Notice of Race

The organising authority is South East Queensland Blokart Club Inc. (SEQBC)

The 2026 SEQBC Championship Marathon of the World is the primary event on the SEQBC calendar and will be held over two days. One day will be for short course races and one day for a Team Club Marathon that competes for the Perpetual Trophy. The Marathon will take priority over the short course racing event, depending on the weather.

There has been a fundamental change to the Marathon. It is now a team Marathon and will include two sailors per team for Production and Performance categories. A CLUB may submit any number of Production or Performance teams.

Each sailor entered will be allocated an individual whip number which must be attached to the Kart while competing.

The aim is for sailors who would find a 150 minute Marathon daunting and not wishing to compete for that length of time can now compete for as long as they feel comfortable and then swap out with his or her team member and still contribute to their Team’s overall score with her/his whip number for that competing sailor.

Eligibility

All competitors must be financial members of an ABA or IBRA recognised body through a member club. Evidence of membership may be required. If you are a member of more than one club, you must nominate your primary club on the entry form.

By completing and lodging the online entry form the entrant undertakes to abide by the IBRA Racing Rules, the values of sportsmanship and the SEQBC Code of Conduct.

Non club members can pay a $10.00 fee to join SEQBC for the duration of the Marathon plus the subscribed entry fee.

Entry Form and Fees

Entrants should preferably use the online form at the bottom of this page.

• Entry Fee to all events over the weekend.
  ABA/Club member:  $40
• Late Entry Fee (in addition to entry fee)
  After COB 16th October 2026: $5 ($45 in total)
• Protest Fee
  No charge

Classes/Divisions

Racing will be conducted in the two classes, Production and Performance Blokarts for the short course races. Weight divisions will apply to the short course races as per IBRA Rules. For the Marathon the weight divisions and classes are being dispensed with.

Any changes to the schedule will be communicated by 6pm on the day prior whenever possible.

Races will be sailed on Woodgate Beach, at either the southern end or northern end dependant on conditions on the day.   Access to the racing area at the southern end is via the 4WD access or designated beach access tracks adjacent to Banksia Park.

Event management vehicles are allowed on the southern end of the beach in the prohibited area. Other vehicles are confined to the recognised 4WD area to the south of the 4WD access. Access to the racing area at the northern end of Woodgate Beach is at the Esplanade at Woodgate Beach or opposite the Woodgate Hotel.

MARATHON

The Marathon format has been changed to produce a fairer competition with increased participation.

The duration of the Marathon is 150 minutes

Each Team entered will be allocated individual whip numbers for the two sailors. The Kart can then be swapped with their Team Member and Kart as often as required during the Marathon as long as the whip number has been allocated to the sailor competing in the Marathon at that time.

This will allow clubs to change sailors during the Marathon for those who do not wish to race the full 150 minutes.

There will be a pit area allocated for the safe change over for the Kart and sailor. 

Karts can be pushed but is not to exceed the pit area to re-enter the race.

SCORING FOR THE MARATHON

The My-Lap system will be used for scoring.

Course duration 150 minutes
Course 3km total. 1.5 each leg. 

Points Calculations

Performance

First place will be allocated 1 point, second place 2 points, third place 3 place points and so on for those finishing on the same lapas first place.

If you are one lap down from first place you will receive your placing plus 1 point e.g. one lap down 4th place 4 points +1 (5points) 5th place 5 points+1 (6points) and so on.  

2 laps down 10 place 10 points+2 (12points) 11 place 11 points +2( 13 points) and so on.

Each lap down equates to the points added to your placing.

Production
The same calculation applies for Production.

Scoring
The total placing of each individual team for either Production and Performance will be added and divided by two. The club with the lowest points will win the Performance and Production Trophy.

Perpetual Trophy
To be eligible for the Perpetual Trophy each club must present a Performance and Production team. 

RACING RULES AND PROCEDURES:

Blokarts entering the or Marathon event are required to be in the pit area 30 minutes prior to the start, and sailors are to be in the pit area with their karts 5 minutes prior to the start.  If karts are not in the pit area 30 minutes prior to the start, the competitor will receive a penalty of 2 additional placing points.

Competitors will be issued with race numbers. These are to be placed over the pulley whip. 

Logos or decorations that are considered by the scrutineers to be offensive must be removed. 

Competitors are not to enter the racing area unless they are a registered competitor for the race, unless directed to do so by a race official or in an emergency. This does not include during designated practice periods. 

No competitor or spectator shall approach the timing areas unless directed by a race official. Any questions or concerns must be raised with the Principal Race Officer. 

All competitors and spectators must remain clear of the starting area and must always allow the race timing operators a clear view of the start line. 

When not racing, karts must be secured in the pit area and lying on their sides.

All competitors are reminded of IBRA rules relating to compliance with recognised principles of sportsmanship and fair play, as well as adhering to the SEQBC Code of Conduct. 

All breaches of the above rules shall be referred to the Scrutinising Committee or Protest Committee for ruling. 

