BCSSMA

Organizing High School Drag Racing in B.C

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

(Amended 2006 @ AGM)

 

 

The High School class is intended as an “entry” level to NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) sanctioned competition, and thus the rules have been kept simple. The BCSSMA (British Columbia Secondary School Association) wants to encourage all students to participate, regardless of car type or finances, on an equal footing. The BCSSMA is a group of B.C. Teachers dedicated towards promoting safety and career awareness through student involvement in motorsport competition. All NHRA Rules apply (See the NHRA rulebook - available from most automotive stores or NHRA Tracks). The following rules are in addition to the NHRA rules.

 

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS:

 

·        Since this is a High School related activity, all Sponsor Teachers and students must abide by their School District’s rules and requirements for field trips.

·        Schools must have School Board District Approval (written) and an original submitted to the BCSSMA president.

·        Schools must be BCSSMA members in good standing to participate.

 

STUDENT RACE DRIVERS MUST COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING:

 

1.      Hold and produce upon request a valid British Columbia Drivers license with “Novice” classification or valid license for the state or province in which they reside.

2.      Produce upon request, a signed BCSSMA driver card for the current race season (Received from Sponsor Teacher with appropriate permission forms completed).

3.      Be 19 years of age or younger at the start of the racing season (March 1st)

4.      Be a registered student in a recognized secondary school program.

5.      Must wear an approved NHRA helmet and seatbelt.

6.      Must wear full-length pants, shoes, socks and a T-shirt (No tank tops). Nylon or Nylon-type clothing and open-toe shoes prohibited.

7.      Vehicles are limited to a maximum of three (3) student drivers during time-trials or time only runs.

8.      During eliminations, only ONE driver is allowed per vehicle (No Driver changes).

9.      The driver’s number must be displayed on the front and side windows of the vehicle.

10.    Students from non-member schools can participate with a member school.  However, the responsibility of the student remains with the Home school.  The Home school must have approval of its school board.  Both the student and the accepting sponsor teacher must complete all appropriate transfer forms before the student may participate.

 

JR. DRAGSTER’S:

 

1.        Upon arrival at the racetrack (every race day) all vehicles being raced must pass the NHRA technical inspection.

 

PASSENGERS  (time trials only):

 

1.        Must be 16 years or older.

2.        Must wear an approved NHRA helmet and seat belt.

3.        Must wear full-length pants, shoes, socks and a T-shirt (No tank tops). Nylon or Nylon-type clothing and open-toe shoes prohibited.

4.        Must complete the same waiver form and student entry form that drivers complete.

5.        Only one passenger per vehicle.

6.        Are NOT allowed in cars going quicker than 14.00 seconds in the ¼ mile.

7.        Are NOT allowed during eliminations.

 

RACE CARS:

1.   Upon arrival at the racetrack (every race day) all vehicles being raced must pass the NHRA technical inspection.

1.        At this time for Mission Raceway, OEM cars 1995 or older must have all antifreeze drained from their cooling system (including overflow tanks).

2.        Must NOT be equipped with any of the following:

a.        nitrous oxide injection systems

b.        transmission brakes (Transbrakes)

c.        air or automated shifters

d.        electronic starting aids (eg. delay or stutter boxes)

e.        Throttle Stops

f.          2 and/or 3 Step Ignitions

g.        Drive wheel line lock

3.        Motorcycles are not eligible for High School Class.

4.        Line (brake) locks, can be used for burnout purposes

5.        Driver number must be displayed clearly on the front and side windows of the vehicle (min. 6” high).

 

SPONSOR TEACHERS (or representative) designate:

 

1.        Must be present at the track in order for their students to participate.

2.        Sponsor teachers, or representative must use the designated school number when driving a vehicle.  This number must be displayed on the vehicle whenever the sponsor is driving.  This number allows the track officials the opportunity to distinguish between students and sponsors and permits TESTING of vehicles.

3.        Are responsible for their student’s behavior at all times.

 

PAST STUDENTS, PARENTS, SPONSORS:

 

1.        Past students, parents and sponsors may be eligible to make a pass down the track provided that:

a.        They have the approval of the schools sponsor teacher and the registered owner of the vehicle.

b.        They obtain a driver’s card from the sponsor teacher.

c.        Sign an Additional Tech card for the vehicle being driven.

d.        Display the schools designated number on the vehicle.

e.        They do not participate during the eliminations.

