SFK Rules 2022 (rev 1-17-2022)
I. Membership
All racers must be members of the South Florida Karting, Inc. Membership is included in the registration or entry fee.
Registration is $35 per class which includes a daily membership in the organization.
II. Race Day Format
1. Gates will open at 9:00 am.
- Controlled practice will be from 10:00 am to 11:30 pm.
- Drivers meeting will be at 12:00 noon.
- Racing will start at 1:00.
- Efforts will be made to complete the race day by 6:00 pm - weather and sunlight are factors.
2. Each class will get one or two practice session, depending on the weather and time available, two 10 lap heat races and a 20 lap feature race. Novice/Rookie will run 8 laps heat races and 15 laps for the feature.
3. All drivers and karts must be registered and fees paid prior to entering the track for practice.
4. Relief Driver:
- If and when a relief driver is necessary for a driver of record, the use of a relief driver must be reported to SFK officials at registration.
- A driver of record may not use a relief driver for more than three events.
- A relief driver must meet all class rule requirements, be recorded on the entry sheet, and pay the required registration fee.
- Relief drivers do not receive points or race credit.
- All point earned by the relief driver will inure to the driver of record.
- If a driver is unable to continue driving their normal kart in their normal class for the remainder of the season due to disability the points and 75% rule will remain with the kart for trophy in that class. The original racer may not at anytime that year drive that race kart or another race kart at Hobe Sound Speedway.
- Drivers may not be switched in the middle of the race day. The driver who drives the heat races must also drive the feature. The penalty for violating this rule will be 0 points for the race day.
5. Starting positions for the first and second heat races will be determined by draw of the pill. The second heat will be inverted from the first heat.
6. Starting position for the feature will be determined by the finish of the heat races. In the event of a tie, the lowest number pill drawn for that class will have the advantage.
7. In case of rain, every effort will be made to complete the race on the race day.
In case of rain out:
- Registered drivers will be given credit for registration for the next rain date.
- There will be no refunds given.
- If practice or heats are run on a rained out day, participants will not be given an entry credit for admission since insurance must be paid if karts enter the track on that day.
- The race will be made up on the next rain make up day on the schedule.
- On the rain make up day, the race day schedule will start from the beginning.
- If both heat races have been completed and the race is rained out, the race day is over. Points will be awarded by the starting order of the Feature had it been run.
8. All Feature Race winners will be allowed a victory lap with the checkered flag.
9. Race results will be final at the conclusion of the race day. Any concerns or protests must be addressed by the end of the race day.
III. Kart Requirements
1. All karts must be safety teched prior to entering the racing surface by a track safety tech.
2. Brakes must be in working condition. No scrub type brakes allowed.
3. Wolf plates MUST be installed and safety wired above the brake rotor.
4. AKRA Mufflers are required and must be securely attached.
5. All Youth Classes (except Junior Sportsman 3 and Junior Champ) shall run AKRA "weenie" type headers and RLV mini 91 mufflers with safety wire securely wrapped/sleeved from mounting flange to silencer - no wrapping/sleeving allowed on silencer.
6. All lead must be painted white with the kart’s number marked on each weight.
- Lead must be securely bolted to the kart frame or the seat using aircraft nuts or double nutted.
- Lead may not be bolted to the kart bodywork.
- 5/16" bolts minimum; 10 pounds requires 3/8" bolt and any weight over 10 pounds must have two bolts.
- Weight bolted to seat must have minimum 1" diameter washer.
- Loss of weight during race will result in DQ for that race.
7. All kart numbers must be at least 6 inches. Numbers must be in a contrasting color from the kart body and must be displayed on both sides and front of the kart.
8. Hobe Sound Speedway has a Vega brand tire rule for all classes
- Maximum wheel size is 6”
- Maximum tire width is 10 3/8”.
9. Gear Rule(s)
- Novice and Rookie classes (red plate) shall run a 16 tooth driver and a 63 tooth rear gear.
