Dear Competitor

There have been a number of queries regarding whether heat 4 of our recent club round at Phillip Island counted towards the overall points for the day. It was agreed earlier in the day that the extra heat would have ordinarily counted towards the final results however the last heat was unfortunately red flagged by the clerk of course at the completion of lap 3. As less than 75% of the scheduled race distance was completed and there was no further opportunity to restart the race, the original start was declared null and void. This is detailed in the 2008 CAMS Superkart Racing Standing Regulations (item 6) read in conjunction with the 2008 CAMS Race Meeting Standing Regulations (item 6). Therefore the results of the 4th heat were not counted toward the overall results of the round.

However there was an error in the calculation of the overall points. This has been corrected and attached are the revised results. This has not affected any of the top 3 trophy positions however it has altered a few overall placings in the 125 Rotax Heavies. We apologize for the oversight and any inconvenience and look forward to seeing you at the Vic Gearbox Titles 17th & 18th May or otherwise at the next club round at Phillip Island Sat. May 31st.

Yours sincerely

Rick Setterfield
President

NOTE; The drivers were called up at lunch time for a second drivers briefing. As the meeting was running ahead of time, the drivers were asked if they would like a 4th heat be added to the days racing and would they like the points from that race to count towards the overall results for the day. The drivers voted in favour on both counts and it was declared affirmative by the Clerk of Course.
The VSKC ultimately ignored the NCR's and dropped the 4th heat points from the results and declared the 3rd heat the final and, as Mr Setterfield has stated above, awarding the bonus points to that heat. This would set a precedence that would subsequently be ignored by the club when applying the points at Rd 8.

2008 CAMS Superkart Racing Standing Regulations (item 6) read in conjunction with the 2008 CAMS Race Meeting Standing Regulations (item 6) are very clear in reference to red flagged races. I have attached the relevant extracts (highlighted in green with critical words and passages highlighted in red) for your perusal as follows:

Race Meeting Standing Regulations
6.15 Stopping the race:
(i) Should it become necessary to stop a race because the circuit is blocked by an accident, or because weather or other
conditions make it dangerous to continue, the Clerk of Course shall order the red flag to be displayed simultaneously
at all marshals’ posts. When the signal is given, all vehicles shall immediately reduce speed in the knowledge that:
• results shall be the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag is shown;

The regulations go on to say that "IF the race can be restarted the following applies":

• race and service vehicles may be on the track;
• the circuit may be totally blocked because of an accident;
• weather conditions may have made the circuit undriveable at racing speed; and
• the pit lane will be open.
(ii) The procedure to be followed varies according to the number of laps completed by the race leader before the signal to
stop the race was given.
Case A – Fewer than two full laps
If the race can be restarted, (a) below will apply.
Case B – Two or more full laps, but less than 75% of the race distance/duration (rounded up to the next lap/minute)
If the race can be restarted, (b) below will apply.
Case C – 75% or more of the race distance/duration (rounded up to the next lap/minute)
The vehicles will be sent directly to the parc fermé and the race will be deemed to have finished and the results shall
be the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag is shown.
(a) Case A
• The original start shall be deemed null and void.
• The length of the restarted race will be the full original race length unless the Stewards of the Meeting approve a
shorter length.
• The drivers who were eligible to take part in the race shall be eligible for the restart only in the vehicle in which
they started the aborted race.
• After the signal to stop the race has been given, all vehicles able to do so will proceed slowly and directly to:
– the pit lane; or
– (if the grid is clear) to their original grid positions; or
– (if the grid is not clear) to a position behind the
last grid position as directed by the marshals.
• All vehicles may be worked on, save that refuelling is prohibited. If work is carried out on the grid, this must be
done at the vehicle’s original grid position and must not impede the new start.
(b) Case B
• Other than the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag is shown and the number
of laps covered by each driver the original race will be deemed null and void.
• The length of the restarted race will be two laps less than the original race distance, less the number of laps
completed by the leader before the signal to stop was given, unless the Stewards of the Meeting approve
otherwise.
• The grid for the restarted race shall be the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag
is shown. The grid positions will not be closed up should any cars be unable to restart.
• Finishing positions will be determined by the final positions at the completion of the restarted race. Prior to the
restart, each driver shall be credited with the number of laps completed in the declared results of previous part/s.
• Only vehicles which took part in the original start will be eligible and then only if they returned under their own
power by an authorised route to either the pit lane, to a position behind the last grid position as directed by the
marshals, or to the grid.
• Vehicles may be worked on in the pits or on the grid. No refuelling is permitted at this time – see below. If work
is carried out on the grid, this must be done at the vehicle’s correct grid position and must not impede the restart.
• If a vehicle returns to the pits for refuelling, such refuelling may only commence after the restart, after which the
vehicle may rejoin the race.
(iii) In both Case A and Case B
(a) Unless specified in Supplementary Regulations, the race will be restarted at the “2 MINUTE” signal, at which
time the pit lane exit will close.
(b) Any vehicle which is unable to take its position on the grid before the “2 MINUTE” signal will be directed to
the pits. It may start from the pit exit as specified in the start procedure.

