Last updated 17 May 2011

MARDER TOPSTOX RULES

TopStox Construction Rules 2011

All cars must be scrutinised before racing. The scrutineer has the right to re-check any car at any time and remove it until it complies with the rules. Cars found to be outside the rules will have all points removed earned that meeting and possibly further ban(s).

BASE PLATE AND RUNNING GEAR

1. FG Marder base plate or similar alternative and FG running gear (Marder, leopard or touring) is permitted. Kick-up angle of 'nose section' maybe reduced to zero degrees.

2. Battery Pack must be secured. Preferably a permanent fixing should be used, with a minimum of "heavy duty" cable ties.

3. Only Rear wheel drives are permitted.

ENGINES

1. Permitted engines are: - CY or Zenoah 23cc to 27cc factory fitted or off the shelf un-modified un-tuned.

2. Spark plugs are a free choice as is carburettor insulator block thickness.

3. Only FG 2-shoe clutches or FG 2-shoe adjustable clutches.

4. The only gear ratios to be used are 18 tooth pinion gear with a 46 tooth spur gear, 20 tooth pinion gear with a 44 tooth spur gear, or a 16 tooth pinion gear with a 48 tooth spur gear. All Topstox cars must employ a final drive train using a 15/16 tooth lay shaft pinion, with a 48 tooth differential ring gear.

CHASSIS

1. Chassis main members to be constructed of hollow section mild steel tube/box section, of 16mm diameter/width. All other members are to be constructed from mild steel.

2. All corners must be of closed construction, must be fully welded joints and have no burrs or sharp edges (total chassis other than the side Nerf bars must be one single unit, fully welded as a whole frame)

3. Over-all chassis must not exceed: - Length 770mm max, width 440mm max. Total car height must not at any point exceed 520mm

4. Bumper height must be between 85mm - 100mm from the floor to the bottom of the bumper with a minimum bumper contact height of 25mm.

5. Maximum cost of a Basic Top Stox chassis conversion frame will be £100 and must be available to all trackside

6. Mounting of chassis to the base plate must be to the following: - minimum two bolts fore, two bolts aft and a minimum of two bolts per side using reinforcing plates of light gauge metal from the sump guard to the base plate.

7. Drivers must remove all sharp edges/burrs before and after each race.

8. Side nerf bars maybe bolted or welded to the chassis. Side nerf rails must have a contact height of between 16mm and 25mm and be within the same height parameters as the front and rear bumpers.

9. Plastic bumper covers to be fitted using self-tappers, rivets or bolts.

BODYSHELL AND BONNET

1. The body and bonnet design must resemble a full size 'BRISCA F1' type stockcar.

2. Both body and bonnet must be constructed from Lexan, ABS or GRP, with an option to use a mild steel body support frame. Side skirts may be fitted; construction material can be either alloy or plastic and must be bolted to the chassis.

3. If wings or foils are fitted they must be constructed from lexan, ABS or GRP. Mountings can be metallic but must remain inside the wing/foil area; they can not form an external roll cage.

4. Body shells must display clearly the driver's name and number. If a wing/foil is fitted it must also carry the race number.

WHEELS AND TYRES

1. Wheel rims must be from an ITC Saloon car source and tyres must be rubber.

2. No tyre additives are permitted.

3. Shale racing will be with controlled studded rear tyres (part No OS1) only. Standard ITC tyres for the front wheels.

BRAKES

1. All cars must have at least one operational brake able to stop the car; there is no limit on brakes of multiple types. Lay-shaft, hydraulic or cable brakes are permitted. Any car without a functional brake will be removed and not allowed to race until fixed.

DIFFERENTIALS

1. Only standard, adjustable, or viscous FG diffs or Technokit differentials are permitted.

FUEL AND FUEL-TANKS

1. Any fuel tank of plastic or GRP safely and securely mounted can be used.

2. Only unleaded filling station pump fuel is allowed with two-stroke oil. No performance additives are allowed.

WEIGHT

1. Cars must weigh between 13KG and 15KG, even if containing a full tank of fuel for Scrutineering.

EXHAUST SYSTEM

1. Any standard FG exhaust must be used (Marder, Beetle, Monster Truck) and be effective at all times and be confined within the car body.

