Rules Committee Decisions

Move the specifications of Rain lights to the III. Safety B. Equipment. rules section heading.
The Rain lights specifications are currently referenced under IV. Racing Rules. Rain Race. Rain lights.
While the requirement to use the rain lights is properly mentioned under Racing Rules, the specifications of Rain Lights should be mentioned under Equipment (or at least referenced), as any other important equipment/safety requirement, so as not to be overlooked.

Make corrections to #16; ‘Window Nets’ to “Nets” to include the right side net as to the required certifications:

16. Nets

a. Expiration
i. SFI nets expire 2 years after the date of manufacture at the end of the month of manufacture as indicated on the label.
ii. FIA 8863-2013 nets expire 5 years from the year of manufacture on December 31st of the year printed on the net(s).
iii. Nets without a certification label shall be considered as expired and must be replaced.

2. Penalties will be assigned to racers as follows:
……….
c. Any driver issued a disqualification (DQ) for any race (fun or points) will forfeit all points earned at that event.

I am formally requesting that the rules governing fuel cell location be amended to allow for greater flexibility in mounting location. In addition, the rule change requestor seeks to align the allowable BMW CCA Club Racing fuel cell locations with other racing organizations and demonstrate that alternative fuel cell locations do not pose an increased risk to safety when appropriate precautions are taken. Proposed changes to the rule book wording and photographic support for the change rationale will be provided by email.

This also involves Sport classes, but Sport doesn’t effect me. FACT 1: the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are virtually unused in Sport & Prepared classes. FACT 2: Virtually ALL MODERN ERA BMWs are Forced Induction as delivered to dealerships. FACT 3: Tuning is already “free” in Prepared. FACT 4: tuning of naturally aspirated cars in Prepared cars separates competition already. FACT 5: None of the longstanding Prepared (and sport) classes are adversely effected by any of the modern era BMWs because they are classed higher letters (or easily could be if they were to upset the existing class) FACT 6: MOD & PWR class cars are considerably more expensive to build & operate than Sport & Prepared class cars. FACT 7: The added expense of this major rules change will deter owners of modern era BMWs from participating in BMW CCA Club Racing…especially potential new race school students. FACT 8: at time of this writing, there are four cars entered in GP at WGI Sept race. All four are either ‘15 or ‘16 M235i race cars that would be required to move to either BM or PWR 3-5 class for next year requiring considerable additional expense to be competitive versus remaining in otherwise unpopulated G Prepared class…who does it harm to permit more of these cars to participate in this Prepared class or the appropriate otherwise unpopulated Sport class? So what if JoeBob has better tuning and dominates…every participant could invest in similar “free” tuning vs having to pay for a mod class level build. Who does that hurt other than the businesses that sell the parts that people would have to buy to be competitive in BM? Please seriously consider removing this example of MAJOR, overly expensive, RULES CREEP!

Every major racing organization has a rule that you are not allowed to “block” while braking. This is a clear safety issue and should be made very clear that the “1 move” portion of our rule book to prevent someone from passing does not apply if the lead car has begun braking / entered the braking zone.

Several members of the BMWCCA/CR racing community, including officials and IP class members noted a considerable inconsistency in laps run by a new racer at CMP in October. I wasn’t there but when I read the Roundel coverage, it stood out that there may have been a classification issue.

The subject, Jon Kozlow, came from NASA ST4 and self-classed his car as IP and ran 3-4 sec faster than the IP class regulars. The top of the IP class is typically separated by 3-4/10ths and the rest of the weekend showed the IP class running consistent times to each other.

It seems there could be a classification error (refer to Sec 2) and based on the Process (sec 4), since BMWCCA officials noticed the same disparity, and the process for another racer to raise this type of issue is cumbersome and potentially not the best way to preserve the camaraderie, officials should investigate the classification of the Kozlow car based on the inconsistency and the variations allowed in the NASA ST4 class where the car typically runs.

Per rule, Sec. 4: An event participant “or organizer” may initiate a protest for the decision, act, or omission by the following for alleged violation of the rules.

Make clear in the rules that solicitiing a change in class for a driver at the track during an event is limited to conditions that CR specifies (language regarding those limitations needs to be debated by the CR rules team).

