STANDARD
RALLY RULES |
 Interactive Road Rally Rules for TSCC DOWNLOAD .PDF DOCUMENT |
The general purpose of the club is to encourage the preservation, ownership, and operation of Sports Cars, to act as a source of technical information, to establish rules and regulations covering all the activities of the club, to provide and regulate events and exhibitions for Sports Cars and their owners, and to encourage careful and skillful driving on the public highways.
The membership meeting is held the third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 p.m.
PREFACE
The purpose of this booklet is to describe the general rules, regulations and conventions that apply to all TSD rallies conducted by Tropical Sports Car Club, so that the general instructions for a rally can be kept as brief as possible.
It is not the intended purpose of these rules to thwart the ingenuity of the rallymaster in any way. All conditions and situations not covered in these Standard Rally Rules will be defined in the General Instructions of the individual event.
Any general instruction not in agreement with these Standard Rally Rules shall take precedence over these Standard Rally Rules.
These rules are divided into six parts:
SECTION I: contains a brief introduction to the
sport of rallying.
SECTION
II: discusses some of the
administrative and organizational aspects of rallying.
SECTION
III: describes the
checkpoint procedures.
SECTION
IV: contains information
especially pertinent to the actual running of a rally, including
road following priorities and basic course rules and conventions.
SECTION V:
contains a glossary of rally terms.
SECTION VI:
contains abbreviations of rally terms.
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I: Introduction
A Introduction To Rallying
B. Route
C. Checkpoints
D. Scoring
E. Route Instructions
F. Sample Rally
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SECTION II: Administrative
A. Safety Inspection
B. Insurance
C. Instructions
D. Official Mileages
E. Emergency Speeds
F. Emergency Signs
G. Lost Time Claims
H. Bought Time Claims
I. Timing and Scoring Unit
J. Penalties
K. Rally Steward
L. Protest Procedure
SECTION III: Checkpoints
A. Types of Controls
B. Control Locations
C. Control Operation
D. Control Captain
E. Information at a Control
F. The Scorecard
G. Evasive Action In Sight Of A Control
H. Passing In Sight Of A Control
I. Coming Into A Control In The Wrong Direction
J. Departure Times
K. Opening Of Controls
L. Closing Of Controls
M. Definition Of A Missed Control
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SECTION IV: Running The Course
1. Execution Of Numbered Instructions
2. Special and Note Instructions
3. Redundancy
4. Parentheses
5. Completeness and Overlap
B. Basic Course Rules and Conventions
1. Five Mile Rule
2. Mileage Instruction
3. Road Surface
4. Mileage In Control
5. Conventions
1. Defined
2. Quoted Portion
3. Location
4. Stop and "Stop"
5. Small Recurring Signs
6. Road Names
1. Named Or Numbered Road
2. Black-On-Yellow Curve Arrows
3. Center Lines On Pavement
4. Straight As Possible
SECTION V: Glossary
SECTION VI:
Abbreviations
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A sports car rally is an automotive contest in which competing crews, each consisting of a driver and a navigator, leave individually from a starting point and, following written instructions, drive over public roads at prescribed average speeds to the finish. Along the way, at locations not known in advance to the contestants, are checkpoints at which the time of arrival is recorded. Being early or late at a checkpoint is penalized. The sum of these penalties is the score for the rally and the team with the lowest score is the winner.
A RALLY IS NOT A RACE. It is a test wherein precision driving and navigational skills are stressed. It is a sport, and thus demands good sportsmanship.
There are many kinds of rallies -- generally called time-speed-distance (TSD) rallies or gimmick rallies. This booklet applies to the more common TSD type of rally.
Normally all the cars follow the same route and travel at the same average speeds, though the speed will change from time to time. For the most part, therefore, all contestants will encounter similar conditions and problems.
Checkpoints (controls) are timing stations manned by official timers that are set up along the route at arbitrary locations unknown to the contestants in advance. The purpose of this secrecy is to intensify the competition by compelling the contestants to rally on time, all the time. Checkpoints can be as close together or as far apart as the rallymaster chooses to place them. Contestants will not know where a checkpoint is until, perhaps just after rounding a bend, they come upon a checkpoint sign and a group of rally officials waiting to read their watches the instant the car crosses the timing line.
