PERFORMANCE DRIVING

- FROM STREET TO TRACK


HOW ARE SATCAR RACES DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ROAD RACING?

The SATCAR rules and format have some restrictions to minimize risk to drivers and their cars. These rules are required because the cars are not required to have the same safety equipment as cars that race in other forms of road racing. Starts for all sessions, including races, will be made single file from pit lane. Passing will be limited to specified straights on the track. On all other portions of the track, including corners, the cars must be single file. Penalties will be imposed for any driving that is considered to be overly aggressive or unsafe.

The SATCAR rules and format are designed to minimize the effect of car preparation and maximize the element of driving skill. This is accomplished by using a Performance Parity Time, which is assigned to each car/driver based on their qualifying time.

HOW DOES THE PERFORMANCE PARITY TIME SCORING SYSTEM WORK?

Each race event will have a qualifying session where the cars will be timed to determine a qualifying time for each. Competitors will be encouraged to qualify at a time that is comfortable and safe for themselves and their cars - they do not have to drive as fast as possible.

The qualifying time of each car is used to determine the Performance Parity Time (PPT) for that car as compared to the slowest car in the group ie., if car A is 2.34 seconds per lap faster than the slowest car, and the race is 30 laps (Typical of many tracks), the PPT for car A will be:

PPT (A) = 2.34 seconds X 30 laps = 70.2 seconds

For non-pit-stop races, A would start 70.2 seconds after the slowest car. There may be other cars between them, depending upon their PPTs. For a pit-stop race A would start 35.1 seconds (Half the PPT) after the slowest car. The balance of his/her PPT would then be served during the pit stop later in the race.

The PPT equalizes total session time for all drivers, and if they all drove equally well, they would all cross the finish line side by side. Variables of driver skill and traffic will prevent all drivers from driving equally and the more skilled and consistent drivers will be able to gain time on the others and will be leading at the end. With the SATCAR PPT, a Neon driver and a Viper driver could race (Although not usually grouped together) and either one could win the race. The winner would be that driver who drove most consistently at a lap time at or slightly under their qualifying time.

To prevent drivers from qualifying slow (Sandbagging) and racing fast, a BreakOut of about two seconds per lap, for most courses, has been established. The BreakOut is assigned based on track length and complexity and can vary from track to track. If the BreakOut is two seconds, a driver is allowed to run race laps as much as two seconds faster than his/her qualifying lap with no penalty. If a lap is run at more than two seconds faster than qualifying, that is termed a BreakOut and the driver will be required to serve a Stop/Go penalty in the pits. For example, assume that car A has a qualifying time of 1 minute, 56.432 seconds at an event. During the race, they can run laps down to 1 minute, 54.432 seconds without penalty. If their lap time is anything less than that, the Stop/Go penalty is imposed.

IS IT SAFE?
All activities involving vehicles have some element of danger, including driving to work or to the race track. The SATCAR format is based upon, and is very similar to, that which has been used for many years in on-track driving schools and open tracking events with a safety record that is quite good. Incidents do occasionally occur but they are usually single car where the driver loses control for some reason. Multi-car incidents are very infrequent. Drivers who participate in these types of on-track activities have determined that the risk factors versus the fun and excitement factors are an acceptable trade.

The insurance company that insures many motorsports activities has reviewed the SATCAR format and rules, has approved the concept, and will be insuring these events at rates similar to driving school/open tracking events..

The final, and most important, part of the safety program is always the driver. It is necessary for all drivers to think and act in a manner that minimizes danger to themselves and their fellow competitors. Drivers who act in a manner that creates safety hazards for themselves or other competitors will be penalized or excluded from competition.

DOES MY CAR INSURANCE COVER DAMAGE TO MY CAR?

Most car insurance companies have exclusionary clauses that deny insurance coverage if the car is being used for a timed, competitive event, which would include SATCAR racing. In the past, insurance companies considered driving schools and some open track activities as educational and insurance coverage was provided. This would have included SATCAR driving schools and lapping/practice groups if they were not timed.

Insurance companies have become aware of the increasing popularity of track events and noted that there are occasional incidents that result in damage to the cars. They have also decided that this risk is at a level that they did not anticipate when writing the original policy for a street car. Companies are starting to include exclusionary clauses that deny coverage for any use of the car at a racing circuit, sometimes even including driving in the paddock or during lunchtime touring.

Insurance laws vary from state to state and coverage varies from company to company. Therefore, to be absolutely certain what your coverage includes, you should check with your agent and/or your company to define precisely what your coverage is in these situations. When you are fully aware of the possible risks involved, you can then make an informed decision about driving your car in track events.

WHAT CARS WILL BE RACING?
Enthusiasts own and drive a wide variety of cars and a similar variety will be competing in SATCAR events. To minimize speed differentials and improve safety, cars will be grouped to have similar performance potential, ie., Corvettes and Vipers will be in the same group but Honda Civics would not be placed in that group.

HOW MANY CARS WILL BE ON THE TRACK AT A TIME?
The maximum number of cars that will be permitted in each group is determined by the length of the track. The SATCAR format is currently set to permit 10 cars per mile of track length.

WHAT TYPES OF RACES ARE RUN?

SATCAR is a road racing organization so will only be offering races on road racing tracks. Some oval tracks include infield road courses and these will be considered for SATCAR events. There will be two basic types of races, SPRINTS and ENDUROS. SPRINT races will be offered as either pit-stop or non-pit stop races and have been approximately one hour in duration.

ENDUROS, or Endurance Races, will run for a minimum of four hours and can run as long as 24 hours, depending upon the venue and the choice of the organizers. ENDUROS will be contested by teams of four drivers and between two and four cars per team.

HOW MUCH TRACK TIME DO I GET AT THE RACE?
A typical two-day SPRINT race event will offer competitors about four hours on track. Each day will be the same and will consist of a 30 minute morning practice session, a 30 minute qualifying session near lunch time, and a one hour race in the afternoon. If there are not enough race entries to fill the entire day, driving school and/or lapping practice sessions will be included and will offer similar amounts of track time.

WHEN CAN I START RACING?
The availability of SATCAR track events depends upon the demand by drivers in the area, finding an Event Partner to organize and present events at each track, and the availability of track dates.
As events become available, they will be posted on the Event Schedule page of the web site. Visit the web site often to keep aware of changes in the program.
.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT ANSWERED?
Please call or write - - we would like to help you learn more about this great new racing program.

Call or FAX SATCAR at 630-232-6063 or E-mail here.

 

HOME SATCAR INFOEVENT INFODRIVER INFOCAR INFORULES OF COMPETITIONFORMSMAILING LISTNEWSLETTERFORUMSBOUTIQUELINKSCONTACT US

© 2009 SATCAR, all images used with permission. "SATCAR" and "Formula Street" are registered trademarks owned by Kern Fischer and licensed to Sports And Touring Car Racing, Inc. All rights reserved.