Racers & Members
Kauai Raceway Park – Front Gate to Finish Line
1) Register online at www.thefoat.com. Show up early. Be sure your car number is 3” and on your windshield and passenger window. Get your car teched.
2) The speed limit in the pits is 5 MPH at all times.
3) Alcohol is prohibited in the pits at all times for everyone: drivers, crew and spectators.
4) Get a pit space assignment. See a Track Official for an assignment.
5) Remove any loose items in your car.
6) Listen to the Announcer on the PA for instructions.
7) Usually, even a modified late model car can pass tech . You will need a Snell 2015 helmet, closed shoes, long pants, and a shirt to race.
8) When the announcer calls up your class, drive to the staging lanes. Once you are in the lanes, stay with your car.
9) Don't run your AC. Water condensation drips onto the race track.
10) When it's time for the cars in your staging lane to pull forward, a track official at the front of the lanes will direct you. Watch the track officials at all times for proper direction.
11) After you have been paired up the track official at the water box will check to make sure your windows are rolled up, helmet and seat belts are on, and if it is after dark, your lights are on.
12) Don't start your burnout until directed by an official. Make sure you are all the way on the track and facing directly forward.
13) Go AROUND the water. You don't want to get near the water unless you have slicks. It will get into your tread, be thrown into your fenders, and drip all the way down the track.
14) Do a short burnout to get the dirt off of your tires and heat them up a bit. Hold the brake with your left foot, and goose it with your right for a couple of seconds. Don't do a John Force-style burnout spinning the tires through and past the starting line, forcing you to back up.
15) Line up for the starting line. Cars with racing slicks should line up right in the middle of the track. Cars with street tires should line up outside the groove, either to the right or left.
16) Pull your car toward the staging beams. They are about 25’ before the tree itself. Watch other racers to find where they are located. When you get close, the top set of lights (pre-stage) will come on.
17) Now, slowly creep forward about 7 more inches until the next set of lights comes on (staged). (It is considered a courtesy to wait until your opponent has pre-staged before you stage.) If you backup at the starting line you will be disqualified.
18) As soon as you and your opponent are both staged, the three large, yellow lights will count down to start the race. Go when the last, bottom yellow comes on! If you wait to see the green light, you will get a terrible start!
19) If you feel things get out of hand, massive wheel spin or whatever, just back off for that run! There'll be others! Also, if it's your very first time down the track, you might not want to give it 100% the first time. The track is a lot slicker than most roads, so be aware and be careful.
20) Stay in your lane all the way down the race track.
21) If you are bracket racing, don't lock up your brakes at the end of the track in an attempt to not "break out". Locking 'em up is dangerous
22) Since the track's turn offs are on the right, the car in the right lane has the right of way. Never turn in front of another car if you are in the left lane.
23) Drive up the return road, stop at the time slip booth on the left to get your time slip, and then return to your spot in the pits. There are a lot of people and kids walking around the pits, so go slow.
24) During time trials you can see how fast your car runs. Before elimination racing starts you must decide on your dial-in time and write it on your windshield.
Winning at ET Bracket Racing
Cars are separated into "brackets": Top Gun/Pro ET for the really fast race cars, Muscle v8 and Sport Compact are for the fastest street cars, and Street ET is for the rest of us. Since each of these categories contains a wide range of cars, you are handicapped based on a time that you predict you will run. This is called your "dial in". The racer who runs closest to their dial-in, without going faster, wins the race. If you go faster than your dial-in, you "break out" and automatically lose the race.
For example, if you dial in 15.80 and your opponent dials in at 15.25, you would get a .55 second head start down the track. Whoever gets to the finish line first wins.
The staging lights measure how long it takes you to leave your staged position. This is called your reaction time. In bracket racing your reaction time is very important. Your ET is measured from when your car starts, not from the green light. So a fast reaction time can't ever cause you to break out. If your reaction time is much better than the other driver’s you will probably win your race.
