1910 AAA Rules Update

This article was originally published February 27, 1910 in the Indianapolis Star. This article expands somewhat on a previous Star article concerning the American Automobile Association's (AAA) rules for the 1910 racing season. The article asserts that the AAA contest board Chairman S.M. Butler announcement of what is described as a comprehensive set of rules amounted to a milestone in the history of auto racing. An excerpt from the article makes this point:
 
"Well may it be said that such complete provision for the governing of auto events in this country has never before been at hand."
 
The aritcle notes that Indianapolis Motor Speedway top management were studying the rules in prepartation for their 1910 events. Rules were divided into two broad categories: general and special. General rules applied to all types of contests and covered "common" points. The special rules apply to the specific characteristics of different types of events: road, track, 24 hour events, hill climbs and even reliability events.
 
General Rules

• Race drivers, both professionals and amateurs, were required to "register" with the AAA.
• The rules were supposed to clearly spell out what constituted an amateur.
• All claims for new speed records had to be filed with the AAA within 10 days of accomplishment.
• No records could be advertised until AAA certification.
• No records for five miles or less would be certified unless recorded by an "automatic" (electric) timing device.
• AAA Race referees reserve the right to disqualify any driver based on their assessment of the competitor's physical condition.

 
Special Rules

• The challenge of staging safe races on public roads was addressed with a requirement to file with the AAA contest board a permit  issued by community authorities to stage the race.
• Rules concerning mechancial repairs and pit usage would be strictly enforced under the threat of disqualification.
• Any attempt to mispresent the stock chassis requirement would be met with disqualification of car, entrant and driver.
• A complete set of rules for road racing was provided. These addressed, among other details, weighing the cars, signal codes, international road racing symbols, road regulations and special duties of officers.
• For tracks the rules spelled out venue classes based on track length: half-mile, one-mile and two-miles or more.
• Tracks would undergo inspection by a qualified AAA contest board representative and upon passing scrutiny they would be licensed for one year.
• No licenses would be issued for tracks deemed dangerous.
• No sanction would be granted for meets of more than three days duration.
• No records were allowed for tracks of less than one mile.
• Any contestant driving the wrong way on the track would be immediately disqualified and suspended.
• During 24 hour events no driver would be allowed to drive more than three consecutive hours. The driver must take at least one hour rest between shifts.
• Promoters of hill climbs were required to file a surveyor's certificate of the hill at least 10 days prior to the event.

The final portion of this article addresses the new rules to define a stock car. These were more precisely spelled out in a January 30, 1910 Indianapolis Star article.