General Rules
1.   Each competitor, as well as any crew members, expressly agrees that by entering a Great Lakes Event that they will abide by all the  
rules, and procedure’s, as contained within these pages.
2.  Great Lakes Official’s reserve the right to refuse any competitor, the right to attend or participate at any Great Lakes event.
3.   Each competitor acknowledges there is a possible element of risk and/or danger related to their involvement and participation in the sport  
     of Truck and Tractor pulling and will sign the insurance waiver, provided by Great Lakes, with that knowledge.
4.   All classes participating in a Great Lakes event will follow both the general and safety rules as outlined in the Great Lakes Rule Book.
5.  All participants in each class pulling at a Great Lakes event will wear a helmet.
6.    All hitches must be painted orange.
Great Lakes Rule Book
1.   The Great Lakes Rule Book is effective from the date of publication regardless of when a competitor           
     receives actual notice or copy.
2.   Date of publication is the earliest mailing from the Great Lakes office.
3.   The Great Lakes Rule Book is applicable to all Great Lakes events.
4.   The Great Lakes executive reserves the right to make any rule necessary due to extraordinary conditions.  Such special rules shall apply  
      to the conduct of that event.
5.   The competitor agrees to release and waive Great Lakes from any liability relating to the rules contained within the Rules Book in            
       relation to the conducting of any pulling event.
6.   The competitor agrees to be bound by the rules of the Great Lakes Rule Book and any decision made by a Senior Track Official, Event  
       Manager, Rules Committee, or the Directors.
7.   Any disputes, by any person who feels aggrieved, concerning any event, the rules of Great Lakes, or any decision of the Great Lakes     
      officials shall be resolved pursuant to the procedures provided in the Rule Book.
8.   All competitors agree to voluntarily submit their competition vehicle to be impounded by Great Lakes, if there is any "Insurable Incident"
        involving said competition vehicle. The competition vehicle will be released to the owner upon satisfaction of the concerned parties or   
      any investigation.

9.  All competitors wqill have the responsibility to ensure that their competition vehicle conforms to all rules and guidelines set out in not       
     only the class rules but the general rules.
General Rules
Membership
1.   You must be a member of Great Lakes in order to pull with the association.  A membership may be revoked at any time; it bestows the   
      privilege of competing with the association, not the right.
2.   Co-sanctioned events, all must buy a GLTPA membership if we provide the insurance.
3.   As stipulated by Great Lakes Insurance:  Competing members must be minimum 16 years of age.  If the competitor is 16 to 18 years of  
age, that person must have a parent or guardian’s written consent and a waiver from the insurance must accompany the registration.
4.   The entry official or presiding official have the authority to refuse entry fees and to revoke the membership of anyone they believe has    
       fraudulently violated the entry procedure.
5.   Renewal memberships are to be purchased as per the schedule on the registration form.
Participant Requirements
1.   The competitor agrees to subject his/her vehicle to any inspection determined necessary to ascertain the legality of   
the competitor’s vehicle.
2.    Each vehicle may only be entered by one driver per class
3.   All pulling vehicles must pass a Tech inspection and meet all safety requirements before they can pull at any event.  Great Lakes reserve
      the right to fully inspect any vehicle at any time.  Refusal to do so will result in disqualification.
4.   Participants must grant permission to still or motion pictures and their vehicle’s participation in the Event and their activities at the         
Event.  Exclusive rights to use the same, together with their names, likeness, and biographies for publicity or exhibition in printed matter or
on the web site.  Members agree that others may take still or video pictures of their vehicles, person or activities
Registration
1.   All competitors may be asked to show their membership card at registration.
2.   If unable to present your membership card upon arrival at the gate of an event if requested, you may be charged admission.  It is a privilege, not  
       a right to attend these events free of charge.  Any unacceptable behavior at a gate will not be tolerated, and could be grounds for disqualification
      at the event.
3.   A competitor may enter late with the permission of the Head Official and or Registration personnel.  A phone call received before the      
      closure of the registration will be penciled in for the pull but the late fees will still apply due to the need for Tech Officials to leave other  
     responsibilities.  A fee of $20 shall apply to anyone entering an event late.
4.   No mixing of classes.
5.   A competitor’s pulling position will be determined by the draw at the time of registering the vehicle.
6.   Classes in an event will not necessarily be run in the order posted.  The order shall be determined by the Event Promoter and Head          
     Official prior to the event.  Their decision is final.
