Changes (italicized):
- 3.2.1, link fixed, doc also posted to http://www.mco.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=10430
- 3.2.21, second last sentence, clarified w/CASC-OR Solo2 director to be 120m
3.2. COURSE DESIGN AND EVENT SAFETY
3.2.1.Minimum Standards & Guidelines
These are the minimum requirements only and the Steward(s) of the event may require more stringent requirements. The following standards of course design are provided to give organizers direction in designing or choosing a course and are also provided to ensure that safety precautions are in place. The protection of life and property shall be the prime factor governing all decisions relating to course design and safety. Competitors are cautioned that participants in AutoSlalom events may not be covered by the participant’s own vehicle insurance and are advised to check with their insurance providers. Organizing an event that complies with these regulations, calls for the exercise of prudent, good judgment and common sense. The protection of participants and property should be the prime factor governing all decisions relating to course design and safety.
Caution and proper attention should be given to the location of property which might be subject to damage in the event of loss of control of a vehicle. Buildings, fences, utility poles, fire hydrants, and the like should all be carefully considered.
Surfaces must be flat and in good condition. Any type of non-stabilized surface can be used for an AutoSlalom or Autocross event. Attainable speeds on the course should be taken into consideration. Courses with dips that get a car airborne are to be avoided.
Pylons should be used to mark unsafe track areas, such as wet or muddy apexes, broken track surface, etc. The installation of chicanes may be used to increase safety margins at certain points in the course. A series of time penalties should be elaborated for knocking over these marking cones or for failure to follow the chicanes.
Consideration should be given to competitors' safety when choosing a course. Where possible, location with curbs, banks, ditches, trees, poles, crash walls and rails, and any other obstruction likely to seriously damage or upset the car should be avoided.
Events that require the competitor to leave the car during a timed run or require the competitor to start the event from outside the car are not permitted. The running of more than one car at a time is permitted, providing the cars are separated on the course by adequate time and distance to eliminate the possibility of a passing situation or of two or more cars racing with each other.
(It is highly recommended that course designers refer to the following document on designing an AutoSlalom course: Solo2 Course Design by Roger Johnson: http://www.houscca.com/solo/courses/coursedesign.zip)
3.2.2.Demonstration
The course, including the start and finish, shall be clearly defined and, if need be, it may be amply demonstrated (by a non-scoring person) so that all competitors fully understand the direction of travel through the course from start to finish. Any changes made to the course must be brought to the attention of the competitors, at a driver’s meeting.
3.2.3.Surface Hazards
In laying out a course, care should be taken to avoid potholes, loose gravel, grates, curbs, oily spots or other dangerous features.
3.2.4.Buildings and Structures
At no time should a course running directly towards any buildings or spectator areas come within thirty (30) meters of the buildings or spectator areas while running directly towards them.
3.2.5.Immovable Objects
The outside edge of a course shall not normally pass closer than eight (8) meters from any permanent object such as a lamp post, planter, curb, or tree. If the course does pass within the above distance, all effort should be taken to slow the oncoming vehicles sufficiently to safely navigate through the hazard without incident.
3.2.6.Off-Camber Turns
Negative camber turns should be avoided if at all possible.
3.2.7.Minimum Dimensions
Minimum gate width should be no less than four point six (4.6) meters wide as measured between the pylon bases. Minimum distance between cones in a linear slalom should be fourteen (14) meters as measured between the pylon bases. Minimum turn radius should be no less than ten (10) meters and the radius of one turn should not overlap the next turn.
3.2.8.Course Markers
All pylons should be of standard road type, distinctly colored and a minimum of 25cm (10 in.) in height. Pylons should be heavy enough to prevent movements other than those caused by contact with a competing vehicle. Pylon locations should be clearly marked around the entire base of the pylon to assure accurate replacement and assessment of penalties.
3.2.9.Spectator Safety
Spectator safety is a concern. Uninformed and misguided spectators are to be expected and all marshals should be informed on how to deal with these potential spectators to avoid their intrusion onto the course. It is important that spectators be kept a safe distance from the course, and out of areas at the outside of turns and at the start/finish area. Unless protected by substantial barriers, spectator areas are to be roped off.
