MELVILLE MOTOR CLUB (SCOTLAND) LTD

Supplementary Regulations 2024 Festival of Sidecars 

(April is a stand alone meeting further regulations for the remaining events will be published separately)

 

	Closing Date 9th April If Minimum Entries not received by the closing date, the Club WILL cancel or merge this class.	Closing Date	Permit No	Additional Permit No
Apr 20 / 21		April 9th 2024	013717	EMN   TBC

 

 

Supplementary Regulations for National and Scottish Championship Motorcycle Road Race Meetings to be held on the above dates under the SACU rules, the National Sporting Code and appendices of the ACU, with any subsequent amendments, these Supplementary Regulations together with any Final Instructions subsequently issued or Official Announcements made.                                                            SACU Track Certificate 24/002 applies for 2024 events. 

 

For April 20th & 21st , Scottish Sidecar Racing Club and Melville Motor Club Scottish Sidecar Festival, the Club has requested European Open Race Meeting status, to allow competitors, with valid 2024 Road Race licences from FIM Europe Affiliated Federations to compete, with the conditions that they have start permission that confirms the rider has Medical and Repatriation Insurance, from their Licence issuing Federation, this includes MCUI Licence Holders. 

 

May to October events, Melville Motor Club will hold National Motorcycle Road Race Meetings at East Fortune Aerodrome, near Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, EH39 5BX, open to holders of 2024 Road Race licences of the SACU, ACU or MCUI Licence holders with start permission and medical and repatriation insurance will be accepted at events. 

 

East Fortune is 20 miles ENE of Edinburgh. The circuit is 1.56 miles long and over 30 feet wide, full tarmac surface, the main paddock is concrete or tarmac. Racing is in a clockwise direction. The circuit is bounded by white lines. (Circuit Layout at end of this document).

 

Officials of the Meetings may be, all confirmed SACU Road Race Officials:

Clerk of the Course: Bob Davies, Steven Haire, Gordon Dingwall

Secretary of the Meeting: Louise Nichol

Secretary of the Meeting Support: Gavin Browne

Chief Technical Officer: John Keymer, Murray McKay, Brian Ferry, Robin Rollo

Chief Marshal: Bob Davies, Steven Jack, Joe Parkin

Timekeepers: Steven Haire and Elaine Haire

Club Steward: Sandra Lang

Incident Recorder: Sandra Lang

Child Protection (Club Safeguarding Officer): Sandra Lang

Riders Representatives: Charlie Flett and Jimmy Shanks

 

Entries: Sidecar drivers and passengers must enter separately to ensure adequate disclaimers, Electronic entries and payment are preferrable. Emailed forms and BACS payments also acceptable. NO Telephone Entries will be accepted. Entry Forms can be emailed. Our preferred method is via Entry Central system for the event. All competitors Under 18 required to submit a completed Parental Agreement 

An entry can be cancelled, and entry fee refunded subject to £20 administration charge.

The organisers undertake to ensure each driver and passenger, indemnifying them against any third-party claims made arising out of the races or official practice. Excluding claims by other drivers or passengers, entrant, sponsor, or mechanic. All drivers and passengers will also be covered by personal accident insurance whilst practicing and racing.

 

Race Classes April: British F1’s, British F2’s, Pre-injection Championship sidecars, Club F1’s, Club F2’s, Classic Sidecars, Classic Solos’s and other invited solo classes

 

Concussion: Please note that following a concussion injury, Competitors must produce a doctor’s letter when re-commencing racing. Such letter can be given to either the SACU office prior to the event for issue to the appointed Stewards, or to the SACU Stewards at the event. The letter should clearly indicate that the competitor “is no longer suffering from the consequences of concussion.”

 

Limit of Entries: Normally, not more than 40 solos or 24 sidecars, first come, first served, shall start in a road race or heat. The Club shall decide whether heats need to be run. If less than 6 entries are received for a class, the Club reserves the right to cancel it, or include it with another, AT THE PUBLISHED CLOSING DATE. A maximum of 6 reserves will be accepted. Entry Fee stated on the event entry form. 

 

Paddock Speed Limit: 

ANY PERSON SPEEDING IN THE PITS WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM MEETINGS, ONLY RACING BIKES TO BE RIDDEN IN THE PADDOCK. Any rider attempting to gain access to the track at the ‘NO EXIT’ end of the pits will be excluded from the Meeting. Please observe the “One Way” traffic system in the paddock. No Matter who is riding a helmet must be worn at all times.

 

Paddock Bikes: No paddock bikes or wheeled toys of any kind (including bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates/blades) to be ridden anywhere within the circuit during the event (generally 9.00am – 6.00pm), or at any time on the Friday. E-Scooters have not been given permission to be ridden in the paddock or circuit at any time.

 

Motorcycle Engines: Not to be run before 9am or after 6.00pm.

 

Generators: Silent Air Generators will be used, and in continual use – hook-ups are provided. power from 6pm on Friday. Please ensure your electric devices are electrically safe. See Final Instructions for more details.

 

Competitors Requiring to Park on Grass Areas: Use Environmental Mat as per ACU Environmental Code.

 

Races:  Each entry entitles the rider to start in a race. The Intended programme is 2 races per race set on Saturday, and 2 races on Sunday, for scheduled 10 laps. Additional races, (handicap / support) will be run, time and situation permitting. 

 

Friday:  Subject to Official’s availability, “Sign-On” 2pm – 6pm, Technical Inspection 4pm – 6pm. 

Defining “Sign-on” as presenting race licence (or photo of SACU licence) to the Secretary of the event. 

You will receive a race programme and a Technical Inspection Ticket(s) for each bike. Protective clothing must be worn to Technical Inspection. Under 18 competitors must Sign-On, go through Technical Inspection, attend the Riders Briefing with a responsible adult. 

