TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 2
The purpose of the Fray 2
Delegation of Sporting Power 4
Nomenclature and Definitions of terms 5
Etiquette 6
Officials and Duties
General Competition Rules
Supplementary Regulations
Penalties
Protest and Appeals
Characteristics of Events
Technical Inspections
Practice Sessions
Qualifying Sessions
Start Procedures
Restart Procedures
Race Procedures
Red Flag Procedures
Black Flag Procedures
Car rules
Body rules
Chassis rules

INTRODUCTION
By Richard Phillis

Welcome! It is once again time to prepare for the Fray in Ferndale. There will be fifteen teams again this year with mostly familiar faces and some new ones. The Free Agent team is removed, to make room for the new teams that have expressed interest. The cars and the teams are both getting better making this a very competitive event worthy of any group. So bring it on!

The purpose of the Fray
Back in 1997 the idea to run a team based event that pitted towns against one another finally came to fruition. Everyone is familiar with every driver rotating through each lane. The Fray concept is that each team rotates among the tables and every other team in the tournament. The first year there were four race tables and seven teams.

The idea that a team could enter and compete against every other team in an all-day event soon caught on. Racing groups from various places heard of the event and wanted to see how they stacked up against the competition. The teams would realize that one Fray is not enough and find themselves making plans for the next year. That's how it all started! The Fray in Ferndale has since grown to a seven table, fifteen team slot car race.

Delegation of Sporting Power
In the event of Richard Phillis absence or inability to perform authoritative powers, he shall have the right to delegate the whole or part of the powers conferred by this Code to another competitor if he so desires. That appointed person shall have the right to delegate the whole or part of those powers conferred by this Code to another competitor, but only after obtaining approval from Richard Phillis. An appointed official may withdraw the delegation of his/ hers powers, provided he/she notifies Richard Phillis of such withdrawal. Each appointed official is bound by the Regulations and Codes for standard operating procedures, regulation enforcement, and staging of the event.

Nomenclature and Definitions of Terms
Entry
A driver that will be considered officially entered in the event if he/ she has paid their event entry fee in full. A car that will be considered officially entered in the event if it has successfully passed pre-technical inspection

Restart procedure:
The cars will be returned to their starting positions, no official laps will be counted and the official' s clock will be reset.

Impound:
Only the officials assigned to do so may place cars in, and/ or remove cars from impound . No operation, checking, tuning or repairing is allowed unless authorized by the same officials . DNF s still get 1 point.

Lane rotation:
Except for when a race is over, a lane rotation occurs at the end of each heat Drivers proceed (rotate) to a different driver s station .
Their cars w ill be placed in the corresponding lane before the next heat starts.

Black flag:
A driver will be notified by an official if and when his/ her car has a condition not allowing fair competition, or one that is detrimental or damaging to the track . Under such notification the driver must make a pit stop and must make the necessary repairs ( if possible) to correct the advised condition before returning to the heat . If for any reason the driver can not perform the necessary repairs, then the driver will not be allowed to return to the heat and will be awarded a DNF or be DQ'ed depending upon the determination of the officials.

DQ’ed Restart:
When it has been determined that a start must be aborted and retried.

Missed laps.
When a car,for any reason, does not register a lap count on the computer, officials or spotters may place car behind the track accuator so as to affect a lap count when the driver resumes his throttle.

General Rules & Regulations
Any speed controller may be used, but must not contain any device that will boost or store available track power.
Car must be legal at start of Heat , if any occurrence may befall you during the running of the heat that may make your car illegal then a black flag or red flag condition 4 Nomenclature and Definitions of terms These terms are found throughout this rule book.
Most of these terms are found in quotes in the text so you can refer back to this page if you need to.

