1. Rules and Code of Conduct

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Racing model cars is a fun activity for individuals or families. Grassroots Vintage Raceway aims to be a casual friendly environment that encourages co-operation and positive social engagement. While we do engage in friendly competition, this environment discourages "winning-at-all-cost" mindsets.

Grab a coffee and make yourself familiar with our Rules and Code of Conduct.

All participants/guests MUST sign a waiver here.
All participants shall follow the Code of Conduct outlined below.
Enclosed shoes must be worn at all times. No thongs or bare feet are allowed. There are known Jack Jumper nests on the property, and can be the presence of thorns and prickles. Also, ever had a car hit your foot at speed? Wear shoes.
Anyone affected by alcohol, drugs, medication, fatigue or any other condition to the extent that safety or judgement may be compromised will not be permitted to drive, marshal, charge or handle batteries, or otherwise participate in track activities.
Please treat the venue with respect and tidy up after yourself. If something happens please let the Host know ASAP.
Please do not go into areas or rooms that are not the race or pit areas.
Kids are your responsibility. Please keep them out of the racing area unless they are driving or marshaling. Parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising children in their care at all times.
Entry to the Grassroots Vintage Raceway property is by invitation or permission only. Permission to enter or remain on the property may be withdrawn at any time.
Grassroots Vintage Raceway is a family-friendly venue. Participants, spectators and visitors must use language and behave in a manner appropriate around children and families.
Grassroots Vintage Raceway may photograph or record race meetings for promotional, reporting and historical purposes. Anyone who does not wish to appear in photographs or video should notify an organiser before participating or entering spectator areas.
Grassroots Vintage Raceway operates on private property. Participants and visitors must respect the facilities, neighbouring properties, livestock, wildlife and surrounding environment, and may enter only areas designated for participants or spectators.
Participants are responsible for arranging any personal accident, health, public liability or property insurance they consider appropriate. Grassroots Vintage Raceway does not provide insurance cover for participants’ vehicles, equipment or personal belongings.
Participants must comply with all reasonable directions given by race officials, property owners and designated safety personnel. Refusal to comply may result in removal from a race, the meeting or the property.
Participants must respect the track, pits, facilities and surrounding environment. All rubbish, broken parts, cable ties and damaged tyres must be collected before leaving. Accidental damage should be reported promptly.
Participants, spectators and visitors must treat one another with respect. Abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, bullying, discriminatory language or deliberately disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated.
Participation in Grassroots Vintage Raceway activities is voluntary. By attending or participating, each person acknowledges that radio-controlled motorsport and outdoor recreational activities involve inherent risks. Participants are responsible for ensuring that their equipment is safe and suitable for use and participate at their own risk.
Questions about racing incidents, marshalling, vehicle eligibility or results must be raised calmly with an official away from the track and after the race where practical. Public arguments, aggressive confrontation and persistent criticism of officials or other participants are not acceptable. Feedback and rule suggestions are welcome outside active race proceedings.
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the Grassroots Vintage Raceway property.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Grassroots Vintage Raceway, the property owners, organisers, volunteers and officials accept no responsibility for injury, death, loss or damage to persons, vehicles, equipment or other property arising from participation in, or attendance at, a Grassroots Vintage Raceway activity.
Class-era dates are approximate historical guides rather than automatic eligibility boundaries. Classic Kit and Golden Era cover broadly the same approx 1988-and-earlier generation but use different technical regulations. Evolution Era broadly represents approx 1988–1995 technology and may include earlier advanced works cars or official prototype recreations assigned there by the register. Final eligibility is determined by the published class specification, the approved vehicle register and applicable Grassroots Vintage Raceway Register Decisions.
Dangerous or deliberate driving, including intentionally striking another car, person or track facility, may result in an immediate warning, race penalty, disqualification or removal from the venue, depending on severity.
Deliberate contact, retaliation, blocking, repeated corner-cutting, interference with another competitor’s vehicle, equipment or driving position, and attempts to manipulate results or gain an unfair advantage are prohibited.
Depending on the nature and severity of an incident, officials may issue a verbal warning, apply a race penalty, require a participant to sit out a race, disqualify an entry or meeting result, remove a person from the venue, or exclude them from future Grassroots Vintage Raceway activities. Serious conduct may result in immediate removal without a prior warning.
A LapMonitor transponder must be securely fitted for laps to be counted. Transponder must be mounted rear of the windscreen, ideally so it looks through the side window of the car. Mounting at the front of the car is prohibited. The mount should work on either side of the car for reverse track laps.
All cars must have reverse disabled on the ESC.
Bodies must be original vintage/retro style, cab-rear, lexan/polycarbonate, or original Tamiya hard body. Windows must be clear.
Bumper bars are encouraged but not required.
Excessive or unauthorised modifications may result in the vehicle being bumped up to the next class, moved to Open, or disqualified.
Original competition buggies first released from the late 1980s through to the mid-1990s may qualify for Golden or Evolution Era, subject to the normal body, scale, vehicle-type and architectural requirements. The boundary between Golden Era and Evolution Era is determined by design generation and architecture rather than release year alone. Original competition designs falling after the Evolution Era qualify for Modern Retro only where they have explicit retro, heritage, continuation, faithful-replica or approved recreational vintage-style intent. A traditional body, cab-rear layout or rear-motor configuration alone is insufficient. Official re-releases, faithful continuations and approved replicas are classified according to the represented era of the underlying design. Modern reinterpretations that materially depart from the original design are assessed as new vehicles under the Modern Retro criteria. Modern Retro remains separate from Open.
Official re-releases are permitted in all applicable classes and inherit the eligibility of the original car unless noted otherwise.
Faithful modern continuation / replica cars inherit the class eligibility of the original car they copy unless noted otherwise.
LiPos must have hard cases and be stored/charged in product-specific safety equipment.
Modifications that alter tyre size are prohibited.
Tyre sauce is prohibited.
No sharp, pointed or hard objects are to be mounted to the outside of any car.
Vehicles must not be driven at speed in the pit area, spectator areas, access lanes or car park. Cars should be placed on a suitable stand when powered in the pits, rotating wheels must be kept clear of people and objects, and vehicle testing must take place only in designated areas.
We are racing for fun. It is not F1. It is not IFMAR. It is not ROAR. There are no prizes.
You must track marshal the race following yours.
The rules cannot anticipate every vehicle, component or situation. Where uncertainty exists, eligibility and interpretation will be determined according to the intent and spirit of the rules rather than by exploiting technical loopholes. Officials’ decisions are final for the current meeting.

