General Rules
Please show respect:
1. Drivers & spectators are expected to show respect for others and display sportsmanship throughout the contest.
2. Abusive language or profanity will not be tolerated.
3. Horseplay which poses risk to contestants/spectators or the race facility will not be tolerated
4. No drinks or food allowed near the tracks
During racing:
1. Drivers must turn marshal during their sit-outs or otherwise when called upon by the race director. Drivers who either DNF or DQ are expected to turn marshal the remainder of their race.
2. During track call only guide or body straightening permitted
3. Car repair during the race allowed but must have begun when track power is on. *
4. Weekly racing allows ONE (1) car substitution in a race. The potential substitute car must be entered and teched alongside the primary race car. The backup car will be impounded until needed and is to be used solely by the driver who entered the car. The backup car may be employed only when the primary race car has failed to perform as expected by the driver, regardless of reason (e.g., race damage, broken motor). While an unusual race rule, we feel this promotes our primary objective of having fun, particularly for racers who drive long distances to participate. This rules does not apply to Saturday racing.
* Rule may be waived, depending on class.
Track calls are permitted only for:
1. Track braid up
2. Track equipment failure
3. Debris on track
4. Un-marshalable car, i.e., a car de-slots and stops in an area not readily accessible to a turn marshal, including the control panel area. Note: a car landing on the floor does not necessarily constitute a track call.
5. Rider in lane
Weekly race format:
Slot car bodies are changed on a regular basis using body styles such as NASCAR, LMP, GTP, or even "retro"bodies. This practice keeps the racing very affordable, fun, and interesting by varying the body, not the underlying slot car, Drivers must master the nuances of each body style used, including inherent aerodynamic/handling differences.
We run a nine-week series using a specified slot car body class. Furthermore, we race on a different track each week in a series, so that each track has been raced on three times at the end of a series. We use an Engleman -> Blue King - > Orange -> Engleman -> Blue King -> Orange track rotation for each series.
We sometimes run two-person team enduros (5-minute heats) to ensure an adequate number of turn marshals during each heat. Each driver uses his/her own car in the race. Teams are decided by drawing lots. However, if race turnout is sufficient, we will run as individuals. We run 2.5-minute heats in individual racing. The racing point system, described below, applies to this individual racing.
We use a European-style lane rotation: Red->Green->Blue->Purple->Black->Yellow->Orange->White->
Point system in weekly individual racing:
Please show respect:
1. Drivers & spectators are expected to show respect for others and display sportsmanship throughout the contest.
2. Abusive language or profanity will not be tolerated.
3. Horseplay which poses risk to contestants/spectators or the race facility will not be tolerated
4. No drinks or food allowed near the tracks
During racing:
1. Drivers must turn marshal during their sit-outs or otherwise when called upon by the race director. Drivers who either DNF or DQ are expected to turn marshal the remainder of their race.
2. During track call only guide or body straightening permitted
3. Car repair during the race allowed but must have begun when track power is on. *
4. Weekly racing allows ONE (1) car substitution in a race. The potential substitute car must be entered and teched alongside the primary race car. The backup car will be impounded until needed and is to be used solely by the driver who entered the car. The backup car may be employed only when the primary race car has failed to perform as expected by the driver, regardless of reason (e.g., race damage, broken motor). While an unusual race rule, we feel this promotes our primary objective of having fun, particularly for racers who drive long distances to participate. This rules does not apply to Saturday racing.
* Rule may be waived, depending on class.
Track calls are permitted only for:
1. Track braid up
2. Track equipment failure
3. Debris on track
4. Un-marshalable car, i.e., a car de-slots and stops in an area not readily accessible to a turn marshal, including the control panel area. Note: a car landing on the floor does not necessarily constitute a track call.
5. Rider in lane
Weekly race format:
Slot car bodies are changed on a regular basis using body styles such as NASCAR, LMP, GTP, or even "retro"bodies. This practice keeps the racing very affordable, fun, and interesting by varying the body, not the underlying slot car, Drivers must master the nuances of each body style used, including inherent aerodynamic/handling differences.
We run a nine-week series using a specified slot car body class. Furthermore, we race on a different track each week in a series, so that each track has been raced on three times at the end of a series. We use an Engleman -> Blue King - > Orange -> Engleman -> Blue King -> Orange track rotation for each series.