 

Programme of events Saturday Sunday Practice Order

Signing on 7am onwards 7am onwards ** See Programme. 

 

Programme will be set to accommodate riders competing in more than one Class, as far as possible.

Technical Inspection 7.30am onwards 7.30am **

Riders Briefing 8.45am 8.45am **

(New Rider Assessment if programmed) 9.00am 9.00am  

Practice starts 9.30am 9.00am

Practice finishes noon 9.45am

Lunch noon - 12.50pm noon – 12.50pm

Racing starts 1.00pm 10.15am & 1.00pm

      ** Sunday Only Riders

Cameras: On board cameras are NOT permitted.

 

Practice: Arrive at the circuit before the start of practice, or you will risk having to wait to gain access to the paddock (infield paddock).

Riders and passengers must wear their Identification Disc while on circuit.

Riders must complete at least 3 laps on their largest machine entered. Riders failing to complete 3 laps will, on the discretion of the Clerk of the Course, considering previous experience at East Fortune, be allowed to start. Anyone failing to obey the regulations concerning practice will be excluded from the meeting. Ten minutes free practice session, the next session for the class shall be 10 minutes of timed qualifying. 

Transponders: Can be hired, from the race office, observing capacity limits, and wearing a face mask. Please use hand gel from the dispensers. Security must be left in exchange, i.e. ACU Licence, bank card, driving licence.

Sunday Practice: Depending on the subsequent race order, 3 practices shall be run – Solos less than 600cc – Solos greater than 600cc – Sidecars. More sidecar warm-ups expected in April due to the entry. 

 

Qualifying: The Clerk of the Course reserves the right to apply a 110% of third fastest qualifying time. Riders out-with this time will be offered a race within another race class of like qualifying speeds. Points will still be awarded for the Class originally entered.

 

Grid Positions: Grids are allocated as per timed qualifying; this position will be the grid position for the whole event. It is the rider’s responsibility to know and start from his/her allocated position. Failure to comply may incur a time penalty or exclusion. 

 

Race Procedure: 

Starts: Clutch starts for all classes. Start penalties will be applied per ACU Handbook at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course.

From the holding bay, form up on the grid in the correct grid position. Grid Officials will direct one or two warm up laps – waving off in rows by the removal of red flag, green flag shown at each marshal’s post. Yellow flags at the last two Marshals posts shall slow the riders down, and the grid will re-form after the warmup lap(s). Grid Official shall display a board with the number of race laps, they shall then leave the grid. A red light will be displayed. After 2 – 5 seconds, the light will go out and the race commences. Last Lap flag will be displayed when the leader had one lap to the end of the race. A chequered flag shall be displayed to the leader at the end of the race, (they should not pass anyone from this point), and to all those bikes following, irrespective of the number of laps they have completed. The winner of the race is flagged down nearing the pit entrance with a red flag. The timing system is stopped when the red flag is displayed, as no other racers will pass the start finish. Those finishing with 9 or 8 laps in a 10-lap race will be deemed to be a finisher. 

In the event of a light failure, the race will be started by the drop of the Saltire Flag. 

 

Classes: April is a stand-alone event. 12 as per Melville Championships for 2024 at May - October.

 

Results: There will be no timesheets or bulletins issued as hard copy but will instead be available on the Melville Motor Club Facebook Group, MyLaps Speedhive, or can be emailed (or posted) on request.

 

Points Allocation: For 1st to 15th Position, 25, 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points. 

 

Safety: Please take extreme care at all times and never ride beyond your capabilities, whatever the circumstances.

 

All riders who retire from a race or practice, must leave the course with their machine at the very first available opportunity, at all times ensuring they do not place themselves or their machines in such a position as to constitute a danger to other competitors. Competitors must not attempt to ‘tour’ back to the pits. In retiring, great care must be taken to avoid violent deviation, deceleration, or positioning on the course such that the following riders may be impeded or endangered.

 

Re-Examination of Bike and Rider: – required for any crash / parting from the motorcycle on circuit. (1) Collect incident form from the Incident Recorder; (2) Present yourself, in leathers with your helmet to the Medical Officer – take the form for signature. This would clear you to race in a second class if entered. (3) After repair, present the bike and yourself, in leathers with helmet to the Technical Officers, for examination (bike and your protective clothing). Once signed, return the form to the incident recorder. 

 

Alcohol and Drug Testing: As per 2024 Scottish Championship conditions. The SACU commit to conduct more Drug and Alcohol Testing. Those providing positive test results face an instant ban of 2 years in line with FIM regulations. Any positive alcohol test at an event will result in the individual and team be asked to leave the event, the Club will not be required to refund their entry fee. Competitor will be liable to have licence suspended for 6 weeks.

 

Riders Meeting: All Competitors shall attend a briefing on Saturday, 8.45am, unless otherwise advised. Sunday-only competitors should report to the Clerk of the Course at the Circuit Office by 8.30am Sunday.

 

Starts: Clutch starts for all classes. Start penalties will be applied per ACU Handbook at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course.

 

Changes: The Secretary of the Meeting will consider requests for changes (rider – already entered the event, passenger, or machine, including adding additional machine) prior to respective race, and following consultation with the Clerk of the Course. Entrants only - No different riders shall be accepted after the race event has commenced. 

 

Competition Licence Numbers: Must be filled in on the entry form and licences must be shown when signing on. (Non-production of licence entails a £10 search fee to the SACU, donating to the Ben Fund).

 

Passes: Competitors – need to request passes when they enter solo and sidecar drivers will receive 3 passes, sidecar passengers will receive 2, additional weekend passes are available at the time of entering at a discounted rate of 50% and are non refundable 

 

Awards:   Various prizes and trophies to be awarded on the Sunday