General Rules and Regulations

Alcohol & Drugs:
No alcohol or illegal drugs, including marijuana, may be consumed by the driver or crew chief during the event. Once you are done racing for the day, consumption is allowed if legal.

Kill Switch:
All boats must be equipped with a kill switch in proper working order and verified during safety inspection. If the boat has a fuel pump, the kill switch must shut off the fuel pump.

Rollover Switch:
Boats equipped with a driver harness must have a rollover switch installed and functioning properly.

Fire Extinguisher:
All boats must have a fire extinguisher on board.

Capsule Boats:
Capsule boats must be equipped with an onboard breathing apparatus.

Life Jackets:
Life jackets must be worn at all times while on the water.
All life jackets must include leg straps.
Racers competing in 85+ mph classes must wear a ballistic-rated life jacket and a neck roll, in addition to leg straps.

Life jackets need to be inspected before each race event.


Helmets:
Helmets must be worn anytime the motor is running. Helmets may be removed while waiting for your heat if necessary.

Liability Waiver:
All racers must complete a liability waiver prior to the drivers’ meeting.

Secured Equipment:
All fuel tanks and gear must be firmly secured in the boat. No loose objects are allowed.

Race Cancellation:
Any race may be canceled at any time due to weather at the discretion of the UMPBA Board and/or the event location/city.

Emergency Services:
An ambulance and dive crew will be on site for every race event.



Membership and Race Fees

  • Annual membership fee is $100 per year for racers (allows you to race, gives voting rights, and access to members only Facebook page)
  • Annual membership fee is $25 per year for non-racers (gives voting rights and access to members only Facebook page)
  • First class for each event is $60, any additional class is $40.  A boat may only enter 2 classes.
  • Memberships are valid for the calendar year in which they are purchased



Loss of Membership

  • Any member found to be violating any safety procedure or lack of sportsmanship will be subject to suspension up to one year.  This will be voted on by the board.



Race Day Procedures 

  • Registration will be open at 8am until 9am on the day of the race.
  • Driver and boat must pass safety inspection (per event) prior to drivers meeting. Life jackets need to be inspected before each race event.
  • A Drivers’ Meeting shall be held at 10:00 a.m., unless otherwise announced by Race Officials. Attendance is mandatory for all drivers. A roll call will be conducted prior to the commencement of the meeting to verify driver attendance.
  • Any driver who fails to attend the Drivers’ Meeting, or who is not present for roll call, shall be ineligible to compete in the event. All race entry fees and membership fees shall be forfeited and are non-refundable. No exceptions shall be granted.
  • Brackets for each class will be made at the Drivers’ Meeting, drivers will pull numbers and be placed in the bracket according to that number.
  • Racing begins right after the Drivers’ Meeting.
  • Race order will go in order from Junior Racer to Unlimited.



Course Layout and Race Procedure

  • All races are 800 feet from start line to finish line.
  • Prior to beginning each round of racing, all boats must be 50 feet or more behind the start boat.
  • The start boat will call for the racing boats by placing the number of the boat on display in the lane they will be racing in.
  • Boats will enter the course through the first set of buoys and get lined up with opposing boat at idle speed.
  • At any point before the commitment buoys either driver may raise both hands up to signal that the driver is not ready to commit to the race. Both racers will turn around and try again.
  • Boats will then enter the commitment zone, from this point on the starter can start the race at any moment.  Boats should be going between 5 mph and 7 mph.
  • Once boats are deemed to be lined up, the starter will raise both flags to initiate the start of the race.
  • If boats are not lined up, the starter will circle the flags telling both racers to go back and start over.
  • If a driver is consistently not following directions of the starter, a decision by the race director can be made to DQ that driver for that race and receive a loss.
  • Once both boats have crossed the finish line, a winner will be signaled and announced.
  • If a boat “broke out” it will receive a loss and the other boat will be declared the winner.  If both boats “broke out”, they both receive a loss and move to the loser bracket.
  • Classes are double elimination, once a boat receives his second loss he will be asked to go to his trailer and be taken out of the water.  Please be aware of the races happening and do not come in the way of ongoing races or cause wake.



