Sydney - Racing

Sydney VW Drags Showdown Racing Information

1. Registration: Drivers and crew need to register prior to bringing their cars to scrutineering. Inside the VWMA driver's bag will be the Sydney Dragway registration form (Driver's bags are available from the VWMA tent once you have entered the track). Registration is held in the scrutineering shed (see map). Competitors must be 17 years of age or older and hold a drivers licence (P okay). Crew who wish to assist on the staging lanes must also be 17 years of age or older.

2. Scrutineering: registered and non-registered cars may compete at Sydney. All vehicles will be inspected for basic road/track safety condition; ie minimum 3-point seatbelt/safety harness, brakes, steering, tyres, wheels, oil/water leaks, etc. As a litmus test - if it won't pass a bonafide road worthy it won't pass scrutineering.

For the quarter mile scrutineering will also consider the car's potential time and as a guide this is what should be considered before bringing your car to Sydney. This guide applies to both registered and unregistered vehicles:

12 seconds or slower: scrutineering will conduct the basic track/road worthy inspection and your ANDRA day license issued as part of the event entry fee will suffice

11.00 - 11.99: scrutineering will inspect your vehicle along the lines of Super Street regulations available from the ANDRA regulations book (see attached link) and also ask for a Super Street license, which can be purchased for an additional $150 on the day. Although your car does not necessarily have to have an ANDRA tech inspection prior to the event, scrutineering will still be looking for the basic Super Street requirements.

10.99 or quicker - the vehicle must have an ANDRA tech inspection and log book prior to the event, and the driver must have a minimum Super Sedan license.

Drivers must also have the minimum safety outfit which includes approved helmet (see specs below), long sleeve shirt and pants, and enclosed shoes.

Helmet Specs: ANDRA scrutineers will be looking at helmet tags that must display one of the following helmet standards:

  • AS/NZS 1698:2006
  • AS/NZS 1698
  • SNELL SA2005
  • SNELL M2010
  • SNELL M2005
  • SFI 31.2A
  • SFI 41.2A
  • BS 6658-198

Officials will direct you to a lane, so keep an eye on what is happening. When it's your turn, proceed towards the start line. There is a burnout pad, but unless you know what you are doing, best give this a miss. As you approach the start, there are three sets of photocells in each lane. The first is the PRE STAGE beam, which controls the top light on the Xmas tree. This does nothing more than let you know you have eight inches to go to the STAGE LIGHT, the second light on the tree. The race cannot be started until this light is on. The final beam is the GUARD BEAM which starts the timers if the stage beam has not been cleared. This applies only to very low cars such as dragsters. When your vehicle is properly staged, you're ready to give your full attention to the Xmas tree.

Once the start official hits the button, three amber lights quickly light up in succession before reaching the last two lights, a green GO light and a red FOUL light. When the stage light is on, your front tyre is interrupting the stage beam across the track.

If that beam is re-opened before the green light comes on (ie somewhere during the three amber lights), the red FOUL light comes on. While this doesn't matter in practice, in racing it means "you lose!" The finish line has a series of two photocells. The first is 66 feet before the finish line. The second is the finish line itself. The first and second lights start and stop the speed traps to measure your speed across the finish. The second light stops the E.T clocks and provides the elapsed time for the run.

After completing the run, you will be directed to the return road. If you have a problem and cannot stop, don't try to take the corner at high speed - continue straight ahead into the extra runoff area.
There is plenty of stopping room there. Having completed the run, pick up your time slip from the scrutineering shed. All details of the run are shown - reaction time, E.T, speed in mph and kph and in racing, the amount from your dial-in. Both lanes are shown on the time slip. Easy enough? It will be after a few runs. But you'll only find out by giving it a go.

Drags Drags Drags Drags Drags Drags

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