Good Times Quarter Midget Racing Association

 

By-Laws

 

(Revised: January 7, 2001)

 

 

 

PART I

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

ORGANIZATION

 

Section 1: NAME – The name of the organization is Good Times Quarter Midget Racing Association.

 

Section 2: PURPOSE – The purpose of this organization is to create and maintain a clean, safe, healthy sport, which may be enjoyed by Father, Son, Mother, Daughter in relationship with better Sportmanship.  To acquaint the younger generation with the handling of mechanical devices, coordination, alertness, and ability to handle motor-driven vehicles.  To impress the younger generation with the idea of fairness, generosity, and sense of responsibility without envy to others.

 

Section 3: NON-PROFIT – This organization is organized for non-profit purposes and no profits or earnings of any kind will be distributed to the members of this organization.

 

Section 4: PROPERTY – The property of the organization is irrevocably dedicated to social welfare purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private persons.

 

Upon the dissolution or winding up of the organization, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this organization shall be distributed to a non-profit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for social welfare purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Section 5: OWNERSHIP- All equipment pertaining to, used by, donated to, or purchased for the organization, shall be sole and exclusive property of the organization.  No property shall be loaned to any person or organization without prior Board approval.  Items shall only be loaned with a hand receipt that states the item loaned shall be returned in good, working condition or shall be replaced. 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1:  POWERS – All business affairs shall be controlled by the Board of Directors, and shall have the power to act in emergency situations for the best interest of the club.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint an executive committee to handle the affairs of the club under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2:  NUMBER OF DIRECTORS – The number of directors shall be established at eleven.  All elected officers.

 

Section 3:  ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE – The term of the office for each director shall be one year, from January 1 to December 31, with the exception of the President, who will be Pit Steward and a board member the year following his term.

 

Section 4:  VACANCIES – Vacancies on the Board of Directors will be filled by a majority vote of the general membership within 30 days or the vacancy may be filled by a quorum of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5:  SPECIAL MEETINGS – Special meeting of the Board of Directors for any purpose shall be called by the President or Secretary, at any time, upon the order of any two members of the board.

 

Section 6:  QUORUM – Seven members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business of the club.  Every act or decision made by the majority of the directors present at a duly held meeting, and at which a quorum is found, shall be regarded as an act of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7:  REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS – The entire Board of Directors, or any individual director may be removed from office by the quorum of the General Membership.  Any member of the Board of Directors who misses two consecutive regular meetings, unless due to emergency matters, shall be dropped from the Board of Directors.  A meeting may have a representative by proxy.   Proper notification shall be given to at least one member of the Board prior to the meeting. 

 

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

 

Section 1:  NUMBER OF OFFICERS – The number of officers of this club shall be established at eleven positions.  They are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Technical Director, Track Director, Safety Director, Training Director, Pit Steward, a Timer and Scoring Director, a Snack Bar Director, and Publicity Director.

 

Section 2:  ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE – At the general meeting in October, the election of officers shall take place.  They will be installed into office at the November general meeting.

 

Section 3: PRESIDENT – The President shall serve for a term of one year or until his successor shall have been duly chosen, and shall serve as chairman of all meetings for the members of the club.  He/she shall order trophies for all races and shall select and assign judges for all races.

 

Section 4: VICE-PRESIDENT – The Vice-President shall serve for a term of one year or until his successor shall have been duly chosen, and shall serve as chairman of all meetings in the absence of the President.  The Vice-President shall act as mediator in all disputed decisions arising at the race meets.  The Vice-President shall act as the chairman of the Points Committee, when a point system is being used.

 

Section 5: SECRETARY – The Secretary shall keep full and accurate minutes of all meetings, both regular and special, of the Board of Directors and/or the membership at large.  The Secretary shall take roll call at all meetings.

 

Section 6: TREASURER – The Treasurer shall not have full control of all expenditures made by the club, and shall not have full custody of all funds belonging to the club.  The Treasurer’s books shall be audited before accepting his/her resignation and/or annual change.  All checks $500.00 or more must be signed by the Treasurer and/or one of the following:  Any one person designated by the Board of Directors at the beginning of each new term.  The checking accounts will keep a maximum of $2,000.00.  The savings account will require 2 signatures for withdrawals.  Bank statements will be sent to the Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall take care of sign-ins at all races.

 

Section 7: TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – The Technical Director shall have sole authority in all matters pertaining to the inspection of any engine of any vehicle, and shall be responsible for declaring said motor legal or illegal according to the most recent rulings of the Quarter Midgets of America Technical Committee.

 

Section 8:  TRACK DIRECTOR – The Track Director shall be in complete charge of all matters pertaining to the racing program.  He has the authority to call for the tear-downs and will also be responsible for the taking care of all alcoholic beverage offenses.

 

Section 9:   SAFETY & TRAINING DIRECTOR

a)      Safety Director shall have authority in all matters pertaining to the safety conditions of the track.

b)      Training Director shall have charge of training new members in the safe operation of a quarter midget.  He chairs the novice advancement committee.

 

Section 10:   PIT STEWARD – The Pit Steward shall carry out the race program, as set up by the Track Director, in an orderly manner and shall supervise the pit areas.

 

Section 11:  TIMER & SCORING DIRECTOR – The Timer and Scoring Director shall be in charge of timing and scoring, as well as record keeping to Q.M.A. rules.

 

Section 12:  SNACK BAR DIRECTOR – The Snack Bar Director shall coordinate the operation of the snack bar.  Snack Bar Director shall be responsible for the snack bar account and all bills pertaining to running the snack bar.  The Snack Bar’s books shall be audited before accepting his/her resignation and/or annual change.  A financial report is to be given monthly.  Any amount exceeding $1,000.00 shall be transferred into the general fund.