Move the specifications of Rain lights to the III. Safety B. Equipment. rules section heading.
The Rain lights specifications are currently referenced under IV. Racing Rules. Rain Race. Rain lights.
While the requirement to use the rain lights is properly mentioned under Racing Rules, the specifications of Rain Lights should be mentioned under Equipment (or at least referenced), as any other important equipment/safety requirement, so as not to be overlooked.

Add clarification that license and medical validity must extend to the last day of any CR event requiring those credentials

Eliminate reference to the SM class which effective with the ’23 season has been eliminated (current and future cars in this class are directred to the highest PWR class in the ongiong rule book for PWR which is PWR5 for 2023)

Add clarification to the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty clause as shown below:

7d. Unsportsmanlike conduct (on or off the track, to include attempts to pressure decision making by race officals)

Suggested rule change to require an automatic one-month probation period if a racer is unable to produce video footage following involvement in a contact incident

2. Penalties will be assigned to racers as follows:
……….
c. Any driver issued a disqualification (DQ) for any race (fun or points) will forfeit all points earned at that event.

1. Points will be awarded to eligible racers as follows:
…….
g. In the case of a dead heat for any position, the total points involved based on the number tied at the finish shall be divided evenly among those tied.
For example, if the dead heat is for second place involving two cars, the points from second and third will be added together and divided by two to obtain the points to be awarded for second place. Each driver would be awarded 17 points. There would be no third place points awarded in that race.

I am formally requesting that the rules governing fuel cell location be amended to allow for greater flexibility in mounting location. In addition, the rule change requestor seeks to align the allowable BMW CCA Club Racing fuel cell locations with other racing organizations and demonstrate that alternative fuel cell locations do not pose an increased risk to safety when appropriate precautions are taken. Proposed changes to the rule book wording and photographic support for the change rationale will be provided by email.

Will a Joie of Seating Diamond seat be acceptable for club racing. See link below to the manufacturer’s website.

https://www.thejoieofseating.com/diamond-series-seat

Consistency and safety aspects of cars running with driver and passenger windows up.

Confirming that the same rule applies to reinforcement for Ballast as to a Fuel Cell where (location in rule book: B. Equipment, 29. Fuel system, a. 2) “Additional reinforcement may be added to support the fuel cell, but such reinforcement must not be attached to the roll cage in Sport and Prepared classes.”

Rain lights – it might be wise to make the wording and requirements match what the other race series are doing.

Otherwise people are going to have to reprogram the rain lights for each series.

Keep it consistent is my recommendation.

Make corrections to #16; ‘Window Nets’ to “Nets” to include the right side net as to the required certifications:

16. Nets

a. Expiration
i. SFI nets expire 2 years after the date of manufacture at the end of the month of manufacture as indicated on the label.
ii. FIA 8863-2013 nets expire 5 years from the year of manufacture on December 31st of the year printed on the net(s).
iii. Nets without a certification label shall be considered as expired and must be replaced.

Would like rain light behavior change from on steady at all times to blink when brakes are off and steady on when brake pedal depressed. Logic is a steady on light doesn’t give trailing car any information if the driver ahead is on the brakes or not. Brake lights are not normally on all time to convey info to any driver behind them, why should a rain light be different? Blinking light gives car behind bro of where the car is, solid under braking gives info car is probably slowing. Much safer.

I am formally requesting that the rules governing fuel cell location be amended to allow for greater flexibility in mounting location. In addition, the rule change requestor seeks to align the allowable BMW CCA Club Racing fuel cell locations with other racing organizations and demonstrate that alternative fuel cell locations do not pose an increased risk to safety when appropriate precautions are taken. Proposed changes to the rule book wording and photographic support for the change rationale will be provided by email.

I just had a question about rules on what transmissions are allowed. I am currently looking at different specs to buy to start my bmw club racing journey and I was wondering if the car had to have a true manual or if an automatic transmission with paddles would be allowed? I’ve looked in the rule forms and wasn’t able to find anything. Thank you.

The participants of IS, the largest continent of sport class racers, request that the following wording be removed from the sport section of the rule book.