7.   All participants and anyone who wishes to gain access to any RESTRICTED areas must sign the Insurance Waiver and wear a colored
         armband.  No persons under the age of 18 shall be allowed in the RESTRICTED area.
Safe Operation of Vehicles
1.  All vehicles must be operated in a safe manner at all times within the confines of the track, pits and staging areas.  Event officials have the         
    right to stop and disqualify any vehicle or eject any person not safely operating their vehicle in such a manner as would be considered safe.        
   All motorized vehicles at the event shall not travel at a speed of more than 10 km. per hour, unless a pulling vehicle is under the green flag.  
2.   Driver must remain seated while vehicle is under the green flag and must have complete control of the vehicle
3.   Each competitor must have both hands in full view of the flagman and have the pulling vehicle in either park or neutral while the sled is   
      being hooked and unhooked to the vehicle
4.   All pull vehicles shall stop immediately upon the raising of the red flag by either or both flagmen
5.   Riders or passengers are not allowed in any vehicle while being pulled or in the track area.
6.   The person competing must drive the vehicle on the track and off unless the vehicle is shut down and towed off.
Technical Inspection
1.   Tech inspection will be in class.
2.   Any concerns must be brought forward to the head tech official for that event.
3.   Any concerns must be brought forward BEFORE that class is to pull.
4.   Kill switches must be checked at each and every event.
5.   Forms must be filled out for each and every event.  In turn these forms must be handed in with registration forms.
6.   The tech man or Head Official has the right to stop, or disqualify any puller or pulling vehicle they feel to be unsafe.
Safety Requirements
1.   All pulling vehicles must have an operator in the driver’s seat while being started and at all times when running.
Weigh In
1.   All pulling vehicles must be weighted prior to competition and before each pull with the driver seated on or in the pulling vehicle.  The maximum  
weight per class includes both the pulling vehicle and the driver, fuel, water and oil.  The vehicle and competitor must be “ready to compete”.
2.   No vehicle will be allowed past the scale that exceeds class weight.
Points and Prize Money
1.   Points system:  15 point for 1st place, 14 for 2nd, 13 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, 11 for 5th, 10 for 6th, 9 for 7th, 8 for 8th, 7 for 9th, 6 for 10th, 5 for
    11th, 4 for 12th, 3 for 13th, 2 for 14th and 1 for 15th place.  As voted on in the general meeting of the membership held in Bowmanville in Oct.   
    of 2000.  At the end of the season if there is a tie, the vehicle with the most 1st place finishes, or second if necessary to break the tie will be        
    declared the winner.
2.   Daily sanctioned will receive prize money for their position only, no points to be awarded.
3.   All points are awarded to the vehicle, not the driver.
4.  Prize money for each sanctioned class shall be paid to the representative for the class and distributed
5.   In the event of a breakage of equipment, ie sled, no points will be awarded to the entire class.  Prize money for the number of vehicles    
      run will be given to the class rep.

6.   Any competitor who receives the red flag for crossing the white lines or out of bounds indicator will receive last place in points. If one
or more competitors cross the out of bounds points shall be awarded on a distance basis.
Track Requirements
1.   Track specifications at each and every pull should be by the book, if not, no pull. i.e. safety barriers, track width.
2.   Minimum width of the track must be 30 feet, preferable 35 feet.
3.   Each side of the track shall have safety barriers made up of either cement blocks, tires filled with sand, a berm or fencing.  The safety    
     barrier must be able to contain the vehicle within the track area.
4.   All spectators must be a minimum of 15 feet back from the edge of the track and the restricted areas including staging and return areas.
5.   During the competition, access to the track area, 35 feet either side from 0 or 300 feet, which includes the area where the measuring      
      device is situated, is limited and will be given only at the discretion of the Head Official.
Track Safety
1.   It is at the discretion of the sled operator to apply the brakes on the sled, while under the green flag, at any time it is deemed unsafe.  He
      must then notify the Head Track Official immediately of his decision.
2.   The head track official, event manager, members of the GLTPA executive or other pit control official shall retain authority at all times     
      and shall remove any person at their discretion.  Head official of each event should be posted at registration.
3.   No one is allowed on the track except Track Crew, as needed to operate the pull, and the contestants.
4.    There shall be 2 flagmen on the left-hand side of the track.  Starting flagman shall be responsible for the readiness of the track, pulling   
      vehicle and competitor up to the 100 foot mark assuring a tight chain and giving the green flag.  Second flagman shall be responsible for
      the balance of the course.  When the sled stops moving forward, the flagman will raise the red flag and the competitor is to stop            
     immediately.  The same flagmen shall work for an entire class to assure consistent and equal treatment for all competitors in that class.    
