Race Format

2020 PQMRA Race Format

These rules and procedures, supplemented by Quarter Midgets of America tech specifications, rules, and regulations, govern activities at all Portland Quarter Midget Racing Association events.

General Information:

No race cars shall use the track for practice or racing before 9:00.
All PQMRA members are expected to respect and follow the Alpenrose Dairy facility rules and policy, this includes prohibited use of alcohol and or drugs.
All official PQMRA business and communication with Alpenrose Dairy will be handled by the President or a designee by the President.

Code of Conduct:

Per the PQMRA Bylaws, code of conduct will be enforced at all events. During racing events while race conditions exist, the use of intoxicants by car owners, mechanics, pit attendants or track officials is strictly prohibited. Any member in the area of a scheduled event violating this rule will be escorted from the event and/or suspended for a period as noted in the Code of Commitment policy.
Each participant, handler, race car owner, and sponsor(s) will fulfill all requirements and applicable rules of racing, while conducting oneself in a sportsman like manner. All participants are expected to sign the Code of Commitment policy and adhere to all rules.
Chewing, spitting, smoking and/or vaping of any substance is prohibited on the track side of the building comprised of the Snack Shack, Restrooms, Registration and Showers. Anyone violating this rule will be asked to move and/or escorted from the property.

General Racing Rules:

Pit Fees:
$30 for the first driver,
$15 for each additional car
$5 late entry fee for each car.
Any handler wishing to have their driver participate in an upper competitive class must first receive approval from the Novice Committee and Regional Director.
You cannot approach any Racing Officials other than the Race Director (e.g., tower, flagger, judges, scorers, etc). The penalty can be a suspension for the race day. If any additional disciplinary action is necessary, the Code of Conduct process can be followed.
All race cars shall display the Alpenrose Dairy sticker.
Two cars constitute a race. Both cars must take the initial green of a heat race and main event to be considered for awards in that race.
Drivers must participate in 67% of the scheduled and run races in a particular class for year-end participation awards.
All rules and procedures not set forth herein will follow the current QMA rule book or procedure manual.
Any non-QMA member wishing to participate in a race event must have proof of age (birth certificate) and proof of training or 1 year proven driving experience. Subject to Race Director's approval.

Safety:

All cars will be safety checked by the Safety Director or designee prior to entering the race track at every race.
The Safety Director or designee may inspect the car at the scales to check all necessary items.
Safety equipment and clothing to be governed by sanctioning body or local ordinances, whichever is most stringent.
Drivers are to obey the flagger at all times. Drivers failing to answer the flags on the second attempt will be disqualified from that session and asked to leave the track immediately.
All corner workers will be in their respective corners, coinciding with the numbers on the race cars prior to the start of the race. For Novice races it is recommended that two corner workers are in each corner. If corner workers are not present it is the discretion of the Race Director to red flag the race until corner workers are present.

Technical Procedures:

The Tech Director will draw the number of classes he/she chooses at the end of the A-Mains in the presence of handlers at impound.
Top four finishers in each A main will automatically be impounded to a specified area for Technical proceedings. The Tech Director has the right to tech any or all cars in any class at his/her discretion.
The Tech Director will make available a weight to calibrate the scales.

Fuel and Sealing:

89 Octane unleaded gasoline is required.

The required fueling station is the 76, located at 3975 Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy.

Additives are reason for disqualification.

The Tech Director will supply a unique paint marker for sealing at each race.

The Tech Director will be testing fuel, oil, and tires as necessary.

Spec Tire:

Spec tires will run at all events per the current national rules.

Rookie Information:

The Rookie committee must authorize all Novice move ups with a unanimous vote. Any request denied by the Novice committee must be accompanied by written memorandum stating reasons of denial. All new Novice racers are required to start in the back of the pack for the entirety of their first event.
All Rookie drivers training programs will be governed by sanctioning body guidelines.
Rookie Class is NOT racing for points or championships. Their attendance is logged for year-end participation awards.
Rookie Heats: 15 laps and a time limit of 15 min max of 8 cars
Rookie Mains: C main and below = 15 laps B main = 20 laps A main= 25 laps with an 8 car maximum in each.

Scoring:

Moscore will be the primary source for scorekeeping. Three scorekeepers will also be in the tower and will be back-up to the computer.

