IPA Rules of Conduct

Conduct of Event

  1. There will be a minimum of 2 track officials to conduct each event. There will also be a Director in Charge (DIC) and this person may be one of the track officials. The ruling from the Director in Charge is FINAL.
  2. Harassment, arguing, derogatory language, etc. addressed toward track officials from any competing members or affiliates at any time during said event will result in disqualification of the pulling vehicle for said event. Also will result in loss of any points and any moneys for said event.
  3. All sanctioned IPA classes will be governed by Certified IPA track officials.
  4. Any non-sanctioned classes to be flagged by Certified IPA track officials must be agreed to prior to the event.
  5. No one allowed on the track except for the track officials and the contestant when the vehicle is under the green flag track is defined as the area within 35 feet in any direction of the contest course boundaries, including the staging area at start end and the runoff area. At all times during competition there will be limited access to the track area at the discretion of the track officials.
  6. Pulling vehicles must be operated in a safe manner at all times within the confines of the track, pits and staging areas. Track officials have the right to stop and disqualify any vehicle if it is not being operated in such a manner as would be considered safe.
  7. Driver must remain seated during the pull and must have complete control of the vehicle at all times.
  8. Only the driver will be allowed on a vehicle when it is being towed or driven. NO riders. No rider in or on any vehicle, in pit, track or adjacent areas.
  9. In order to receive IPA place points the contestant must hook and have made a measurable pull. If the vehicle breaks on the grounds, he/she will receive show up points only for the class he/she is registered in and entry fee paid prior to breaking.
  10. Pulls must start with a tight chain; no jerking permitted.  Contestants will be allowed a total of two (2) hooks and 100′ to start the sled.  If the driver lets off the throttle before 100′ he will get a second attempt, even if going beyond 100′. If no effort is made to back-off throttle, no second attempt will be given. The intent is for the drivers not to slam on the brakes to stop before 100′ (or at any time), but to come to as smooth a stop as possible. If mechanical failure occurs on first attempt mechanical failure must be proven in order to drop to last for second attempt.
  11. Each contestant has the privilege of, and the responsibility for spotting the sled for both of his/her attempts. Pull back tractor operator, sled operator must be notified of where the contestant wishes the sled to be placed when the previous contestant unhooks from the sled or will accept the spot it was put. Use of crew members is perfect for spotting the sled to expedite the show. The sled will be spotted in bounds.
  12. An attempt is defined as moving the sled a measurable distance (1″ or greater). Vehicle must move sled 1″ under power in order to receive last place points and last place purse.
  13. Pull shall be considered over when forward motion of the load stops. track officials shall hold hole digging to a minimum.
  14. Violation of any rule shall constitute a disqualification.
  15. Pulling vehicle must remain within boundaries of contest course during the pull or will be disqualified. Sled pan must be within boundary lines at start of pull. All pulling track boundary lines from Oto 320 feet (or end of track) must be marked and maintained during the course of the IPA event.
  16. Excessive loss of liquid by a pulling vehicle while in forward motion, under the green flag, during a contest on the track will be cause for termination of pull. Excessive loss of liquid when pull is terminated is cause for disqualification. (Excessive is defined by the presiding track official).
  17. If a vehicle is legal when hooked to the sled, and if breakage occurs while under the green flag due to unforeseen circumstances, the pull will be measured, with the exception of loss of weight.
  18. When disqualified in a class less than full for out of bounds, a driver will receive purse and points for last place of vehicles entered. If more than one driver is disqualified in a class less than full, all those disqualified for out of bounds will split the last place purse evenly. Any vehicle that hooks to the sled and makes a measurable pull shall be considered to have made an official hook even if the sled is reset and vehicle cannot re-hook. The vehicle would be considered the same as disqualified for out of bounds. Any disqualification other than out of bounds will receive show up points only (no purse or place points).
  19. All sleds at an IPA sanctioned event must be NASOA approved and licensed per the classes offered.
  20. At any IPA pull it is mandatory for all drivers to attend any particular drivers’ meeting which may be held by the promoter and/or IPA officials.
  21. If the last vehicle in a class has mechanical problems, it will be allowed six (6) minutes to hook and make an attempt.

Event Procedure and Requirements

  1. All officially sanctioned contests must have a dirt track of not less than 200 feet in length, or more than 320 feet in length and not less than 30 feet in width, maximum single track 50 feet. Minimum double track 60 feet, maximum 90 feet in width. Track must be maintained and packed. There must be an area on the finish end of the track, equal to 1/3 of the length of the track, which. must be kept open for stopping in case of an emergency. Track officials may extend finish line beyond the original track set up with acceptable safety criteria.
  2. Pit area will be 100 feet and clearly marked. All track officials will carry this equipment: red and green flag plus adjustable drawbar measuring stand for all classes competing at that event.
  3. When unscheduled or unsanctioned classes or events are added to those already scheduled, the scheduled events will start on time.

Weighing and Drawbar Measuring Procedures

  1. All official weights include driver, vehicle with oil, water, fuel, ready to compete. All drivers must weigh in with pulling vehicle when it is officially weighed.
  2. Drawbars must be measured before hooking to the sled.
  3. Should a puller move 200 lbs. (or more) forward from the rear of the tractor, the drawbar must be re-measured before pulling at discretion of track officials.
  4. Drawbar can be re-measured at the discretion of track official.
  5. No tire pressure can be altered to increase hitch height.