      (Flagman may change in case of an emergency.)  Sufficient fire extinguishers shall be provided along the track.
5.   Head Track Official must be recognizable by wearing a Great Lakes Shirt and safety vest.
Safety Equipment  -  required for all sanctioned vehicles
1.   Fire extinguisher, at least 2 ½ lbs., must be in cab of pull vehicle and be compatible to the fuel being used.  It must be readily accessible
to the driver.  Vehicles that do not have working doors must carry an onboard halon fire system with a minimum of (3) nozzles located
within the driver's compartment/engine compartment.
2.   No batteries are allowed inside the cab of the vehicle unless they are in a marine Battery Box and secured to the vehicle frame.
3.   Kill switches on all vehicles will be securely mounted to the back of the vehicle and have a 2 inch diameter ring (at least 1/8” thick) to
attach the sled.  The switch must disable the ignition and electric fuel pumps.
4.   Backup lights must be functional and should operate as designed by the manufacturer.  No manual backup light switch devices are
acceptable.
5.   Lap seat belts in all vehicles, use of the seat belt is at the discretion of the driver
6.   Helmets must be D. O. T. and Snell 2000 approved and worn when pulling. No modifications to helmet allowed.
7.   Acceptable fuels are gasoline, diesel fuel, alcohol, and methanol.  No fuels in pressurized containers
8.   No oxygen carriers or combustion accelerators.
9.   All weights must be securely fastened to the vehicle and shall NOT be allowed in the cab or on the platform
10. No nitrous oxide, nitro methane, or propylene oxide.
11. No loose weights in the pulling vehicle.
12. Drivers in all classes, except drivers that participate in the stock class of pullers, must wear a SFI approved complete fire suit (minimum
requirements - single layer fire suit, fire gloves, balaclava, fire boots, or leather work boots). No leather running shoes allowed.
13. All competition vehicles will have a kill switch within easy reach of a seated driver while wearing the seat belt without having to lean or
reach.  The switch is to shutdown all fuel and ignition by either pushing or pulling.  A key switch is not acceptable.
14.   Flip-top or funny car type vehicles must have body in lowered position before vehicle may be moved under it’s own power...
15.    Flip-top type bodies must have a safety lock to hold up the body.
16.    Body may be raised to start engine and may stay in raised position while engine is running as long as vehicle is not in motion.
Protests
1)   All competitor protests must be in written form available from any member of the executive.  The form must be delivered to the
Registration Personnel or President within the following prescribed time limits:
a.    Fuel violation: before the vehicle leaves the pulling track.  (May be oral protest within 15 minutes if followed by a written complaint).
b.    Prior to the pulling session or within 15 minutes after the vehicle leaves the pulling track.
c.    The protest must specifically identify in detail the nature of the violation and be accompanied with the protest fee in accordance with the
schedule below.
d.    The Head Official shall investigate and decide the protest as promptly as possible and shall inform the parties to the protest of his decision.
e.    The Head Official shall make whatever inquiry he determines appropriate and perform or schedule any appropriate inspections to
determine the legality of the vehicle.
Protest Fee
1.    Protest fees should be less the cost of inspection to a maximum of $200.00.
2.    If the protest is sustained, the protest fee will be returned to the protesting member.
3.    If the protest is found not to be valid, the protest fee will be forfeited to the protested member.
4.    The officials and the protested are the only ones allowed near the vehicle during a protest.
5.    Anyone conducting them self in an unprofessional manner during a protest will be disqualified.
6.    If a puller is found guilty of exceeding the cubic inch limit, he will be barred from all GLTPA events for one (1) year and a day.  
Refusing to tear down or to be pumped will be considered exceeding the cubic inch limit and the above rule will apply.
Inspection As a Result of Protest
1.    Inspection will be performed as determined appropriate by the Head Official at the time of the protest.
2.    For any cubic inch check, the head will be removed and the bore and stroke measured.  If inspection cannot be completed immediately,
engine may be sealed or impounded until inspection can be made.
3.    For any fuel check, the Head Official will take samples as appropriate and test the sample on site when possible.  An additional sample
will be taken, sealed and promptly delivered to the Executive.
Violations
1.    Violation of the rules contained in the Great Lakes Rule Book, whether determined by the Track Official or resulting from a protest, will
subject the violating member to the scheduled penalties.  The Senior Track Official will make a determination of violation of a rule and
impose the prescribed penalty.