A perfect reaction time is .500, which is exactly when the green light comes on. If you get under .500, you "red light" and lose the race. If you take longer than .500, you will take longer to get to the finish line, and may lose the race.
Your reaction time is printed on your time slip. It is just as important to practice getting a good reaction time as it is a quick ET.
NHRA Rules Strictly Enforced
The GIRA will enforce all NHRA rules regarding competition cars and competition licenses. The GIRA tech inspector's decisions are final and un-appealable. Don't ask us to make exceptions. NHRA rules and procedures shall be paramount and in any conflicts with GIRA policy, NHRA rules and policies shall take precedent.
Infractions of any correctable rule regarding safety or compliance to NHRA regulations will result in a suspension of racing privileges until corrected.
Some common NHRA Rules are available here.
Re-inspections
In the event of repair or modification at the track after tech inspection approval, GIRA reserves the right and intends to re-inspect your car. If you make any modification to your chassis or safety equipment after your car is inspected, please bring that to our attention so you car may be re-inspected BEFORE running.
Oil Downs
1st occurrence: written warning;
2nd occurrence: $75 penalty;
3rd occurrence: $150 (per season) (09/12).
Bye Run Option
Any racer making a bye run may skip the run by notifying the starter in advance.
No Electronics
Delay boxes and throttle stops permitted in the Super Pro Class ONLY.
Chase Vehicles
Chase vehicles are only allowed for Top Gun, Pro ET and Jr ET racers. All other cars must self start and return to the pits under their own power. Chase vehicles must be prepared to follow their race car promptly after the nearest / slower race vehicle crosses 1/8 mile mark. Chase vehicle cannot pass or overtake a race vehicle unless it is stopped and the race is completed or an emergency situation exists. Chase vehicles must use emergency flashers while on the track.
JR ET vehicles must use tow bars on tow backs (no tow straps) and no driver in car. Exceptions must be approved in advance by Track manager or track safety coordinator.
Burn Outs
Only Top Gun & Pro ET, Super Pro racers may burn out across the starting line.
Promptness
Failure to be in staging when called may/will result in disqualification.
Staging
Seven (7) second rule: After the first car has staged (and three (3) lights are lit on the tree), the second car has seven (7) seconds to stage, or may be disqualified (09/12).
Courtesy Staging- Please wait to stage until your opponent has pre-staged.
Return Road Courtesy
If towing slowly, please allow cars to pass on the return road to prevent their overheating.
Return Road Policy
The Speed Limit on the return road is 25 mph and 5mph in the pit area
At no time can towed Jr. Dragsters be passed on the return road. If following Jr Dragster you must remain back and maintain a minimum margin of 100 feet.
Jr Dragsters should be hooked up and removed from the track turn-off as quickly as possible to avoid congestion and maintain a clear and safe area for arriving drivers and their crew.
Car Numbers
•Car numbers must be exactly 4 digits and 3” minimum.
•No letters are allowed. Car numbers must consist of only digits, 1234567890
•All car numbers must be clearly displayed on the front windshield and passenger side
The first digit identifies the class:
1xxx Bike
2xxx Jr ET
3xxx Street
4xxx Sport Compact
5xxx Muscle V8
6xxx Pro ET
7xxx Top Gun
8xxx Super Pro
9xxx Test & Tune
Protesting a Race Result
Any challenge to a race result must be made to the starter staff and/or track manager within 10 minutes of the completion of the race. Only the losing driver, crew chief, or car owner have standing to challenge a race result. (Please, don't just say, "This Sucks" or "This isn't fair" or "I don't like this." Clearly say “I am protesting the result.” We need to know the difference between just bitching about a problem and requesting action to review a decision.
A committee of four consisting of three GIRA Directors will judge the protest.
The judgment may either A) uphold the original result, B) declare the race result void, or C) disqualify one of the competitors resulting in an automatic win for the other. In the event of declaring the race void, it will be rerun as soon as possible.
