1. Eligibility
Racers must be between 7 and 18 years old on race day and must be registered by a parent or legal guardian.
Each racer may enter one car. A car may be shared by siblings only with approval from the race director.
A signed waiver (electronic signature on this site) is required before a car can go through tech inspection.
2. Car construction
- Gravity power only. No motors, pedals, springs, flywheels, or stored-energy devices of any kind.
- Maximum overall size: 84 inches long, 36 inches wide, 36 inches tall (including the driver when seated).
- Four wheels. Wheels must be the same diameter front and rear unless approved at tech inspection.
- The car must have a working brake that can stop the car on the finish-area grade. Drag brakes that press on the pavement are acceptable; a brake that acts on the wheels is preferred.
- Steering must be positive (no rope-only steering). Steering must self-center or be stable at speed.
- The driver must be able to sit in a seat with a lap belt or a secured seat with sides. No lying prone.
- No sharp edges, protruding fasteners, or exposed hardware in the cockpit. Round off everything a hand or leg could hit.
- Combined weight of car and driver must not exceed the division limit. Ballast must be bolted, not taped.
3. Driver safety equipment
- A helmet (bicycle, skate, or motorsport) with the chin strap fastened at all times on the track and ramp.
- Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and a shirt with sleeves. Gloves are recommended.
- Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back.
- No phones, cameras, or loose objects in the cockpit during a run.
4. Tech inspection and weigh-in
Every car is inspected on race morning before it may run. Inspectors check brakes, steering, wheels and axles, cockpit safety, weight, and overall size.
A car that fails may be corrected and re-inspected until the driver meeting starts. A car that cannot pass will not run.
Cars that pass receive a tech sticker and are released to staging. Once released, no modifications other than wheel cleaning are allowed without re-inspection.
5. Race format
Each division runs qualifying heats followed by a lane-swap round, so every racer runs each lane once. Times are recorded electronically at the finish line.
Racers advance to semifinals and finals based on their combined lane-swap times. Ties are broken by the fastest single run.
A racer who leaves the lane, makes contact with another car, or fails to brake in the finish area may be scored as a non-finish for that run at the director's discretion.
Lanes are assigned randomly. Any lane re-run due to equipment failure will be ordered by the race director only.
6. Conduct
This is a mentorship event first and a race second. Racers, parents, and peer leaders are expected to treat every other participant with respect.
Only the driver and one handler may be in the staging lane. Parents and spectators remain behind the barriers at all times.
Unsportsmanlike conduct by a racer or by an adult on a racer's behalf may result in removal from the event without refund.
7. Protests and decisions
Protests must be made to the race director within 10 minutes of a heat finishing. The race director's decision is final.
Timing data from the electronic system is the official record. Hand-timed results are used only when the system is unavailable.