The Race Committee may penalise a competitor not obeying these rules with a disqualification for the race at the Race Committee’s discretion. 

The Starting sequence is as follows: 

Two (2) minute warning signal (sound with verbal count in). 

One (1) minute attention signal (sound and raised green flag) 

Thirty (30) second prep signal (sound and horizontal green flag) 

Zero (0) second start signal (sound and horizontal green flag removed) 

All sounds / signals are for courtesy only, in the case of a sound signal failure verbal instruction and flags will prevail. The failure of a sound or signal will not automatically abort the race. 

In the event of a competitor being on the course side of the start line prior to the start signal (i.e., a jumped start) a BLACK flag MAY be raised and lowered when error corrected. It is a competitor’s sole responsibility to return to the course side should they feel that they were On Course Side (OCS) at the starting signal. OCS competitors will be judged solely by the starter.

Competitors MAY be identified verbally or otherwise, and a competitor must start correctly before proceeding to the first mark. Failure to do so will result in the competitor being penalised one lap of the course. 

Flag signals to be used are: 

• Green Flag: displayed to show time remaining to the start 
• Green flag Vertical = one (1) minute remaining, 
• Green flag Horizontal = thirty (30) seconds remaining, 
• Green Flag removed at start. 
• Black Flag: Competitors OCS before start (MAY be used at starters discretion)
• Red & White Flag: Racing abandoned until further notice.
• Orange Flag: Race Shortened.
• Chequered Flag: Displayed to signal the end of the race period.  

In the event of a protest the Race Officer will notify the protested competitor, at which time the protested competitor may elect to withdraw from the race, (counted as a RAF in the scoring) ask for mediation as described in F.6 or complete the remainder of the protest process to defend the action. Note that protests for this event do not incur a fee. This Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions may be superseded by any Amended Sailing Instructions when issued.

DIVISIONS /TEAMS

A team is to be made of up of 2 sailors.

SERIES FORMAT 

Competitors can compete in both Marathon and short course events and can do so in either Performance or Production classes.

Racing in the Marathon will take place in a lap format on a course to be determined according to prevailing conditions.

A competitor is not deemed to have started his/her first lap until he/she crosses the start line on or after the start siren. A competitor who is on the course side (OCS) when the start siren sounds and does not recross the start line before rounding the first mark will be scored OCS unless he/she completes the designated number of laps. 

COURSES 

The course for the Marathon, where possible, will include a windward leg of significant length to provide tactical racing. The Race Committee has sole discretion of the course and will nominate the upwind leg.  Competitors must not cross the start/finish line during the 2-minute dial up. All competitors must pass through the Start/Finish line on the upwind leg of each lap to have their laps recorded and must not pass through the Start/Finish line on the downwind leg.

IBRA rules apply to upwind/ downwind leg on the day.  Competitors are also advised to pay close attention to 4WD vehicles using the designated ‘road’ to the south.

The starting sequence for each division will be determined by the Race Committee and advised at the mandatory competitor briefings. 

It is intended to abandon a race if winds exceed 30 knots, or if more than half the fleet is stalled.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY 

All competitors as a condition of entry must accept the following waiver:

WAIVER: In consideration for the right to participate in this event, I hereby hold the South East Queensland Blokart Club, and any person associated with the event harmless and release them from all liability in connection with my participation in the 2026 SEQBC Woodgate Championship Marathon. I further agree that the event may use without restriction any photograph, films, or tapes in which I may appear for any purpose whatsoever. 

Please note: By agreeing on behalf of a participant less than eighteen (18) years old, the parent/guardian also expressly agrees to the above. In agreeing to this waiver, I am stating I have read it and understand it.

INSURANCE 

ABA Public Liability Insurance is provided for racing following entry acceptance. SEQBC does not carry personal insurance.

FURTHER INFORMATION 

Venue
Woodgate is located approximately 38km east of Childers in the Bundaberg Region in Queensland. The closest airport is Bundaberg which is approximately 65km away. 

Woodgate Beach is a hard sand beach approximately 16km long and at low tide is approx. 200m wide. The winds in October are normally south-easterly to easterly ranging from 10 – 15 knots. 

Accommodation 
There is a range of accommodation in Woodgate including the Woodgate Hotel / Motel caravan park, NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park and privately owned holiday rentals available through the local real estate agents, all of which have websites.

Social Functions
There will be a ‘meet and greet’ at the NRMA Woodgate Beach Caravan Park camp kitchen on Friday 16 October following registration at 4:00 pm.

A sausage sizzle on the beach will be available at low cost around lunch time on Saturday and Sunday.

The Presentation Dinner will be on Sunday 18 October at 6pm on the ‘Upstairs Deck’ at the Woodgate Hotel. Dinner will be available at your own cost. 

Club Bank Details

• Account Name: South-East Queensland Blokart Club Incorporated
• Bank: Bank of Queensland
• BSB: 124 196
• Account No: 22199828