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AIDKA DIRT KART TRACK REQUIREMENTS
The following are the requirements of AIDKA for Dirt Kart Tracks in Australia. The
AIDKA Executives or National Track Inspectors Panel reserve the right to vary these Regulations at any time, the issues of safety being paramount.
1. Club Track Inspectors: Each Club shall appoint a track inspector to be responsible for track safety. Inspectors to liaise with National Panel.
2. Annual Inspection: Tracks will be inspected by a member of National Track Panel each year or following any track alterations before a track Licence is issued. Existing tracks will be assessed on their merits and panel members to assist Clubs with any necessary upgrading over a period of time (if necessary) to the required safety standard.
3. Track Licence: An
AIDKA and any other required Licences are to be displayed at the track in a prominent area. They shall be maintained in a legible condition.
4. Track Maintenance: It is the Steward’s responsibility to check that normal track maintenance has been carried out prior to race meetings. If the track conditions are not satisfactory Stewards will stop racing until the track is satisfactory and report their actions to the National Panel.
5. Track Layout: The track shape is not necessarily restricted by these Regulations as track inspectors concern is directed towards safety, tracks to be a minimum of 250m and a maximum of 600m long and to be a minimum width of 8m throughout. It is recommended that straights and high speed corners be made wider wherever practical, to allow karts more room to take evasive action and continue racing. Track surface to be water sealed dirt only, with sufficient fall to prevent puddles forming after watering. Sections of track to be no closer than 4m to itself and any closer than
5m, a protective barrier of energy absorbing material, such as car tyres to be installed.
6. Track Conditions:
• Track edges, verges and run off area:- The track must be bordered along its length on both sides by compact verges that present an even surface, free of loose stones and debris and continue to the first line of protection which would normally be a catch trap.
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Kerbs/corners markers:- Track to be defined by a loose earth reel where possible
on inner edge and if necessary on the outer edge. Reels shall not exceed two hundred mm in height. If marked by other means the use of solid objects or markers that could be hit or flicked back onto following karts is strictly prohibited.
7. Pit Area: Pit must be clearly defined and of sufficient size to cater for a major race meeting. Must be fenced as to prevent the general public gaining unauthorised access. No smoking and Licence holder’s only signs prominently displayed.
8. Grid Lanes:
• Must be defined by barriers and out of control karts must not be able to escape into pits or spectator areas so as to endanger patrons, other Drivers or crew. Grids will accommodate at least twenty
(20) karts and be numbered in some way. Also must be of sufficient width to allow pushers to be clear of following karts.
• Wherever possible grids should not be positioned at entrance to a track corner. If so consideration be given to a lead in lane running parallel to track.
• All grid lanes are to have gates wherever possible. Preferably set back on the grid to allow karts to exit the track if necessary during racing. Gates to be closed during racing.
9. Fire Extinguishers:
Petrol type to be located on the in and out grids and at least two to be situated for easy access on the infield. Signs for Extinguisher Points to be erected as directed by the National Track Safety Officer (Infield signs may not be required). Open fires are prohibited in pits or track arena. All fire extinguishers to be a minimum size of 4.5 kg for dry chemical and nine litre foam. All fire extinguishers must be mounted 1.4m from the ground on a suitable post with the correct rectangular location sign (exception being the infield extinguishers).
Recommended numbers:
Pit area minimum of two (2) located at the entrance of the form up grid and the exit to the return to the pit grid.
The track area a minimum of two
(2) inside the track and one at the starting area.
Canteen area one fire extinguisher and a fire blanket be installed.
(When a State or National title are being held extra fire extinguishers will be required because of large numbers of kart in the pits. It is also recommended that people who officiate at a meeting must have received training or maintain a suitable level of competency in the use of fire extinguishers. A list of trained persons should be available when a track inspection is carried out.
10. Amenities: Toilet and canteen facilities to comply with local health Regulations. Electrical and communication wires should be underground or strung overhead and any hazardous areas isolated.
11. First Aid Requirements: There must be clear access for an ambulance and suitable areas set aside for first aid facilities.
12. Service Vehicle Area: All tracks must have designated area for parking and storage of track maintenance equipment and vehicles outside race arena during racing.