Your objective in a TSD rally is to reach each checkpoint exactly at the right time -- and there is one, and only one, right time for each team. To illustrate the point: if the distance from the start to the first checkpoint is 18 miles and the average speed is 30 miles per hour, you are due at this checkpoint just 36 minutes after your starting time.
| D*60 | 18*60 | 1080 | ||
| T = | -------------- = | --------------- = | ------------ | = 36 |
| S | 30 | 30 |
Where:
T = Time in minutes
S = Speed in miles per hour
D = Distance in miles
The cardinal rule of rallying:
BEING ON TIME IS
UNIMPORTANT IF YOU ARE ON THE WRONG ROAD.
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Rally officials will record your assigned time of departure from the start and at each checkpoint. More officials will record your exact time of arrival at each checkpoint. The difference between the time you start a leg and the time you finish it becomes your elapsed time. The time in which you SHOULD cover the distance at the required average speed is the official time. The difference between your time and the official time, in hundredths of a minute, is your score.
If you have lost time on one leg, you cannot make it up on the next leg. Each leg is scored independently.
At the end of the rally a team of scorers calculates each car's score for each leg and adds up the penalty points. The car with the lowest total wins. Awards, or trophies, are presented to the winners of each class.
The instructions that describe your course -- route instructions -- are available just prior to your departure.
The example and relating discussion on the following pages will acquaint you with route instructions.
Begin odometer check. You have 25 minutes to reach instruction number 12.
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The first few instructions of a rally contain an odometer calibration run and may be preceded by a tire warm-up. In the Sample Rally, you are instructed to leave the end of the odometer check exactly 25 minutes from your assigned starting time. Do not leave the end of the odometer check early.
# 1. You are to begin the rally by turning right as you leave the parking lot. The numbers to the left of the instructions are official rally mileages.
#2. You are to turn left at the first opportunity you encounter that has a stop sign at which you are required, by law, to stop.
#10. A 'T' is an intersection having the general shape of the letter T requiring a turn to the left or right. It is not possible to go straight at a T. In this case, you are to turn right when you encounter this situation.
#11. This instruction refers to a sign reading "Stop" as distinguished from the stop sign referenced in #2. This may be a sign at a railroad crossing, part of a "Stop Ahead" sign, or even a stop sign.
#12. When you encounter a sign with a "35" on it (possibly a speed limit sign), you have completed a special part of the rally -- the odometer check -- that allows you to compare your odometer with that of the rallymaster. Leave this sign "35" exactly 25 minutes from your starting time. While waiting to leave, do not block the sign for others. You are to Commence Average Speed (CAST) of 37 miles per hour and maintain this speed until told to change it (instruction #14).
#13. You are traveling at a speed of 37 miles per hour and are looking for the first opportunity to make a right turn onto Palm Ave. Because you are put onto this road by its name, you should continue on Palm Ave. until an instruction requires you to leave it. It may or may not be necessary to turn or change direction in order to stay on Palm Ave. prior to applying the next instruction.
#14. After you reach a sign that reads "State Rd 7" make the first possible right turn. Change Average Speed To (CAST) 44 miles per hour at the turn, not the sign.
#15. In the previous instruction you turned right after the sign "State Rd 7". If this sign were a street sign or a marker on the near side of State Rd 7, then you would turn on State Rd 7. This instruction (#15) is identical to #14 except that State Rd 7 IS NOT in quotation marks. Therefore, you would execute your right turn at the first opportunity AFTER you actually cross State Rd 7.
#16. Change your average speed to 32 mph at the first sign you see reading "NW 5th".
#17. Unpaved roads are to be considered as non-existent while traveling on paved roads unless specifically mentioned in the route instructions. In this instruction you would turn right onto an unpaved road at the first opportunity to do so.
#18. This instruction will get you back on paved roads again.
#19. TCL means Traffic Control Light. Pauses are sometimes given where you are likely to encounter a delay.
#20. This is a mileage turn; it may or may not be the first opportunity to turn left, but the official mileage at the required turn is 21.30 miles.
#21. Pause one minute at the first stop sign at which you are required, by law, to stop.