Qualifying:

All club races that require qualification will be ran using the our sanctioning body qualifying procedures.
In the event qualifying is not completed due to time requirements or other obstacles, the racing positions will be determined by the pill draw.
Drivers arriving late and miss qualifying will start at the back of the pack and behind any “No Time” qualifiers. Late arrivals positions will be determined by order of sign in.
Track records will be open at each qualifying event. Cars must minimally meet the following guidelines:
1. Car and engine meet all specifications in accordance with QMA rules.
2. The car must utilize approved track fuel
3. The race car is within weight requirements and engine is sealed immediately upon exiting the track after qualifying.
4. The race car must remain in impound while these procedures are underway
If the transponder is not on a car or is not reading, the car will be pulled off the track and will wait until the next car in the hot chute has completed their qualifying and then will be sent out for their qualifying laps.

2020 Race Weekend Format:

Saturday Race Format:

7:30 - 8:30am to complete Safety, Sign-in, and Registration. Pit meeting at 8:45am. Rookie practice starts at 9:00am with racing to follow no later than 9:30am.

Sunday Race Format:

7:30 - 8:30am to complete Registration. Pit meeting at 8:45am. Rookie practice starts at 9:00am with racing to follow no later than 10:30am.

Practice on the race days will be reserved at the discretion of the Race Director and will be determined based upon attendance.

There will be a race point series named “Alpenrose Chase for the Championship” and is open to all current PQMRA full members. (See current schedule approved by PQMRA Membership)

Each driver will receive points for their respective finish in their heat and main event, as well as five participation points. Each driver will receive points for their respective qualifying order to match the heat format (i.e., fast time awarded 20 points). If eight or more races are run over the current season series then two of the lowest point races for each individual driver will be thrown out. If seven or fewer races are run over the current season then the lowest point race for each individual driver will be thrown out. In the event of a tie, at the end of the series both drivers will be awarded that finish place.

Alpenrose Chase for the Championship (point series):

QUALIFYING: (1 point spread per race)

                1st place = 20
2nd place = 19
3rd place = 18
ETC

HEAT RACES: (1 point spread per race)

                1st place = 20
2nd place = 19
3rd place = 18
ETC

A MAINS: (two point spread per race)

                1st place = 150
2nd place = 148
3rd place = 146
ETC

B MAINS: (two point spread per race)

                5th place = 130,
6th place = 128
7th place = 126
(Novice & Jr Classes Start at 134)

Participation Points:

YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE POINTS IN THE HIGHEST MAIN FOR WHICH YOU QUALIFY.

If two or more cars are disabled together and are unable to continue, the points will be added together and divided between them equally EXCEPT if one of the cars is charged with a charged yellow, in which case the cars will be scored as if the car receiving the call exited the race before the other disabled car.

Flagrant black flags will receive no points for that race. Technical DQ’s at tear down will receive no points for the entire event. All other DQ’s will receive no points for that respective race.

Drivers who score DNF (did not finish) as the result of a crash, third charged yellow, or any other instance identified as DNF under QMA rules in a race, will receive points according to when they dropped out in relation to other drivers. Drivers who attempted to warm up and/or race and received a DNS (did not start) will receive last place points.

Move up Points:

Any move from one class (e.g., Sr. Honda to Lt. 160), the driver will enter the new class with zero points.
Any move from one division within the same class (e.g., Jr. Honda to Sr. Honda, LT. 160 to Hvy. 160), the driver will enter the new division with points previously earned or one point below the lowest point total in the new division with the equal number of races run, which ever is less. Only one move per series allowed.
- Example: A Jr Honda driver moves to Sr Honda mid-year. The lowest points earned by a current Sr Honda driver participating in the points series = 230; the driver moving into the class would receive a total points value of 229, assuming the same number of races were completed.
Novices moving up will start with 1 point less than the last place driver in the new class with the equal number of races in the point series.

HEAT FORMAT: Two Heat Races and One Main Event

Order of the races will follow the sanctioning bodies format unless otherwise determined by the Race Director. This will be presented at the Pit Meeting.

Heat Races begin immediately following pit meeting. Line ups are determined by the pill draw. First heat will be straight up (lowest pill draw number to the front). Second heat will be a full invert from the first heat (lowest pill draw number to the back). In the event there needs to be two heats for one class, the two lowest pill draw numbers will fill the pole position, followed by the next two lowest pill draw numbers in the number two position. *Late arrivals will start in the back of both heats*

All handlers must seal immediately after the first heat race and have their tires branded. Handlers will be required to run the branded tires for the remaining heat and main event(s). In the event you experience a tire defect (e.g., cut tire) you can acquire a branded tire from the Tech Director. If a tire wheel is damaged during a racing event, it will be at the discretion of the Race Director or Tech Director to determine if another used tire (non branded or branded) can be used. The handler must get approval first before using another tire.

