We were one of the ones sent home on Sunday morning (We are JNL). In heat 2 we threw a chain as we left the outgrid, the gate closed so we didn't get 2 minutes????.(apparently you only get 2 mintes when the 2 minute board is still being dysplayed) We started the pre-final on Saturday from the rear of grid, which is fair enough. On Sunday we got called to the stewards room to be told that we were not allowed to compete, because we didn't compete in both heats. After a few discussions here and there and after being told we cannot appeal the decision we began to look at the manual. The officials told us they had been working for hours the night before to try and get around this issue so that us and many others could race. I said, just do an addendum, I was told no. I then found in the rule book the following.
(i) Competition - Any race, test, time trial, speed event or combination of the aforesaid
in which a Kart may participate and which has a competitive nature or is given a
competitive nature by the publication of results. Competitions may be International,
National or State. State Competitions may moreover be either OPEN or CLOSED as
defined hereunder :
I went back to them to point out that no-where does it say that you have to pass the start line when it is green. But I was again told (there is no further discussion), so I began my 8 hour drive back home. Once we where 150 klm's from the track I got 3 phone calls to say that they are calling us to the grid. (WTF). This was my second trip home from Pucka without competing as 1/2 hour after we arrived in February it was called off, which I totally agree with, but we should have been informed before making an 8 hour drive and $400 in fuel.
The most unusual part is. JNL was oversubscribed. In the repercharge one of the drivers was found to have the wrong fuel (I know this driver and it was accidental), but still a breach of the rules. He didn't even lose his position. JNH had 12 roll up laps??? JNL had a restart after a red flag, which was started as soon as we left the grid??? Apparently they didn't use these results anyway. But what this shows is that the competition starts as soon as the last kart passes the baulk line, or the 2 minute board is lowered. If you are still on the grid you receive a DNS. What is a DNS, to my understanding it is a result. To get a result you must compete???? Like many others we competed, we got a result as they did, wether it be 1st, 2nd, DNF,DNS or whatever it is still a result
When asked why they didn't tell us on Saturday why we couldn't compete, the answer was we didn't realise.
Anyway, if any of those other 20 or so drivers would like to contact me and seek combined legal advise, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mark Coleman
(i) Competition - Any race, test, time trial, speed event or combination of the aforesaid
in which a Kart may participate and which has a competitive nature or is given a
competitive nature by the publication of results. Competitions may be International,
National or State. State Competitions may moreover be either OPEN or CLOSED as
defined hereunder :
I went back to them to point out that no-where does it say that you have to pass the start line when it is green. But I was again told (there is no further discussion), so I began my 8 hour drive back home. Once we where 150 klm's from the track I got 3 phone calls to say that they are calling us to the grid. (WTF). This was my second trip home from Pucka without competing as 1/2 hour after we arrived in February it was called off, which I totally agree with, but we should have been informed before making an 8 hour drive and $400 in fuel.
The most unusual part is. JNL was oversubscribed. In the repercharge one of the drivers was found to have the wrong fuel (I know this driver and it was accidental), but still a breach of the rules. He didn't even lose his position. JNH had 12 roll up laps??? JNL had a restart after a red flag, which was started as soon as we left the grid??? Apparently they didn't use these results anyway. But what this shows is that the competition starts as soon as the last kart passes the baulk line, or the 2 minute board is lowered. If you are still on the grid you receive a DNS. What is a DNS, to my understanding it is a result. To get a result you must compete???? Like many others we competed, we got a result as they did, wether it be 1st, 2nd, DNF,DNS or whatever it is still a result
When asked why they didn't tell us on Saturday why we couldn't compete, the answer was we didn't realise.
Anyway, if any of those other 20 or so drivers would like to contact me and seek combined legal advise, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mark Coleman
Views: 240
Comments12
Hi Mark,
This is the first I've heard of this and TERRIBLY disappointing news. I've never heard of this rule (wherever it's hiding) being applied against someone in the way you describe, and I know plenty of people who've fouled a plug rolling out for one of the heats and DNS'ed, and still been allowed to race the finals.
I'd be outraged if it happened to me, so I understand how you feel.
Cheers,
Col.
G'day Col,
My son was hassling me to come and see you on Sunday so that we could get something on here about it, but we couldn't find you. Mate it was totally disgusting what they have done, they really know how to drive people away from Karting. Could you imagine driving to WA to compete in a state title and fowling a plug in heat 1. Just to be told see you later you can go home now!! I am pretty sure what they have done is totally incorrect and this is why I am going to follow this through and get as many of the others who where sent home to come on board with me. If we can we will take this all the way. Even if the result is to get the rules changed, at least it's something. By the way there was a lot more discussion with others as well. We will see what we can do!!
That's exactly what KartBook is for - bring people together to make karting better, safer, fairer, funner and gooder... (and many other things, which may or may not be ACTUAL words from the dictionary).
If there's any way you think I can help, please let me know!
Thanks Col,
I'll let you know. If you hear of anyone else please forward my details on to them. We will try and make it gooderer!!!
Mark Coleman
i saw the results on mylaps, and so many classes had alot of DNS. what happened in CL final, some top drivers dns pre-final and final...
do these guys not run a pit loop?
Almost all of the DNS on mylaps where drivers being sent home for DNS'ing a heat.
Please note that we were informed that James could not compete in Leopard Light Pre final as we missed the 1st heat (We did not have a motor at the time as we seized it in Qualy). This occured even though they let James race the 2nd Heat. Very strange, however, we accepted the decision at the time. It may be something new in the rulebook, If it is it seems very harsh.
Val Kovacic
Duvashen, a few of the top clubby light guys (Burnsy and Piper are two that I know of) DNS'ed because they were either slow, or didn't want to damage equipment coming from the rear in a race they couldn't win. Either way, fair enough I reckon.
G'day Val,
There is nothin new in the rulebook. It appears it is just a matter of interpreting something to suit themselves. After speaking with you on Sunday, I understand where your coming from. I think after Saturday sending drivers home, they couldn't change on Sunday and let drivers stay. Definately a good way to ruin the sport though.
Mark Coleman
Hey,
I was told to go home on saturday afternoon after Dad put the fuel lines on back to front on my junior clubman and had a DNS. Dad faught about the decision to send us home for like 3 hours. We Found about 4 Things in the rulebook that said we can race but they still wouldnt let us. Absolute load of shit if you ask me! Luckilly I only live about 500 metres from the Track. I just Feel sorry for the guy from tassie who bought a new chassis, (after bending his in clubby light) put it all back together and then went to put it on the grid when he was told to go home. They shoud at least refund half of our money or something.
No Val, it's not new.
In fact it was recognised as an obsolete and inneffective rule originally intended to stop 'tyre saving'.
The Cheif Steward told me they deleted that clause in WA because of this problem.
I haven't checked yet but apparently the same supp regs were used for Geelong last year but the rule wasn't enforced.
It seems the issue was that if a competitor DNS'd then they were deemed not to have 'competed'.
The definition of 'compete' in the rule book doesn't refer to 'DNS' or 'Face the starter' or any of the other versions I was told and in fact is quite vague in enterpretation and could have been enterpreted in a way that would have allowed competitiors who DNS'd to compete.