#22. Left at the first opportunity. (This can not be the same intersection as referred to in instruction #21).
This sample rally has been included to give novice entrants a general idea of what may be expected of them on the course. It is strongly recommended that Sections III, IV,& V be reviewed prior to running the event as these sections are the most pertinent to successful course following.
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This section describes some of the organizational and administrative aspects of a rally.
As a minimum requirement, the following vehicle equipment shall be operable and in safe condition:
1. Headlights (high & low
beams).
2. Taillights and stop (brake) lights.
3. Horn, windshield wiper, and directional signals.
4. Rear-view mirror.
5. Foot brake & parking brake.
6. Tires (sidewalls as well as tread).
Moreover, each car should be provided with seat belts, securely installed, for the driver and navigator.
Each vehicle entered in the rally must be covered by an insurance policy in full force and in effect for the entire duration of the event, providing public liability, personal injury and property damage insurance in not less than the minimum amounts required by the State of Florida.
1. General instructions are MANDATORY if the rally is NOT being run in accordance with the Standard Rally Rules for TSCC. Any changes to the route instructions should be discussed at the Drivers' Meeting.
2. Information issued to contestants regarding route directions and the execution of various phases of the event should be in writing. However, the Driver's Meeting (prior to the start) may be used to explain changes in the instructions. In some cases, such as to adjust average speeds for weather conditions, changes may be given at an open control.
3. Route instructions shall be issued to each crew before the start of the first phase of the rally that they cover. The issuance of route instructions should follow an orderly procedure designed to insure that all crews have an adequate amount of time to study the information contained in the instruction sheets. Your leaving the start indicates that you are satisfied with your copy of the route instructions.
1. Measurement - Official mileages shall be as consistent as possible. Only one car and one distance measuring device shall be used in measuring the route. All official mileages used in the route instructions and in location action points, speed change points and controls shall be measured by a suitably calibrated instrument capable of being read to the nearest hundredth of a mile.
2. Conditions of Measurement - If the conditions under which the official rally mileages were determined are greatly different from those under which the rally will be run, the conditions at the time of the measurements should be disclosed in the General Instructions, including type of car, front or back odometer drive, type of tires and pressures, and approximate speed(s) at which the odometer leg was measured.
3. Odometer Check - Immediately after the start, an official odometer calibration run will be provided for the purpose of allowing each car's odometer to be compared with the official odometer. The distance should be approximately ten percent of the total rally mileage and shall contain adequate, official, and intermediate mileage reference points. The official mileages used during the odometer check WILL have no effect on course following during the odometer check.
| EXAMPLE: | 8.96 | 7. Right. |
Contestants would use the FIRST right opportunity which MUST be at the official mileage.
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Emergency speeds may be invoked because of inclement weather or when maintaining the original average speeds is not in the best safety interest of the contestants or the general public. Emergency speeds will be invoked only in writing at controls or at a restart point. In such instances the official time for the next leg will be increased by ten percent. These speeds will remain in effect until the next open control.
To increase the official time by 10%, multiply average speeds by 0.9091 (or divide average speeds by 1.1) and increase all pauses and gains by 10%. Times for transit zones marked by time (rather than by average speed) shall be increased also by 10%. Time-of-day restarts remain unchanged.
Emergency signs may be used for true emergencies on rallies without mention in the General Instructions. Any other use of emergency signs must be stated in the General Instructions for the rally.
In the event that the contestant is delayed by an unavoidable occurrence, a time claim may be submitted to compensate for lateness. The claim must be in writing, must be confirmable by another contestant or official, and must be presented at the next control prior to obtaining any leg time information. Delays occurring off course will not be honored.
Time may be claimed in one (1) minute intervals from a minimum of 1.5 minutes to a maximum of 19.5 minutes. (For example: 1.5; 2.5; 3.5; etc.) Claims will be considered for the following:
(1) An accident requiring the
assistance of the contestant.
(2) Road blockage by an accident, by a train at grade crossing,
or by a drawbridge.
(3) Delay caused by officially privileged traffic, such as
military convoy, funeral processions, parades, etc.
(4) Delay by police officials, where you do not receive a moving
traffic violation.