Test Puller and Options

  1. Number one puller will be test puller and has the following options under an honest attempt.
  2. May take pull if weight transfer is deemed right.
  3. May immediately make a second pull.
  4. May drop six (6) positions.
  5. May drop and pull in last position.
  6. If weight transfer needs further adjustment, the first puller after each adjustment will be treated as number one (or test) puller.  In the event of a contest malfunction (sled malfunction) test puller may immediately rehook and retain the test puller option or may drop to last and the next puller becomes the test puller.
  7. All decisions on re-pulls are to be made before vehicle leaves the track.
  8. Sled setting/Pull off distance shall be determined by end flagman within 3 official measured hooks within said class.
  9. On any re-pulls caused by a contest malfunction; the puller will be drop to the end of the class unless malfunction occurred on test pull and puller chooses to come back immediately in order to retain option.
  10. Any disqualification on the first attempt bars a second attempt. Should the class be restarted, the puller disqualified will be allowed to pull in position drawn.
  11. Contestant must pull at position drawn within three minutes of time sled is ready.  Any delay will mean disqualification. If track official is notified prior to competitor’s time slot, he may drop a contestant having mechanical problems to last. This will constitute as one of his two attempts.
  12. Puller will be able to drop to last if breakage occurs on first attempt, if not past 100′. He will get a total of two (2) hooks.

PULL-OFFS

  1. In a pull-off, each contestant is his/her turn will be allowed two (2) attempts to make a measurable pull.  A reasonable amount of time at the track official’s discretion will be allowed between the class and pull-off.
  2. Order of pull will be in the order in which the vehicles involved made full-pulls. No dropping in a pull-off.
  3. In a first pull-of, all participants shall be required to an honest attempt to pull.
  4. In case of a pull-off not completed because of rain, etc.; points for places involved will be divided evenly between all those qualified in the pull-off.
  5. An extended finish line beyond the original track set up length may be used at the discretion of the track officials.
  6. No ties other than for first place will be pulled off. In the case of a tie, money and points will be split.

RAIN OUT

  1. In case of rain, a pull is considered over when at least one-half (1/2) of the vehicles in that class have pulled.
  2. No rain points will be awarded unless the puller has entered and the class has started.
  3. Any sanctioned pull not run on scheduled date will be a non-point pull.
  4. Any class not started or completed for any reason, will be treated as a rained out pull.

SUMMARY OF CAUSES FOR DISQUALIFICATION

  1. Loss of ballast weight under the green flag.
  2. Loss of safety equipment, and failure of safety equipment to function.
  3. Excessive loss of liquid discharged on the track under the green flag, determined by the track official.
  4. If vehicle goes out of bounds when hooked to a sled the vehicle will be disqualified.
  5. Unsafe operation of competition vehicle.
  6. Failure to observe the track official’s red flag.
  7. Any parts lost that could be a safety problem or create an advantage-pull will be terminated at point of loss.
  8. Any competitor or any of his crew incapacitated due to intoxicating agent, and/or drugs, his or her pulling vehicle will not compete for the duration of the pull. Obvious or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages before or during pull will not be tolerated.
  9. Illegal equipment.
  10. Unsportsmanlike conduct.
  11. Leaving the starting line under the red flag.
  12. The decision of the track official is final and shall not be appealable; provided, however, that with a showing of reasonable and good cause, the track official may, without liability, reverse or revise his decision.  Calls of judgment are not subject to appeal and shall be final.
  13. Penalty for use of illegal drawbar or use of illegal equipment shall be suspension of membership and loss of points for one year and ten days from date of infraction and loss of all accumulated points for the suspended vehicle.
  14. Any knowing violation of any rule shall be considered illegal. Severity of punishment to be at discretion of the IPA board.
  15. Support vehicles (such as ATVs, golf carts, Mules, Gators, Jeeps, etc.;) are to be used as support vehicles only (for towing or carrying fuel, batteries, etc.) Misuse of support vehicles before, during or after the event will not tolerated.

VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE

The IPA reserves the right to refuse membership to a potential competitor or competing vehicle based on the discretion of the Board of Directors in lieu of safety or general well-being of the group.

Each competitor expressly agrees that by entering an IPA sanctioned event.

  1. The competitor agrees that any disputes concerning any event, the rules of IPA or any decisions of IPA officials whether or not incident to an event, shall be resolved pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Rule Book.
  2. The competitor agrees to be bound by the rules of IPA and any decision of the Track Official or Director in Charge and agrees to voluntarily submit his/ her vehicle for impoundment by IPA if the Track Official or Director in Charge so directs.
  3. The competitor agrees to subject his or her vehicle to any inspection determined necessary to ascertain the legality of the competitor’s vehicle.
  4. The competitor agrees to release and waive IPA from any liability relating to the rules contained in the Rule Book of the conduct of the pulling event.

WARRANTY DISCLAIMER

The rules promulgated in this Rule Book are intended as guidelines for the sport of tractor and truck pulling, and the rules relating to the safety of equipment are the responsibility of each driver who participates in the sport of tractor and truck pulling under these rules. No expressed or implied warranty or safety is intended nor may be inferred from the publication of these rules. No expressed or implied warranty of these rules, nor the compliance therewith. Nothing herein should be construed as a guarantee against injury or death of participants, bystanders or spectators.

Specifications and rules set forth in this Rule Book are based upon the recommendations of competing members, crewmen and other participants in the sport of tractor pulling, and all participants in an IPA sanctioned event must assume all liability for any damage or loss caused by or from their equipment and their use thereof.

The IPA specifically states that it has not tested any equipment or use of equipment that it refers to in its Rule Book and makes no warranties either specific or implied with regard thereto and any use thereof. The user must look to the manufacturer thereof with regard to said warranties.