Definition of Terms

Armature: The moving (spinning) part of the motor which includes the stack , windings, commutator and the armature shaft.
Black flag: A notification by an official when a condition not allowing fair competition, or one that is detrimental or damaging to the track occurs.
Bodies: The outer shell which includes the mounting posts that is secured to the chassis assembly via 2 steel screws, to give it the appearance of an HO scale car .
Bushings: Sleeves installed in holes for the purpose of reducing friction.
Chassis/ Chassis frame: The chassis constitutes only the plastic portion of the chassis assembly that houses the motor. The chassis has holes for the axles and includes the rivets, the copper pick up shoe hangers and the copper electrical shunts between the pick up shoe hangers and the motor brushes.
Chassis assembly: All components incorporated within a slot car minus the body.
Contact rail/s : The metal contact rails imbedded in the track for the purpose of transferring electricity to the car via the pick up shoes .
Dimple: A half sphere shaped indentation.
DNF (did not finish): A DNF result may be awarded if for so me reason a driver can not complete a heat .
DQ'ed (disqualified): When the officials determine that a participant's offense requires that the participant to be disqualified from a heat, race or event.
Driver/ s: A driver is an individual who controls the speed of their car via the use of a speed controller .
Driver' s station:An area where each driver involved in a heat will be required to be at the beginning of said heat , for the purpose of controlling the car. The driver s station will be located in front of the point where each driver's speed controller s are to be connected to the power for the corresponding lane.
Entry/ Entered/ Entrant: A driver that is officially entered in the event may be referred to as an entrant . A car that is officially entered in the event may be referred to as an entry .
Entry fee: Moneys paid by prospective entrants for the inclusion into an event .
Event: An event is made up of one or more races . The purpose of an event is to competitively test teams and/ or drivers and their cars involved, against one another to establish a hierarchy of these teams and/ or drivers to determine the result of said event . This final result will determine the winner/ s and the rest of the placings in a given event .
Flattened: The action of reducing the curvature of an object with the intent of making it flat or straighter.
Gear plate: The plastic upper part of the chassis assembly that supports the first 4 gears and that the armature hangs from.
Gear plate rails: The gear plate rails are the vertical ribs running lengthwise above the gear plate 's upper horizontal plane .
Hanger: The plastic tabs at the front of the chassis t hat the front of the pick-up shoe hang s from.
Heat: A sub-race within a race . A heat will usually consist of a 5 -20 lap competition where each driver races in only one lane .
"HO": Normally a scale of 1/ 87th of actuality, however "HO" will mean a non-precise term to describe cars raced on tracks produced by manufacturers under the "HO" scale logo.
Impound: A designated location where the entrant is obliged to bring his/ her car/ s as dictated by the rule s.
Interior: The portion of the body that is located directly under the roof and windows t
hat depicts the seats and/ o r driver figure.
Lane: The track has lanes for the cars to follow. A lane includes the guide slot and the positive and negative contact rails .
Lane rotation: When Drivers proceed (rotate ) to a different driver s stations .
Manufacturer/ s: A commercial enterprise o r company producing cars , parts and accessories for "HO" slot car racing.
Marshal/ Spotter: A non- driver entrant whose duty is to observe the race and t o effect action when necessary.
Modification/ s: Any attempt to change something from it s original state.
Motor: The power producing part of a car that includes the armature, motor magnets and brushes.
Official/ s: Any entrant that is appointed to a position of authority by Richard Phillis for the purpose of enforcing or ruling on regulations, rules or codes contained in the Fray rules and regulations book.
Pick up shoe/ s: The pick up shoe is the metal wiper that drags on the race track s contact rails for the purpose of transferring electricity from the track to the car . The pickup shoe has five major bends in it. Starting at the front, the first major bend is numbered 1, the second major bend is numbered 2, etc.
.Pit Stop: Any time a driver during the course of a race removes his/ her car from the track for the purpose of effecting repairs.
Placings: The overall order of finish of a heat, race or event.
Race: A race is the culmination of a set of heats. The purpose of a race is to competitively test teams and/ or drivers and their cars involved, against one another to establish a hierarchy of these teams and/ or drivers to determine the result of said race . This result will determine the winner/ s and the rest of the placings in a given race.
Relief: A term describing a hollow cavity, usually used in reference to gears.This cavity is usually cut out of one side of the gear t o effectively reduce the overall weight of the gear.
Restart: When it has been determined that a start must be aborted and retried.
Slot Car/ Car: A land vehicle for use on "HO" scale racing tracks , powered by an electric motor, and having a guide pin to steer the "car" around said tracks. The car consists of both the body and the chassis assembly .
Speed controller: The device used by a driver to control the speed of his/ her car .
Stack: The metal laminated segments with three poles in the armature on which the armature wire is wound a round.
Step:The area including the second and third bends in the pickup shoe constitutes the step .
Team/ s: A group of drivers working together to act as a unit.
Track/ Race Track/ Circuit: A permanent or temporary course used for competition events , races and heats.
Track call or Red Flag: The stopping of a heat due to a prevailing condition of an emergency or a track condition not allowing fair competition.
Upper horizontal plane: When viewed from the front and with the armature hanging below the gear plate, the upper surface of the gear plate , below the 3 upper gears, will be referred to as the gear plate's upper horizontal plane .

CAR REGULATIONS

Note: All of these body regulations state modifications that are allowed. Any modifications performed on “entered” “cars” that aren't in these regulations will not be allowed and the “car” will be deemed illegal.

Complete car regulations

1) The complete “car” must not weigh less than 19.0 grams and no more than 23.4 grams.
2) The complete “car” must nowhere exceed the maximum allowed width of 1.3125” (1 5/16”).

