Rules & Regulations:2011 Derby

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Please read ALL of this page - there have been changes since last year

To apply, you must agree and comply with 'everything' on this page

If it works, don't fix it

The rules and regulations have been refined over the years with the simple aim of building on what is already "a totally fun event, creating exciting and colourful racing through ingenious developments of the traditional soapbox trolley or billy cart"

Applying the KISS Principle,KISS:
Keep It Simple, Stupid it didn't take too long to understand that:

1. trying to marshal 100-odd adrenalin-fuelled derby enthusiasts is about as easy as herding cats
2. as the entries vary (wildly!) from one year to the next, it is futile trying to seed the heats (so that the faster driver and trolley combinations do not meet in the early rounds)... so now we don't even try!

Drivers in Control

Each race has a maximum of 6 trolleys

Simply because the footpaths (and concrete gutters!) in the starting grid are only 8m apart

Each grade has a maximum of 24 trolleys in the heats

The drivers are responsible for positioning themselves into the starting grid in the right grade at the right time

Grades

The 2011 derby will be essentially the same as in 2010, with the drivers graded according to their year of birth

Any trolley can be registered in the Nippers

drivers born from 2004 to 2009 inclusive

Each trolley can only be registered in one of the following grades;

Zoomers: for drivers born from 2000 to 2003 inclusive

Sprinters: for drivers born from 1996 to 1999 inclusive

Rockets: for drivers born from 1891 to 1995 inclusive

Any trolley (that passes scrutineering) can have a go in the Grudge Races

If you have a sibling or friend who wants to have a go in your trolley, they are welcome to have a run in a grudge race

Any trolley can be registered in the Bunnings Monarch of the Hill

Open to all drivers born from 1891 to 1995 inclusive
Unlike the above grades, the Monarchs race two at a time after a 10m push start... it pays to have strong and speedy friends!

The Style Meister Awards

Add glamour to your design, create a matching costume and you might take home the Style Meister trophy, awarded for creative trolley and driver combinations that are original - i.e. the combination has not been judged previously

Please Note:

In the heats, trolleys race against the clock, with the 12 fastest trolleys in each grade progressing to the semi finals

In each of the semis, its the first three trolleys that go on to the finals

In the finals of each grade, the first three trolleys win gold, silver and bronze

No guarantee of four runs per trolley in the heats

Although the schedule shows four heats, there might be only three heats in each grade

The deciding factors will be:

• the number of entries
• how attentive you are listening to the pit crew
• how quickly you race down the hill - NB crashes can really slow things down for everyone
• how helpful you are getting your trolley loaded onto the shuttles at the bottom of the hill and off again at the starting grid

Time is limited: Many hands make light work

The derby is aimed primarily as a fun event... for kids

Four heats per grade is feasible

However, if we get behind, the number of heats will be reduced from four to three - or even two - per trolley

The first to suffer will be the Rockets, then the Sprinters and lastly the Zoomers

So... there is an incentive for all of the adults (drivers, crew, etc) to act like grown-ups and help the marshalls, the shuttle loaders and drivers, the grid-crew and any of the many volunteers who do their best to make the day go as smoothly as possible

The heats will finish at 12:30

If, by the time the third heat is scheduled to start (at 11:40), it looks like the Zoomers and/or Sprinters might miss out on four heats, then the Rockets will NOT get any more runs in the heats

If, by the time the fourth heat is scheduled to start (at 12:00), it looks like the Zoomers might still miss out on four heats, then the Sprinters will NOT get any more runs in the heats, either

Nippers

Nippers
Photo - Evan Barnes
Nelson Mail Hardly any of the 'rules and regulations' apply to the Nippers

Instead, in the spirit of fun, the parents/guardians of the Nippers get to decide - often at the very last moment - how their kids will race

Rather than expecting such young kids to last from 8am til 4pm, their 'derby day' is condensed as much as possible

Please see the schedule for more info

Lots of Rules Fun

Nippers Braking
Louis Rowell Williams
in the Heart of Gold
with Maneka on the brakes We know that there's a huge difference between a two-year-old and a six-year-old, yet they're all in the same grade...

