South Mountain Raceway’s bracket-racing classes are governed by the NHRA rule book. This handbook is a guide for our competitors, designed to assist racers with regulations and procedures put in place at South Mountain Raceway and may or may not be included in the NHRA rule book. Please take some time to read and understand the policies and rules you will be racing under for 2020. Thank you for racing with us.
South Mountain Raceway Youth Initiative
South Mountain Raceway encourages children and young adults to participate in the sport of drag racing.
South Mountain Raceway offers several programs and events geared to young racers, including the new NHRA Youth Racing program “Jr.Street”, Jr. Dragster competition and the annual High School Challenge.
Section I
RACE PROCEDURES
Racers Gate Red Tank Road / Run/Tech Card
Upon entering Racers Gate, Red Tank Road, you will proceed to the toll-booth area where you will pay for your race class or category and will be issued a Tech/Run Card/ & Vehicle Inspection Form. Once the tech card and waiver are completed and signed the SMR official will issue wristbands to each eligible member of the team. After the waiver and release have been signed you may proceed to pit parking.
Track PA System / FM Station
South Mountain broadcasts the public address system on an FM transmitter. The frequency is 103.7 FM. We recommend that you tune your radio to 103.7 FM as soon as you enter the parking area to stay updated on the day’s events.
Pit Area
Find your pit area location. Once you have found a pit area, complete the Vehicle Inspection Form and proceed to tech inspection area.
Tech Inspection/House Calls
South Mountain Raceway’s Tech Inspectors make house calls to your PIT Area. So please complete your Vehicle Inspection Form as soon as possible after settling in your Pit Area. You can also proceed to the tech inspection area located at the tech building. Please DO NOT come to tech until the tech card is completely filled out. NOTE: Only one participant per tech card. Once a participant has successfully completed the technical/safety inspection and has signed a waiver and release form, they will be issued a session run card, which will be needed to enter the staging lanes and track. Wristbands must be worn in plain sight for the duration of the event.
Replacement Vehicle
If the competitor’s racecar breaks during time trials, a replacement vehicle that fits within the category parameters may be used. Replacement vehicles must first pass a technical inspection and the tech card for the event must be updated to reflect the vehicle change. Once eliminations are in progress, replacement vehicles are not permitted.
Warm-Ups
Anytime a race vehicle is started anywhere in the facility, a qualified and competent driver must be seated behind the steering wheel. No work may be done under a vehicle supported solely by a floor jack. Additional safety devices such as jack stands are mandatory to provide extra protection.
The practice of transbrake testing, converter stalls, line-loc testing, and/or transmission warming is prohibited in all classes, in all areas of the event except in starting-line approach areas beyond staging, or unless vehicle is on jack stands. Non-compliance is grounds for immediate disqualification from the event or such other and/or action as deemed appropriate by NHRA.
Staging Lanes
Listen to the PA System for class calls and lane assignments. Proceed to the staging lanes. Have your run card in a convenient location. For each run, a staging lane official will punch your run card. AT ALL TIMES, PLEASE REMAIN WITH YOUR VEHICLE, DO NOT LEAVE IT UNATTENDED. Once you have your card punched, the official will motion you to proceed to the starting line area. HAVE ALL YOUR SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN PLACE, including your seat or lap belts. Roll your windows up.
Burnouts
You may proceed to the burnout area to do a burnout or if you wish to not do a burnout, please drive around the water area. In an effort to keep the program moving at a steady pace, racers should adhere to the directions issued by Raceway Officials working the area and confine stationary burnouts to approximately five seconds. Burnouts are prohibited across the starting line in every class, except Super Eliminator, which may cross the starting line, but not under power.
Pre-Stage – Dial In Boards
During eliminations, check the dial-in boards before staging. Proceed to the starting line and turn on the pre-stage light (top bulb). If there is an error, it is your responsibility to inform the Official Starter to correct the error. If you pre-stage and stage without notifying an SMR starting line official of the error, you have indicted your approval of the dial-ins. There will be no re-runs due to incorrect dial-ins.
Breakage
It is very important to be aware of your vehicles condition at all times on the racetrack. If you are experiencing any sort of problem which would result in fluid leaking onto the racetrack it is best to pull over to the guardwall as soon as safely possible. We can tow you off the track. It is much easier to clean up a puddle on the side of the track than a strip all the way down the center. So please, do yourself and fellow racers a favor by pulling over if you believe you may be leaking any fluids.
During time trials, If a competitor’s vehicle breaks prior to crossing the dial-in line, that competitor has the remainder of that category’s session to repair and make that run. If a competitor’s vehicle breaks after crossing the dial-in line, it shall be counted as a run and the competitor will not be permitted any more attempts in that session.
During eliminations, if a competitor’s vehicle is paired with another vehicle and one vehicle breaks, both vehicles will be pulled to the side and the broken vehicle has until the end of the round of eliminations to repair it and race the other vehicle. If the vehicle doesn’t get repaired, the other vehicle will be given a competition bye run and the win for the round.
Failure to pull over out of the groove or make an attempt to minimize track cleanup will result in a $100.00 cleanup fee.
While making a run down the track…
If your vehicle has problems during the run, pull to the outside of your lane and stop slowly. SMR is straight eighth – mile (660ft.) After crossing the finish line prepare to slow down in the shutdown area and take the left hand banked turnoff at a safe speed to the return road. The Driver in the left lane has the right of way when exiting the racing surface. Return road speed limit is 5 MPH.
End of Track
When approaching the end of the track, you will be directed by a Raceway Official with help in exiting the racing surface. Remember that you are still on the racing surface until you have turned off to the left and are on the return road.
Safety Equipment
The removal of any safety equipment prior to exiting the racing surface is strictly prohibited. Any driver caught in violation will be issued one warning. The next infraction will result in disqualification from the event and points will be forfeited.
Time Slips
Proceed to the time slip area located off the return road to pick up your time slip. The time slip tells you your reaction time (.000 is a perfect reaction time), 60’, 330’, 660’, elapsed times (ET) and MPH.
Return Road / Pit Area
The speed limit in the pit area is 5 MPH. No burnouts are allowed on the return road or in the pit area. Violators endangering others with reckless and inconsiderate driving habits (whether it is in or on a race car or pit vehicle) will be expelled immediately from the facility with the entire crew.
Trophies / Winnings
Trophies and checks will be awarded at the Photo/Trophy Booth by the Staging Lanes. If you have earned a payout, please be prompt with picking it up as payout will close 30 minutes after the final round of the day. No checks will be mailed after an event is completed. All earnings must be picked up on the day of the event.
Closing Time
Local township ordinance mandates that racing be completed by dusk. At no event will un-muffled engines be permitted to start before 10:30 a.m. On Sundays and Racers are asked to clear the pit area within one hour of the final round at the conclusion of racing for the weekend.
