As the club meetings are starting to get more popular and the heats are getting fuller, we feel it's important to highlight why a racing etiquette is important for everyone.

Firstly, please remember that aggressive, threatening or abusive language is strictly forbidden anywhere in the club. Drivers usually end up at this point when there is poor etiquette within the heat, just a little respect can lead to better results for everyone. Here are some of the more specific etiquette guidelines you should follow while racing.

PART 1 - Qualifying

UNDERSTANDING QUALIFYING

Your qualifying time starts when you do. This means everyone is racing against their own clock until they get to the finals. Everyone's focus should be on "CLEAN" runs which will result in faster times and better qualifying positions. If you start trying to race someone it will slow both of you down as your focus moves away from completing clean laps. Then if the pass fails, the time lost with a crash will be huge and can move you down into lower heats. In the top heat where the racers make less mistakes, you will sometimes see them not even attempting to overtake each other. Instead they will just stay close to the car in front knowing that their time will be slightly faster because they will finish closer than they started. 

ETIQUETTE RULES FOR QUALIFYING

1 - You should always focus on your own race while qualifying.
2 - If someone catches up to you, you are expected to let them pass without challenge or spoiling their qualifying run. This applies even when they are on the same lap as you. The only variation on this will be if two racers are in a very close battle over multiple heats.
3 - Avoid airing your frustrations until after the session is complete. Your frustration should never be aired at another racer. Speak to race control if you are upset.

TIP FOR QUALIFYING 

If you crash, try to fight the urge to drive faster to make the time back. Slow down and get back into a rhythm, two crashes cost you a lot more time than one crash and a slightly slower recovery lap. 

Communicate (in a friendly tone) with the drivers in your heat. If you catch another driver, try politely asking them to let you past. If you barge your way past or shout at them to get out of the way, it will probably just anger them which they'll remember the next time.

If someone catches up to pass or lap you, let them through. A crash can push you down into lower finals where as allowing someone past will just cost you a place. If you’re a wise racer, you'll then try and follow the car to learn where they are finding more time than you.

Thank for reading this article in full, we hope it helps everyone to enjoy the meetings more. Remember we are just racing toy cars at a friendly club meeting. Look out for part 2 coming soon.