FLAGMAN’S DUTIES, RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

There is an established flag committee, consisting of volunteers who are responsible for track officiating. Regular attending club members over the age of 14 with an understanding of the following items are eligible and encouraged to act as a flagman:

• The flagman is the final authority on the track while tractor is pulling, hook to hook.
• The flagman will receive a ready signal from the sled operator before signaling the driver to start.
• The flagman should be aware of the sled operator as the sled operator may encounter a condition with the sled that the flagman might not be aware of that would require the pull to stop.
• Drivers will receive the start and stop signals from the flagman only. Two flagmen will be used for all Division III tractors. When only a chalk line separates the two tracks, Division I tractors will not be started in front of Division II and Division III tractors if they are running, hooked and ready to pull. Only AFTER the Division II and III tractor passes the 40’ mark will the Division I tractor be signaled to start.
• The flagman will receive any complaints/concerns from the sled operator and, if needed, warn the driver, notify a club officer and take appropriate action as directed by the general rules.
• The flagman must stop a tractor at any point during a pull for the following reasons:
- A signal from the sled operator to stop.
- An object falling off a tractor onto the track.
- Any unsafe condition or act while tractor is in motion.
- Unauthorized person(s) or items on the track.
- A tire of the tractor crossing the out of bounds lines:
(the sled may be out of bounds as it is wider than the tractor)
**If a tractor pulls beyond any existing out of bounds lines, then the flagman
MUST visualize the out of bounds lines extending out as far as necessary.
• The first official measured pull of each class has the option to come back in the 3rd position, (with the exception of stock altered, limited & modified tractors-they can come back last hook) the flagman must be informed of this by the driver prior to unhooking the tractor and inform the sled operator so that the announcer and recorder may be notified.
• The flagman must ensure and remind each driver that each tractor MUST either be switched off or placed in neutral, and each driver MUST raise their hands in the air and foot off of the clutch pedal at the end of their pull to signal that the tractor is safe to unhook prior to the flagman removing the hook from the tractor’s hitch.