 

THE 12 SECOND RULE

 

Student’s participating at a BCSSMA sanctioned event cannot exceed a 12.00 seconds elapsed time in the ¼ mile.  This rule has been added to put a limit on the speed and elapsed time for a High School student’s race.

 

SPONSORS AND THE 12 SECOND RULE

 

Sponsors testing vehicles may break the 12 second rule providing:

 

  1. The Vehicle has been Teched for 11sec. or quicker (Any vehicle breaking the 12 second rule and not Teched for 11sec. or quicker will be subject to NHRA Rules).
  2. The Sponsor’s number is clearly displayed on vehicle (This is the School # without any prefixes).

  

BREAKING THE 12 SECOND RULE

 

An escalating fine structure will be enforced per race season (calendar year) for violations of the 12 second rule.  Fines for the vehicle in violation must be paid before participating at the next at the next BCSSMA event.  Monies are deposited into the BCSSMA Endowment Scholarship Fund.  Automatic loss, if the 12-second rule is broken during eliminations.

 

First Offence:

·        $50 fine

·        Automatic loss, if in Eliminations.

·        BEFORE a student can race the car in violation, the SPONSOR Teacher must make a minimum of one pass in the car and demonstrate to an executive member that the car will not exceed 12.00 seconds. To verify this, the sponsor teacher must present the time slip indicating a change has been made.

 

Second Offence:

·        $50 fine

·        Automatic loss, if in Eliminations.

·        BEFORE a student can race the car in violation, the SPONSOR Teacher must make a minimum of one pass in the car and demonstrate to an executive member that the car will not exceed 12.00 seconds. To verify this, the sponsor teacher must present the time slip indicating a change has been made.

 

Third Offence:

·        $100 fine

·        Automatic loss, if in Eliminations.

·        BEFORE a student can race the car in violation, the SPONSOR Teacher must make a minimum of one pass in the car and demonstrate to an executive member that the car will not exceed 12.00 seconds. To verify this, the sponsor teacher must present the time slip indicating a change has been made.

 

Fourth Offence:

·        $200 fine

·        Automatic loss, if in Eliminations.

·        The vehicle is eliminated for the remainder of the day and on suspension pending a committee review.

 

COMMITTEE REVIEW:

·        The Committee will comprise of a minimum of two designated BCSSMA Executive members.

·        It is the intention of the BCSSMA to prevent continuous infractions of the 12.00 second rule, as the vehicle was to be altered by the Sponsor Teacher to ensure that the vehicle can run consistently slower than 12.00 seconds (alterations are subject to certification by an NHRA Tech. Inspector). Proof of alterations will be required and details of each infraction explained by the Sponsor Teacher.

·        Upon committee review, either a permanent suspension will be imposed or a testing procedure to bring the vehicle in to alignment of the BCSSMA 12 second rule. (As an example: a minimum of 3 consecutive passes by the Sponsor Teacher with time slips presented to committee or the committee observing each run. Subsequently a probationary period established and an imposed min. dial-in of 12.5 sec. for the remainder of the probation.)

·       A Permanent suspension verdict can be appealed by the Sponsor Teacher.

 

APPEAL PROCEDURE:

·        Appeals for any infractions must be submitted in writing by the Sponsor Teacher and forwarded to the President of the BCSSMA.

·        The appeal must then be presented in person by the Sponsor Teacher to the Appeal Committee.

·        The Appeal Committee will comprise of:

·        Two designated BCSSMA Executive members.

·        One Track Representative (Optional).

·        One NHRA Tech. Inspector.

 

It is the BCSSMA’s intention that the BCSSMA rules will help to control vehicle construction costs while at the same time insuring that all of the students are competing with an equal opportunity. Any student wanting to use a vehicle equipped with prohibited equipment, must render it inoperative to the satisfaction of the NHRA Technical Inspectors present if they desire to compete in the High School class. Or they may, with the encouragement of the BCSSMA, compete in the appropriate NHRA adult class. The rules for the High School class in B.C. (NHRA tracks) may differ from other NHRA sanctioned tracks in Canada and the USA.

 

QUESTIONS AND/OR CONCERNS may be addressed to any BCSSMA executive member or you can contact the BCSSMA Tech Dept. at: tech@highschooldragracing.org