NATCAR 2007 Race Information

NATCAR 2007 Race Information

IMPORTANT NOTE: The rules have been slightly modified as of February 8, 2007. Specifically, we now allow a car to use a battery that is not NiCd, but the cost of the battery must be less than $30. Also, the pylons are now spaced no less than 15" from the track and each other (instead of 18"). The rules have been edited to reflect these changes.

The 2007 NATCAR race will be held on Monday, May 21, 2007 on the UC Davis campus. The event will be held in the ballroom of the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), which is located on the Southeast corner of the interstection between La Rue Rd. and Orchard Rd. Click here to see a map of campus. Enter "ARC" into the Search box and then select "Activities & Recreation Center" from the buildings listed. Public parking is available (with a $6 charge) in visitor parking lots 25 or 35 (VP25 and VP35 on the map).

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO COME to Davis for this race, you MUST let Professor Spencer know by email (spencer@ece.ucdavis.edu) by May 1. Please include a list of teams with the names of all team members. Also indicate anyone else who is planning to come and what their affiliation is (e.g., Professor, TA).
IMPORTANT NOTE: If too many teams want to participate, we may have to limit the number of teams that can compete from each university, which means that there must be sufficient time for us to notify all of the competing schools and for them to hold internal races (or whatever other method they choose to use) to determine who may come. Therefore, if you have not notified Professor Spencer by May 1, you will not be guaranteed a place in the race (i.e., we may limit you to fewer teams, or even no teams if there isn't space).

Teams MUST arrive and register between 12:15 and 12:45 (you may not enter the room prior to 12:15). Lunch will be available when you arrive (for registered racers and affiliates only). We will then go over the rules with everyone, check over the cars and answer any questions. The race will begin at 1:15 PM and should be done before 4:00 PM. We will then have the awards presentation and will wrap NO LATER than 4:30 PM (we positively have to be out of the room by 5).

We will provide two small practice tracks that will be available for you to check out your car and make any last-minute adjustments. When the race is under way, the next two teams due up will have priority on these tracks. Please note that the ARC ballroom is a carpeted facilty and we will NOT permit any soldering or other work that could damage the room, so you should NOT expect to be able to do any real work on your car. The competition also moves quickly enough that it is usually impossible to do any significant work on the day of the competition.

NOTE:
The schedule does not allow time for everyone to make significant adjustments to their cars prior to the race beginning, so you must come with your car ready to race. As described in the race rules you are guaranteed 5 minutes on the warmup track, but you cannot count on having more time than that.

If you are traveling to UC Davis by plane, it is best to fly into the Sacramento airport. You then exit the airport heading "north" on Highway 5 (you are actually going west when you leave the airport, but the signs say "north" because the road does turn). You then take Highway 113 South when you get to Woodland (about 8 miles). You travel about 10 miles on Highway 113 and then exit east on Hutchison drive, and then turn left (north) onto La Rue Rd. That brings you up La Rue with the ARC on your right (see the map link above).

If you are driving to UC Davis, take Highway 80 to Davis, then head north on Highway 113 (torward Woodland). Exit Highway 113 onto Hutchison drive east (the first exit) and then turn left (north) onto La Rue Rd. That brings you up La Rue with the ARC on your right (see the map link above).

Last modified: February 8, 2007