- The Powder Puff class (local class not AKRA) shall run a 16 tooth driver and 60 tooth rear gear.
- The Box Stock GP class (local class not AKRA) shall run a 16 tooth driver and the minimum rear gear is 60 tooth.
- All other classes have no gear restrictions.
10. No overhead spoilers permitted.
11. All appropriate bolts must be safety clipped or safety wired.
12. All Kart must have front and rear bumpers. All Youth (15 years and under) flat karts shall have a full width loop-type bumper (tire to tire) for the rear bumper.
13. All Karts must have left and right nerf bars installed and pinned or side bumpers.
14. All karts with driver must meet minimum class weight and kart requirements after each heat race and the feature race.
15. All karts are subject to tech inspection after the feature race. Any area of the kart is subject to post-race inspection. All classes will use AKRA 2021 (2022 when published) rules, except as modified herein by more restrictive SFK Rules, such as no porting and polishing on Box Stock engines for example. It is the driver’s responsibility to stay current with posted engine specs.
Floor pans must remain inside of frame rails of chasis, no air foils, spoilers between chassis and kart body.
IV. Driver Requirements
1. All drivers must have a completed membership form on file before entering the track. If the driver is a minor, a copy of the birth certificate (or passport) and an Annual Parent Consent form must also be submitted. Each Minor shall also have an Event Consent form for each event on file.
2. All drivers must compete in the class assigned to their age group. All SFK classes have a minimum "competitive age" requirement for drivers; some classes also have a maximum age limit. Age requirements are stated in the Class Rules. A Driver's actual age as of December 31st shall establish his/her "competitive age" for the next racing year. A driver has the option to compete the racing season in the age level that they started, provided their actual age at the start of the year is within the age range within the class requirements. Example: a driver who is 10 years old may race the 8-10 or the 10-12 age class.
A driver may run in an older age range class provided that they are of the correct age by June 30th of the racing year and have demonstrated sufficient driving skills to advance. Example: A 9 year old driver with a birthday on or before June 30th may compete in the 10-12 year age class.
Once a driver competes in the older class they may not race for points in the younger class. Exception: if a minor driver advances to the next higher age or performance level but is unable to demonstrate the driving skills to safely compete at the higher level, the driver may be moved back to his/her original level and shall race at that level for the remainder of the competition year. The decision to move the driver back in class is at the sole discretion of the Race Director.
3. Required driver safety equipment
- All drivers must wear a full face helemt - SNELL 2015 (or newer); or SFI 2015 (or newer) 24.1 rated helmet for youth drivers.
- Cameras may be mounted on helmets but not on any part of the driver's body. All cameras/recorders must be Velcro secured or securely taped mounted on the helmets - there shall be no screws or bolts used to secure the device to the helmet. It is preferred to mount any camera/recording device to the top of the body or frame, within the confines of the body work.
- All drivers must wear a racing or track approved abrasion jacket or suit, long pants, closed shoes and gloves.
- Racers must wear a neck support or brace on the track at all times.
- Champ karts must use a 5 point restraint system and arm/wrist restraints.
- The use of a halo restraint for the head is highly suggested for champ karts.
V. Racing Procedures
1. Flags and their meanings:
- Red – Stop on the track and wait for instructions.
- Yellow (Caution) – slow to pace lap speed. Be aware that there is likely an obstruction on the race track.
- Black – Exit the track at your next opportunity. Use the infield runoff area/victory lane.
- Green – The track is under racing conditions.
- White – One lap of green racing conditions until the finish of the race. Once the white flag is displayed, the next flag, checkered or yellow finishes the race.
- Checkered (Black and White) – The race has been completed. Proceed to the pit area as soon as possible. (please do a brake check before entering the pits)
- Blue/Yellow stripe – Move to the outside line on the track, you are about to be lapped by faster traffic.
2. Racers are to line up on the starting grid in the order that is posted on the grid board.
- There is to be only one other person on grid with kart.
