Rules

Entry Fees:

$20 for first class, $10 for each additional class. Split 50% to host track and 50% to CRL. A portion (up to half) of the CRL money will be used to purchase prizes from the host track hobby store. Remaining CRL money will be used to purchase season end points trophies. All CRL money will be spent on prizes and trophies for the racers and the CRL will end the season with a zero balance.

Track Responsibilities:

Host track must have a liability insurance policy & coverage for the race weekend.
Promote each event in your local area. Encourage your local racers to support all CRL events at all tracks. Agree to hold only practice days on the other CRL dates (no competing road course events like a club race, a poker series or a free pizza day will be tolerated – oval, stadium or other non CRL classes are o.k.).
Provide enough pit space for a minimum of 80-100 individual racers. Racers can be asked to provide their own table, chairs and power cords, if necessary.
Design a road-course race track using connecting barriers to separate lanes. All lanes to be a minimum of 8’ wide on the long straights and high speed sweepers and a minimum of 7’ wide in the infield. Race surface to be carpet. Prefer no plow discs on racing surface.
Provide a qualified Race Director and Technical Inspector.
Tech inspection disputes should be resolved between the event’s Race Director and Tech Inspector. Items that are not directly covered by the CRL rule sheet should be determined by a five person tech committee consisting of three CRL volunteers, the race director and the tech inspector. The CRL rule sheet will be posted on the CRL website and at the tech station at each race. If a racer disputes a tech decision, they may ask to have it reviewed by the tech committee. Once the tech committee has made a final ruling, this ruling will stand without further dispute.
Doors to open by 7:30 a.m. but may open sooner if track desires.
Track controls sign-up, money collection, setting the heat board, tech inspection and general running of the race day. First race expected to start at 10:00 a.m.
Race 3 rounds of IFMAR qualifying (each car on a separate clock) and 1 main event for each racer. Perform at least one sort, to seat for mains. Track may opt to resort after 2nd round of qualifying if time and computer software permits.
Track to provide final qualifying order and main event result print outs to the CRL director. An electronic copy on disk or CD should also be provided, if available.
It is suggested that the host track hold a club race or practice day on the Friday evening before their CRL event. All dollar intake at a Friday, practice/club race go to the host track.

League Responsibilities:

Promote the series online and in Michigan, Northern Ohio, Indiana and Canada.
Purchase all race day prizes from host track hobby store.
Calculate all series points and provide series end points trophies.
Assist race director in any necessary decision making (i.e. snow storm to shorten race day).
All CRL money to be spent on trophies or prizes for racers. All CRL positions are volunteer and un-paid.
Provide all tech inspection tools: rules sheets, scale, ride height bars & roll-through box.
Provide three tech protest committee members for each race day.

General Rules

The Carpet Racing League is a no-profit organization that manages The Carpet Racing League remote control car racing series. The CRL purpose is to organize, coordinate and promote a racing series that travels to four locations, approximately one per month.
Each host track is responsible for running the race day activities. The host track will provide an Ozite carpeted racing surface with enclosed barriers marking a road-course style layout (additional layout specifications are located in the Track Specifications section of these rules). The host track will also supply a qualified race director, a tech inspection area, tech inspector personnel, computerized lap counting system to accommodate a minimum of 10 transponders, functional bathroom facilities, pit area large enough to for 100 individuals (racers may be required to furnish own tables, chairs and extension cords), handicapped facilities (drivers stand, pit area bathrooms and areas between). Host tracks must have their own insurance policy that covers remote control racing activities on its premises.
No driver, pit crew member, sponsor or spectator will have any claim for damages, expenses, lawsuits, or otherwise against a promoter, track operator, or the Carpet Racing League, its officials, agents, or employees, arising from damage to any car, personal injury, or monetary loss of any kind whatsoever. Drivers, pit crew members, sponsors and spectators waive any claim they may have against a promoter, track operator, or the CRL, when they participate in any racing activity conducted under these rules.
The CRL assumes no responsibility for delays, postponements or cancellations of all or part of an event because of inclement weather, equipment failure, or other valid reasons.
All drivers must attend the drivers’ meeting. Racing rules, approved deviations and event specific rule interpretations/procedures will be covered during this meeting. Pertinent decisions and temporary necessary rule changes will be disclosed during Driver’s Meetings. The Race Director may give a one lap penalty on the best qualifier or best A main of drivers that do not attend or cause unnecessary delay of a drivers meeting.
It is the intention of CRL to promote fun-oriented racing. With this in mind, unruly or unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Individuals judged by the Race Director to be in violation will be disqualified and requested to leave the race location.

