Mid-Atlantic Racing Series
- as of 10/01/05 -
    

The MARS series races Aurora and Johnny Lightning Thunderjets in Virginia, Maryland and the DC areas. This season MARS will run two Divisions - Adult & Junior. The Adult Division includes three classes which are; BeachJet, NASCAR & Trans-Am classes. The Junior Division includes one class which is; CheapJet class. In addition to the regular MARS classes, we will add in a special Themed Race for the fun of all to enjoy. Look for more details of these themed races in the upcoming Race Announcements. The class rules, schedule and locations for the 3rd Season have been determined. Information about the individual tracks, as well as, a Racing Schedule are now available on this site.

Information about the Mid-Atlantic Racing Series, better known as M.A.R.S is listed below. Also check out M.A.R.S. Yahoo Group - This discussion group is for anyone interested in the Mid-Atlantic Racing Series. Also check out our current and up-to-date Race Results to see who took the checkered flag in each class.
 

M.A.R.S. Classes

Adult Division
A. BeachJet
This is a Super-Stock class that allows dewound and balanced arms measuring at 16.0 ohms or greater, any front/rear axle/wheel/tire combination and any pancake style magnets. For a full explanation of the BeachJet rules please see the rules page.

B. NASCAR
This a stock class that allows any Aurora pancake style magnets with stock arms measuring 16.0 ohms or greater and any front/rear axle/wheel/tire combination set at 1 1/8" maximum width. Bodies must weigh 2.5 grams or more and represent actual NASCAR styles of the 50's and 60's. For a full explanation of the Vintage NASCAR rules please see the rules page.

C. Trans-Am
This is a Super-Stock class that allows any dewound and balanced Aurora or JL motor measuring 5.0 ohms or greater, any front/rear axle/wheel/tire combination set at 1 3/16" maximum width. Bodies must weigh 2.5 grams or more and represent actual cars that ran the Trans-Am series from 66-72. For a full explanation of the Vintage Trans-Am rules please see the rules page.

Junior Division
A. CheapJet
As of last year, the initial theme was for as many Aurora parts as feasible with JL magnets and a stock JL body. Only easy modifications and cheap parts were allowed. No balancing of motors. Holes can be opened and shoes can be flattened since these are easy. Body can't be cut or lightened. This allows a wider selection of JL bodies to be competitive. Glass can be removed to lower high weight. Only plastic rears and solid rubber slip-ons in the rear for cost.
       

Racing Order:

1. Races will be run with two of three classes being run in a pre-determined order.
2. If there is only one track available all practicing cars will be of the type being run next.
3. Practice will be available for other classes prior to their race.

4. There will be a separate race for the Junior Division provided on each race day.

5. There will be a separate Themed Race held after all official classes have concluded their races.

Tech and Car Maintenance:

1. All cars will be teched prior to the actual race for both weight and width only. Modifications and changes are allowed to be made at the racer's own risk and must be in accordance with the class' rules. 
2. All cars will be impounded immediately prior to the beginning of the Bracket/Main race and will be returned to impound immediately following the completion of racing. 
3. Cars must be legal at start and during the heat. Every effort will be made to allow you to have your car in working order at the track. A track call may be permitted to allow car maintenance but this should be limited to getting the car running decently and not to tweak for optimum performance. 
4. Normal maintenance like oiling and tire cleaning can be performed during the race by the racer only in front of his race position. The race will not be stopped for such maintenance. This maintenance may not be performed during a track call. 
5. The top four/six finishers (depending on the number of lanes) in the Mains/Final Bracket may have their cars completely re-teched to ensure race integrity. If possible this tech will be performed by a member not in the top group. 
6. Cars finishing in the top four/six positions for an event may not be reused in any part or whole for another event for the day. They will remain in the impound until all racing is over. This prevents the use of one motor/car for all races.  

Marshals:

1. Every racer will be available to marshal upon request.
2. Time for working on cars will be provided between events so as to not interfere with marshaling.
3. Refusal to marshal when requested will disqualify the racer for the day.
4. ONLY marshals shall handle a car during a race unless no marshal can reach the car in question.
5. ONLY marshals shall remove/return a car from the track at the end/beginning of a heat.
6. Harassing any marshal can be grounds for being asked to leave an event or sit out the rest of a given race.

