Essential Officials requirements reduced to support club-based activities

At the CAMS Board Meeting on 14 May 2008, the Board approved a review of club-level sport and a change to the wording of NCR 162 Essential Officials that permits some flexibility in the minimum requirements for Essential Officials dependant on the discipline-specific regulations. This change was made consistent with the Board’s objective of simplifying and streamlining the regulatory regime across the sport commensurate with risk. The other equally important consideration of the Board at the time was actively supporting clubs/event organisers, consistent with our organisational objective of sport and club development, to facilitate events by reducing the burden (within acceptable limits) wherever possible. Since this time the Board has adopted the Integrated Motoring Management System (IMMS) to support these objectives and the business framework to be applied across the organisation.

These changes are proposed as part of the overall CAMS review of systems with a view to providing a simpler system for the conduct of entry-level events while continuing to provide a framework consistent with our Safety 1st philosophy. One of the major impediments to club-level motor sport identified by the Commission, and reflected in and addressed by the proposed changes, is that the existing model of 'one size fits all' Essential Officials model to all levels of motor sport leaves clubs often short of officials to conduct the event, and a reluctance from the qualified officials within clubs to continue to offer their services due to an inability to compete.

In expansion of the summary within Table 1, the Board has approved the following modifications be made within the relevant discipline regulations for club and multi club status events only as a minimum requirement.

• Stewards:
  Where a Steward is required as an Essential Official, it is recommended that only a single Steward is required as a minimum. That Steward will carry at least a Bronze Steward or Club Chief Officials Licence. It is envisaged that, while the Steward may conduct hearings if required, scope exists for the Steward to adjourn a hearing and/or connect with other Stewards to form a panel and adjudicate on the matter by phone (on the odd occasions that this may be required); they shall be primarily fulfilling a safety related role. The Steward may not compete.

• Secretary of the Meeting:
  The position of Secretary of the Meeting is no longer required as an Essential Official, thereby allowing any person undertaking the function of the Secretary to now compete.

• Chief Scrutineer:
  A Chief Scrutineer remains a required Essential Official at all speed events in recognition of the associated risks inherent at speed events. However it is proposed the Chief Scrutineer may compete as it is recognised that matters of eligibility do not typically arise as a significant issue at club and multi-club level events.

• Chief Timekeeper:
  A Chief Timekeeper remains an Essential Official at only multi-vehicle sprint events, reflecting the increased complexity in timing an event of this nature and that a number of timekeepers are usually required to conduct timing services. However it is proposed that the Chief Timekeeper be also allowed to compete.

• Clerk of the Course:
  A Clerk of the Course remains a required Essential Official at all levels of event and the Clerk of Course will carry at least a Bronze Event Command or Club Chief Licence. It is proposed however to permit a Clerk of Course and a Deputy Clerk of Course to be nominated to an event. If there is only a single Clerk of the Course appointed he/she may not compete. If there are two suitably licensed Clerks of the Course appointed as Clerk of Course and Deputy Clerk of Course, one may compete while the other acts as the Clerk of Course; in these instances, the Official fulfilling the role of the Clerk of Course must wear a high visibility safety vest with the words 'Clerk of the Course' so as to be readily identifiable at any point in time.

In order to effect these changes and in accordance with the NCR, the Speed Event Standing Regulations, Autocross Standing Regulations, National Motorkhana Code and the Khanacross Regulations will be modified.
FROM CAMS SPEEDREAD

ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT REMINDERS

Unfortunately in our sport, accidents can and do often. It’s in the nature of motorsport. Here are a few guidelines that need to be considered when witnessing or attending an accident or incident.

 1.  Make sure the car is safe to approach. Look after yourself first! If possible, isolate the battery and
      turn off fuel tap. Ask the driver if they are OK.

2.  Check that the driver is responsive and is able to remove themselves from the vehicle. DO NOT
DROP THE CAR BACK ONTO ITS WHEELS WITH THE DRIVER INSIDE. If the driver is unable to remove themselves from the car, then get the appropriately trained emergency professionals

3.  Once the driver is out, put the vehicle back onto its wheels.

4.  recovery officials only to take the vehicle back to the pits to allow Scrutineers and stewards to examine it.

5.  the only persons attending the incident are the clerk of course, recovery and medical staff. Everyone else should stay away unless required or asked for.

6.  please give Scrutineers, event Command and stewards room to examine the car and helmet properly once it has been returned back to the pits.

AUTOCROSS REMINDERS

Don’t forget some of the minimum requirements for autocross!