Weather Conditions

In the event of bad weather (snow storm, etc.), the registration deadline and start time may be altered. To determine final weather decisions on race day, call the host track. If a snow storm hits during the race day, a vote will be taken among the racers to either complete all rounds of racing or shorten the day by going straight to main events. Majority rule wins. If a racer chooses to leave an event early, for any reason, the racer is entitled to the points for the last place position for the main he/she is qualified for.
If a catastrophe hits (blizzard, building problem, etc.) and due to safety reasons, the event needs to be halted, a vote will be taken among all racers present. There will be one of two choices. One, set the mains and calculate points based on the times from each racers best round of qualifying for any round that has been completed by a full class (i.e. stopped during the “C” touring car qualifier in round two – round two for TC will not count). Two, reschedule the race day for another available weekend during the season.

Track Specifications

All barriers, portable or permanent, should be linked in such a manner that they present a surface toward the track that will not damage a car if it makes contact in a grazing manner while proceeding around the track. Overlapping of barriers is always away from the direction of travel.
The CRL will run a road-course type layout (both right and left turns) that runs in a clockwise direction.
The racing surface must be Ozite carpet unless otherwise approved by the Carpet Racing League.
All straight-away and high speed sweeper corners must be a minimum of 8 feet wide and infield sections must be a minimum of 7 feet wide, unless otherwise approved by the Carpet Racing League.

Corner Marshalling

All racers are responsible to corner marshal after each of their timed races, including all qualifiers and main events. If due to medical reasons a substitute corner marshal is necessary, it is the registered racer’s duty to find a suitable substitute. Other registered racers are the only suitable substitute corner marshals. A racer can ask for relief and upon Race Director approval, may sit out that round. It is the racer’s responsibility to remind/inform the Race Director after each of his/her races that a substitute is needed. The Race Director reserves the right to manage the number of marshals needed for each heat. This includes but is not limited to the need for a racer to skip rounds in order to fill-in for a later heat, allowing racers to skip who are in back-to-back heats, allowing racers in multiple classes to skip if enough marshals are present. Again, the racer is responsible to gain the Race Director’s approval each and every time they need corner marshal relief.
Minimum number of marshals – All heat races should have no fewer than six corner marshals and all main events should have no fewer than eight corner marshals. The Race Director has the final say on all corner marshal decisions.
Penalties – If a racer does not corner marshal during his/her appointed time or has not supplied a substitute or has not cleared a skip with the Race Director, a penalty will be awarded to that racer. A racer who does not fulfill his/her corner marshal duties will lose one lap from all qualifying runs, not just the run prior to the infraction. A racer who does not fulfill his/her corner marshal duties in a main event will lose all points for the main prior to the infraction.
Disabled cars are to be removed from the racing surface as soon as possible, without interfering with cars that are still racing. No repair work will be allowed on the track or infield while a race is taking place. Corner marshals are not to make repairs to any vehicle while the race clock is live. Marshals are expected to remove disabled cars from the track and either hand the vehicle to a racer’s pit crew or place car in a safe location on its side or hood. Vehicles still racing have priority over handling of disabled vehicles.
A car running on the track has the right-of-way over a car that has gone off the track, turned over, or otherwise had problems. Turn marshals will treat all corrective matters equally. When marshalling a car, it should be returned to the point where it left the racing surface. Care must be exercised not to interfere with on-coming cars.