Classes

  • Junior Racer*
  • Max speed of 55 mph allowed
  • Lake Racer
  • Max speed of 65 mph allowed
  • Lake Racer 1
  • Max speed of 75 mph allowed
  • Lake Racer 2
  • Max speed of 85 mph allowed
  • Lake Racer 3
  • Max speed of 95 mph allowed
  • Lake Racer 4
  • Max speed of 105 mph allowed
  • Unlimited 


*Junior Racer Class Requirements

  • 12-15 years of age
  • Driver must have valid Boater’s Safety 
  • maximum speed of 55 mph allowed
  • any type of boat is allowed
  • no Jet Skis
  • course length, safety, fueling, mechanical, and all rules for current UMPBA members across all other classes, apply to this class
  • Jr Racer must make two mock race passes in view of two qualified board members to prove they have adequate control of the vessel before they can race. Members will sign off on the approval of the Jr. Racer
  • Junior member needs have a current UMPBA Racer membership to race 
  • Junior racer and Guardian will need to sign insurance waiver before any pass can be made
  • All Junior racers will need a permission slip signed by a legal parent/guardian



  • There are no boat or fuel limitations, run what you bring.
  • In the event of needing to refuel after you’ve made a pass and are waiting to be sent back, you may idle to the dock to refuel before the finish line boat signals to return. Please have fuel refill ready to go on dock via pit crew. You have 2 minutes from when your number is called up to race to get to the staging area. If you cannot make it to the staging area within the 2 minutes it will count as a loss. 


Two-Minute Staging Rule

Once a racer’s number is called, they have two minutes to report to the staging area. The start boat is responsible for initiating, tracking, and enforcing the two-minute timer. The two-minute timer will not begin until the racer’s number is called.

If the majority of the class is in the water and ready, the two-minute timer may be started if the remaining boat has not entered the water. Ramp backups or launch delays will not be considered a valid trigger for the two-minute timer.

If one competitor pulls into the chute, the two-minute timer begins for the opposing competitor. However, if a driver is waiting for their opponent and does not enter the chute, the two-minute timer does not begin for the opponent.

This rule applies to all classes. Once the two-minute time limit has expired, the present driver must proceed down the course solo. Failure to reach the staging area within the two-minute time limit will result in a loss.



Grudge Class

  • Once bracket racing is completed, we will move into a Call Out/Grudge class (time/weather permitting). To enter, pay $50 dollars per boat. There will be a time limit to 1 hour for the entire Grudge class.  No brackets, no transponders, time limited to race site, weather, and safety crews. For the sake of time, know who you're running against. You are allowed to run anyone who paid to enter the Grudge Class.


Unlimited Class Entry Fee and Payout Structure

  • The Unlimited Class entry fee shall be $160 per event. Of this amount, $60 will be retained by the club, and $100 will be allocated directly to the Unlimited Class payout fund.
  • The payout fund will be supplemented by business sponsorships when available.
  • Payouts will be distributed based on the number of boats entered in the class, as follows:
  • Ten boats or fewer:
    Payouts will be awarded to first and second place only, distributed at 70% to first place and 30% to second place.
  • Eleven boats or more:
    Payouts will be awarded to the top three finishers, distributed at 60% to first place, 30% to second place, and 10% to third place.
  • If payouts are sponsored, appropriate recognition and promotion of sponsors will be provided.
  • Final Standings- Standings as determined by the start boat and finish line officials are final.


Race Transponders

  • Each boat is required to have a transponder on board that tracks your speed.
  • These are available through MyLaps, see UMPBA website for link to purchase.
  • Rentals will be available for new racers to UMPBA or members who may not frequently race.  $50 for rental for the day. 
  • If there is a malfunction with the transponder, rules are as follows:
  • If the loser's transponder malfunctions, it's still a loss.
  • If the winner's transponder malfunctions, they will get a new transponder from the race director and the heat will be rerun.