Wrist to ankle clothing

Mud flaps on all driven wheels

Secondary bonnet fasteners

Second carby return spring

Fire extinguishers fastened properly

Battery securely fastened

Extract from the minutes of the Victorian Rally Scrutiny Group held on 2^nd of JUNE 2008.

Note to Scrutineers and advice to competitors 

The freedoms that are granted to motor sport vehicles are an important factor in our enjoyment of the sport. With freedom comes responsibility, and in this context, that means complying with those requirements where freedoms have not been granted. Two specific areas of current concern are Catalytic converters and HID lights. 

Catalytic Converters
Catalytic converters must be fitted and operational. No exemptions have been given to vehicles originally designed to comply with the unleaded fuel requirements that came into effect 1 February 1986. There is no technical reason why a high performance engine cannot operate with a catalytic converter fitted so there is no justification in seeking an exemption. The authorities have already indicated that such an exemption would not be granted.

HID Headlamps
HID headlamps are covered by design rules and registration standards when used in motor vehicle headlamp systems. The effectiveness of HID’s is also their greatest downfall in that they produce so much light that they can be hazardous to other road users, hence the following requirements that are specifically targeted at low or dipped beam. The requirements include control of the beam shape and alignment as well as mandatory light cleaning systems and automatic self leveling. Vehicles that have HID’s as standard equipment in Australia will have all the mandatory elements to enable compliance.

There are however two areas of concern: 
Grey Import vehicles that had factory systems fitted that did not comply with Australian requirements were converted to standard systems and the HID light assemblies were sold. The non complying systems are being fitted to local vehicles.
Conversion kits are being sold for retro fitting HID globe assemblies to existing halogen lights. The focal length and effective filament position are different between the two systems. As a result the lens and reflector do not create the correct light pattern. The light is therefore non compliant and their use has been shown to create enormous glare problems for other road users.

Both these issues are easily identified and non compliance can bring the sport into disrepute as well as causing financial damage to the driver.

THE ROLE OF THE CAMS Liaison OFFICER 

Dear Competitors,
If your licence is going to expire within 6 weeks you will need to contact CAMS on the competitor hotline 1300 653 529 and organise a renewal. If, once you have filled in the renewal and sent it to CAMS, with payment, and have not received your new licence back 1 week from the next event you are to enter, CONTACT CAMS and find out where it is. They will issue you with a temporary licence to cover the event until your new licence arrives. It is not the clubs CAMS liaison persons’ job to sort out your licence problems. I would also advise you all to keep a copy of any paperwork sent to CAMS and the date that you posted it. If you do not have the right documents for viewing at an event, you will be told to go away until you produce it.
The CAMS liaison persons’ job is to liaise between the club and CAMS in relation to event permits and any paperwork related to events.
Competitors and Officials need to contact CAMS with any problems with their own licences and DON'T expect someone else to sort out your own problems.

For Officials the CAMS hotline is 1300 657 673. CAMS website is www.cams.com.au  and most of the info you need can be found there, or MAKE TIME to ring whichever number is applicable to your need. Regards Wendy

Private Practice at SEAC Park

Members wishing to conduct Private Practice at SEAC Park must abide by the following:

1.   All Cars to be used must comply with the relevant standards i.e. they must be safe, have the 
      approved safety equipment and approved helmets must be worn.
2.   All drivers must have the appropriate licence.
3.   No person at the private practice will be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and alcohol is not 
      permitted on the site at this time.
4.   Passengers must not be carried.
5.   A working mobile phone must be on the site.
6.   An appropriate fire extinguisher and first aid kid must be on hand.
7.   A separate car must be on hand in case of an emergency.
8.   A senior member of the club must be on hand to oversee the practice and to ensure that
      safety is paramount.
9.   Only one car is to be on the track at any one time.
10.  No more than six drivers are to be at a private practice session and no more than three drivers
       in any one car. These sessions are for tuning, practice etc and are not an Autocross in disguise.
11.  Each driver must only complete two consecutive laps before leaving the track. He/She may
       immediately join the queue to await their next run.
12.  The SEAC Park key can be obtained from the President, Secretary or Treasurer one of whom must 
       be aware of the practice session.
13.   Any members who do not abide by these rules or who behave in a manner that is not in the best
       interest of the club or the sport, will be appropriately dealt with by the committee.
14.  All persons at private practice must sign a sign-on sheet which must be returned with the key.
15.  There shall be a fee for private practice which shall be set by the Executive.