3.2.10. Passengers
Non minor passengers may be carried anytime provided they have read & signed the appropriate waivers. Minors (14 years of age & under) can ride as a passenger but are subject to the following requirements;
i. May not ride in competition, only in lapping or fun runs.
ii. The helmet and seatbelt must both fit the minor correctly
iii. The seatbelt must comply with the Solo II regulations (see Section 5.3)
iv. Provided they have the consent of the organizer and they and their Parent/Guardian have signed the Underage Waiver (a different waiver than for adults). Minors must be at least 9 years old to ride and must comply to the manufacturer’s suggested guidelines as far as the minimum weight/height for cars equipped with air bags.
Passengers must wear the same, or better, safety equipment as required for the driver and must keep their hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times.
3.2.11. Placement of Timers
Extreme Care should be taken in the location of the start/finish area. The timers should be placed well clear of the course in a safe area. The finish area shall be clearly marked ending in a box configuration.There should be an adequate shut down area.
3.2.12. Worker Stations
Adequate marshaling should be provided to ensure adequate and consistent policing of course infractions. Marshaling stations should be placed in appropriately safe sections of the course while allowing workers an unobstructed view of the pylons in their section as well as allowing for fast and easy access to replace pylons. The organizer must provide each marshal station and the start/finish area with red and yellow flags. The marshals must be instructed in their proper use.
3.2.13. Visibility of Workers
Worker stations should be visible from the main timing and scoring area. Failing this, worker stations should be equipped with communications devices that allow the reporting of course hazards and infractions.
3.2.14. Noise Limit
The CASC-OR Autoslalom noise limit, refer to Section 5.6 Noise Limits. The noise limit test shall be administered as per Section 5.7 Noise Measurement
3.2.15. Stop Box Configurations
Two styles of stop box configurations are acceptable.
a. A Full Stop Design: Constructed in the form of a box such that the competitor must come to a full stop before leaving the stop box. This finish must be constructed so that at least one marker must be removed to allow a vehicle to exit in a forward direction. The finish area must also be pointed away from all spectator, parking, and staging areas. See section 3.2.16 for Full Stop Design Specifications.
b. Slow Rolling Design: Constructed in the form of a box with an exit way that forms a slow chicane to require that competitors must slow to a maximum of 15 KPH before leaving the box area. The finish area must also be pointed away from all spectator, parking, and staging areas. See section 3.2.17 for Slow Rolling Design Specifications.
3.2.16. Stop Box Specifications: Full Stop Design
The end of the course must be made into a finish box consisting of at least nine (9) cones arranged in the following shape. Note: The minimum distance from the stop line to beginning of stop box is fifteen meters while the stop box must be a minimum of 6m by 4.6 m. The entry speed into the finish area shall not require vehicles to undergo "locking up" of the brakes in order to come to a complete stop.
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The outer perimeter of the stop box is a line connecting the outside edges of the end and side pylons.
3.2.17 Complete Stop Requirement (Applicable to the Full Stop Design stop box only) Failure to come to a complete stop within the Full Stop Design stop box, displacing or knocking down the end pylon in the stop box shall be recorded as a DNF. If a vehicle comes to a stop in the stop box and is touching or resting against any of the pylons marking the stop box's outline, then a two-second penalty will apply for each pylon so affected except the designated end-cone (which will be scored as a DNF). The vehicle is allowed to drive forward to attempt to correct this situation provided that in doing so it does not contact the end pylon of the stop box.
3.3.18 Stop Box Specification: Slow Rolling Design The end of the course must be made into a finish box consisting of at least eleven (11) cones arranged in the following shape. Note: The minimum distance from the stop line to beginning of stop box is fifteen meters while the stop box must be a minimum of 6m by 4.6 m. reducing to 3.5 m. at the exit point. The entry speed into the finish area shall not require vehicles to undergo "locking up" of the brakes in order to come to slow down sufficiently to negotiate the box without hitting a cone.