Body regulations

1) “Bodies” must be manufactured by either the process of casting or injection molding and be made of resin or plastic and may be painted.
2) “Bodies” must be originally manufactured with the intention of being mounted, with the use of 2 screws via the 2 body mounting posts, on a/an: Aurora Model Motoring (which includes: Vibrator, Thunderjet, Wild Ones, Tough Ones and Xlerators), Bachmann, Faller, Model Motoring Inc. Thunderplus, Marx, Eldon or Tyco “S” series “HO” chassis.
3) “Bodies” must be fitted with all the manufacturer’s original bumpers, heads, rollover bars, etc. in their stock locations. A competitor may fabricate their own bumpers, heads, rollover bars, etc. if they so choose, but then the body will be scrutinized by the head tech inspector to see if it will be allowed to be included into the event.
4) The “body” to “chassis” mounting posts may shortened by cutting or grinding for the purpose of lowering of the “body” closer to the “chassis assembly“.
5) Cracked or broken “body” mounting posts may be repaired or replaced with the use of glue and/or a plastic sleeve around, or a plastic tube in place of, the broken post.
6) Other than the plastic post reinforcements stated in regulation 5, no additional weight can be added to the “body“.
7) Any stock size body mounting screw made of steel may be used.
7a) Both front and rear screws must be used and may be left loose, but must be tight enough so as not to be able fall out.
8) With the “body” mounted securely to the “chassis“, and when viewed from above, no part of the “chassis assembly” may be viewable except through the “body” “manufacturer’s” original windows, detail ducts and vent openings.
9) The “body” may be lightened by removing material from the underside through the process of grinding or scraping, as long as regulation 8 is not violated.
10) “Bodies” that have a separate roof and windshield casting/molding, and have molded in “interiors” (also know as Hardtops, e.g. Aurora’s ‘65 Mustang), may have the “interior” portion of the body completely removed.
11) Front and rear wheel wells may be opened up to allow for more tire to wheel well clearance. A 1/8th” (.125”) diameter round steel rod when placed on the tread surface of the tire and situated parallel to the axles, must not be able to fit between the tire and the wheel well lip at any point of the wheel well arch. (Some exceptions may be made in this case if the wheel well has obviously not been modified.)
11a) Front wheel wells must not be modified in such a way to allow the use of any other wheelbase than that was originally intended by the manufacturer of that body.
10) The front windshield must be made of plastic and may be glued in place and must fill the front windshield frame. On a convertible body, any replacement windscreen must be the same height and width of the body manufacturer’s original windscreen.
10a) You may remove the side and/or rear windows.

Note: All of these car regulations state modifications that are allowed. Any “modifications” performed on entered cars that aren't in these regulations will not be allowed and the car will be deemed illegal.

Chassis assembly regulations

1) Only original Aurora Thunderjet “chassis assemblies” with copper electrics are allowed.
2) The “chassis” axle and armature holes may be slightly opened up for increased clearance.
2a) The “chassis assembly” must not be fitted with “bushings“.
2b) The “chassis” may be trimmed slightly (no more than .010”) to allow for crown gear tooth clearance.
3) Any original Aurora pancake style "armature" with no more than two "stack" laminations and with all of it’s original windings "unmodified" (no re-wound or de-wound windings) may be used and may be mechanically (physically) balanced.
3a) When measured across two different commutator segments, “armatures” must have an ohm rating of 15.6 ohms or higher at an average room temperature of 65ºf - 75ºf.
4) Any and only original Aurora motor magnets without the “dimple” must be used. If any competitor’s magnets are suspected to be too strong, then the John Deer pin rule will be enforced.
4a) Magnet shims may be used, but must be made of a non-ferrous material.
5) Any and only carbon/copper motor brushes are allowed.
6) Only 14 tooth “armature” gears are allowed.
7) Only 24 tooth, brass idler gears are allowed.
8) Only 9 tooth rear end (final drive) pinion gears are allowed.
9) Only 15 tooth crown gears are allowed. The crown gear boss may be trimmed or a spacer may be added to adjust for proper gear mesh.
9a) Gear tooth friction surfaces may be de-burred by polishing, filing or sanding.
9b) Gears may not be chamfered, lightened or “relieved”.
9c) Solder or glue may be used to secure the gears to their respective shafts.
10) Any front and rear wheel, tire and axle assembly may be used.
10a) Front and rear axle washers (spacers) are allowed.
11) The center front axle truck hole must not be utilized.
12) The “step” in the pick-up shoe must remain intact and be unaltered, except for only that the third bend (see drawing) may be changed slightly so that proper “pick up shoe” to “rail” contact can be achieved. No additional bends are allowed. No attempts to “flatten” the “step” are allowed. The area between bend 1 and bend 2 may be “flattened” to achieve better contact with the “rails“.
12a) Bend 1 can be slightly modified by reducing the angle to prevent the shoe from falling off the “hanger”.
13) Any amount of the vertical “gear plate rails” above the “upper horizontal plane” may be removed. No amount of material may be removed from the “gear plate” at or below the “upper horizontal plane“. The serial/patent numbers and letters must also remain intact.
14) Only original Aurora black plastic or identical replacement plastic guide pins must be used. They may be cut, trimmed or bent and may be glued into place.