(5) Delay by irate citizens who have blocked the road and do not
permit passage.
Lost time claims may not be made for delay due to car troubles or sickness of the contestants either on the route or at controls.
In the event that the contestant is delayed for any reason, a bought time claim may be submitted to compensate for lateness. The bought time claim must be in writing and must be presented at the next control prior to obtaining any leg time information.
Bought time may be claimed in one (1) minute intervals from a minimum of 1.5 minutes to a maximum of 19.5 minutes. (For example: 1.5; 2.5; 3.5; etc.) Bought time claims will be considered for any reason and no witness is required. The contestant will be assessed a 0.25 minute penalty in addition to the timing penalty and any other penalties assessed for the leg.
Bought time claims will not be used unless specified in the General Instructions.
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The basic unit for timing and scoring is 0.01 minute.
1. Time Penalties
Early or late at a control: 1 point per 0.01 minute.
2. Other Penalties (Added to Time Penalty)
a. Entering a control from the wrong direction: 100
b. Stopping in sight of a control: 100
c. Evasive action in sight of a control: 100
d. Missing a control (see below): 300
3. Maximum Penalty
The maximum score per leg is 300 points.
4. Missing a Control
A contestant physically missing one or more consecutive controls shall be scored at the next control reached, based on his elapsed time from his prior time out and the sum of the cumulated official elapsed time for the legs, in addition to 300 points for each control missed.
A contestant missing the last control of a section (before a time of day restart) will receive only the 300 point penalty.
5. Disqualification
Competitors judged by the rally officials to be guilty of any of the following offenses shall be automatically disqualified:
1. Driving while intoxicated.
2. Consuming alcoholic beverages before or while participating.
3. Dangerous or reckless driving.
4. In-motion traffic violations.
5. Being at fault in an accident.
6. Ungentlemanly or unsportsmanlike conduct.
6. Tie Breaking
After scoring has been completed, it is possible that two or more contestants could have the same score. If this should happen, the sum of the squares of the error of each leg will be determined. The team with the lower sum will defeat the team with the higher sum.
Prior to the start of the rally, the Rallymaster will appoint a member of the rally committee, from the Pro or Expert class, to serve as the Rally Steward. If a member of the rally committee is not available, the Rallymaster will appoint a contestant, from the Pro or Expert class, to serve as the Rally Steward. The Rally Steward must be readily available at the finish of the rally to handle any Protests. No individual may serve as the Rally Steward for a second time within one year as long as an individual who has not served as Rally Steward is available.
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A contestant may submit a protest to the Rally Steward in writing for a fee of ten dollars. The protest must state that the matter being protested was the direct cause of a penalty to the contestant. The Rally Steward will then rule on the merits of the protest and convey his decision to the Rallymaster or scoring committee.
All protests must be submitted to the Rally Steward within fifteen (15) minutes of the protesting cars' arrival time at the last control, plus travel time to the finish.
The Rally Steward will use ONLY the following criteria to rule on the merits and disposition of the protest:
The Rally Steward will uphold the protest if either one or more of the following occurred -
1) There was a clear violation of the Standard Rally Rules.
2) The contestant had an understandable reason for being confused by an instruction, interpretation of the General Instructions or any interpretative situation on the course. If neither of these two conditions are met, the protest will be denied. The burden is on the Rallymaster to make the course to be followed and his intent obvious to all of the contestants.
Disposition for upheld protest -
The protest fee will be refunded and one of the following will be applied to adjust for the timing penalty:
1. The leg can be re-scored in favor of the protesting car to conform to the distance and/or time for the protesting car.
2. An average of a representative number of the contestants other leg scores will be used to assess a penalty for the leg protested.
3. The leg should be discarded for all contestants. This should be a last resort and should only be used if a large number of cars had the same problem with the same leg.
Disposition for denied protest -
The protest fee will be forfeited and the timing penalty will remain.
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This section describes the checkpoint procedures.
The OPEN CONTROL is the basic type of timing control (or checkpoint). The location of an open control may or may not be known to contestants in advance of their reaching it. An open control marks the end of one leg of the rally and the beginning of the next. A rally vehicle is required to stop at each open control and have its time of arrival recorded. Penalties for arriving early or late at open controls shall under no circumstances be cumulative; that is, open controls shall be operated so as not to require or permit contestants to compensate, in succeeding sections, for any penalty they may have incurred through arriving early or late at a previous open control.
