CLUB RULES AND REGULATIONS
These rules and regulations are supplementary to the rules and regulations of the BSMA but are complimentary to them. They are to be used as a guide to assist you when attending an EASSC meeting.
EASSC runs under the rules of the BSMA, extracts of which are printed here for your assistance. We have also included certain Supplementary Regulations of EASSC, which describe the running of a meeting.
1. Membership is per family and runs from January to December. Membership forms will be sent out at the end of every year. Riding numbers will be reserved until the end of January after which they will be issued on a first come first served basis. In the event of a number becoming available, it will be offered to a rider coming up from a lower group, so long as this is before the end of January.
2. Licences – All riders must be in possession of a racing licence issued by the BSMA. This is organised by the Club who will issue a temporary licence which is valid for 56 days. During this time the official licence will be issued by the BSMA. The riders’ current licence or temporary licence must always been shown at signing on at all Clubs.
All new licence holders are required to carry out an assessment prior to their temporary licence being issued. Please see the General Secretary before attending the Assessment. They will supply you with the necessary documentation. Details of the assessment are stated elsewhere in this document. The assessment will not need to be repeated so long as the licence does not lapse.
Day Licences are available on production of a valid licence issued by the ACU, BYMX, YSMA or AMCA. No day licence will be issued to anyone who cannot produce one of these licences.
3. Booking In – Please book in with the Competition Secretary on 07709 253536 no later than the Wednesday evening prior to the meeting. This not only gives us an indication of numbers, but ensures that your details can be printed in the programme. We will always try to accommodate riders but we cannot guarantee preference over non-club members if entries are received late.
4. Marshals – All riders must provide a marshal over the age of 18year old. We will endeavour to rotate marshals so that everyone is treated fairly but you must expect to marshal at every meeting. In the event of a shortage of marshals any family with more than one rider will be asked to marshal twice. The rule that each rider must provide a marshal is strictly enforced. If you have not marshaled before please tell the Chief Marshal when you are called so that the procedure can be explained or you can train with an experienced marshal. ALL 1ST HALF MARSHALS MUST BE OUT AT 9.45am AFTER SIGNING ON. 2ND half marshals will take over at the end of the nearest race after 1.30pm. Any marshal who leaves their post or fails to carry out their duties will be reported to the stewards.
5. Signing On – All riders must sign-on on the day of the meeting. Riders under 18 years cannot sign themselves – this must be done by a parent or legal guardian. Signing on will take place between 08.00hrs and 09.30hrs. In the event of a 2-day meeting signing on will take place on both days.
6. Any rider leaving the meeting before the end should inform the Secretary of the Meeting who’s name will be in the programme on the official’s page.
7. All vehicles must carry a non-water fire extinguisher of at least 1.5kg.
8. No gopeds or paddock bikes are permitted under any circumstances.
9. Riding in the paddock – Any rider found riding in the paddock will lose all their points from their best race. On a subsequent contravention of this rule the rider will be excluded from the meeting. The Committee will strictly enforce this rule.
10. Assessments – All riders are required to complete an assessment before being issued a licence. This is a requirement of the insurance company. The test is very basic and is designed to show that a rider has a fundamental knowledge of the machine, the flag signals, can pick up and start the bike and ride off unaided. Rider needs to collect paper work from General Secretary, prior to the assessment. The rider must be in full kit for the assessment and generally be at the start area by 9.00am. The machine will be scrutineered by the assessor on this occasion only.
Listed below are the questions asked.
Rider off machine – engine off
Know what flags mean – yellow flag, black flag and board, finish flag, red flag,
last lap flag.
Machine - front brake, clutch, stop switch, kick starter, rear brake, throttle, fuel tap.
Know what the 15 second board is and how it works.
Can rider operate all controls specified in machine section from riding position.
Can rider sit astride the machine unaided.
Does rider understand necessity of wearing protective clothing
Rider on machine
Can pick up the machine unaided.
Can rider start machine unaided.
Can rider pull away on flat and on gradient.
A start gate
Figure eight (50m x 25m)
Emergency stop.
11. Upgrades - The BSMA allows an automatic upgrade to the group that you will be eligible for in the next season after the 1st October. This Club does not allow that upgrade until after the last Club Championship meeting.
If you decide to upgrade during the year 2006 before October 1st you will have to pay for a new licence in your new group and you will lose your Championship points gained in your original riding group.
12. Scrutineering will take place in the paddock prior to the start of the meeting. Every rider must present their machine and helmet for inspection. In the event of a rider having a second machine both machines must be scrutineered before the start of the meeting.