- All kart wagons (buggies) must be put in designated area and not left on the grid.
3. No tools allowed on the grid except a tire pressure gauge.
4. There will be at least one warm up lap before the green flag is displayed. If a kart is unable to enter the track for the warm up lap, the driver will be placed at the end of the field after the first pace lap has been completed.
5. When the flag man gives the "one to go" signal, karts are to line up double file for the start of the race. The pole sitter has the option of starting between the cones/line entering turn 4 to the cones/line exiting turn 4. If the leader does not fire by the second line, the field is free to fire when they reach the second line.
6. If there is an accident or other obstruction on the track, a yellow (caution) flag will be displayed. Once the caution is displayed, all drivers must slow down to pace speed. The primary objective of the flagmen under yellow flag conditions is to slow kart traffic. Any driver involved in an incident should signal the safety workers that they are uninjured by tapping the top of their helmet if they are in fact, uninjured. Any driver involved in an incident will be subject to being cleared to return to competition by the track medical staff.
7. Drivers should line up in single file so the proper order can be confirmed by the scoring tower.
- The re-start order will be determined by the order of the last completed lap.
- The driver (s) who brought out the caution will be moved to the back of the field on the re-start. It is the Race Director's responsibility to decide who caused the caution vs. who was caught up in the caution.
8. It is the responsibility of the driver in the lead to set a reasonable pace speed for the field.
9. Restart will be single file (Unless alternate double file restarts is discussed and approved at the Driver's Meeting). No weaving allowed during a single file restart. Anyone caught jumping the start will be sent to the rear of the field. The leader again can fire between the two starting lines.
10. Engine Restarts - There may be one engine restart allowed per kart should a yellow flag be displayed during a heat or feature race. Karts that leave the racing surface once the green flag has dropped may be restarted by Track Officials under a caution flag (or by a crew member authorized by the Race Director to bring a starter to the stalled kart). An engine that stalls while the line-up is being corrected by Race Officials may be restarted. Restarting of an engine before the green flag does not count.
11. Any driver who fails to drive in a safe manner, or who is considered by the Race Director to be driving in an inappropriate manner, will be shown the black flag and must exit the race track for that race.
- The driver will be scored with 0 points for the race.
- The exception to this rule is if any kart / driver is black flagged for equipment problems, then the driver will be scored with last place points for that race.
12. An aggressive drivers who takes out another kart to gain a position will be sent to the rear of the field if caution flag is waved and the kart(s) which was taken out will retain the position prior to the yellow flag.
13. In the event of an accident, we realize that family and friends are concerned, however, please do not enter the track area until instructed by officials. This will help in preventing an additional accident until we can get the karts stopped. Only immediate family will be permitted on the track once the race director signals that the track is clear.
14. If you need to get off the track during a heat or feature please go to the infield. The gate from the grid to the track will be closed at all times during a race.
15. Upon leaving the track at the end of a heat or feature all drivers must slow down, move to the outside of track and SIGNAL BEFORE ENTERING PITS (Hand Raised!!!!).
16. No Karts will be permitted to drive in the pits. Engines will be started in the grid area. At the end of each race the karts will be pushed to the pit area, engines must be turned off prior to entering scaling area. NO EXCEPTIONS! ANYONE DRIVING IN THE PIT WILL LOOSE POINTS FOR THAT DAY.
17. After the heat races and feature race, all karts must go directly to scales. One crew member is allowed in scale area.
18. In the event of a caution, all karts involved will restart at the rear.
19. Black Flag for Driving Infraction - The waving of a black flag is used to tell a racer he or she has been disqualified due to on-track infraction such as bumping, pushing, blocking, rough driving or other unsafe or unsportsmanship activity. If the black flag is given during a race, the driver will receive zero points for the race. Based on the severity of the infraction, the Race Director will inform the driver immediately if further penalities are being assessed. Failure to leave the track after receiving the black flag for two laps may also result in additional penalties.