CLOSED CONTROLS may be located along the route and usually do not require the contestant to stop. Closed controls include self-scoring legs, passage controls, and observation controls.
A DO-IT-YOURSELF LEG ("DIYL") requires the contestant to compute the correct elapsed time (to the hundredth minute) and turn in his computation at the next open control or at the end of the rally or at the end of the current section of the rally. The start and end of a Do-It-Yourself Leg will be a sign or landmark. The distance in which a DIYL is operative is a Free Zone. A DIYL shall not be included in the timed portion of any other leg .
A DO-IT-TO-YOURSELF LEG ("DITY") is to be executed whenever the abbreviation DITY appears in the instructions. When instructed to DITY, record your arrival time (in hours, minutes and hundredths of minutes) on you scorecard as you in-time for the current leg. Add exactly two minutes to this time and record the result as you out-time for the subsequent leg. Leave the specified point at that out-time. Failure to log both times before arriving at the next open control will be scored as a missed control. (You will not generally know if the next control will be a manned control or a Do-It-Yourself control until you reach it, so you should run on time all the time.)
A PASSAGE CONTROL may be marked with a standard control sign or it my be hidden (i.e., a hidden control), but the contestant is not required to stop. The time taken when he passes will provide another timed leg to be used in scoring. Passage controls will not be used unless specified in the General Instructions.
An OBSERVATION CONTROL is sometimes used to monitor the movement of rally vehicles along the route. Penalties may be awarded if any violation of traffic laws is observed. Observation controls will not be used unless specified in the General Instructions.
An OFF-COURSE CONTROL may be provided to tell the contestant he is off-course. This may be either an open control or a closed control. Use of off-course controls will be specified in the General Instructions.
The remainder of this section is concerned with the most common type of control - the open control.
Open controls shall be located on the right side of the road and so positioned as not to create a traffic hazard. They shall be properly identified, and the point of timing shall be visible. No open control shall be positioned so soon after a congested area, a heavily traveled road, a lengthy no passing zone or any other condition likely to delay rally cars as to deny contestants adequate opportunity to recover all time lost as a result of such conditions. No timing control shall be located where the prescribed average speed is higher than the local speed limit.
All open controls will be on the right hand side of the road, marked by a sign (the "in-marker"). Next will come a timing station, and last will be an out-marker (usually a pylon). The out-marker will be exactly 0.10 miles from the in-marker unless otherwise specified, and the distance between the in and out markers is considered rally mileage.
As the front bumper of your car passes the in-marker, you are requested to honk your horn. Pull up to the timing station (which is located a sufficient distance from the in-marker to allow you to stop safely) and hand one of the officials your score card. Your actual time of arrival and assigned out-time (time-of-day) will be recorded and the card may or may not be returned to you. If you do not agree with the arrival time you were given, discuss the problem with the control captain. Protests of less than .05 minute will not be considered. Leaving the out-marker indicates a team's satisfaction with the time of arrival you were given. Stay in your car. All timing disputes will be settled by the control captain before a team leaves the out-marker.
Proceed to the out-marker. Do not block traffic or the out-marker while waiting to leave.
At each manned control a control captain will be assigned; either by mutual agreement of the crew members, assigned by the rallymaster, or assigned by the Activities Director.
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At each open control, you will receive a critique slip containing the following information:
(1) The control number;
(2) The official elapsed time for the previous leg (in minutes and hundredths of a minute);
(3) The official rally mileage from the start of the section to the control;
(4) The number of the instruction you are working on;
(5) The current average speed;
(6) The distance to the out-marker, if other than 0.10 mile;
(7) A list of Note or Special Instructions currently in effect.
The critique slip may also contain other information:
(1) Special instructions;
(2) The official distance of the previous leg;
(3) Comments on the leg just completed.
All information on a critique slip is relative to the in-marker. It is intended that the critique slip provide sufficient information to enable you to run the next leg correctly, regardless of how you reached the control. The contestant is responsible for ensuring that he has received a critique slip before leaving the timing station.