In the event of a 2-day meeting, machines will be scrutineered on the second day. However this may take place on the start line before practice. A list of riders is given to the starter to check.
Listed below is what the scrutineer will check.
Helmet will be checked for:
1. Severe abrasions and cracks.
2. Condition of fastenings.
3. Complies with required standard.
Note: any helmet carrying an ACU silver or gold sticker will comply. Polycarbonate helmets must not have any aftermarket stickers applied.
Backgrounds and numbers:
Backgrounds must be correct for the respective group. Numbers must be clear and of the correct colour and size.
Remember if the lapscorers cannot read your number you will not be scored and the lapscorers decision is final.
Machine
The machine will be checked for general condition and safety. The following specific items will be checked:
1. Footrests, must fold freely.
2. Wheel bearings, excess wear.
3. Wheels – missing or loose spokes.
4. Handlebars, properly fixed, twist grip returns, grips secure.
5. Steering, head bearing wear, stops, free and smooth movement.
6. Sprocket guards, front and rear must prevent a finger being trapped between the chain and sprocket.
7. Suspension front and rear, efficiency and rebound.
8. Stop button, efficiency.
9. Petrol pipes and levers, secure.
The scrutineer will advise any items that are considered needing attention. If the
machine has a fault that the scrutineers consider unsafe they will ask for the
machine to be presented again. This also applies to backgrounds and numbers.
The machine will only be ticked off the list when the scrutineer is satisfied.
13. The Start – Approach the ‘parc ferme’ in plenty of time for your race. Generally when the previous group has been called to the line or when called. Before you enter the ‘parc ferme’ you will be asked to pick a peg. This is done at random and will decide your position in the parc.
In races where peg positions are decided by the finishing order of the previous race in your group, the peg person will allocate your number.
Enter the ‘parc ferme’ when instructed and reverse on to your number as displayed. When the starter calls for the next race, you will be released from the parc in numerical order. You will then get your choice of start gate.
The Starter will display a green flag to every rider on the line to show that they are “under starters orders” you are requested to acknowledge this. The 15 second board will then be raised, which will then turn to display five seconds. The start gate will fall at ANY time within these five seconds.
If a rider has a mechanical problem on the line they must raise their hand. The start will be delayed for up to two minutes. It will not be repeated and it will never be delayed after the 15 second board has been shown.
If you do not consider it possible to start your bike in the two minutes please pull off the line immediately. In the event of a failure of the start gate a Union Flag will be used. The 15 and 5 second board will be shown and the Union Flag raised during the 5 second period. Start on the up stroke of the flag.
14. The Finish – A yellow flag with a black diagonal cross will be shown at the finish line to indicate that you are on the last lap. The first rider to complete that lap will be shown the chequered flag denoting the finish. No rider must race after the chequered flag. Red flags will be shown at the pull off, no rider must pass the red flag. The winner of the race is permitted a lap of honour but under no circumstances will overtake a rider still competing in the race, even if that rider is stopped.
15. At the end of the meeting – Clearing up - At the end of the meeting the awards will be given out. There will be a delay while the lapscorers work out the placings. Please remember that there is always a lot of equipment to be put away and any help is appreciated. Please speak to any member of the Track and Equipment Team who will advise how you can help. Please do not leave litter and clean up the area around your vehicle. Someone has to!!
Please do not leave any mud on the road as you leave the track as it could cause an accident.
16. Club Championship – The rules for this will be published before the start of the season. Every effort is made not to change rules once published but are subject to change at the Committee’s discretion. If however a change has to be made details will be published in the programme and on our web site. Riders who have completed enough championship races to qualify will whatever position they come at the end of the season, be presented a trophy at the Presentation.
17. Abandonment of a meeting - If a meeting is abandoned for any reason, points will be scored for any completed race. If the meeting is abandoned mid way through a block those races completed will count towards the Club Championship in that group but not to highest points scored at the end of the season.
We will not start a block if we consider that there is insufficient time to complete it. However, we reserve the right to reduce race time to achieve this.
No monies can be refunded to any rider that has taken part in any practice.
Points scored at EASSC meetings are the same as the BSMA rules. Points will be awarded to all competing riders in the form 45, 43, 41, 39, 37, 35, 34 down to 1. The highest point scorer shall be the winner. In the event of a tie, the rider gaining the greatest number of 1st places in any leg/race shall take the premier position. If this fails to decide a tie, then the rider gaining the greater number of second places and so on shall take the premier position. If still a tie, then the rider obtaining the higher placing in the final leg/race shall take the premier position.