Superkart Racing – Standing Regulations
6.12 Finishers: To be classified as a finisher, a kart must cross the finishing line under its own power not later than three
minutes after the relevant class winner has done so (in thee case of circuits of 3km or less) or six minutes (in the case
of circuits longer than 3km); moreover, it must have covered at least 75% of the distance covered by such winner.

6.13 Restarting the race: When the red flag signal is given at the start/ finish line and red flags are shown around the circuit,
all drivers shall immediately stop racing, reduce speed, and proceed slowly to the pit entry road. From there they will
be directed by officials in the knowledge that:
• race classification (or part race classification) will be the order in which the karts crossed the finishing line at the end of the lap prior to that during which the signal to stop the race was given;
• race and service vehicles may be on the track;
• the circuit may be totally blocked because of an accident or for some other reason;
• climatic conditions may have made the circuit undriveable.

The Race Meeting Standing Regulations 6.15 clearly states that the "results shall be the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag is shown"
It goes on to say that IF the race can be restarted, other conditions will apply. In this instance the race was not restarted, so the first paragraph of 6.15 applies and is all that is relevant.

The Superkart Racing Standing Regulations 6.13 clearly states that the "race classification (or part race classification) will be the order in which the karts crossed the finishing line at the end of the lap prior to that during which the signal to stop the race was given;

Rick Setterfield's statement that "As less than 75% of the scheduled race distance was completed and there was no further opportunity to restart the race, the original start was declared null and void", is an incorrect reference to the Race Meeting Standing Regulations 6.15 Case B. Unfortunately Rick has misread the rule that states;
Case B – Two or more full laps, but less than 75% of the race distance/duration (rounded up to the next lap/minute)
If the race can be restarted, (b) below will apply.
(b) Case B
• Other than the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag is shown and the number
of laps covered by each driver the original race will be deemed null and void.

I'll say it again, this rule only applies IF the race can be restarted. The race was not restarted and therefore Race Meeting Standing Regulations 6.15 Stopping the race: (i) results shall be the race order as at the start of the lap before the lap in which the red flag is shown; must be applied.

The only only other mention of 75% in the Standing Regulations is in the Superkart Standing Regulations and refers to the distance a driver must cover in relation to the winner to be classified as a finisher. It has nothing to do with the length of the race.

The position of President of the VSKC is a thankless job and the administration of the sometimes complex CAMS rules is a difficult task. It's easy to misread a rule as Rick has done in this case. I'm sure all the club members would hope that the CAMS Standing regulations are applied correctly and that the results for this meeting are corrected as soon as possible.

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Event 2. Round 7 Calder 2008

Dear Shaun

For starters, the SWG has no jurisdiction over the club nor the running of our events and I request you refrain from including them in any club matters in future. In fact the forwarding of this response to anyone is prohibited.

Secondly, I too have been made aware of the alleged event after the event although considerably different to your story. According to our NCR’s, each competitor has the right to protest. The NCR’s provide clear guidance in how to lodge a protest but in summary “a protest shall be lodged in writing, signed by the protester and accompanied by the fee including any necessary bonds…” and “a protest against any error or irregularity occurring during a competition or referring to the eligibility of an automobile shall… be made within thirty minutes of the completion of the competition activities”. As neither of these have occurred within the relevant time frame from either yourself or any other competitor we are therefore unable to consider your request and the results of the round will stand.

As a club member you are more than welcome to table for further discussion at our next club meeting

Regards
Rick Setterfield
President VSKC
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It is worth noting that Mr Trounson would have protested at the time, but the club officials carried out their questionable parc ferme activities after everybody but the driver involved had left parc ferme and that Mr Trounson and in fact almost all of the other competitors had no idea the event had taken place. Mr Trounson did not find out about the event until 2 days later.
If appears that the club condones the idea that if you're going to do shifty shit, don't tell anyone.
AND according to Mr Setterfields threat to Mr Trounson in his letter, (the forwarding of this response to anyone is prohibited) it appears that the club condones cover-ups and suppresses free speech.

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Event 3. Round 8 Phillip Island 2008
1st / Dec / 2008
To the President
VSKC

I believe the points should be amended with regard to the VSKC round 8 at Phillip Island on the 29/Nov and the finishing order in 125 Max light class of Dean Crooke and Peter Gazzola.
According to the Club Series Criteria "In the case where two drivers earn equal points the finishing order in the final will determine the winner."

The issue regarding the results comes in 2 parts;

1. Dean Crooke finished H1, 4th = 13 and H2, 2nd = 17. Total 30 points.
Peter Gazzola finished H1, 2nd = 17 and H2, 4th = 13. Total 30 points.
If we follow the club rules, by virtue of his higher placing in the final, Dean Crooke finished 2nd on the day, not 3rd.

2. In accordance with the results at round 3 at Phillip Island on the 26 / April 2008 where the 4th heat was illegally cancelled in direct contravention to the NCR's, the club amended the results to reflect the 3rd heat (which now became the last heat) to attract the bonus points.
If this same rule is applied to round 8, as it must be, then the points are as follows;
Dean Crooke H1, 4th = 13. H2, 2nd = 22. Total = 35
Peter Gazzola H1, 2nd = 17. H2, 4th = 18. Total = 35
Again if we follow the club rules, by virtue of his higher placing in the final, Dean Crooke finished 2nd on the day, not 3rd.

Please amend the results accordingly.

Jon Crooke
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