The Viper Pit - Rules & Regs

General Rules

Please show respect:

Drivers & spectators are expected to show respect for others and display sportsmanship throughout the contest.
Abusive language or profanity will not be tolerated.
Horseplay which poses risk to contestants/spectators or the race facility will not be tolerated
No drinks or food allowed near the tracks

During racing:

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.
During track call only guide or body straightening permitted

Track calls are permitted only for:

Track braid up

Track equipment failure

Debris on track

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.

Rider in lane

Weekly Racing General Technical Specifications

All weekly 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") including the motor, and front pan and center section clearance (0.010"), as measured with the entire car resting on a slotted tech plate.
3/32" solid metal rear axle required. Flatted axles are permitted. 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, produced by the same manufacturer, are 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 Road Runner or Eagle Retro motor. All Motors are factory sealed and therefore unopened. No internal motor modifications are allowed. The motor shaft may be shortened. All motors must bear the manufacturer's permanent etching on the motor can for identification purposes.

The CR102 & Road Runner motors require 14/36 64-pitch gears; and the Retro Eagle requires 13/37 64-pitch gears in all classes. The Mid-America Stomp motor (required 15/34 64-pitch) is also frequently used in some classes.

Other motors such as the more powerful Enforcer, Phoenix (not Phoenix Supra), Intimidator or RTR Raptor Pro motors, are used 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 race or series.
Front tires are optional except in open-wheel racing or as described in the following paragraph. 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.

ALL cars are required to have front tires when driving on the Daytona track. This is to preserve the track as well as your investment in a slot car. Each entry will be teched on the Daytona for touching O-ring cone-style or foam rolling front tires as well as a minimum .040" clearance under the frame at the front. Flexi chassis such as the JK C-21 or or Champion Turboflex already have front axle uprights incorporated.
Currently approved and commercially-available 4" body appropriate to body style being used in a class/series. Unless specified, the minimum unpainted body thickness shall be .010". 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".

Weekly Racing Format

We run a ten-week series using a specified class of slot car body. Furthermore, we race on a different track each week in a circuit series, with each series comprised of two circuits. We use an Engleman -> Daytona Tri-oval -> Blue King - > Orange -> Daytona road course circuit rotation for each series.

Each race driver must master the nuances of each body style used, including inherent aerodynamic/handling differences, which can be significant.

Each weekly entry will be considered a Pro or Master, determined by each driver’s previous number of wins or overall experience. Current Pro drivers are

Ivan Rosenfeld
Wayne Thomas
Ben Cheney
Hugh Hampton
Aaron Scott
Tommy Davidson
Keith Bernstein
Buddy Houser

Pro drivers have demonstrated consistently superb slot car racing performance. They have won multiple times, including individual races or entire race series. These drivers may have also competed at regional or national events, and performed well. Select visiting entries will be held to the same standards. For example, recognized individuals such as Terry Kelly, Tony Powell, Brian Ambrose, and Felix Mueller, will be considered professionals.

Weekly racing allows ONE (1) car substitution in a race for each Master entry. 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). Once used, the driver must finish the race with the backup car - no further substitutions or switching. If a driver substitutes his/her starting entry, then there will be a 5 lap penalty assessed. Replacing only a torn body with like is not considered using a backup. While using a backup car is an unusual race rule, we feel it promotes our primary objective of having fun, particularly for racers who drive long distances to participate on a weekly basis.

The only practical distinction between a Pro and Master will be the professionals’ loss of privileges currently afforded all weekly drivers, such as race time-outs (other than to collect a stricken car) or replacement car. We intend to grow our professional class by having specific driving thresholds to meet, which will be developed in the future. Masters shall have separate podium following each race.

Assignment to race mains will be done by qualifying. Each driver will have 45 seconds in which to qualify. This should allow each driver roughly 5 or 6 laps in which to qualify. Qualifying will take place in rapid succession in order to minimize the total time taken. Drivers not qualifying will be relegated to the lowest main.

The results of each main will be combined. There will be no move-ups allowed. The point system will be based upon the number of entries. The winner is awarded points equal to the number of race entries, with one point less awarded each subsequent place. One bonus point is awarded to the top qualifier.

We sometimes run two-person team mini-enduros 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.

We use a European-style lane rotation: Red->Green->Blue->Purple->Black->Yellow->Orange->White->Red..

Saturday Racing Technical Specifications

The Viper Pit offers scheduled Saturday racing; otherwise, Saturdays are used for testing and tuning. Saturday race 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. If we run using local rules, they are similar to our weekly rules (above).

See our Saturday Racing page for scheduled weekend racing news!

Hardbody racing rules

Hardbody Slotcar Race Rules, v20250909

· 4.5” Pro Track (part no 612 or 612R). All screws must always be present and tight. OR Brass 4.5” GRC frame (MID 204B)

· 1/8” solid steel rear axle

· 1/8” or 3/32” solid steel front axle

· Maximum car width, front and rear, ~3.268” (83mm)

· Oilites or bushings or bearings. Axle bushing holes may be altered in chassis to lower or raise bushings, but no cutting through the hole or deranging the chaassis. If applicable, bushing may be soldered in.