Technical Inspection

The Carpet Racing League exercises technical inspection after each timed qualifying heat and main event. It is the racer’s responsibility to ensure his/her car will satisfactorily pass technical inspection at the conclusion of each race. It is recommended that each racer know the class rules and check his/her vehicle before the start of each run. Class rules will be posted in the tech inspection area.
No hazardous bumpers, nerf bars, chassis extensions, or other objects protruding from the cars are allowed.
A disqualification of any kind in a qualifier will result in the loss of that qualifier’s laps and time. A disqualification of any kind in a main event will result in loss of finishing position and loss of all points for that race day.
Protests to tech inspection rulings will be reviewed by the Technical Director, Race Director and a three person CRL committee. Rulings by this committee are final.

Scoring

Computer scoring with transponders will be used. Personal transponders must be fastened in a permanent manner. All host provided transponders must be mounted in a position that will ensure reliable reception by the computer system. The Race Director can direct the placement of transponders, and can require a change of position in the event of bad reception. If a transponder fails the Scorekeeper must make an effort to hand count an accurate lap record. If a transponder is not installed, is lost or falls out during a race, the driver may be disqualified and not scored in that race. The driver is responsible for fastening the correct transponder to the vehicle. Fastening a Transponder in a location that may damage the transponder is prohibited.
A driver’s official time will be the total laps completed by his car and the total time elapsed from the starting time, as determined by the method of qualifying, until the car crosses the finish line on the final lap. If the final lap is not completed, the driver will be credited with the number of full laps finished and the time for those laps. A driver who completes 20 laps in 3:50.00 beats a driver with 20 laps in 4:02.00 in the same round.
Three rounds of IFMAR qualifying will be used. Each car is running against its own clock, and not against the other cars. Cars will be started individually, or in rows of two or three if lap times are short. The interval between cars or rows must be such that all cars cross the starting line before the first car crosses for the second time. At the conclusion of the designated race time, drivers will be instructed to continue racing until their name or number is called. Qualifying positions for main events will be determined by using the driver’s single fastest qualifying heat, in descending order, until the field is completed.
The winner of each main will be the driver in the main who finishes with the most laps in the least elapsed time, and whose car is found to be legal on post race inspection.
Cars may not be pushed across the finish line. Cars must cross the line under their own power. Non-operating cars will be removed from the track.
For purposes of qualifying and racing, the driver is scored, and not the car. A driver must race the car teched. A driver or a car may not be changed during a qualifying run or during a main event.
A black flag will be given to a driver whose driving, car operation, or performance constitutes a hazard to the other cars in the race. This includes insufficient skills to compete in the class, unsportsmanlike driving, intentional hitting of other cars, intentional short coursing, intentional corner cutting, intentional blocking when being overtaken, illegal or improper vehicle numbers and other such acts. When a driver is given the Black Flag, it means that driver must pull their vehicle off the track immediately. The driver will remain on the drivers stand until that heat or race is over. A black flag ruling may be used at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct or abusive language to other drivers or race officials. Any car that loses its body or that cannot be controlled properly due to radio problems, race damage, or missing parts can be black-flagged.

Frequency Conflicts

In cases of frequency conflict, the higher qualified driver will have first choice of frequency. Second highest qualifying driver will have second choice of frequency, etc. For example, driver A is on Red and is qualified for the A main. Driver B is also on Red and is also qualified for the A main. Driver A is qualified first, and as such, would get first choice of frequency. Driver A can elect to retain Red, in which case driver B would have to change; or he can choose any other legal frequency, which could cause another driver to change.
If there are seven drivers on 27 MHz in a main event, the slowest driver will have to change to an approved frequency in the 75 mhz range. If the slowest driver cannot or will not change to an open, approved 75 mhz frequency, the driver will be disqualified. (Courtesy and fair play should be called for by the Race Director to see if another driver in the main can change frequency if the slowest driver cannot change to 75 MHz.).