To qualify for a finish a rider and machine must cross the finish line together and unaided, without having left the marked course or being deemed retired.
If anyone would like to learn to lapscore please give your name to the Chief Lapscorer as we are always looking for more help.
18. Protests are to be made to the Clerk of the Course within 30 minutes of the end of the race or from the time the results are posted if the protest concerns the result. If you are unhappy with his decision an application in writing can be made to the Stewards of the Meeting which must be accompanied by a payment of £25 and lodged with the Secretary of the Meeting. Under no circumstances will any protest be considered that is outside the 30 minute time limit.
19. Communication – The Club will publish a newsletter before and at the end of the season and at other times as required. The Club also has a web site that is regularly updated with hyperlinks to other useful sites and an e-mail address for you to communicate with the Club. You can e-mail to this address and your message will be passed to the relevant person.
20. Directions to tracks (Always look for the orange arrows)
Lawling Hall Farm, Latchingdon, Essex.
Latchingdon is situated on the B1018 south of Maldon. At the mini roundabout by the church, take the road sign posted Mayland. Lawling Hall Farm is about 2 miles on the left.
Claydons Farm, Back Lane, East Hanningfield, Essex.
East Hanningfield is south of Chelmsford off the old A130. From Rettendon tr at The Bell Pub follow signs to East Hanningfield. Come into the village and follow signs to Howe Green and Chelmsford. Back Lane is about half a mile on the left. After a short distance the road takes a 90 degree left, Claydons Farm is dead ahead.
Chappell, Essex.
From the A12 take the A1124 Colchester to Halstead Road, towards Halstead. Follow this road for about 5 miles until you see a large railway viaduct. Pass under the viaduct and turn immediately left at the cross roads into The Street, go through the village past The Swan pub and look for Oak Road on the right. This is a narrow lane and track is at the top of the hill on the right. BEWARE in the middle of the village there is a right hand turn by a grass triangle, this is dead end.
Hildersham: From M11 J 9 take A11 towards Newmarket. T R onto A1307 towards Haverhill. At Gt Abingdon crossroads T L to Hildersham. Track is half a mile on left.
From Haverhill take A1307 towards Cambridge at Gt Abingdon crossroads T L towards Hildersham. Track is half a mile on left.
NOTE: Do not take the first turning to Hildersham as this will take you through the village.
Motoland UK, West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk.
From Mildenhall town follow signs to West Row, past the air base. At the T junction tl and the tr, sp Stadium. Follow this road for a few miles, the stadium is on the left and Motoland UK is behind it.
21. BSMA Regional Qualifiers (Semi Finals)
The top riders in EASSC’s Club Championship (accept for Autos) by 30 April will go forward to the Regional Qualifer. (The licence for these riders to be issued by EASSC.) Only licence forms received before and up to 24 April will be counted. In every group places will be allocated pro rata the BSMA Member’s membership. There will be Regional Qualifiers with four races at each event. In the event of only three races or less being run all races to count. One Two Day final will be run at a stated venue. Regional Qualifiers and Final – reserve entries will not be allocated after five days prior to the event. All riders riding with the BSMA Championship shall be members of a BSMA Club and hold a valid BSMA competition licence with that club.
22. Team Event
In September generally the BSMA run a team event. This event is selected Clubs entering teams of four riders from each group accept for Autos. All members of the team must be registered licence holders of EASSC to be eligible for the team and raced in at least three club championship meetings with the club. The team manager is responsible for selecting and running the team. There is no laid down criteria for selection. This event is paid for by the Club and a team manager is selected to run the team. Anyone is welcome to come and support the team and on the Saturday evening each Club has a barbeque which turns into a great social event which our Club could easily be the winner of!!! The BSMA Club that wins this event then runs the meeting the following year.
23. Presentation
At the end of the season the Club holds a Presentation Evening where Club Championship and perpetual trophies are awarded. Club Championship points are posted on our website but are not always 100% correct but the chief lapscorer will always have up to date figures and will keep riders up to date at meetings with these points. The venue changes from year to year. At this event each rider in the Club Championship will receive an award for the position that they obtain. This is given out by a special guest and a photographer is present to record this event. The format of the evening changes but always consists of the presentation of awards disco and various raffles. Help is always required to set the hall up for this event, if you have time on the day to help please contact the Social Secretary.
These rules are only to be used as a guide and you should be familiar with the BSMA rule book.