· 8/28 48-pitch gearing

· Mid-America E-25 motor (MID 607)

· 1/24 or 1/25 NASCAR plastic body from a model kit, complete with original front and rear windows (replacement windows must have prior approval, side windows optional)

o 3-D painted stockcar style interior

o 3 painted or decal numbers required. Additional “sponsor” stickers are encouraged to add realism.

o Body must be mounted as intended by manufacturer to look like real race car, must have minimum 1/16” inch front and rear bumper

o No “hogging” out wheel wells to make car sit artificially low

o May remove plastic body mounting posts; however, no grinding/thinning of body walls

o No heating, pinching or reforming bodies for aerodynamic purposes.

· NO off-setting bodies, chassis, or tires

· Pro Track Daytona Stockers front and rear tires, minimum 0.047” clearance throughout when sitting on a slotted tech block. Minimum diameter fronts is 0.950". White-lettering on all tires must be visible and legible. See examples below.

· Minimum weight at tech: 160 grams

WEC series rules

WEC Series Rules, v1.01

Race format:

• The first five monthly races shall consist of six-minute heats. The sixth race shall

consist of 7-1/2-minute heats. There will be three-minute breaks between heats. Each

race will be run in European rotation sequence. The series itself will run in a circuit,

using a different track each month. The series will use an Engleman →Orange→Blue

King→Engleman→Orange→Blue King race rotation order. Therefore, the series finale

will take place on the Blue King.

• In the event more than eight drivers enter the race, sit-outs (9 or 10 entries) or

separate mains (more than 10 entries) will be used. Qualifying will occur for more than

ten entries. If ten or fewer entries - drivers will be placed randomly without qualifying.

• For the first five monthly races, each driver will enter one hypercar. In the sixth and

final series race, each driver will enter two cars, a hypercar and one GT car. At the

start of the series finale, four drivers will run hypercar, and four drivers will run GT.

Red, green, blue, and purple lanes will run hypercars. White. orange, yellow, and black

lanes will run GT. Therefore, each driver will run four hypercars and four GT heats.

• There will be no backup cars during any race.

• All necessary car maintenance will be done under green flag or during a break

between heats. No stoppage for an ailing car, other than to collect it.

• The race director has the right to stop the race at any time and perform tech on any

entry. This is done primarily to protect the track from cars dragging the track because

of worn tires.

Technical:

• Monthly races 1-5 will run only hypercar-class cars. The sixth and final race will run

two classes –hypercar and GT.

• Hypercar will use Mid-America Eagle motor, 64-pitch gearing is open. GT class will

require the Mid-America Stomp motor geared at 15/34 (64-pitch).

• All motors are factory sealed and therefore must remain unopened. All motors must

bear the manufacturer's permanent etching on the motor can for identification

purposes.

• Each entry will use commercially available 4” two- or three-piece flexi frames.

A. Commercially available light pans by the same manufacturer are permitted.

B. May use lead weight as needed, securely attached to the top of the chassis.

C. No frame cutting other than minor increase in rear bearing/bushing opening to allow

adjustability. May solder motor in place and motor brace permitted. Pin tubes

permitted.

D. Use of tape permitted on either side of frame. The tape on the frame's underside

must lay completely flat.

• A car must pass max width of ~3.26” (83 mm), 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.

• The car body must have front-wheel decals in place.

• Continuous diameter 3/32" solid metal rear axle required, with no titanium or exotic

alloys permitted. Bearings, oilites or bushings are OK. Flatted axles are permitted.

• Bodies must be painted and contain at least three numbers. Drivers are optional as is

practice at the Viper Pit. Bodies should be cut along body mold lines and appropriately

mounted so as not to exaggerate the appearance or aero-performance of the body. No

added wing material is permitted on any entry.

Approved Body List

Hypercar Body Manufacturer/Order No Thickness

Mercedes LMP Mid-America/959 0.007”

Porsche 919 LMP Mid-America/984 0.007”

Ferrari P2 LMP Mid-America/958 0.007”

Toyota WEC LMP (not high

downforce) Mid-America/950 or 962 0.007”

Lamorghini SC63 JK Products/B169A or

B169B, 0.007’ or 0.010”

Bravo Concept JK Products/B166A or B166B, 0.007’ or 0.010”

GT Car Body Manufacturer/Order No Thickness

Morgan Aero JK Products/B103B 0.010”

Jaguar GTS JK Products/B161B 0.010”

Dodge Viper JK Products/B59B 0.010”

Ferrari Maranello JK Products/B62B 0.010”

Cadillac CTS JK Products/B75B 0.010”

Aston Martin JK Products/B76B 0.010”

Chevrolet Corvette C6 JK Products/B78B 0.010”

Kelly Corvette Kelly Racing Products 0.010”

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