In the event of a red flag during the warm up period the clock will be stopped, however, in the event of a yellow flag the clock will not be stopped. There will be an announcement that time is up. At that time, all cars must be past the track entry line. In the event a car or cars are not on the racing surface they will be placed at the back of the pack.

There will be a maximum of ten cars in the junior classes with 15 laps and a time limit of 15 minutes. There will be a maximum of ten cars in the senior classes with 20 laps and a time limit of 20 minutes.

Prior to the main events, there will be a 30 minute break to allow handlers, drivers, and other volunteers to eat lunch. This break may be shortened based upon weather and will be determined by the President and Race Director.

Main Events:

Dice roll in the infield after the heats determines invert for the mains (max 4 car invert for novices). If there is a tie in the total points, the driver with the lowest pill draw will received the position. There will be a two (2) minute warm up. There will be a maximum of 11 cars in junior classes with 30 laps. There will be a maximum of 11 cars in the senior classes with 40 laps. Time limit for all main events is 20 minutes.

Timed Out Race:

When time is up per the tower, the race will finish on the next incident flag or at the checkered flag. If the incident occurs that brings out the yellow or red flag, the field will be lined up in the re-start order and that will be the finish of the race signified by the waving of the yellow and checkered flags together. If a race times out under yellow or red flag, cars will be given one additional restart.

Rain Out of Event:

As per the PQMRA Bylaws, The President is responsible, along with the Race Director to cancel or postpone any race due to weather, tragic events, natural disasters, and the like.

In the event of rain, if the first main event has been completed, the race will be considered final. If the first main event has not begun, the race will be moved to the next rain date and all results will be voided and no points provided. The format will be the same as the race rained out.

Qualifying Format: Qualify, one heat and one main event

Qualifying immediately following pit meeting and is determined by the pill draw.

Your car must be sealed, and tires branded directly after qualifying. Handlers will be required to run the branded tires for the remaining heat and main event(s). In the event you experience a tire defect (e.g., cut tire) you can acquire a branded tire from the Tech Director. If a tire wheel is damaged during a racing event, it will be at the discretion of the Race Director or Tech Director to determine if another used tire (non branded or branded) can be used. The handler must get approval first before using another tire.

In the event you forget to put the transponder on your car or the wrong transponder is put on your car, you will NOT restart your qualifying session. You will only be allowed to run the amount of laps remaining in your session. If the transponder is from PQMRA and is not working properly, you will be given a new transponder and the full amount of laps.

Refer to sanctioning bodies rulebook for any other items regarding qualifying format.

Heat Race:

Invert top 6 qualifiers for junior classes and top 6 qualifiers for senior classes and top 4 qualifiers for novice classes. In the event there are two heats for one class, the top 2 qualifiers will be slotted into the inverted position respectively, followed by the next two qualifiers.

Two (2) minute warm-up. In the event of a red flag during the warm up period the clock will be stopped, however, in the event of a yellow flag the clock will not be stopped. There will be an announcement that time is up. At that time, all cars must be past the track entry line. In the event a car or cars are not on the racing surface they will be placed at the back of the pack.

There will be a maximum of eight cars in novice classes with 15 laps and a time limit of 15 minutes. There will be a maximum of ten cars in junior classes with 15 laps and a time limit of 15 minutes. There will be a maximum of ten cars in the senior classes with 20 laps and a time limit of 20 minutes.

Main Events:

Dice roll in the infield after the heats determines invert for the mains (max 4 car invert for novices). There will be a two (2) minute warm up. There will be a maximum of eight cars in the novice classes with laps as follows: C main and below – 15 laps, B Main – 20 laps, A Main – 25 laps. There will be a maximum of 11 cars in junior classes with 30 laps. There will be a maximum of 11 cars in the senior classes with 40 laps. Time limit for all main events is 20 minutes.

These racing rules may be amended, revised, or repealed in the following manner:
Any modification must be discussed during a general (club) meeting. A majority vote by those in attendance must be achieved to have the amendment, revision, or repeal accepted, otherwise the amendment, revision, or repeal will be voided.