So... the rules for the Nippers are rather loose - the aim being that everyone involved has a bit of fun

Some Nippers are too young to...

to race all the way from Bronte Street to the finish line at Manuka Street

So... if some of you want your kids to start from just a few metres above the finish line and others want to start higher up - then fine!

to operate brakes

So... you (or a friend) can run behind them holding onto a rope and/or bungee to act as an 'anchor'

to steer

So... (if the trolley is big enough) an older friend can double-up with them

Some Nippers are old enough to...

be very competitive

So... if you do 'bend' the rules, please be prepared to be out of the running for a place in the finals - unless of course everyone is bending the rules!

• Gravity Only
• Wheels
• Brakes
• Safety Gear
• Steering
• Dimensions
• Numbers
• Vacancies

Gravity Only

The derby is a gravity powered event

All trolleys line up on the start line with their brakes on

When a race starts, the brakes are released and the trolleys roll down the hill due to gravity and gravity alone

It's that simple!

If you come up with a cunning plan to bend ANY of the rules, then you'll be cheating

Wheels

Trolleys must have a minimum of three wheels.

That's it.

No fine print.

Plain and simple.

No tricks.

Brakes

Nippers

Despite using the best brakes,
some of the faster trolleys
still hit the hay bales
100m beyond the finish line! Trolleys that are entered ONLY in the Nippers don't need driver-operated brakes - simply because many of them are unlikely to go all that fast!

It is perfectly OK if you run behind your Nipper with a rope and/or bungee cord attached to the trolley

However, if you have built a particularly fast trolley for a Nipper, please DO fit brakes!

All Other Grades

Brakes are definitely required for the Zoomers, Sprinters, Rockets and (of course) the Bunnings Monarchs

Safety Gear

Helmets

Drivers must wear an approved safety helmet

Cycle helmets are acceptable

Clothing

It could well be a a very hot day, so consider gear that is quick and easy to put on/take off

Skateboard gear (elbow & knee pads etc) would be ideal

We strongly recommend that all drivers wear long trousers, jackets and gloves

Steering

All trolleys are required to have steering systems capable of manœuvring at speed i.e. good enough to swerve out of the way if/when someone crashes!

Rope Steering

Because trolleys with 'old-fashioned' Rope Steering have proven to be dangerous (especially for younger and/or inexperienced drivers)

Rope steering systems will be looked at very closely during scrutineering

Trolleys deemed by the Scrutineers to be unsafe/uncontrollable will not be allowed to take part in the derby

For further information, see the design page

Trolley Numbers

In the lead-up to the 2009 derby, we devised a better system - one that recognises that, with the old 'split grades malarkey' a thing of the past, we no longer need (or want!) to faff about numbering the trolleys.

Instead, it's now first in, first served

If you have a preferred number for your trolley, let us know - via the 'Extra Info' section - on the following page

Big, clear numbers

When two or more trolleys
hurtle across the line together
reading their numbers ain't easy! To accurately record the results, the crew at the finish line need to see your trolley number

If you have already painted your trolley with a number, be sure to let us know (in the 'Futher Information' section on the next page) and we will do our best to make sure that your number doesn't change

There will be a pile of paper (recycled, of course!), a thick felt pen and some sticky tape at the Start Line Desk first thing in the morning

We strongly recommend that, as a minimum, your number is clearly displayed on the left and rear of your trolley

Numbers that are as big as a 2-litre ice-cream container lid are recommended

If we can't read your number, you will NOT advance to the semis

Shuttles

Getting the right trolleys up to to the top of the hill in the right order is not a simple task

You can help the loading and unloading of the shuttles and setting up the starting grid by building a narrow, light trolley

Maximum Dimensions

Length

300cm

Width

120cm
If your trolley is   w i d e r   than 100cm you may well get stuck in an outside lane (i.e. in the gutter) for every heat

Weight

40kg
If your trolley weighs more than 30kg please have someone to assist in the loading and unloading

Please Remember

The crew on the results desk ask that everyone (newcomers and old-hands alike) reads and complies with the section on numbers

If you are applying for the first time, please read the schedule: Times for Sign In, Scrutineering, the Drivers Meeting, Grudge Racing, Heats, Nippers Meeting, Semi Finals, Finals, Crazy Runs, Bunnings Monarch of the Hill and Prizegiving

Confirmation by Email

If we have not emailed you within 48 hours of you clicking on the submit button on the application page (next), PLEASE assume that we didn't get it and start hassling us NOW, not on derby day

If you're not in, you can't win...

Hopefully it is all fairly straightforward and easy to both understand and follow.

If you have any questions, please ask them now, before applying

Thank you

Subscribe to the derby email newsletter mailing list now and be among the first to know when registrations open... in October... probably...