ARCA RE/MAX Series Adds Safety and Cost-Containment Measures for 2005
TOLEDO OH (11-22-04) With a constant eye on safety and cost-containment, the ARCA RE/MAX Series, preparing for its 53rd consecutive season of competition, has announced several procedural and rules changes for the 2005 season.
Among the measures are a greater number of condensed race weekend schedules with post-qualifying impound procedures, an initiative to limit engine RPMs to 8,800, requiring that all exhaust exit the right side of the car, requiring roof flaps and strips as well as tethers on cars competing at events on tracks of all lengths, and an upgraded Race Safe System on-board caution light alert.
"Safety and cost control are constantly evolving, moving targets," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "We do our best to work with the teams, our safety and technical inspection staff and officials, high performance equipment manufacturers and officials of other racing series to monitor what's being developed and used in competition. We also try to be receptive to suggestions from the teams, and the changes we're making are a combined result of all that."
Condensing the length of time needed to inspect, practice, qualify and race takes a page from traditional short track racing, where there is no practice after qualifying ("Happy Hour") and all activities are completed in hours, not days. ARCA RE/MAX Series events at tracks 1 mile and less have featured the single-day race format, and superspeedway races at Kentucky Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway and Gateway Int'l Raceway have also been conducted with a single day of on-track activity with a single practice session followed by qualifying and the race. Impounding cars after qualifying restricts teams from investing in manpower, parts, fluids and resources specific to qualifying, since the cars are raced with all the same components exactly as qualified. In most cases, the procedure can also save teams a day's expense of travel accommodations. At least 20 of the series' 23 races in 2005 are expected to see abbreviated schedules.
The RPM limit is specifically designed to increase internal engine component life. Engine builders on the cutting edge of innovation continue to increase the RPMs an engine can produce for short runs, producing more power and speed at the expense of stress on engine parts which reduces the life expectancy of the components significantly. Among the RPM control methods researched have been designating specified gear and transmission ratios as well as limiting engine RPMs through restrictions on sanctioning body-issued ignition boxes.
Rerouting the exhaust from exiting the left side of the car to the right directs much of the heat away from the fuel-filler inlet, thereby decreasing the potential for heat-induced fire.
Roof flaps, wicker bill roof strips and wheel, hood and deck lid tethers are already a requirement for ARCA RE/MAX Series races on tracks over one mile in length, but will now be required on short tracks as well. The roof aerodynamic pieces are designed to help keep the car's four tires on the track in the event of a spin, while the tethers attach to components of the car which could become dislodged in an impact. The conformity of all cars to the same set of requirements also eliminates any potential competitive advantage to constructing a car without the designated parts.
The Race Safe System, which the ARCA RE/MAX Series has mandated since 2003, triggers a caution light on the dashboard of all cars simultaneously when the caution flag is displayed and the track caution lights are activated. Racing Electronics, ARCA's official two-way radio communication provider, administrated the Race Safe System prior to purchasing the company, which has improved the product's reliability and performance. Race Safe System changes for 2005 include its own radio frequency thereby eliminating possible interference from outside sources, the addition of green indicator lights to indicate a full charge, longer battery life and lighter weight.
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