 

Section 13:  PUBLICITY DIRECTOR – The Publicity Director shall handle the publicity affairs of the club.  The Publicity Director shall be responsible for public relations, promotional programs and any other form of publicity to promote Quarter Midget Racing.

 

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1:  MEMBERSHIP IN GENERAL – The membership of this club shall be open to anyone desiring to become  a member, and to assist in furthering the purposes of the club, subject to approval of the Board of Directors. No one need own a quarter midget racing car in order to qualify for membership. All members are expected to participate in the maintenance of the track area.

 

Section 2:  APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP – Application forms may be obtained from the club secretary.

 

Section 3:  QUORUM – Quorum shall consist of 2/3 majority of the voting membership within 100 miles of the track.

 

Section 4:  VOTING RIGHTS – Paid membership only shall be authorized to vote at any regular or special membership meeting.  One (1) vote per adult member in attendance.  There shall be no absentee ballots.  Voting pertaining to individuals shall be by secret ballot.

 

Section 5:  DUES – All membership dues are payable on October 1 of each year, and any dues paid after September 1 shall carry over into the following racing season.  All members, including the Board of Directors and officers shall pay dues in the amount of $100.00 per year.  If Club dues have not been paid prior to the election of officers, member will forfeit his/her voting rights for the election of officers.  In order to participate in the point series and year-end awards, at least one member of the family must participate in at least 50% of all scheduled work parties and 50% of race day duties. Non-working memberships will be available to members living outside the immediate Madera/Fresno/Clovis areas.  Alternate handlers will be an Associate Member at minimum or full member.

 

PART II

TRACK PROCEDURES

 

A.     MEMBERSHIP – To race the Good Times track, a handler must be a member of a Q.M.A. and must have a valid Q.M.A. card.

 

 

B.     PIT FEES – All cars - $30.00.

 

C.     INSURANCE – Driver’s insurance is mandatory of all Good Times drivers.  Proof of Q.M.A. driver’s insurance is mandatory for all drivers effective the first racing date after yearly policy renewal or upon joining the club.  Practicing without insurance is prohibited.  You must be a Q.M.A. member and have a valid Q.M.A. driver’s insurance card in order to practice at the Good Times track. Liability insurance for spectators will be maintained by the club.

 

D.     TRACK RECORDS

 

1.      The Good Times Club will maintain track records for all classes.

2.      Track records will be open on any scheduled race day, except for officially designated races.

3.      There may be back up laps and the record-breaking lap holds as the track record, pending engine tear down and car inspection for legality, which shall be mandatory.

4.      Track record time shall be confirmed by a track official.

5.      Technical Director and assistant will tear down engines when track records are broken upon discretion of the track director.

6.      Track record certificates will be given each time a record is broken.

7.      One set of track records will be maintained.

8.      All track records will be closed during Western Grands.

 

E.      PROTESTS

1.      All protests must be made in writing, within an hour after completion of the race in      question, to the Track Director.

2.      A member protesting another member’s engine should post $100.00 cash with the Technical Director.  If the engine is found legal, the $100.00 is to be given to the engine owner.  If the engine is found illegal, the $100.00 will be returned to the protester.  Cost of reassembling the engine will be at the owner’s expense.

3.      Any refusal of an engine tear down is an admission of being illegal.

4.      Decision of the Technical Director or committee (Technical Director, Pit Steward and Track Director) is final.

 

F.      CONDUCT

1.      Any car owner, driver or handler who causes a scene or disturbance before the public, shall be asked to leave the meet.  QMA RULE SECTION 1, ITEM D(8) PAGE 37 and CODE OF CONDUCT, PAGE VI.

2.      Use of any intoxicants anywhere on the premises during the race program is prohibited.  Abuse of this rule is subject to a $50.00 fine and/or a suspension.

3.      It shall be the responsibility of each Good Times member to keep their unauthorized friends out of the chutes.

4.      It is club policy that handlers are not allowed to go up to the judges or flag person during a race; they are to go to the Pit Steward or Track Director.  Disturbance to the above, the driver is subject to a black flag.

5.      Tower or Pit Steward will announce every time a call is made and what the call is on the driver.

 

G.     TRACK MAINTENANCE AND EQUIPMENT

1.      Equipment – clock, scales, and technical tools should be calibrated and checked at least once  a year, or as close as possible to a Q.M.A. sanctioned race.

2.      No equipment shall be removed from the track for personal use.

 

H.     MISCELLANEOUS

1.      The Good Times Club colors are red, white and blue.

2.      An announcement of any hazard existing around the track will be made on the PA system during the races until such hazard is corrected.  Any driver found in an unauthorized area will be set down for the day.  The Track Director or his replacement has the authority to do this.

 

I.        ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

1.      An associate member shall pay $25.00 dues per year and shall have no voting privilege. 

2.      At the discretion of members, associate members can be on roster at no charge.

 

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENTS

 

These By-Laws Articles I-V may be amended at any membership meeting with a majority vote of 2/3 of the voting membership.  Amendments to the track procedures may be made by the Board of Directors or by a consent actually signed by the Directors.

 

The Board of Directors and Members of the Good Times Quarter Midget Club have approved these By-Laws for 2001.

 

______________________________________        ___________________________________

PRESIDENT                                                               VICE-PRESIDENT

 

______________________________________        ___________________________________

SECRETARY                                                              TREASURER

 

______________________________________        ___________________________________

SNACK BAR DIRECTOR                                         SAFETY DIRECTOR

 

______________________________________        ___________________________________

TRAINING DIRECTOR                                             TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

 

______________________________________        ___________________________________

TRACK DIRECTOR                                                   TIMING & SCORING DIRECTOR

 

______________________________________        ___________________________________

PIT STEWARD                                                           PUBLICITY DIRECTOR