General Info:

1. M.A.R.S. has adopted a September thru April Season time frame with races once a month.
2. M.A.R.S. has created a Junior Division to complement its Adult Division.
3. M.A.R.S. has a Treasurer position.

MARS Membership is $10 for Adults Division and $5 for the Junior Division (Children under 18). This will be applied towards individual race & season prizes/trophies, and upgrades or other such items needed by the series itself or any affiliated track. Membership is not required for participation but is highly encouraged.

Race Fees: Adults - $7 and Juniors (15 and under) - $3 per race day. At private race tracks $4 of the Adult Race Fee and $2 of the Junior Race fee will go towards the race host. However at commercial tracks the full $7 / $3 will go to the host. These fees will cover the hosts' costs for chips, sodas, etc and/or securing a raceway for the day. This fee is independent of the number of races participated in even if you don't race and just eat.
   

Monthly Race Awards:

1. Finishing Positions - 1st thru 4th for all races held
2. Best Race Marshall
3. Best Concourse - 1st thru 3rd (car must be raced in the class for which they are being entered)
4. Best Sportsmanship

Season Awards:

1. Finishing Positions - 1st thru 4th for all classes raced at the Season Finale 
2. Best Race Marshall
3. Best Concourse - 1st thru 3rd (car must be raced in the class for which they are being entered)
4. Best Sportsmanship

Details:

Best Race Marshall - Each month there will be a vote taken on the Best Marshall at the given event. All paying racers will get to vote for the best race marshal. A tally of the votes will determine the winner. Ties will be broken by another vote for the tied Marshalls only. 

Best Concourse - At each race a MARS race class will be chosen for the Concourse Event. Cars entered into the Concourse Event will be placed in a box and given a number. All paying racers will get to vote for the top three cars. A tally of the votes will determine the winner. Ties will be broken by another vote for the tied cars only. Cars in the Concourse Event must actually be raced on the given race day for the entire race in the class being judged. Concourse Winners may not re-enter a car placing 1st thru 3rd in any future Concourse Event, except for the Season Finale's event. Concourse cars are bodies that have been decaled and/or painted by the racer himself. Entering a car decorated by someone else is not allowed. Factory/manufacturer painted cars are not allowed unless entered by the manufacturer. Changing the shape of the car through means of adding or subtracting body parts is not allowed or the intent of the concourse event. Cars must be legal for the class being judged. 

Best Sportsmanship - Each month there will be a vote taken on the Best Sportsman at the given event. All paying racers will get to vote for the individuals who showed their good attitude and Sportsmanship. A tally of the votes will determine the winner. Ties will be broken by another vote for the tied Sportsmen only. 
     

Focus will be on the monthly racing with an eye towards keeping things fun, especially for the children. Everyone will have their laps counted towards the Race Events' "Race Standings," which will be determined by combining preliminary lap totals and final laps totals & sections. 

Also, check out the current and up-to-date "Race Reports," this is the hotspot to check out who is tearing up the tracks in our new season. In the event that a series is run, the below Semi & Main points system will be used.
  

The results of the round robin qualifier will place the racers in order from 1 - xx. This will be broken into groups of two. i.e. (1,2), (3,4), etc. The last two group, for example (13, 14) and (15,16) for 16 racers will start the racing. Number 13 would get first lane choice followed by 14, etc. Each racer will get to run on their lane choice and on the lane two lanes over. This mean one middle lane and the opposite gutter for a total of two heats. If time permit or the number of racers is low then four heats may be used in a rotating format. These races will be 2:00 each. The top two finishers in this heat will move up and compete against the next two qualifier. In our example this would be (11,12). Lane choice would be conducted as before with the winner of the previous bracket race getting third choice. This format will continue until there are only four racers left, i.e. (1,2) and the top two finishers of the previous race. They will run four heats at 3:00 each in rotating order with the lane choice selection as previously mentioned. These will be the top four finishers regardless of performance in the qualifier or previous bracket races. Racing times for each heat may be adjusted according to racers resent or time remaining.

Also, check out the current and up-to-date "Race Reports," this is the hotspot to check out who is tearing up the tracks in our new season. In the event that a series is run, the below Semi & Main points system will be used.