2.    The member may protest the Senior Track Official’s decision if it relates to the legality of the member’s vehicle.  The protest will be in
accordance with the “Protest” rules.
Appeals
1.    If either of the parties do not accept the decision of the Head Official, the written protest shall be forwarded by the official to a member
of the Executive for the Board of Directors including the Executives, for determination. The appeal must be filed in writing within 72 hours
of the completion of the event. All necessary notes or proof of violation shall accompany the protest form.  The executive will assemble a
committee to address the protest as they see fit
2.    The purse of the involved event will be escrowed as to any competitor who could be affected by the protest until a final determination
has been made by the Rules Committee, or alternatively by the Executive and the time period for filing an appeal has expired
3.    The Executive shall conduct whatever enquiry he/she deems appropriate under the circumstances
4.    The Executive shall determine the merits of the protest and if the protest is sustained, impose the prescribed penalty or such lesser
penalty as they determines appropriate
5.    The protested competitor and protester shall be notified in writing of the determination.  The notice shall include the violation
and the penalty imposed.
Disqualification
1)   Intoxication – any competitor or any member of his crew under the influence of an intoxication agent, drug, or appearing to the track official to be
under the influence shall be BARRED from any further involvement or participation in the event and may face suspension, fines or termination of their
membership.
2)   Any competitor or crewmember found in the staging area, competition area, or the run-off area who is in possession of any intoxicating
agent will be barred from any further involvement or participation in the event and may face suspension, fines or termination of membership
3)   Use of alcohol or drugs will NOT be tolerated.
4)   Contestant may not be allowed to participate for emotional or physical reasons.  Examples include drinking or illness
5)   Unprofessional and or unsportsman like conduct, reported to any member of the executive of Great Lakes, including abusive language
and or physical action toward event official, fellow competitor, or a spectator and or deliberate delay of an event will be just cause for a
penalty or total disqualification from that event.  This shall also include any conduct detrimental to pulling i.e. unsafe, unfair or out of order.
6)   Illegal equipment, illegal fuel, and competing without proper personal fire protection
7)   Unsafe operation of competition vehicle
8)   Leaving the starting line while under the red flag
9)   Any vehicle that crosses the white chalk boundary line while pulling
10) Anyone who knowingly tampers with a vehicle could be permanently suspended
11) Failure of safety equipment to function when necessary
12) Any competitor attempting to sway the decision of any official by talking to the official, or the promoter, is subject to disqualification from that class.
13) Loss of weights or any other secured parts from the pull vehicle while under the green flag will result in the disqualification of the
vehicle.  Any mechanical parts that hit the track due to breakage under power is NOT a disqualification offense.  If any parts should land
inside the white line boundaries of the track, it will result in disqualification and last place in the event.  Any part of the competition vehicle is
ejected outside the Restricted Area, it will result in forfeit of that pull.  No points and no prize money will be awarded to said vehicle. Last
place prize money will revert back to Great Lakes in case of any repercussions.
Ejection and Disqualification
1.    Presiding official shall have the right to eject from event site or disqualify from competition at the event any individual in violation of
any or all of the rules.  Such action is final and unappealable and non-reviewable.
2.    Any puller abusing a Tech Official, Track Official, Sponsor, or other Great Lakes official, whether verbally or physically, will be
disqualified for that event and will be asked to leave.
3.    Competitor may be fined if it is felt further punitive action is warranted by the Rules Committee.
4.    Competitor may have membership suspended for a definite or indefinite period of time in the interest of the sport or Great Lakes by the
Rules Committee.
5.    The decision of the Track Official shall be final and not be appealable.  Provided that with showing of reasonable and good cause, the
Track Official may, without liability, reverse or revise his decision.  Calls of judgment are not subject to appeal and shall be final.
Fines
1.    Any competitor who changes, tampers with, duplicates or otherwise tries to gain an advantage with a Great Lakes membership may be
fined up to $500.00 and their membership suspended.
2.    If a competitor does not pass a Great Lakes Tech inspection and tries to compete competitor can
be fined up to $500.00.
CONTEST  PROCEDURES
Class Start
1.    A driver's meeting will be held 1/2 before the scheduled start time of the event.  All drivers should try to attend.  Any complaints or
concerns should be brought up at the driver's meeting.
