Changes for 2012 in RED font

1. ELIGIBILITY FOR CONTESTANTS
   1. All Modified Tractors and Modified Pickups contestants competing in any pulling contest sanctioned by the RRVPA must have a current competing membership (annual puller) in the Red River Valley Pullers Association. All pullers that are not annual pullers will be allowed to pull at RRVPA functions if they purchase a ($35 Preregistered $50 not preregistered) temporary membership per hook.

   2. Contestants must be 18 or at least 16 years of age with a parent's or guardian's consent.

   3. Preregistered annual pullers will receive $0.50 a loaded mile one way for pullers who travel over 150 miles, with a cap at 350 miles. On multiple hook weekends, pullers get paid once for farthest hook.

2. WEIGH IN & INSPECTION
   1. Pulling unit and operators must be weighed in at a given time and a scale designated by the sponsoring organization. No changes in gross weight after weighing. Operator will be weighed with the pulling vehicle.

   2. Pulling units may be certified at any organizational pull. Pulling unit must also be certified yearly. Failure to meet certification requirements will result in the driver to be suspended from pulling contests for a year and one day.

   3. It is the responsibility of each puller to get their equipment inspected and receive a Tech Inspection sticker. If the pulling unit does not have a sticker, it does not pull.

   4. In order to hook to the sled, all safety equipment must be correct per judgment of the Tech Inspector.
      For major safety infractions, unit will not pull.
      For minor safety infractions, no pull for next event if not fixed by that time.
   5. Vice presidents and class reps will do tech inspecting in the absence of Tech Inspector.
   6. All pulling unit in a class that has a cubic inch limit, will have their engine(s) pumped sometime during the pulling season. The schedule for pumping engines will be posted on the website. If you miss your scheduled date, you must notify the officials at the next pull you attend that you need to be certified. The owner/driver(s) of the pulling unit being checked is responsible for removing their own valve cover, loosen or remove rocker arms (to prevent valve opening) and remove spark plug for the cylinder to be checked.(Please confirm with official what cylinder will be checked.) After certification a tamper evident seal will be installed on the engine and it is up to the owner/driver(s) to re-assemble their engine(s). The RRVPA or the tech officials will not be responsible for any damages that might occur. Tech officials will decide if weather/dust conditions will prohibit testing and a later date will have to be determined. If your engine is found to be illegal for the class you are pulling in you will not be allowed to pull in that class until the size is corrected and you will not receive any points for that season. If for some reason you need to break the tamper seal on your engine it is up to you to get recertified at the next pull you attend.

3. OPERATION OF CONTEST
   1. The contest will be governed by these rules. The judge's decision will be final. Any unsettled disputes should be brought to the RRVPA Board of Directors.

   2. In order to qualify for the two pit passes per pulling vehicle, all entries must be pre-registered 72 hours prior to the event. The hook fee for not preregistering is $50 with no gate passes or mileage reimbursement.

   3. Pull order is based on random drawing of all 72 hour pre-registrations for each event. All entries after 72 hours pull last

   4. Drivers meeting is one-half hour before the start of the pull, and you must be present in order to pull unless contact has been made with the track official.

   5. A full pull will be measured at 310 feet. Two pullers or more to go more than 310 feet will go on to a pull-off in their class. All pull-offs will be coordinated in such a manner the there is enough cool down time for equipment before the re-pull.

   6. Fixed or floating finish is determined at the driver's meeting for each event.

   7. The use of alcoholic beverages on the grounds before and during the contest is prohibited.

   8. If a driver is unable to make the designated pulling position under the pulling units own power within 3 minutes after the track is ready, the puller must pull last. Last position has 3 minutes to pull after the track is ready or the puller will be disqualified. All pulling units must be in the pit prior to the class starting or pulling unit will be disqualified for that class. All pullers should be lined up prior to the start of each class to keep the pulls on schedule with steady action.

   9. Operator must remain seated during the pull and must have complete control of the vehicle at all times.

   10. An operator must be in the seat of any pulling unit when it is running.

   11. All pullers must wear fire retardant suit (one (1) piece or two (2) piece) and helmet before they are allowed to compete. This is required in all modified tractor and pickup classes.
       RRVPA recommends each driver to wear a neck brace.
       All drivers must have an functional visor on their helmet if their pulling unit has an open engine.

   12. Each contestant has the privilege of, and the responsibility for, spotting the sled for both attempts. The pull back tractor or sled operator must be notified of where the contestant wishes the sled to be placed when previous contestant unhooks from the sled.

   13. The sled will be spotted at the starting line before each pull. No official pull may start beyond the starting line in either direction. All pulls are to be started with the front of the sled pan even with the starting line in gear.

   14. The pulling unit must remain within boundaries of contest course during the pull or unit will be disqualified. This means that only the pulling unit must remain within the boundary lines and not the sled during the pull.
       This rule applies to the first pull rule also-out of bounds on any pull is automatic disqualification for that pass.

   15. Excessive loss of liquid by a pulling vehicle while in forward motion during the contest on the track will be cause for disqualification, unless due to internal breakage. (Excessive is defined as any steady or intermittent stream discharged on the track, or a spot equivalent to more than 8" diameter.)

   16. PULLS
       1. All pulls made during a contest will be measured for hook points.
       2. An attempt is moving the sled a measurable distance.
       3. The pull is ended when the pulling unit stalls, forward motion is stopped, or by the track officials' signal to stop. No jerking is allowed.

   17. If a vehicle is legal when hooked to the sled, and if breakage occurs due to unforeseen circumstances, the pull will be measured.