13. Control Tower: Recommended that control towers be adequately covered, closed and ventilated with access by way of permanent structure (i.e. stairs). This area to be out of bounds except for essential race day officials.
14. Safety Fences: All spectator areas to be adequately fenced off to keep spectators in those areas. Fence to be approx. 1.2m high of wire mesh secured to posts maximum 3m apart. Fence to be minimum of 4m. from outer edge of track wherever possible with single strand fence 1.5m behind safety fences which should prevent spectators leaning on main fence. Where fence is closer to edge of track it is recommended that fence be 2m high to prevent karts being projected over fence.
15. Safety Barriers: Energy absorbing barriers to be constructed from car tyres stacked four high and bound or strapped together up and down as well as side to side. For protection between track areas or track and safety fence a continuous line of tyres as above. Barriers to be kept free of earth and debris and not placed hard up against any object.
Officials’ Barrier:
Two (2) rows of three (3) bundles of tyres four high 300mm apart. Rows to be tied side to side and up and down, to be a minimum of 1.8m from edge of track. Hay bales are not to be used for any type of barrier.
Catch Traps: Loose sand catch traps to be installed in any high-speed areas as designated by track inspectors. Traps to be minimum 2m wide and kept worked up at all times.
Plastic Barrels:
May be used as a safety barrier around track perimeter. They cannot be used at
flag points. The barrels shall be parallel sided plastic drums with minimum size
six hundred mm diameter by nine hundred mm height. The barrels shall be secured
together near top and bottom in groups of five. The barrels on the end of each
group to have maximum one hundred mm ballast. Each group of five barrels to be
tied to adjoining group with minimum eight mm synthetic rope. An annual inspection will apply.
Pit Area Fences: Where a post and wire fence is used around the pits. An additional two-strand wire fence is installed on the outside of the wire pit fence as a safety barrier including access gate. The new fence to be erected approximately 1.5 metres from existing wire pit fence.
The purpose of the fences is to provide safety barriers and stop people from smoking and leaning over existing fences near flammable liquids.
16. Trade Areas: Designated trade areas should be provided outside pit area.
17. Track Lighting Requirements: All tracks with existing lighting will be required to comply to the new track criteria by 2005.
For all new tracks and alterations/upgrades to existing tracks.
Grid Lighting: Must be such that no shadows are cast which may be a danger to competitors/pit crews whilst starting karts.
Paddock/Pit Lighting: Must be adequate enough for competitors/pit crew to move around the paddock without endangering themselves by objects hidden in shadows.
Track Lighting:
1 No Point of the racing circuit (track) will measure less than 20 Lux.
2 Track lighting is to be measured at ground level in the inside, centre and the outside of the track.
3 The area on the track used to record kart numbers will measure no less than 38 Lux.
4 The starting area will measure no less than 38 Lux.
5 No adjoining area within 10 metres will have a differential in lighting of more than 20%.
6 No lighting shall cause glare to Drivers or officials.
7 Any circuit used under lights must have the track edges and wind rows be maintained at a high standard and can be clearly defined during night racing.
8 All new track lighting be designed by a qualified person.
Amenities and Canteen Areas Lighting:
Must be adequate enough for visitors, families, competitors, and pit crew to move around these areas without endangering themselves by objects hidden in shadows.
Track Inspectors:
Track Inspectors appointed by
AIDKA Administration have the right to approach Club Executives if they feel an item of safety needs attention. If the Track Inspector is not satisfied that the Club has endeavoured to correct the problem then he may get another Track Inspector to inspect the premises and if in the opinion of the second Track Inspector the track is unsafe, they will advise the
AIDKA Secretary to notify the Club in writing, with a time period to have the problem corrected. If the problem is still not corrected after the allowed time, then the Track Inspectors have the power to close the track to
AIDKA Insurance cover after notifying the AIDKA Secretary of their intention to do so.
18.
Risk Management
All AIDKA. affiliated Clubs must have a Risk Management Programme in place and current. The Risk Management Programme will shall be available at the time Track Inspections are conducted. The format should comply with the Risk Management Section Policy contained in the
AIDKA Secretary Handbook provided to each affiliated Club.
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