2.    All pulls must start with tight chain
3.    Each competitor will be allowed two (2) attempts to make a measurable pull.
4.    On his/her first attempt, if the competitor lets off on the throttle before going 100 feet, said competitor will get a second attempt, even
if he went beyond the 100 ft mark.   (Intent is for driver not to slam on brakes to stop before 100 ft mark, or at any time, but to come to a
smooth, safe stop.
5.    Any vehicle that hooks to the sled and makes a measurable pull shall be considered to have made an official hook even if the sled is reset and
the vehicle cannot hook.
Class Restart
1.   If the class is restarted, all competitors having pulled previously have the following options:
2.   May hook immediately.
3.   May drop to last due to mechanical problems.  It is the competitor’s responsibility to alert the track official of his/her decision.
4.   On any re-pull caused by a contest malfunction, the competitor may either re-hook immediately or may drop six (6) positions.
5.   All decisions on re-pulls must be made before the vehicle leaves the track.  If the track official is not notified of the competitor’s intent
to re-pull in competitor’s original pull position, then the competitor will automatically be dropped six (6) positions.
6.   Any disqualification on the first attempt bars a second attempt unless the class is restarted.
7.   Competitor must pull at position drawn within three minutes of the time the sled is ready.  Delay will mean disqualification.  If track official is
notified prior to competitor’s time slot, he will drop the competitor six (6) positions.  This will constitute one of his two attempts.  A competitor
may do this only once per class.
8.   Puller may spot the sled anywhere in bounds and behind the starting line if they wish.  This must be done while sled is coming back and
to the starting line from the previous pull.
Test Puller and Options
1.   The competitor pulling in the first position as determined by draw at time of registration is considered the test puller.
2.   He may take his first pull, provided the weight transfer is deemed right, OR
3.   He may immediately take his second pull, OR
4.   He may drop and pull in the sixth (6th) position, (the 6th position is defined as the position immediately following the next five (5)
scheduled competitors and their attempts) OR
5.   He may drop and pull in last position.
6.   The decision to hook again must be made before the vehicle is unhitched from the sled by informing the track official.  The first pull will
not be counted and he will forfeit the results of that pull.
7.   Only the test puller and only on his first attempt will he/she not be disqualified or measured for running out of bounds.  All other reasons
for disqualification apply.  On all subsequent attempts the “running out of bounds” disqualification rule will apply.
8.   If the weight transfer needs adjustment, the competitor immediately following each adjustment will be considered “test puller”.
Pull Offs
1.   Order of pull will be in the order in which the vehicles in the pull-off made full pulls, unless there has been a sled setting change by the track official.
2.   Each competitor in his/her turn will be allowed two (2) attempts to make a measurable pull.
3.   In a pull-off situation, each competitor will be allowed the same time to get to the sled and make an attempt.  This amount of time is
three (3) minutes from time track is ready.
4.   In a pull-off, all competitors shall be required to make an honest attempt to pull, or he/she will receive the same points as the top vehicle
that did not qualify for the pull-off unless he/she cannot come back due to breakage, which must be confirmed by the Head official.  At that
point, competitor would receive last place points according to those entered in the pull-off.
5.   On a second pull-off, if all competitors qualified for the second pull-off wish not to hook, then points and purse will be split between the
competitors who are qualified for the second pull-off.
6.   If a pull-off is not completed because of rain, curfew, etc., purse monies and points for places involved will be divided evenly among all
those qualified in the pull-off.
7.   A floating finish line may be used at the discretion of the Head Official and the sled
operator in a pull-off situation only.
Extended boundaries, if any, must be
clearly chalked.  Competitors must be in-
formed in advance.
(This is an option and is not required at
any event.)  
Inclement Weather
1.   A session of pulling will be called a completed show if one-half of the sanctioned classes have been run.
2.   Any class cancelled after two-thirds (2/3) of the scheduled entries have pulled shall be considered a completed class for establishing if
one half (1/2) of the classes of a session or event has run.
3.   The officials at the event (promoter, event director, and head track official) shall determine if and when an event shall be stopped
because of inclement weather or track conditions.
4.   If a rained out class is rescheduled on a date other than the originally scheduled pull date, points will be given accordingly if the rain date
was part of the Great Lakes schedule.
5.    If a session is cancelled prior to start time and the promoter retains no ticket revenue, competitors will receive no
compensation.
Any class not completed for any reason will be treated as a rained out class.
Great Lakes Truck & Tractor
14) No competitor shall try to influence the sled operator. The competitor or crew member will not be
permitted to speak to the sled operator during the time his/her class is under the green.