How the Game Goes

I thought that after last nights race it would be the perfect time to explain the "game" of chuckwagon racing.

The point of racing is to make it around the track as fast as possible. However, there are rules that you must follow as you do that. These rules are in place to make the sport more challenging, and keep it as safe as possible.

For each rule that is broken, you can either be given a penalty, which adds seconds onto your race time, or you may be disqualified. Because you are given additional seconds to your race time for each penalty, it is important to drive as clean as possible.

Now the driver is not the only one who can earn penalties. The outriders can also earn penalties as well. The driver has no control over this, so he has to rely on his outriders to ride a clean race as well.

Here is a guideline of the basic rules to Chuckwagon Racing:

The Race

• A chuckwagon race will consist of two to four wagons, with two to four outriders per wagon.
• An individual chuckwagon race is referred to as a heat.
• Each wagon will start on the right side of its starting barrel, with the hub of the real wheels in line with any part of the barrel closest to the racetrack (Bottom barrel).
• A gun or horn (Klaxon) is used as a starting signal for a chuckwagon race.
• When a race has been started, outriders must load the stove and the tent poles into the back of the wagon.
• Each wagon must cut a figure 8 pattern around their respective barrels only.
• Outriders must cut a figure 8 pattern around their respective barrels only.
• Chuckwagons and outriders then run around the racetrack in a counter clockwise direction.
• A chuckwagon’s running time will be determined when the nose of its first horse crosses the finish line.
• Each outrider must finish within 150 feet of its wagon or they will be determined late.
• A chuckwagon’s total time will be determined by adding its running time to any penalties it may have incurred during the course of the race.

Basic penalties

Penalty Call	Time Penalty
Wagon interference	Min. of 1 Second
Late outrider	1 Second
Outrider finishing ahead of wagon	1 Second
Outrider not finishing race	1 Second
Outrider interference	Discretion of judges
Tent poles off ground to start race	1 Second / Pole
Tent poles not loaded	1 Second / Pole
Stove off ground to start race	2 Seconds
Stove not loaded	4 Seconds
Wagon starting ahead of barrel	1 Second
False start	1 Second
Wagon knocks over a barrel	5 Seconds / Barrel
Wagon missing a barrel	10 Seconds / Barrel
Outrider knocking over a barrel	2 Seconds / Barrel
Outrider missing a barrel	2 Seconds / Barrel