Racing Marble League – Rules

Racing Marble League event is a competitive marble racing event which is intended to be conducted and officiated in accordance with this rules page. These rules may be amended from time to time. Special rules may be published by RacingMarbles.net specifically for the event. This rule book contains rules and technical requirements governing all events that make up the Racing Marble League series. These rules are given to provide the racing marbles owners information to prepare for competition, plus an overview of rules that apply to the racing program.

Racing Marble League events are organized according to an established procedure.

Marbles will be selected by random selection for 3 qualifying Heat races. A video of the selection process for each race will be available on YouTube. Using our random selection device, the 21 marbles will all begin the run at the same time. The device will then arrange the marbles in 3 heats of 7 marbles each. The marbles will be placed on the Heat starting grid in the order they were arranged in the random selection device; first in each Heat section will take the pole position on the grid and the last in that group will be at the back of the starting grid.

Heats will be 6 laps long with a competition caution on the 3rd lap. A competition caution is performed by opening pit lane and capturing all the marbles in their current order and bringing all the marbles back together for a restart. The restart will occur shortly after the last marble comes to a complete stop in the pits. The race timer will pause as soon as the first marble enters the pit area and will resume as soon as the pit area opens and marbles begin to roll out.

Starting position for the Main Event race will be determined by the results of the 3 qualifying Heats. The top 3 finishers from each Heat will move onto the Main Event race as well as the 3 fastest marbles from those Heats for a total of 12 racers in the final. Pole position will be determined by time. The fastest marbles will be at the front of the starting grid. Each heat will be timed and each marble will receive a mark (as long as they finish). 

Main Event races will be from 10-20 laps, depending on the length of the track. The first competitor across the finish line at the conclusion of a race is the winner. Position for all marbles will be based on their position as they cross the finish line. 

Every racing marble will receive championship points as long as they complete their race (see Championship Points below).

Race Director

• Ensure the race course is suitable and discontinue race activity if conditions become unacceptable.
• Direct the starter to black flag racers off the track for any condition he deems to be unacceptable or in violation of any rules.
• May direct the starter to red flag a race that was started improperly.
• See that accurate recording of lap # is kept for all races.
• To impose penalties for any infringements of regulations.
• The race director is empowered to make and enforce temporary regulations necessary to cover emergencies or special conditions (not covered in these rules), including any unforeseen situation for the betterment and in the interest of the program. The race director must consider all protests and appeals. All protests and appeals must be submitted by the racing marble’s owner within 24 hours of the race posting on YouTube.
• The number of competitors allowed to start in any race will be subject to the approval of the race director.

Timing

• Timing will be controlled in video editing. A timer will be configured to start when the race starts, configured to pause at the competition caution and maintain times through the end of each race.

Rubbing is Racing

• Marble racing includes pushing, banging and otherwise rubbing against each other. These are not violations in marble racing.
• A Potential violation would be shoving/ramming another marble off the race course. Each event will be reviewed independently.

Flags

• Green stationary flag – Racers prepare for the start.
• Green waving flag – Indicates the start of the race and/or restart of the race. Clear track conditions.
• Checkered stationary flag – Racers notification that the end of the race is coming.
• Checkered waving flag – Indicates that the first finisher has crossed the finish line. Flag will continue until all racers have crossed the finish line. 
• Red waving flag – Indicates a condition on the tack which requires the race to stop. If possible, the marbles will be collected in the pit area in preparation for a restart.
• Yellow waving flag – Indicates hazard on or near the track, a racer is stalled on the track or has fallen off the track. Racers Proceed with caution (and may be pulled into the pit area) — AND —
• Yellow waving flag (with “Competition Caution” beneath it) – Indicates a competition caution. Racers will be collected in the pit area in preparation for a restart.
• Black waving flag – Indicates a problem with a specific racer. A name board displayed with the flag indicates the competitor being signaled. The black flagged racer must proceed around the course to the pit area. Black flagged racers may be removed from the race altogether OR will be given a time penalty with the ability to return to the race depending on the situation.

Restarts

• Yellow Flag Restart: – Caution due to incident or competition caution.
  
  • All racers will travel to the pit area and a re-start will take place as soon as possible.
• Red Flag Restart: A – Fewer than 2 Laps Completed
  
  • When a red flag is displayed, signifying a race stop, and fewer than 2 laps have been completed the race will be considered null and void.
  • The racers will return to the starting grid and a re-start will take place as soon as possible.
  • The racers will keep their initial starting order.
  • The race will be run for the original number of laps.
• Red Flag Restart: B – More than 2 Laps Completed
  
  • When a red flag is displayed, signifying a race stop, and more than 2 laps have been completed by the race leader the racers will travel to the restart area and a re-start will take place as soon as possible.
  • The starting order will be determined by the current position the marbles are collected into the pit area.
  • The race will be run for the remaining number of laps.
• Red Flag Restart: C – More than 90% of Laps Completed
  
  • If 90% or more laps are completed and the race is stopped for whatever reason, the race may be declared completed at the discretion of the Race Director.

Race Finishes

• Races are officially ended for all racers at the completion of the lap in which the checkered flag is displayed to the winner. If a racer is down laps they will not need to complete the remaining laps. Their position will be noted based on how many laps they finished.
• A video camera may be used at the finish line to aid the Race Director in determining the finishing order of a close race. Should video footage from a designated camera be unavailable or inconclusive for any reason, the scoring of the finish will be based solely on the Race Director’s decision.

Championship Points

• Championship points will be awarded for every competitor who completes a race.
• Points will also be awarded for the racer who leads the most laps in the main event and for the racer who qualifies at the pole position for the main event.
• Points will be awarded to each racer for number of sponsors and fans. 1 point for each sponsor and 1 point for every 5 fans (rounded down).
• The championship will be decided based on the total of series points accumulated from points mentioned above.
• In the event of a tie for the championship, the winner will be determined based on the number of main event wins.
• Should a tie still remain, finishes of second, third, etc, will be tallied until the tie is broken.
• If a tie still remains, the best finish in the last race will determine the champion.

Scoring Point System