RAPS Junior Race League in Garner
RAPS Junior Race League
Garner Location only
Our youth racing league, known as “RAPS,” for Raleigh Area Public Safety Racing League, has been operating at Rush Hour since 2007. It was originally formed by Members of our local First Responder’s community.
Overview
RAPS Racing League is an Arrive and Drive karting league for drivers age 8 to 14 years old. RAPS is considered a teaching league with emphasis on good technique and sportsmanship. RAPS runs a racing league during “the season,” which runs from October through March and then offers classes and open practice sessions during the “off season,” which runs from April through September.
Kart Handling Class
To be eligible to participate in any RAPS Youth event, a driver must complete a RAPS kart handling class (one week of camp is equivalent). The class is typically taught on a Sunday and runs from 0900 through 1230. The kart handling class costs $99.
Registration
Registration for the RAPS Youth League begins October 1st at the first mandatory practice of the season and is available until slots are filled. To register for the league, a driver’s parent must complete the registration form, read and sign the Parent Code of Conduct, and pay a $40 registration fee. The league consists of one mandatory practice, six individual points races, two optional practices, an optional family race, and one team endurance race. In addition to the $40 registration fee, drivers must also pay a $60 “track fee” to RushHour Karting the day of each event. The one exception to this rule is the start of season mandatory practice does not have a track fee. The total cost of the league if a driver is new to the league would be $779. The breakdown of this total cost is below.
New League Driver Cost
Kart Handling Class: $99
League Registration: $40
Mandatory Practice: $00
(Six) Points Races: $360
(Two) Optional Practices: $120
Optional Family Race (parent vs kid): $100
One Endurance Race: $60
Total: $779
Race Day
The typical race day begins with the driver and parent arriving at RushHour Karting and checking in at the front desk to pay the Track Fee and determine the driver’s heat number.
Drivers will be called to the pit area by heat number to randomly draw karts for warm-up and qualifying. Drivers will complete an eight minute warm-up heat and then come back into the pits. As soon as track marshals confirm that all drivers are ready for qualifying and the timing computer is reset, qualifying begins. The duration of the qualifying session will vary from five minutes to seven minutes.
Drivers will be placed into races and race order based on their single fastest lap during their qualifying session. Races typically last 20 minutes for RHP level and 15 minutes for GT level, but there could be some variation at the discretion of RAPS officials.
Races will start using a “flying” or moving format. The drivers will leave the pit area and be stopped on track to correct the grid order. Drivers will then proceed behind either a pace kart or the pole kart in single file order for one parade lap. During the second “pace” lap, drivers will grid into a two kart per row order in preparation for the start. Front row drivers will begin accelerating to race pace once they reach the acceleration line. If the starting official is comfortable with the grid structure, he/she will waive the green flag signifying the start of the race.
Driver’s Points
Drivers receive points for “winning the pole,” finishing position, and fastest lap achieved within the last five laps of the race. Driver’s points are accumulated at each of the six points races and trophies will be awarded to the top 5 drivers in each classification at the end of the season.
Classifications (GT and RHP)
Drivers will race points races within their own classification. Within the RAPS Youth karting program, we have two classifications. The first is the GT classification which is for new and/or young drivers. The GT classification drivers use the RushHour “junior” karts and typically do not race more than a 15 minute race. The RHP classification is for experienced drivers looking for an additional level of difficulty. The RHP classification drivers use the RushHour “adult” karts and they are required to make a strategy-based pit stop during each race. The RHP race duration also varies throughout the season. To be eligible for the RHP classification, drivers must have demonstrated driving proficiency (by completing one year in the GT level.) and have completed an individual try-out in the “adult” kart.
RAPS Philosophy
The RAPS youth program is a teaching league. There are no financial rewards to the RAPS league and the financial cost to participate is minimal for a motorsport. We do not believe “rubbing is racing” and we do not believe that the fastest driver deserves to win. Motorsports, like life, has instances of success and failure. Some successes come from a lot of preparation and hard work; however, sometimes success comes from happenstance. In contrast, a driver can do everything right and still lose a race. Through both outcomes, drivers have the opportunity to develop proper technique, strategy, perseverance, and good sportsmanship.