   18. The pulling unit may be rechecked after the pull is completed if there is any question of rule violation.

   19. The pulling unit must be operated in a safe manner at all times within the confines of the track, pit and staging areas. Judges have the right to stop and disqualify any vehicle if it is not being operated in such a manner as would be considered safe. (an unsafe manner to include ANY alcohol, speed, or recklessness.)

   20. The pulling unit must return to the pit area after the pull. Pulling unit must remain at the event until official placing of that class is finished, unless given permission by the chairman to leave early.

   21. Violation of any rule shall constitute disqualification.

   22. No device, mechanical, hydraulic, etc. may interfere in any way with any part of the sled.

   23. All modified tractors and modified pickups must be equipped with an additional safety hitch to qualify for indoor events. The additional hitch must be mounted approximately 6" below the pulling hitch. Safety hitch must be of significant strength to hold the pulling vehicle in the event the pulling hitch breaks. The safety hitch cannot be mounted on any part of the pulling hitch.

   24. The sled operator is responsible to insure the person in charge of hook up shall also indicate to the driver when the slack is out of the hook chain before signaling the flag man that the unit is ready to pull.

   25. Weights
       1. All weights must be securely fastened on the pulling vehicle.
       2. Any ballast lost while hooked to the sled will be cause for disqualification.

   26. The flagman must be on the track and signal start of pull when the pulling vehicle leaves the starting line or the pulling unit will be disqualified.

   27. Classes and pay to meet current RRVPA schedule.
       1. All classes need at least 3 units 30 days before season starts in order to qualify as a points class.
       2. Payout to be the same for all American pulls and Canadian pulls by paying for 1-5 places.
       3. Tractors
          1. No tractor can pull more than twice.
          2. The class a tractor registers in is determined at the start of the season.
          3. If an extreme shortage of tractors exists at a given pull, jumping of classes will be determined at the drivers meeting of that pull.

   28. The first puller of each class has the option of accepting or rejecting the pull. In which case the driver has the choice of pulling over in first, third or last position.

   29. Class Jumping
       1. You are required to meet the rules of the class your vehicle is in not the class you are jumping into, with the exception of super stock trucks need bar tires to jump into the open class.

4. PROTESTS
   1. All protests must be submitted to the tech official by the end of the next class, with the final class having 15 minutes. Protests on multiple hook weekends will be addressed on the last day.

   2. You must have pulled at least three times with Red River and must be in the same class as the protested vehicle.

   3. Any person that is to be protested must have placed in the top 3 of their class.

   4. The protester's vehicle will be inspected first.

   5. The protest fee for any challenge other than weight or engine size will be $100.

   6. The weight protest fee is $25.00 (to be given to the official judges). If a tractor or pickup is protested the vehicle will be taken to the scale and weighed. If the vehicle is found legal, the owner of the protested vehicle will receive the protest fee. If the vehicle is found illegal, another certified vehicle will be weighed to verify or check the scale for variances and to determine a standard or basis for weight judgment.

   7. The engine size protest fee is $300.00 (to be given to the official judges). If a tractor or pickup is protested the vehicle will remain in the pit area until after the show.
      2% variation in engine pump accuracy will be allowed. The pump result can be contested, but the puller must be able to prove his legality. Cubic Inches must be within size limit of the class, NOT the pump variance.

   8. If the protested vehicle is found to be illegal, the owner and vehicle will be disqualified and the protest fee will be returned to the protester.

   9. The RRVPA Board of Directors will review each individual case of protested disqualification to determine the individual circumstances involved. If the Board feels the violation warrants, they will disqualify the owner and vehicle for 1 year and 10 days.

5. RE-PULLS
   1. The contestant may have one pre-pull for any reason, as long as the driver makes a significant attempt to stop before 75 ft. marked by a flag or cone. No re-pulls will be allowed after the 75 ft. mark except in the case of a tie or extenuating circumstances declared by the judges, in which case only the pulling units involved will re-pull. If a contestant is disqualified on the re-pull, the results of the original pull will be used to determine their final position.

   2. The first puller of each class has the option of accepting or rejecting the pull. In which case the driver has the choice of pulling over in first, third or last position.

   3. In the event of a pull off, the first pulling unit does not have the option of accepting or rejecting a pull.

6. WEIGHT TRANSFER SLED
   1. A weight transfer sled will be used at all RRVPA events.
      There will be no practice sessions.

7. POINT SYSTEM
   1. All hook fees go for points pay out.

   2. All units that move the weight transfer sled receive 15 points.

   3. All units qualify for place points as follows
      First place = 15 points; Second place = 14 points
      Third place = 13 points; Fourth place = 12 points
      Fifteen place = 1 point; Sixteen & lower receive hook points only.

   4. A unit is awarded points in the registered class only. Class jumping does not earn points.

   5. All units must pull at MORE THAN 50% of RRVPA events to qualify for point pay out.

   6. All pullers that are not Annual pullers will be allowed to pull at RRVPA functions if they purchase a ($35 Preregistered $50 not preregistered) temporary membership per hook. They will NOT accumulate points as temporary members. Points will start to accumulate the day they purchase both Annual membership and insurance. NO BACK DATING POINTS.

   7. Five (5) Show points for those vehicles that come to a rained out pull.

8. SPORTSMANSHIP
   1. Unsportsman conduct will not be tolerated.
      Unsportsman conduct will be decided by the Judges panel. (President and Vice Presidents)

   2. Warnings
      1. First warning is a verbal
      2. Second warning you loose your points for the day.
      3. Third warning you are banned for a year and 10 days.