Beginners Guide

Everybody has to start somewhere, and the best place to start is at a club meeting. The following guide should help you to understand and enjoy 1/8th Rallycross racing. Remote World Model Car Club organises 18 club meetings each year. The dates for which can be viewed on the Calendar Page. We welcome drivers of all abilities from complete novices through to experienced racers. If you intend to compete at one of the race meetings, you should arrive at the track by 9.00am at the latest. Click here to view the Track Location Map. We recommend that you bring along a friend, as you will require a mechanic at the start of the races and during the finals.

BOOKING IN

When you arrive you will have to book in at race control, which is the green container on the far side of the track. Booking in takes place shortly after 9.00am and the first race starts at 10.00am. When you book in, you will need to tell us your name and all the frequencies that you have available. Please have at least 3 approved frequencies with you. The entry fee is Ł8 for non-members and Ł5 for members. If you wish to become a member, you can either print off a Membership Application Form, fill it in and send it to the address on the form, or, you can collect a form from race control and complete it trackside.

PRACTICE

Practice is open from 8.45am until just before 10.00am. If you want to practice, you must first take the peg that has your frequency number (or colour) on it. The pegs are located on a board behind the driver's rostrum. This peg entitles you to switch your radio on and use your car for 5 - 10 minutes. When you have finished, please return the peg to the board, as other drivers may be waiting to use the same peg. You must not switch your transmitter on during practice unless you have the correct peg. If the peg is not on the board, either ask the drivers on the rostrum, or come to race control and we will put out a call on the P.A system.

DRIVERS BRIEFING

Before the racing begins, a driver's briefing will take place. You should attend this, and listen to the instructions that are given. This will explain the start procedure, marshalling duties, etc and any special procedures for the day. If you have any questions, please ask.

The heat listing will be displayed on the results board after the drivers briefing. You should check this as it has 4 important pieces of information on it.

Your heat number.
Your car number.
Your frequency.
Your transponder number.

If you booked in and had more than 1 frequency (which of course you did!!), you may have to change frequency. The preferred choice that you give us, may not always the one that you will end up racing on. If you give a choice of frequencies at booking in, please make sure that you have them with you and that you can change to them if necessary.

The car numbers are available from race control, as are the handout transponders, which will automatically count your laps. If you do not have a Personal Transponder, you will need to borrow one of the clubs Handout Transponders which can be collected prior to your race and must be returned immediately after your race. They should be securely fixed to the car and most cars now have a special transponder mount fitted to the radio tray, if not it should be securely fitted to the inside of the bodyshell. You will need to drill an 8mm hole and have a spare bodyclip. The windscreen or side pod away from the engine are favourite. Never allow the transponder to come into contact with the hot engine / exhaust, or any rotating gears / shafts, as they will be damaged. Each transponder costs over Ł60 to replace.

QUALIFYING ROUNDS

An announcement will be made over the PA system, calling drivers for the next heat. If this is you, you should make your way to the rostrum, with your car and mechanic At this point your radio handset should be turned off (including 2.4Ghz), and your mechanic should wait with the car along the back table on the rostrum, please do not enter 'pitlane' until the previous heat has finished and the other mechanics have left. You may have you engine running to help warm it up.

Each qualifying heat will be run using a "Rolling Start". Once the previous heat has finished and the drivers are off the rostrum you may turn on your radio. An announcement will be made that the track is open, at this point your car may exit the pitlane and you are now on the track. There will be a 2 minute countdown prior to the start of each heat, with announcements at 2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds and 10 seconds. During this time you should be getting your car's engine warm and get used to the track. You are not racing at this stage. During the countdown, your mechanic should call you back into the pits to re-fuel your car before the heat starts. The suggested time for this is just after the '1 minute' announcement, however the actual timing is up to you. A visble countdown can be viewed by the mechanics on the pitlane monitor. You must drive your car up onto the raised pit lane. Never drive the wrong way around the track or into pit lane from the wrong direction. If you have just started a new lap, when called in, continue the lap and enter pit lane.