2. No performance enhancement silencers are permitted.

3. Noise levels must be within 80db at 10 metres and 95db 1metre above and to the side.

ANTI-ROLL BARS

1. Anti-roll bars are optional, but if used they must be of an FG design.

FAIL SAFE SYSTEM

1. Cars should have an electronic and mechanical failsafe device that must return the throttle to neutral when activated. I.e. Through loss of battery power and/or loss of radio signal

Please note:- The electronic failsafe on your handset will work (If set up) only if your car goes out of range of the handset or loses radio contact with handset for some reason.

If for any reason the receiver loses power (broken battery or battery wire etc.) and the throttle is open then a mechanical failsafe will stop the car.

  Example of a mechanical fail safe.

In the event of a loss of battery power to the receiver, then this spring will return throttle to neutral. The one in the picture is from a ball pen. (Too strong a spring and servo may struggle to open throttle, too weak and it may not return throttle to neutral)

 The scrutineer reserves the right to check the failsafe devices are working at any time during the meeting.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

1. Any driver wishing to complain about a suspected illegal car regarding items that can't be visibly determined should adhere to the following:-

Log a fee of £50, with the scrutineer. The scrutineer will examine part/s in front of another committee member. If the complaint is founded the complainant has fee refunded and the guilty driver stripped of that meetings points and banned for a further 2 meetings. Any appeal of the decision must be in writing to the committee within 48 hours. If however the complaint was unfounded the complainant looses the fee which is given to the accused.

If the scrutineer can't conclude a part/s legality they have the right to confiscate them for external assistance. Any cost involved by this will be paid by the complainant if  part/s are found to be legal or guilty party if complaint is founded.

Any infringement to the car construction rules, will result in an instant 2 meeting ban.

ADVISORY NOTE

Economic design improvements

1. All improvements must be available to all other drivers.

2. All design improvements must be put before the committee for approval prior to being allowed a 4 meeting test. After the test period the full committee must vote and a majority be obtained to be passed.

3. Use of items or technologies by a driver without permission will result in that meetings points being removed and a further 1 meeting ban.

TOPSTOX RACING RULES

1.       The Race Director controls the races and their decisions must be adhered to. They have the right to exclude drivers from results for rule breaking. Any practice throughout the meeting will also be controlled by the Race Director.

2.       All national round heats will be 6 minutes long. Consolations will be 6 minutes and finals 8 minutes. (For Championship events see Championship section).

3.       All cars will have to do 1 lap to prove their transponder and brakes work before each race. After this point, no driver is to be advised or approached on the rostrum.

4.       If a driver pulls the ‘CAUTION’ cord all cars must stop immediately and allow the marshals to clear the incident. The race will not resume until the Race Director call ‘DRIVERS READY…(then a variable pause)…GO!’.

5.       No cars to be put on or off the track whilst the race is under way, unless a “drive on lane” is in operation at the venue.

6.       Cars to line up in Graded order marked on the track fence for all national round races. (see Championship section for championship differences). Heats contain between  6 and 8 cars. Top 6 heat point scorers through to the final, with the next 8 into the consolation. 1^st and 2^nd from the consolation through to the final to make an 8 car grid.

7.       All cars to be checked for height and weight before the final, and the top 3 rechecked for weight at the end of the race.

8.       New drivers entering a Topstox meeting must start at white grade. (The Topstox committee reserve the right to up-grade any ‘new’ driver based on their ‘known’ ability).

9.       Roof colours and amounts as follows, White – Unlimited, Yellow – 25%, Blue – 20%, Red – 15%, Superstar – 15% Reigning Points Champion to have a Silver roof and Super Star grade for full season. British Champion - black and white chequered European Champion - red and yellow chequered. Lady Points Champion – 2 pink stripes. Junior Points Champion – 1 silver stripe. All champions must clearly display their status on the body/aerofoil. All championship holders other than National Points champion have the option to start from their graded position, or from the rear of the grid, and to change the colour of their roof accordingly.

