Grand Nationals

[Shannon Schmidt]

Just wondering if anyone can answer a few questions about Grand Nationls.

1. What is the format of qualifying, heat races and finals?

2. About how many racers will attend?

3. I read in the maxchallenge website, that regional distributors are to contibute $1500 for a sponsorship fund. Does that money go to the racers that qualify for Grand Nationals from that region?

I have never particiapated or attended a national race and I am curious to learn how these events work.

[Oscar Aguilera]

You must be a top 5 regional RMC qualifying race competitor. And one of the top 5 must be over 35 years of age. That driver must have been 35 before the 2002 calendar year. You may also qualify from one of the one off events that is listed at the SSC RMC web-site.

After you qualify by these rules you then sign up. Check with your local RMC series organizer.

Once you get there the schedule is set. There are days to practice and then qualify. The qualifying last year was by time. You had I think 20 minutes on the track and your best time was taken. During this time you may come in and make adjustments to your kart but you can't leave the hot grid. Once you decide to roll over the scales your Qualifing session is done regardless of how much time is still left. The time on the track was seperated by your assigned number. Like karts 1-10 in one group and then the next group 11-20.

After you qualify the total karts will be seperated into letter groups. Example the first 4 karts would be the fastest time (#1 qualifier in group A and then #2 in Group B etc. If all 68 karts show up (which I am sure we will have more trying to get in), then that will determine how many letter groups will make it. So qualifying 5th in a 4 letter group field would put you starting second row inside group A every heat.n You will start every heat in the same group and the same position everytime.

After the gruops are made the first heat is Group A against Group B and Group C against Group D. Every group will race each other group once.

They will then take the top 30 drivers by finishing score and will make the prefinal grid. Of the remaining karts that don't make the top 30 there will be a Last Change Qualifier. The LCQ will line up their grid by heat finishes as well and then only the top 6 will go to the prefinal grid with the top 30.

After that the top determined 36 karts will race a prefinal. By your finish in the prefinal you will line up for the final race.

All this is done on one set of tires unitl you make the prefinal. Those that make the prefinal will get a new set of tires. This includes the official practice day. You will get your tires before official practice starts.
Once tires and fuel is handed out they will be impounded every time you leave the grid area.

It is intense, bring a mechanic, don't expect to be able to do it without one.

Tom Argy (race director)is the best in the Business and he runs a tight ship. (he yells alot if you mess up but don't mind him he is very fair). Tom was very laid back last year but I suspect with more entries this year and it being the second year he will be a little less flexible. Tom of course kept in mind that most RMC drivers have not done this before as this is the amatuer level. That is who the class is designed to be for, but we will run under CIK rules which are more intense than most US sanctionaing body rules with the parc ferme (impounding)

Don't let this sound intimidating, it is fun and all the drivers are very helpful.

Oh ya, the $$$. Your license fee, entry fee, and the sponsors contribution, goes to the track rental (it is all Rotax and nothing else on the track at the RMC nats) The race directing along with the cost of personnel in Parc Ferme, the advertinsing in publications, some prizes (they are listed at the ssc rotax site) The tires and gas we will use, the winners trips to South Africa.

Oscar

[ August 12, 2002: Message edited by: Oscar Aguilera ]

[Shannon Schmidt]

Oscar...I just thought of a question. You mentioned that tires are distributed at the start of practice. Would I be allowed to use a spare set of tires that I bring for practice and use the parc ferme tires for qualifying, racing, and the rest of the event?

[Bill Wright]

Shannon,

Since Oscar has not responded, I'll jump in and do so.

You must be on the same set of "offical" tires from the first "official" practice session until the pre-final ( if your good/lucky enough to get there! ).

The difference is "official" sessions. If you are there on "unofficial" days, you can do whatever you want. But once the "official" competition begins, which includes an "official" practice, you must be on "their" tires ( provided as part of your entry ) until the pre-final.

Bill Wright
"Get on Course!" with FK www.formulakart.com

[Oscar Aguilera]

What Bill said. You can go to the top of this page and click on the SSC logo. When yoiu get to that site go to the RMC logo and all the info is there.

I just gave you the race format that's all.

[Shannon Schmidt]

WOW! Thanks Oscar for the novel! I really appreciate the thorough reply. Maybe Rmax should emply you to write their website since their description of Grand Nationals is so vague. I assume you competed last year?