When the computer starts the race, an audible sound will be heard, and the next time that your car crosses the start finish line, your individual 5 minute heat will start. If you are approaching the start/finish line and the 10 second announcement is made, you must continue at race speed, around the track and start another warm-up lap. DO NOT STOP your car on the track to avoid crossing the line. We will give a 1 lap penalty to any driver who stops prior to the line to make the race start.
Don't forget:- Qualifying is against the clock not other drivers. If during the race, a faster car comes up behind you, do not block or crash into it, instead you should pull to one side and allow the faster car through. Try and follow the faster car, you will learn the correct lines and corner speeds. Remember "slow in fast out", by this we mean enter a corner slowly, choosing the correct line, will allow you to exit the corner faster and achieve faster lap times. If you are going faster than another car wait for them to pull over (or make a mistake), and pass them cleanly. Accidents will happen, but do not deliberately crash into other cars.

At the end of the race, "race over" will be called and you should drive into the pit lane, turn off your car and transmitter, return the transponder and quickly go to your marshal point. You only have to marshal the race following your own, and you should stand at the numbered post that corresponds to your car number. Whilst marshalling you should remain alert at all times and be as quick as possible getting to cars that need assistance. Place the car back on the track at the point of crash/exit, on its wheels, facing in the right direction and not directly in the path of incoming traffic. However, never put yourself at risk, such that a car can hit you. Remember these cars are travelling at high speeds, and if they do hit you, they can break bones.

The heat results are put on the back of the rostrum after the race. When you have finished marshalling, you can check the results, clean your car, alter the set-up etc. Don't be afraid to chat to other drivers. They are all very friendly. Look around the pits and see if anybody else is driving the same car as you. A 5-minute chat could save you a lot of frustration, as well as time and money.

FINALS

At the end of all the qualifying rounds, all the drivers will be called to race control. This is so you can tell us if you are staying to race in a final. Some drivers cannot stay all day and this would leave gaps in the finals.

Any driver who does not come to race control and inform us that they DO want to race in a final will be removed.

The finals listing will be put on the back of the drivers rostrum. You should check this as it has 4 important pieces of information on it.

Your final.
Your car number.
Your frequency.
Your transponder number.

Just as you did for the heats, check this listing and make sure your car has the correct number and frequency. When your final is called, you should collect the transponder (if needed), and make your way to the rostrum.

The final's start procedure is slightly different from the heats, as you start from the main straight and all at the same time. A countdown from 10 begins and when it gets to 3, you mechanic must put your car on the ground and step back. The final is started when the start marshal lifts the flag, and the tone sounds. The finals are normally 20 minutes long, but may be reduced during the winter due to the weather and shorter days.

Due to the length of these finals, your car will need to be re-fuelled by your mechanic. It is up to you and your mechanic to decide when to come in for fuel. Remember that most fuel tanks will only last for about 6 - 8 minutes. The mechanic must stand behind the raised pit lane whilst re-fuelling the car and lift the car onto the raised wall to allow other cars along the pit lane.

When the final has finished return your car to the pit lane and turn off your transmitter, return the transponder to race control and go quickly to your marshalling point.

During the summers series, bump up finals apply. If you were lucky/skilled enough to finish in the top three, you will progress (bump up) into the next final. You will be called to race control for any frequency changes.

That is the end of your days racing. It may see a bit daunting at first, but once you have been, you will soon realise that it is not as complicated as it sounds.

Things may not always go right at first, but do not get disheartened, there is always next time. Remember, we all had to start somewhere.

We hope to see you trackside, and good luck with your racing.

10 GOLDEN RULES

1. Arrive at the track early.

2. Attend the drivers briefing and LISTEN!

3. Ensure you have the correct frequency installed in your car and transmitter.

4. Return the handout transponder after your race.

5. Marshall the race following your own.

6. Never turn your transmitter on unless you are racing.

7. Listen out for announcements over the PA.

8. Do not crash into other cars.

9. Observe the safety rules.

10. Enjoy your model car racing.