10.   The points system will be as follows: -  

11.   Drivers qualifying through the consolation, will be awarded 7 points should they unable to start the A-Final.

12.   The two worst score rounds will be dropped from each drivers score to establish the national points champion. All Championship meetings are non points events. There are 3 grading periods equally spread throughout the season to determine roof colour/grade. Only drivers active within the season will be graded. Only the National Points Champion is excluded from re-grading. No ‘additional’ drivers will be in the points list and down grading limits have been removed. Scotland will continue with their own grading but must bring evidence (their current grading list) and be evaluated by the Race Director if racing a national round.  

13.   CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS,

Run as one off non points meetings. Consist of 4 heats (6 mins long) with best 3 scores to count. Top 16 points scores form the two 8 car semi-finals (8 mins long) with first 4 in each through to the final (10 mins long). Defending Champions have the right to defend from the rear of the grid if failed to qualify.  

DRIVERS DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION  

1.       All cars to be fitted with a digital personal transponder.

2.       All registered drivers will be issued with a log book. This must be filled in and present at each meeting. NO BOOK NO RACING.

3.       Drivers and mechanics must attend the Race Directors pre meeting briefing.

4.       Only BRCA members can marshal, No under 16’s allowed. If a driver can’t marshal his/her turn he/she must find a replacement.

5.       2.4GHz systems permitted but NO 27 MHz radio systems allowed.

6.       All drivers MUST have 3 crystal frequencies available unless using 2.4GHZ system.

7.       A ‘Frequency peg board’ will be in operation during a meeting and must be adhered to at all times. NO PEG – DON’T TURN ON!

8.       All “teams” must have a personal fire extinguisher in the pits.

9.       Complaints to be raised with a TopStox committee member. A full committee meeting will take place within 2 weeks to resolve issue(s).

DRIVERS CODE OF CONDUCT  

1.       All DRIVERS must sign in on arrival and have your BRCA licence and Topstox log book.

2.       Deliberate side swiping, deliberate fencing or unsportsmanlike like conduct on or off the track is not allowed.

3.       Driver’s mechanics are the responsibility of the drivers and any miss-conduct by them will be the responsibility of the driver they are helping.

4.       It is the responsibility of each driver to ensure they have the correct roof grade on their car. Any car arriving at the race meeting with the wrong roof grade will start from the back of the grid in each race and will have 10 points deducted from their final points tally of that meeting, any driver committing the same offence in consecutive meetings will be excluded from that race meeting.

5.       Cars must be presented in a professional way. Cars must appear clean with smart paintwork and sign writing. No derogatory or insulting sign writing will be displayed on any part of the car, any car displaying such remarks will not be allowed to race until they have been removed.

6.       A driver may only use one car at any one meeting.

7.       All new Topstox drivers must demonstrate to, and satisfy the race director that they have full control of the car at their first meeting before being allowed to race.

8.       Experienced drivers must not treat aggressively novice drivers (white tops) and like wise novice drivers must not treat aggressively any other driver.

9.       During a race meeting the race director’s decision will be final, although he/she may refer any matter to the ‘TOPSTOX’ committee.

10.   Any complaints concerning racing or the meeting in general must be channelled through the race director.

11.   Any other complaints of what ever nature must be channelled in writing through the ‘TOPSTOX’ committee.

12.   The committee may at anytime discipline a driver and/or his representative for unsporting actions or conduct prejudicial to the sport, either on or off the track the ‘TOPSTOX’ committee will operate a zero tolerance policy towards acts of violence and/or ASBO, these will result in an immediate ban from racing. Verbal abuse will be dealt with on an individual basis and will attract various penalties which could include race bans depending on the seriousness of the offence.

13.   A quorum of a minimum of 4 committee members must be present and will be empowered to decide on any aspects of rule changes and/or offences brought before the committee.

14.   If the ‘TOP STOX’ committee decide to discipline a driver or his/her representative following an appeal then their decision will be final.

15.   Any member that is suspended or banned shall have the right of appeal to the main BRCA executive committee who shall be deemed as arbitrators appointed by the ‘TOP STOX’ committee. No hearing shall be heard unless made in writing within seven days to the ‘TOP STOX’ Chairman.  

Anything not covered by the TOPSTOX rules please refer to the BRCA general rules.