“Batteries must remain in their original location except for 2002 and E21 cars. E30 cars in which the battery was originally in the engine compartment may relocate the battery to the standard E30 trunk location.”

The participants of IS, the largest continent of sport class racers, request that the following wording be removed from the sport section of the rule book.

“Bushing material does not include replacement of bushings with spherical bearings or rod ends, such as Heim ends, except as noted below.”

Are PDMs allowed to replace factory relays, fuses, and harnesses? For instance, can I remove the fuse box from an IS car and utilize an AiM PDM32 in its place to control headlights, wipers, fan, etc.?

Technical question regarding wing height: Do all parts of the wing (ie. swan top mounts, end plates, gurney flaps) need to be at or below the highest point of the roofline or just the wing airfoil itself? I’m fabricating new mounts to comply while moving from standard under mount to swan top mount uprights.

Technical question regarding wing height: Do all parts of the wing (ie. swan top mounts, end plates, gurney flaps) need to be at or below the highest point of the roofline or just the wing airfoil itself? I’m fabricating new mounts to comply while moving from standard under mount to swan top mount uprights.

Request that the rule stating “E46 M3s are allowed to run ZF 5 speed transmission, model ZF320 sourced from other BMW models.” be equally applied to Sport class rule set as initially intended.

Confirming that the same rule applies to reinforcement for Ballast as to a Fuel Cell where (location in rule book: B. Equipment, 29. Fuel system, a. 2) “Additional reinforcement may be added to support the fuel cell, but such reinforcement must not be attached to the roll cage in Sport and Prepared classes.”

Per seperate email, would ask the rules committee to revisit the minimum weight for H Class (HP/HS). It is currently 3142 for the E46 M3 platform, which requires all drivers who have prepared their car to the other regulations to run ballast, for some as much as 200 lbs. This much ballast is a safety risk (many lead blocks in multiple places on the car are a avoidable risk in an accident), is less attrative to racers in other series where the weight minimum is much less, and would provide environmental and cost benefits (i.e. brakes, fuel, tires) to the racers.

lower the minimum weight to at or below 3000 lbs – currently at 3142 (same rules as current, including driver, fuel, etc.). I suggest lowering all other classes accordingly as many cars run with balast, but the E46 M3 platform has a particularly high minimum weight relative to how easy it is to remove weight from the chasis by taking the normal steps to prepare a racecar.

Please confirm that any E46 transmission can be used (i.e. 5 speed) rather than the 6 speed the M3 comes with. I support this flexibility as the cost of the 6 speed transmission is nearly 3x the cost of the 5 speed transmission and has significantly more weight. gears 1 through 5 are identical in both transmissions so there is no performance advantage other than the weight savings,

Technical question regarding wing height: Do all parts of the wing (ie. swan top mounts, end plates, gurney flaps) need to be at or below the highest point of the roofline or just the wing airfoil itself? I’m fabricating new mounts to comply while moving from standard under mount to swan top mount uprights.

Technical question regarding wing height: Do all parts of the wing (ie. swan top mounts, end plates, gurney flaps) need to be at or below the highest point of the roofline or just the wing airfoil itself? I’m fabricating new mounts to comply while moving from standard under mount to swan top mount uprights.

Eliminate reference to the SM class which effective with the ’23 season has been eliminated (current and future cars in this class are directred to the highest PWR class in the ongiong rule book for PWR which is PWR5 for 2023)

Consistency and safety aspects of cars running with driver and passenger windows up.

I’d like to recommend a rule change for MOD class to allow for alternative materials for driveshafts, such as carbon fiber.

7) Tires and Wheels
a) Tires
i) BMW Club Racing reserves the right and intends to specify a M2 SPEC class tire
(Brand, Model and Size) at some point in the future. Warning: It is anticipated that
the 2024 M3 Spec rules will require the Yokohama race slick, size 280/650-18, medium
compound as the Spec dry tire.

Declared WHP must be at least 85% of the manufacturer’s published HP(crank).

Aerodynamic improvements – any purposeful change to the entire profile of a car’s
body/chassis that deviates from the factory delivered, street legal, base car configuration
will be assessed a LBS:WHP modification of -0.5