Suspensions
Violating any track safety rule, e.g. hazardous driving in the pits, consuming alcohol while racing, or reckless driving during staging, will result in immediate disqualification from the event. No further runs of any kind will be permitted at the event. Repeating such behavior will result in suspension of racing privileges for the remainder of the season.
Violating any track conduct rule, e.g. abusive behavior or fighting, will result in immediate disqualification from the event and ejection from track grounds.
Violating any other track rule or procedure, e.g. excessive burnouts, burnouts across the starting line for slower cars, non-courtesy staging, or intentional delays, will result in a warning for the first occurrence, and disqualification of the run for subsequent occurrences. Disqualification of the run during time trials will constitute losing your place and going to the end of the line. Disqualification of the run during eliminations will result in an automatic loss.
Intentional misrepresentations to track officials, e.g. concealing violations of NHRA rules, misrepresenting eligibility for points, will result in immediate disqualification for the event. No further runs of any kind will be permitted at the event. Repeating such behavior will result in suspension of racing privileges for the remainder of the season.
NO DOGS OR ANIMALS ALLOWED in Kauai Raceway Park
Hot Pits
•No one under the age of 14 allowed in the hot pits. Jr Dragster racers may enter the pits when their respective class is called up. Jr racers must remain near their cars.
•Covered shoes must be worn in the hot pits at all times.
Pits
•Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult (AT ALL TIMES) when in the pits, this includes visits to other pits and bathroom breaks. Children are no longer allowed to roam in the pit area unsupervised.
•Please remember to take your trash with you when you leave. A $50 fine may be assessed to those who leave trash behind.
PLEASE SHOW SPORTSMANSHIP! DISRESPECT OF TRACK OFFICALS AND OTHER RACERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR MAY/WILL RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM THE TRACK AND POSSIBLY FUTURE GIRA EVENTS.
GIRA track officials reserve the right to suspend or expel any person for just cause without warning.
Here is a quick overview of the general guidelines set by the NHRA and enforced by GIRA. This brief guide is no substitute for the NHRA rulebook.
General Rules
•Drivers must wear a Snell 2015 approved helmet.
•Drivers must wear long pants, full coverage shoes, and shirt with sleeves.
•Drivers must have a valid driver’s license.
•Batteries must be securely bolted down.
•No more than a total of 12” of rubber fuel line is allowed in the entire fuel system.
•No worn or damaged tires.
•If the battery is relocated, you must have an external kill switch clearly marked ON/OFF on the back of the vehicle that will cut off electrical power and shut off the car. Cars running an alternator must be rewired to shut off the engine.
•Any car on slicks must have a driveshaft loop, C-clip eliminators and long wheel studs.
•Aftermarket rear axles required with a locked rear end.
13.49 and quicker
•Convertible's must have a six-point rollbar.
11.99 and quicker
•All drivers must wear an SFI-approved jacket.
•SFI-approved (dated 2 yr exp.) five-point harness required.
•Six-point rollbar required.
•Manual transmissions require an SFI-approved (dated, exp. depends on clutch type) bellhousing.
•Steel valve stems required with tubeless tires.
10.99 and quicker
•10-point rollcage required.
•Full-bodied cars with an unaltered firewall, floor, and body may use just a six-point rollbar.
•Automatic transmissions require an SFI-approved (dated 5 yr exp.) transmission shield.
•SFI-approved harmonic balancer required.
•Aftermarket rear axles required.
9.99 and quicker
•Drivers must have an NHRA Competition License.
•Medical exam must be complete on the NHRA form before attempting any licensing passes.
•10-point rollcage with serialized NHRA sticker (3 yr exp.) and SFI-approved (2 yr exp.) window net required.
•Multi-layered SFI-approved firesuit required.
•SFI-approved neck collar mandatory.
•Parachute required above 150 mph.
•Automatic transmissions must have SFI-approved (dated, 5 yr exp.) flexplate and shield.