The following Code of Conduct is in place for all guests and participants at Grassroots Vintage Raceway.

TLDR: Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated.

What is unacceptable behavior?

Unacceptable behavior is behavior that can hurt someone either physically or emotionally including:

Unwelcome and offensive behavior, bullying, bad language, harassment, discrimination, abusing power, or taking advantage of, or threatening someone. It can make the environment very unpleasant and sometimes unsafe.
No abusive or foul language will be tolerated, on the track, in the pits or in front of younger members. We wish to maintain a family atmosphere and children may be present.
Any vandalism and/or property damage.
Behavior that seems okay to one person may actually hurt or offend someone else. Anything that constitutes a breach of the Law will be referred to the Police.

When unacceptable behaviour occurs

If you experience unacceptable behavior, you need to let the Host know as soon as possible so that the behavior doesn’t happen again and so you can be helped. You don’t deserve to be hurt.

Be accountable for your actions and decisions. Be responsible for your actions and do not blame others or make excuses for your behavior.

If anything happens that you are concerned about, whether it relates to you or to someone else at the Club, please contact the Host ASAP.

Racing/Marshalling behavior

Always compete within the rules outlined in the Handbook and respect decisions.

No deliberate bumping or ramming while racing. In the (highly) unlikely event you feel that someone is purposely hitting your car - report to the Host directly. Do not engage with the other driver directly.

Good communication is essential. You must shout out when your car stops or is immobile on the track. This will help avoid accidents and broken cars.

Faster drivers should remember that it is sometimes faster to drive around slower cars. The faster car will be responsible for selecting and executing the proper passing option.

If you crash, do not keep the throttle pulled. The marshal can and will put your car on its roof until the wheels have stopped (this is for safety reasons).

Drivers must not swear at the marshals or other drivers.

You will be expected to marshal after your race. It is hoped that anyone who is not racing can assist with marshalling.

Other Code of Conduct Concerns

We want kids to race and have fun but they must have adult supervision and not be allowed to be unsupervised!

Please clean up after yourself and throw away any rubbish.

The use of illicit drugs is strictly prohibited. Being under the influence is considered inappropriate. No illicit drugs to be brought onto the property.

Penalties for unacceptable behavior

Unacceptable behaviour, or other CoC breaches, may result in one or more of the following:

A request for an apology to any and all members affected - this should be a given!
A warning will be issued.
Your heat or final struck from the record.
You will be asked to leave for the day.
You will be asked to leave with an extended ban.
You will be asked to never return.
Police will be contacted.

Nice things you can do

Help newcomers with their vehicles. Make them feel welcome!
Praise and compliment good driving.
Recognise peoples improvements.
Always respect opponents both on and off track and applaud good performances from other racers.
Help with set-up and pack down. It is always amazing how quick this is when everyone pitches in!

This CoC uses some text from https://arcr.org.au/Forms/ARCR_CoC.pdf