Every vintage racing organization has the same primary rule – no racing contact! However the enforcement and levying of penalties varies widely ;-) Sometimes the rule is specific, sometimes it’s vague. Sometimes enforcement is “personalized”, sometimes it’s consistent. The vintage club I race with regularly is VARA, based out of Southern California. Their rule on racing contact is quite specific – the Overtaking Car takes total responsibility for the pass until the pass is completely finished. The responsibility does not leave the Overtaking Car when he is next to the Overtakee, not when he is half-way past the Overtakee, but only when he is completely in front of the other car. The Overtaker will not cause the Overtakee to alter their line during the pass. The Overtakee is allowed one move, and only one, to protect their position. Even if the Overtakee changes line during the pass causing the contact, the fault is with the Overtaker, period. If contact does occur during a race, both racers are expected to immediately report to the Black Flag station, and retire from the session. Once fault is established by the Chief Steward, penalties are enforced. This weekend contact occurred while I was the Overtaker, the penalty was properly applied and I was told to put my car on the trailer for the rest of the weekend. In ten years of racing this is my first such infraction, and it’s not much fun watching your buddies have a great race weekend when you should have been out there with them, especially with what it costs to attend an event these days.
This is not to say that passing in corners is not allowed, not at all! You just must plan your move in advance and be ready to “own” the pass. Over the years I have had many competitors whom I am comfortable sharing the line with, racing side by side through the corners. You know they are consistent, they use their mirrors, and they understand the give-and-take of vintage racing. Then there are drivers who never share a corner, are inconsistent with their line, and have earned their reputation. Part of vintage racing is to knowing your fellow drivers, and if you’re not sure who they are, then don’t make an aggresive move. Be smart and save the pass for later.
If you race with several clubs as I do, be sure to know each club’s rules. Some will take video evidence into account, some will take statements from the drivers, some just take the story from the corner workers. If you’re not sure, talk to a Class Rep, the Chief Steward, an Instructor or a Scrutineer. It’s never fun to meet these folks for the first time just because you’re in trouble… But the most important thing to keep in mind is why we’re out at the track – to have fun! We aren’t making money doing this and we don’t want to spend more of it fixing our cars unnecessarily. So if you’re not sure that it’s going to be a clean pass, get him at the next corner.
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