TEN GOLDEN RULES FOR COMPETING IN CARS

 First Revision, November 17, 2003

We realize that not every driver who registers to compete in CARS will read the full body of the rules package as they actually should. After all, we're all racers at heart, and the temptation to cinch that chinstrap a little too tight lurks within all of us. SO, with that in mind, we have developed the TEN GOLDEN RULES you should follow to compete in CARS. We assure you that following these simple directives will ensure you of a fun, competitive environment for online racing.

1. THE DECISIONS AND RULINGS OF THE SERIES OFFICIALS SHALL BE BINDING AND FINAL REGARDING ALL EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. Remember this one, we'll come back to it several times.

2. ALL DRIVERS are required to show good sportsmanship and be respectful of their fellow drivers and of the series officials. All too often, good sportsmanship takes a backseat to advancing one's position on the racetrack. Here it will land you on the outside looking in.

3. OVERAGGRESSIVE DRIVING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Continually placing yourself in a position to wreck yourself and more importantly others WILL BE NOTICED by the Series Officials and will be dealt with severely. This may include being required to start at the rear of the field all the way to serving a week or more suspension. It could also mean going home and finding a new place to race. See rule number one. Also BLOCKING IS NOT RACING. If you choose to try to block a faster driver behind you in the early laps of an event, you're being discourteous AND you are asking for disaster. Blocking is somewhat feasible in the final 5 laps or so of a race when trying to protect your position, but, again, you must realize that you will have to be prepared for the potential consequences. Leave the cryin' towels in the hauler because we don't need to see them.

4. Chatting IS NOT ALLOWED during the qualifying session for any division or in the race session for any division. Exceptions to this are of course using the autochat to notify fellow competitors of your on-track status (THIS IS ENCOURAGED) and any statements from series officials.

5. FLAMING, which may be defined as any inflammatory, derogatory, or spiteful chat directed at another driver or an official, IS NOT TOLERATED. The first time you do this you will receive a one-week suspension from racing. The next time you do it, you will be asked not to return. 

6. WARP is an accepted inconvenience of online multiplayer gaming, however, if you are warping, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to act in a mature fashion and position yourself at the back of the racing pack to avoid an incident. In cases of severe warp, the warping driver may be asked to leave the server and not return in that event. In this case you will receive points where you finish in the final running order. Drivers who are asked to leave the server and fail or refuse to do so will receive no points and will be asked not to return PERIOD. See rule number one.

7. CAUTIONS - No one is here to ride around under caution for the majority of the advertised distance of a race. Individuals who generate a greater majority of the caution periods will be under close scrutiny by Series Officials and will be dealt with on an individual basis with penalties including but not limited to suspension and expulsion from the Series. Drivers are expected to practice sufficiently to be able to maintain control of their vehicle while on track. We can assure you this does not mean showing up on race night to build a setup. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. The racing server will likely be up several nights during the week to allow you an opportunity to practice with your fellow drivers. You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this. Drivers who "self-spin" twice in any one event are asked to park it for the night. You obviously were not ready to race on that track, try again next week. 

8. THERE WILL BE NO ON-TRACK RETALIATION IN CARS. Period. If you have a problem with another driver, it will be settled in a private chat with that driver, or over private e-mail. IT WILL NOT be settled on the track, in the chat during the race, or on the official mailing list. Failure to follow this policy will land you with a minimum of a two week suspension, a maximum of expulsion from the series. See rules 1, 2, 3, and 5. 

9. ALL DRIVERS are asked to drive their respective sim vehicles as if they had to pay for them and/or fix them if they are damaged. You will find that this will greatly reduce your temptation to cinch the chinstrap TOO tight and try to place the nose of your racing machine where it will not fit and/or doesn't belong. 

10. HAVE FUN! Online racing has grown dramatically in the last few years, and the technology we have available to us now was only a dream seven years ago when Papyrus first released NASCAR Racing. This is a great way to make new friends, enjoy time with old friends, and experience just a little taste of what it is like to compete in the most exciting sport in the world. Enjoy the ride and when in doubt, remember RULE NUMBER ONE.

For those who wish to read the full body of the CARS Rules and Regulations package, please proceed here.