low 60’s (mph) for the fastest Stock and
Street Prepared category cars. The fastest portions of the course
shall be those most remote from spectators and property. Turns
should not normally allow speeds in excess of 45 mph in unpre
pared cars. It must be remembered that sites themselves vary
and not all sites will safely support the speeds shown in these
guidelines (see Section 1.3). Conformity to these speed guidelines
does not preclude reasonable and prudent consideration of
the conditions encountered.
B. The course as laid out shall be on a paved surface which contains
no dangerous holes, loose gravel, gratings, oily spots, or
other hazardous features. Dips that could get a car airborne
shall not be included.
C. The course boundary shall not normally pass closer than 25 feet
from solid objects.
D. The Solo Safety Steward shall have the authority to disapprove a
course or site for karts only, when there are upright solid objects
(e.g. light poles, fence posts, etc.) on the site within 50 feet of the
actual course. This does not include curbs. While safety systems
for karts provide acceptable driver protection for most
incidents, upright solid objects present potential hazard for
which kart safety systems are not well suited. This rule gives the
Solo Safety Steward the option of excluding karts without having
to declare the site unsafe for everyone. It is up to the judgment
of the Solo Safety Steward whether the course design,
surface, solid objects, and type of karts running present an unsafe
mix. In most cases, the situation can be resolved by a
course design change.
E. Negative cambered turns will be avoided if at all possible.
F. A long straight (over 150 feet) should not terminate in an extremely
sharp turn (e.g., a short radius U-turn).
G. Except on permanent circuits such as go-kart tracks, the inner
and outer limits of turns and corners should be marked by
course markers, displacement of which results in time penalties.
Corner limits must never be marked by curbs, buildings, poles,
trees, soft shoulders or other hazards likely to cause damage to a
car, or likely to cause a car to overturn.
H. Cars on the course simultaneously shall not run in close proximity
to each other.
I. All portions of the course shall be visible to at least one course
marshal who can communicate through signals or by electronic
means with the starting line.
J. Extreme care shall be taken in the location of the start, finish,
staging, and timing areas. The timers and staging area must be
placed well clear of the course in a safe area. The last turn
should be as tight as possible and the finishing straight tightly
defined. It is not recommended that competing cars be required
to come to a complete stop immediately following the finish line.
It is preferred that cars be required to slow to a walking speed
within a controlled area before returning to the grid or paddock
areas. A complete stop should be required only when unusual
site conditions exist. In all cases, a sufficient distance past the
finish line must be available to safely slow or halt any competing
car from the highest possible speed attainable at the finish without
locking brakes or wild maneuvering. It is recommended that
an official be assigned to control the finish area. Particular care
must be exercised in the finish area to keep it free from hazard to
participants and non-participants.
K. Entrance and exit lanes shall enter the course at separate points,
though they may be close together. They will be kept clear for
use by competing cars at all times.
L. Long straights shall not terminate at a point where participants,
non-participants or obstacles are directly in front at a distance
closer than that required to bring a car to a halt even with brake
problems, a stuck throttle, etc.
M. Participants and non-participants must be kept at a safe distance
from the course, particularly at the outside of turns and at the
start and finish lines. Unless protected by substantial barriers,
non-participant areas must be roped off. SSS shall have the
authority to set minimum viewing distances from the course but
such minimum viewing distances may not be less than 75 feet
from the course edge in unprotected areas (areas without adequate
barrier protection such as concrete or tire walls). A Region
may request a waiver of this minimum distance requirement
from its DSSS.
N. Appropriate fire extinguishers, flags and material for cleaning up
fluid spills must be provided by the host Region.
O. Video or still cameras are not permitted at course worker positions
or other locations within the course area. Exceptions may
be granted for media relations purposes by the SSS. Permission
may be given only if the location is acceptable to the SSS and if
the photographer is accompanied by a spotter to warn of approaching
vehicles.
P. At any Solo event where Formula Junior uses the same course
layout as all other classes: For any heat in which FJ is in competition,
NO car in the grid may be in motion when any FJ kart is
moving under its own power. From the start of FJ competition,
when the first driver in the class leaves the grid for the start line,
until the last driver has returned his kart to the FJ grid, this rule
shall apply.
2.2 COURSE DESIGN RULES
A. All corners shall be negotiable without reversing by any car
classified by make/model in these Rules.
B. The course shall be at least 15 feet wide, and single-file slalom
markers shall be at least 45 feet apart. Any series of course
markers which are generally in a line and have the effect of a
slalom are considered to be a slalom. Additional course markers
associated with the slalom markers to form gates, “boxes”, etc.,
do not cancel this limit.
C. A Solo event, other than a gimmick event in which time is not
the only consideration, shall be a test of driving skill, not
memory.
D. The course shall be well marked with pylons or other “markers”.
The base of each marker shall be outlined to permit accurate
replacement if displaced.
E. Cars should leave a gate/turn headed generally in the direction
of the next gate/turn.
2.3 EVENTS AT RACE FACILITIES
Solo events planned for commercial race facilities, or planned for a
private facility that could reasonably be construed to be similar in
concept to a commercial race facility, must have approval from the
current Divisional Solo Safety Steward. If in doubt, contact your
DSSS.

[gbwrx]

Thanks. I like the part about the stop box. Why the heck would you want one if the lot is big enough to not have one.