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3.2.19 Slow Rolling Design Exit Requirement
It is the competitor’s responsibility to operate their vehicles in a safe fashion at all times. If a competitor exits a Slow Rolling Design Stop Box in an unsafe manner at a speed in excess of 15 kph their run will be recorded as a DNF. If the competitor does this no 2 or more occasions in an event they will be excluded from the event at the discretion of the Chief Steward.
3.2.20 Proper Exit from the Course
If a competitor fails to exit directly from the course via the end of the finish box after completion of the run, his run shall be recorded as a DNF.
3.2.21 Maximum Speed Considerations
The course shall be designed such that maximum speeds on any straight section shall not normally exceed 100 km/h for the fastest stock, super stock or street prepared category cars. The fastest portion of the course shall be remote from spectators and property. There should be no full power section longer than one hundred and twenty (120) meters. In all cases it is critical that all possible safety considerations be considered in the design.
3.2.22 Other Course Design Considerations
Courses should be open enough to allow good competition between large and small cars but should avoid sustained high speed, extremes in maneuverability and not be memory tests.
The course should be designed so that noise, particularly tire noise, is kept to a minimum.
A double, mirror image, or similar type slaloms shall at no time permit the cars on the two separate courses to run within twenty (20) metres of each other.
A paddock area will be provided for the use of competing vehicles and their service vehicles and a speed limit of 15km/h will be enforced.
3.2.23 Established Racing Facilities
Where the venue is suitable, an event may be held on a race track or kart track provided the layout used ensures risks to a competitor and their vehicle do not exceed the expectations (and abilities) of a potential Autoslalom competitor. Pylons (penalties) shall be used to direct competitors away from high curbs, soft ground ,rough terrain Or other dangerous obstacles.
3.2.24 Emergencies
The Organizer must have a prearranged plan to cope with major emergencies. This means, as a minimum, having quick access to an unlocked cellular phone with a list of local emergency phone numbers as well as the addresses of the nearest emergency facilities. Note: 911 dialing is not available in all areas; the organizer shall be responsible to post area emergency numbers for quick access by organizing staff and safety officials.
3.2.25 Mirror Image or Double Course Design Regulations:
Since safety is of the utmost concern while organizing a Solo event, extra care must be taken while designing 2 mirror courses. It is important that the 2 courses maintain a level of safety for both the course marshals and the drivers.
a. The 2 start boxes of the 2 courses must be at least 10M apart from each other.
b. Mirror image, double course or similar course designs shall diverge before the vehicles reach approximately 80km/h or before 60m has occurred, whichever comes first, for the fastest competing vehicles.
c. Each course shall remain on the appropriate side of the centerline of the dividing line (be it a real divider, or an imaginary one), and vehicles shall never be allowed to cross this virtual centerline.
d. Courses may not run towards each other at any distance less than 30m. The purpose is to make sure that each course approaches the other at a safe distance and angle.
3.2.22 Car Limits
A competitor may not register in more than one car or class for each event. A competitor experiencing a mechanical failure, rendering their vehicle inoperable, may petition the Steward(s) to compete in an alternate vehicle that can legally be run in the same car class as their primary vehicle.
3.2.23 Competitor Limits
There shall be not more than three drivers per car in any event. Any competitor who does not fully and completely fill out the entry form may not be scored and may not receive a copy of the results, if applicable.
3.2.24 Conduct of Crew and Guests
Each entrant or driver shall be responsible for the conduct of their crew and guests. Competitor help is essential for the success of events. Organizers may require competitors to marshal and may exclude one or more results or deny runs of those who do not. A red flag used means STOP as soon as possible and await instructions. It must be obeyed without question. Burnouts are NOT permitted.
3.2.25 Completion of Run
If a competitor, after leaving the start position and before completely stopping in the stop box, leaves the course (with the exception of an airport loop), steps out of their vehicle, removes their seatbelt or helmet, or fails to complete the entire run, his/her run shall be recorded as DNF.
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