We sometimes run two-person team enduros (5-minute heats) to ensure an adequate number of turn marshals during each heat. Each driver uses his/her own car in the race. Teams are decided by drawing lots. However, if race turnout is sufficient, we will run as individuals. We run 2.5-minute heats in individual racing. The racing point system, described below, applies to this individual racing.
We use a European-style lane rotation: Red->Green->Blue->Purple->Black->Yellow->Orange->White->
Point system in weekly individual racing:
- 1st = 10
- 2nd = 8
- 3rd = 7
- 4th = 6
- 5th = 5
- 6th = 4
- 7th = 3
- 8th = 2
- below 8th = 1
General Technical Specifications
Monday - Weekly Flexi-Class Racing Specifications
In addition, to the General Rules listed above, all flexi-class cars must meet the following conditions:
Saturday - Monthly Racing Specifications
The Viper Pit offers scheduled Saturday racing; otherwise, Saturdays are used for testing and tuning. Saturday classes differ from our weekly racing, and depending on the class, we may use national or international rules of racing. For example, we sometimes offer retro racing using IRRA rules.
Stay tuned to this website for future Saturday events!
- All cars must pass technical inspection prior to racing. Each car must be presented to the tech director with its body off. Cars may be impounded following tech.
- Each car must have a painted body with three distinct number decals or painted numbers.
- No part of chassis may be visible when viewing car from above, except open-wheeled cars.
- A painted driver, plastic (3D) or paper (2D), is optional
Monday - Weekly Flexi-Class Racing Specifications
In addition, to the General Rules listed above, all flexi-class cars must meet the following conditions:
- Must use a 4" commercially-available two- or three-piece stamped metal flexi frame. The open-wheel F1 class must use the a JK Products C30 (narrow) 4" flexi frame; the Indy class requires a JK Products C35 (wide) 4" flexi frame.
- A car must pass generally-accepted rules for max width (83 mm or ~3.26"), min rear clearance (0.047") , and front pan and center section clearance (0.010"), as measured with the entire car resting on a slotted tech plate.
- Bushings, oilites, or ball bearings permitted at rear axle.
- No frame cutting allowed except a very small amount at pillow blocks, in order to fit rear bearings, oilites, or bushings. May solder motor in place, motor brace permitted. Pin tubes permitted.
- Commercially available light pans (by the same manufacturer) permitted.
- May use lead weight as needed, attached to the top of the chassis.
- Unless otherwise posted, weekly classes require the Chicagoland Stage 2 CR102 or Mid-America Retro Eagle motor. All Motors are factory sealed and therefore unopened. All motors must bear the manufacturer's permanent etching on the motor can for identification purposes.
The CR102 motor requires 14/36 64-pitch gearing. The Retro Eagle requires 13/37 64-pitch pinion and spur gears in all classes, except for open-wheel racing which requires 11/37. - Higher-performance motors such as the Mid-America Eagle, or even more powerful Enforcer, Phoenix (not Phoenix Supra), Intimidator or RTR Raptor Pro motors, are permitted, and vary depending on the class. These motors are generally reserved for our fastest classes, such as LMP or GTP (high downforce bodies). Specific motors and any spec gearing for these classes are announced in advance of a series.
- 3/32" solid rear axle required. Flatted axles are permitted.
- Front tires are optional except in open-wheel racing. If fronts are not used, a car must have front-wheel decals in place on the body. If front wheels are used, 3/8", 1/2", or 5/8" fronts are permitted, but not wing car thingies. Open-wheel racing must use JK F1 fronts, minimum diameter .750", with full solid axle. Open-wheel cars may use independently-turning front wheels, but the front axle must float and may not be fixed to the frame.
- Currently approved and commercially-available 4" body appropriate to body style being used in a class/series. The minimum unpainted body thickness shall be .007". No aero-effect modifications or add-ons permitted, except as announced, in which case a 1/2" rear air dam is permitted. Depending on the series, for example, NASCAR, a minimum 1/8" front bumper rule may be enforced [minimum 1/16" grille on retro-style bodies, unless this element is not on the original car]. The rear of the body must not be higher than 1-5/8".
Saturday - Monthly Racing Specifications
The Viper Pit offers scheduled Saturday racing; otherwise, Saturdays are used for testing and tuning. Saturday classes differ from our weekly racing, and depending on the class, we may use national or international rules of racing. For example, we sometimes offer retro racing using IRRA rules.
Stay tuned to this website for future Saturday events!