A rolled black flag is a warning regarding unsafe or unsportsmanlike driving. Ignoring a warning will result in the use of waving the black flag. If a racer gets out of their kart and approaches another driver, whether the other kart is stopped or rolling on the track, the driver will be disqualified from the event and will receive an un-droppable zero points.
20. Black Flag for Mechanical Violation - The waving black flag is also used during practice, qualifying and racing to signal a driver of a technical mechanical infraction. Failure to leave the track after receiving the black flag for two consecutive laps may result in disqualification. If the black flag is used for a safety violation, scoring will cease as of the lap on which the black flag was first displayed. If the flag is used for technical violation that could potentially improve performance and the violation occurred during qualification, the racer will start at the rear of the field. If the flag is displayed during the feature, the racer will receive zero points for the race.
Safety Violation is defined as: missing neck brace, broken muffler, etc.
Technical Violation is defined as: muffler falling off, etc.
VI. Conduct by all Racers and Spectators
It is the goal of South Florida Karting to provide and promote a family atmosphere where all racers, young and old, can benefit from the racing experience in a safe and positive way. It is everyone’s responsibility to exhibit good sportsmanship and promote a safe, fair and open racing environment at the Hobe Sound Speedway.
Everyone entering the track pit area must complete all required insurance paperwork including minor release forms for anyone entering the pits under the age of 18. A parent or legal guardian must complete the Minor Release Form before a minor will be allowed in the pit or track area. Everyone in the pit area must have and wear a wristband as proof of insurance documentation.
VII. The Race Director:
- The Race Director is here to help each race day run smoothly and to enforce SFK rules and procedures.
- The Race Director has final say on all actions taken on race Day.
- The Race Director has the right to warn, suspend, or eject from the property, any crew member, family member, driver or spectator whose actions are determined to be detrimental to the sport of racing, or who risks the safety of anyone at the track on race day. If you have a problem, make the Race Director aware of the problem. Problems cannot be corrected if the Race Director is not made aware of them.
VIII. Track Rules
1. No one is allowed to enter the track area unless given permission by the race director.
2. ZERO TOLERANCE
- Using any type of controlled substance; marijuana, cocaine, etc. will result in a
one year suspension from all SFK events. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Driving a race under the influence of alcohol will result in a one year suspension from all SFK events. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Any one who violates local or state controlled substance laws at the race track will be turned over to local law enforcement by the Race Director.
3. Anyone caught intentionally dumping oil on the ground will be permanently banned from the race track. Oil disposal shall be collected and transported offsite as no waste oil barrels exist on site.
4. Any racer whether a minor or an adult is responsible for the conduct of their pit crew and support personnel at all times. Arguing, threatening, intimating or using profanity at one of the track volunteers, another racer, or race officials shall not be tolerated. Unacceptable behavior will be grounds for disqualification and shall result in ejection from the track. This applies to driver and/or pit crew, parents, etc.
5. No racer, family member, or support personnel is allowed in the fenced in area around the scoring tower, including the scoring tower when there is racing activity on the track. Communication with the flagman, scoring officials and corner workers when they are working is not allowed as it may distract those officals from their duties. Any violation of this rule may result in a “DQ” for the driver of relation.
6. Children must be supervised on race days. Families who do not supervise their children may be removed from the premises by the race director.
7. All racers and families are responsible for leaving the pits clean and ready for mowing. Please collect and properly dispose of trash offsite. Tires may not be disposed of at the track.
8. Inappropriate and offensive off site actions including use of social media to demean, ridicule or intimidate others are considered to be contrary to the overall purpose for the South Florida Karting, Inc. to promote a family-friendly environment, the kart racing sport, and the track facilities. There is no useful purpose of such behavior and such use of social media may result in disqualification and possible ejection from the track facilities.
9. The SFK is committed to providing our young racers with the best and safest possible racing experience. The Hobe Sound Speedway is a family racing venue. It is everyone’s responsibility, racers, spectators and officials to conduct themselves accordingly. Anyone who demonstrates repeated conduct not supporting the goals and mission of the track will be refused admission and the services of South Florida Karting.
