If you haven’t caught the news already, ORRCA Queensland have announced some new rules effective immediately for ORRCA sanctioned events.  Before we go any further, let’s just be sure and understand that these rules ONLY apply to the ORRCA Queensland Championships. Clubs and other race organisers are free to run their own races to their own rules.  Here’s a summary of the new rules, and my own thoughts:
1. Weights for modified: Modified touring cars are now able to run 4, 5 or 6 cell batteries with appropriate weight limit reductions.  So it’s 1525 for 6 cells, 1450 for 5 cells and 1375 for 4 cells (all with timing equipment on board).
In my opinion this isn’t a bad rule change. We’ve seen it already nationally under the AARCMCC ruless, and locally for the interclub series. I think they could safely have ignore the 4-cell option as early experiments in Japan late in 2006 demonstrated that 4-cell is not the way to go.  5-cell cars will start to appear in modified and will be turning at least as quick  lap times as 6-cell cars on most SEQ tracks. Personally I’ll mostly likely be sticking with 6-cells because I share batteries with Dad who races stock in both touring cars, 4wd and 2wd offroad – so 5-cell is not a viable option for us right now.
2. Stop & Go Penalty:  ORRCA give race directors now the option to give competitors a stop/go penalty for any on-track indiscretion (like corner cutting, or rough driving) where the driver does not redress any advantage gained.  previously ORRCA rules allowed only the issuing of a warning, which basically meant that if you were so inclined, you could hack someone, get the position and simply receive a warning. Not much of a penalty!
In my opinion this is a good rule change.  I’ve often thought the warning system not much of a penalty, and a stop/go (where the competitor has to bring their car to complete stop in a nominated penalty box usually in pit-lane) will be a much more effective system.  It’s important that race directors/referees and competitors understand that the option for the stop-go is only when the competitor doesn’t redress any advantage. if you accidentallly hit someone, stop and let them go back in front and you won’t get a stop-go. Easy!
3. ORRCA Qld “Time Window”:  This rule enforces an exclusion zone around ORRCA Qld EP on-road and off-road championships – directing ORRCA affiliated clubs not to run another state or national championship event within 4 weeks either side of an ORRCA sanctioned event. Penalty is loss of insurance and affiliation the following year.
In my opinion this is a bizarre ruling.  This is a “big stick” approach to a non-existent problem.  It also is unclear how it will work. If a club runs a GP offroad AARCMCC Qld titles in mid-May (when the 1/8 offroad event is traditionally held) that event will be within four weeks  of the Qld EP Off-road championship. Seems strange to invoke the ban. Similarly, let’s say Brendale (for example) runs the GP on-road Nationals late October within 4-weeks of the Qld EP on-road event. Again, they woudl face penalty under this system.  I don’t get it at all, and can’t really understand the need for it.
What I imagine might be happening is that another sanctioning body might be trying to get a EP Qld Championships event up and running, and could ask a club to run it in opposition to the traditional event. That would suck.
4. 540 for Juniors: Not just announced, but for 2007, 540 is for drivers aged 16 and under by 31/12/2007 with older drivers running in stock or modified.
In my opinion this is quite ok, and is obviously aimed at bringing more junior drivers into the sport – something that in most clubs is sadly lacking. If it works, congrats ORRCA Qld.  I continue to be puzzled by 540, with drivers with years of experience, and masses of equipment opting to trophy hunt in 540 at events like interclub (say the recent Logan Winter Cup for example).  we should change the name of the class to “Junior Stock” or “Beginners Class” or something – surely no self-respecting experienced driver with masses of equipment wants to win the “beginner class” championship!