Over the last couple of months there has been lots of discussions at the board/reps meetings about vehicles that go “out of bounds” at the lakes meet. Out of bounds is essentially anywhere outside of the coned off course and typically refers to someone going out the back door but there have been a few cases of people going off the side of the course as well.
As a bit of background, the SCTA has a special use permit for the area inside the cones at El Mirage on our race days. It’s OUR area. But outside the cones is not ours and we are not supposed to be going there with our racecars. Our BLM liaison has stated at the meeting that the BLM is not amused when we go outside our area and if something happens it would likely be the end of our permit and the end of SCTA racing at El Mirage. This, along with the frequency of people repeatedly going out of bounds have caused the “tide” to turn recently regarding penalties/sanctions/consequences to racers who go out of the marked course.
At the March 7th Board/Reps meeting there was a continuation of the discussions and a proposal was passed by the club reps for 2008. There was broad support for this proposal and most of those who didn’t support it withheld it because they wanted harsher penalties.
(this is only my paraphrase of the proposal that passed, see the SCTA El Mirage Procedures for the final/Official text of the rule)
The 1st time you go out of bounds you are required to go back for a re-inspection inspection and it is added to your log book.
The 2nd time you do it you have to go back through inspection and it’s added to you log book. Additionally you lose all points for that meet and your club does not get your points for the meet either.
The 3rd time you do it you have to go back through inspection where it’s added to you log book. You lose all points for that meet and your club does not get your points for the meet either and your case is sent automatically to the board for punitive action. There was no specific board action noted but I got the feeling that it would be at least a temporary ban, possibly up to a whole season, but your mileage may vary.
There was no mention of a 4th infraction. Apparently the boards doesn't think you can do it with their boot in your rear end.