Season End Points

Points will be awarded based on each racer’s finishing position in the main event in a descending order from 100, 99, 98, etc. The top qualifier from each class will receive one bonus point. If disqualified in a main event for any reason (most common: weight and ride height) you will receive 0 points for that main. If the disqualified participant was the TQ, the racer will retain the TQ bonus point. If a vehicle breaks, resulting in a DNF and causes the car to fall below ride height (example: broke front arm, knocked wheel off car) the racer will retain all points for that finishing position.
Due to the straight points system, all mains must be packed (ten cars), even if a low number of cars is left for the bottom main. Mains with as few as one car will be allowed to race, if the driver(s) choose to participate. If the bottom main racers choose to forfeit the run, they will receive points based on their qualifying laps and time.
The host track must provide a printed copy of the final qualifying and main results to be used for points. An electronic copy on disk or CD would also be useful, if available.
Season end points trophies will be awarded to participants who raced in three or more events. There are no guarantees that all racers will receive a points trophy. Number of points trophies will be determined by reach of the budget and will be weighted evenly between classes, based on total class entries.
In the event of a tie break (end of season only) we will add the total laps and time from both qualifying and main events for each racers best 3 events. Most total laps in the least amount of total time wins.

Motor Rules

Stock Motors:
- ROAR approved machine wound 27 turn and 24 degree locked end bell motors only.
- Factory 27 turn tag must be in-place and visible through motor vent holes.
- No hybrid motors (example: Monster arm or Monster end bell with Green Machine can).
- No “twisting” of the armature to increase or decrease timing.
- Must use stock magnets as shipped with the can from the factory.
19 turn Motors:
- Machine wound 19 turn and 24 degree locked end bell motors only.
- Factory 19 turn tag must be in-place and visible through motor vent holes.
- No hybrid motors (example: C1 arm in a C2 can, or Orion end bell on a Trinity can).
- No “twisting” of the armature to increase or decrease timing.
- Must use stock magnets as shipped with the can from the factory.
Modified Motors:
- Brushed and brushless are allowed.
- Motors with brushes to be ROAR approved motors only.
- No Kobalt or other kind of rare earth magnets.

Any participant caught using an illegal motor in a qualifying event will lose one lap from their best qualifying run. Use of an illegal motor in a main event will result in disqualification and loss of finishing position and all main event points.

Car Rules

1/12TH SCALE CLASS RULES
Maximum Wheel Track Width: 6.77” (172mm)

Wheel Base: Minimum 7.25” (184.15mm)
Maximum 8.75” (222.25mm)

Minimum Weight: 28.7 oz, with transponder
Any material used to add to car weight to make it legal must be securely attached to the car chassis. If such ballast falls off the car during a race for any reason, and the car is under weight at the post race tech inspection, the car will be disqualified for that qualifier or main. All cars not running personal transponders are to be marked with a dot sticker.

Batteries: 4 cell only, up to 3800 milliamps, Nicad or Nickel Metal only, no Lithium

Race Length: 8 minutes

Body: Any 1/12th scale body

Tires: Foam tires only

Minimum post-race ground clearance (excluding spur gear): 0.125” (3mm)
Ground clearance will be strictly enforced and low cars will be disqualified. The car must clear the CRL provided tech bar at post-race inspection. For 1/12th scale cars, all chassis parts are to clear the ride height bar. All motor parts are to clear the ride height bar. Batteries and all battery components are to clear the ride height bar.
1/10TH SCALE TOURING CAR RULES
Maximum Wheel Track Width: 7.48” (190mm)

Wheel Base: Minimum 9.8” (250mm)
Maximum 10.6” (270 mm)

Minimum Weight: 50.7 oz, with transponder
Any material used to add to car weight to make it legal must be securely attached to the car chassis. If such ballast falls off the car during a race for any reason, and the car is under weight at the post race tech inspection, the car will be disqualified for that qualifier or main. All cars not running personal transponders are to be marked with a dot sticker.

Batteries: 6 cell only, up to 3800 milliamps, Nicad or Nickel Metal only, no Lithium

Race Length: 5 minutes

Body: Any 2 or 4 door sedan touring car body.
No GTP, open wheel, dirt wedge style, etc.
Body cutting – no vent holes, no melted risers for lowering past shocks or shock towers, removing windows is not allowed, no cut-out sun roofs or convertibles. Rear bumper must drop at least ¼” in a horizontal direction.

Tires: Foam tires only

Minimum post-race ground clearance: 0.125” (3mm)
Ground clearance will be strictly enforced and low cars will be disqualified. The car must clear the CRL provided tech bar at post-race inspection. For touring cars, all parts of the car must clear the bar except for the tires/wheels and body.

Website by Richard Chang