IX. – Protest Procedures
PROTEST:
- Must be delivered to the Race Director in writing
- A Protest Fee of $200.00 must be given to the Race Director
with the letter of protest.
-The protest letter must outline the specific reasons for Protest
- A Driver who is in a race has 15 minutes after the checkered flag and completion of the race to initiate a Protest according to the format listed above.
1. A Protest fee of $200.00 will be paid to the Race Director by the Driver bringing the Protest.
2. The Protesting Driver must submit his/her kart for inspection prior to the Protested Driver being inspected. If the Protesting Driver is found to be in violation, the Protest is terminated.
3. If the Protested Driver and Kart are found to be in compliance with all rules, the money will be distributed as follows: Track receives $100, the Protested Driver receives $100.
4. If the Protested Driver and Kart are found to be in violation of published rules, the money will be distributed as follows: Track receives $100; the Protesting Driver receives $100.
5. If a Protested kart is found to be in violation of published rules under the Protest Rules,the penalty is loss of points for that day. In addition, 5 points will be deducted from the driver’s totals for the year.
6. If a Protesting Driver or Protested Driver refuses to tear down for tech after a points race, the penalty will be loss of points for that race. In addition, 10 points will be deducted from the driver’s total points and the driver will incur a one race suspension.
7. Refusal to tear down or submit to Tech Inspection will result in the kart being considered illegal as above in item #6.
8. The Track reserves the right to tear down any kart at any time as part of Inspection and not as provided under Protest Procedures. Penalty for failed Tech Inspection is DQ and loss of points for the race day.
9. All illegal parts will be confiscated onsite and will be returned to the owner at the end of the year.
X. Championship Points
1. Points Breakdown: (revised in 2021 - kart count points plus Feature Race finish points)
-In the Feature Race, the winner will be awarded 1 point for each kart in the Feature. Each position after that will be awarded points based on the number of karts minus their position behind the winner (example: 6 karts = 6 points for first; 5 points for second; 4 points for third; etc).
- In the Feature Race, the finishers will also receive points based on order of finish: 20 points for first; 18 points for second; 16 points for third, etc
- Example with 6 karts in Feature: winner receives 6 points + 20 points = 26 points; second place receives 5 points plus 18 points = 23 points; third place receives 4 points plus 16 points = 20 points; fourth place receives 3 points plus 14 points = 17 points; fifth place receives 2 points plus 12 points = 14 points; and sixth place receives 1 point plus 10 points = 11 points.
2. Drivers must participate 75% of the races conducted (rounded down) to be eligible for the end of year points championship. There will be two (revised in 2021) drops when the final points are being totaled. Races not attended can be included in drops, however DQ’s for unsportsmanlike conduct on or off the track, cannot be dropped. In the event a driver is DQ'd for mechanical failure, improper driving, post-race engine, oil or fuel tech or at the scales in post-tech, he may use that as drop race. If he is repeatedly DQ'd, the driver may be subject to a penalty of not being able to use a race as a drop race.
3. Tie in the end of year points championship:
- The tie will be broken by the number of feature wins for the season.
- If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by the finish of the last race that both racers competed in.
4. Racers who compete in 50% of the races conducted but fail to compete in 75% of the races conducted by SFK, are eligible for end of year class awards.
5. Once the Class Champion is determined, 2nd and 3rd place finishers will be based on the points for the class earned during the racing year.
XI. Banquet
All racers, crew, family and friends may attend the annual SFK Banquet. There will be a charge to help offset the total costs of the Banquet. SFK will arrange for food, entertainment, and presentation of season’s awards. Exact date, time and details of the banquet will be announced several months before the banquet date.
All racers and crew and team members are expected to become familiar with these Rules and thereby, acknowledge the spirit and intent of good sportsmanship and the overall mission of South Florida Karting, Inc. to promote a family friendly racing atmosphere.