Each team will be given an official scorecard at the start or at the first control. No alterations of information will be tolerated, subject to disqualification. Errors will be corrected by rally officials only.
G. EVASIVE ACTION IN SIGHT OF A CONTROL
You may not stop in sight of a control, unless required by law or route instructions, or by overshooting a turn, unless you are within a free zone. You may creep into a control unless such creeping creates a safety hazard, at which time you will be waved into the control by control personnel. Ignoring their command will result in a penalty. Entering a control at excessively high speed or with the car not under control shall result in a penalty.
H. PASSING IN SIGHT OF A CONTROL
No prohibition will be established in the General Instructions against passing within sight of a control where such passing would not be dangerous or illegal.
I. COMING INTO A CONTROL IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
Unless otherwise informed, you will not pass the in-marker of an open control on the left side of the road on a rally route. Therefore, if you encounter an open control on the left side of the road, you are off course. In such cases, pass on by the control, turn around -- EXERCISING EXTREME CAUTION - and come into the control in the normal fashion. Your time will be recorded as you pass the in-marker in the proper direction. A penalty will be added for coming into a control in the wrong direction.
J. DEPARTURE TIMES (OUT-TIMES)
The contestants' official time of departure from an open control will be assigned by control personnel. Departure times will be assigned so that cars will be at least one minute apart. Extra time will not be granted to any contestant for his own convenience.
Departure times will be given as clock time (time-of-day) in whole minutes. Contestants will not be required to depart sooner than two minutes after all checkpoint functions (e.g., transcription of arrival and departure times on the scorecard, and distribution of critique slips) have been completed.
All controls shall open no less than twenty (20) minutes before the scheduled arrival of the first car.
After the start, or time-of-day restart, the first control shall remain open twenty (20) minutes; the second and subsequent controls, thirty (30) minutes after the perfect arrival time of the last car from the start or prior time-of-day restart, or until all cars are known to have passed, whichever is earlier.
After the control is closed, no car will be timed in and no out times will be assigned.
M. DEFINITION OF A MISSED CONTROL
A control is considered missed under any of the following conditions:
(1) the car never passed the in-marker of an open control;
(2) the control is closed or in the process of being closed;
(3) the car is more than twenty (20) minutes early or late at a control.
Out times given to cars in excess of twenty (20) minutes late will not be considered in the scoring. This is done to minimize the advantage of earlier cars.
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This section contains information that a contestant needs to know to interpret the instructions, follow the course, and stay on time.
1. EXECUTION OF NUMBERED INSTRUCTIONS.
Numbered instructions will appear in numerical order and must be executed in that order at the first opportunity to do so. The same sign or landmark at the same official mileage shall not be used for two or more numbered instructions unless explicitly indicated. Each numbered instruction must be completed before proceeding to the next one.
2. SPECIAL AND NOTE INSTRUCTIONS
a. A special instruction may be issued in writing only at a control. Unless otherwise stated, a special instruction is to be completed as soon as possible and takes precedence over numbered instructions.
b. Use of a note or other unnumbered instructions must be completely defined in the General Instructions.
Except as noted below there shall be no redundant course following instructions. Each course following instruction must place the contestant on a road that he would not have taken in the absence of the instruction. Redundant information or instructions may be included to help a contestant through a confusing area, provided it is identified as such.
All redundant instructions must be included in parentheses and/or be preceded by an official mileage.
Information given in the route instructions in parentheses shall be considered as helpful or informative but not essential for the completion of the route instructions.
Except as specified below, a numbered instruction is completed only when all of the requirements of the instruction are satisfied.
The only portion of a numbered instruction that may overlap subsequent instructions is a gain, a pause, or a speed change, any one of which that is not terminated within the instruction.
B. BASIC COURSE RULES AND CONVENTIONS
You will not go more than five (5) miles after a numbered instruction without finding the next numbered instruction or a control. (Minimum separation between numbered instructions may be only a few feet.)
Numbers in the left hand margin opposite certain instructions represent the official mileage from the start of that section to the instruction. The action point of the instruction will be at that mileage. There shall be no other opportunity to execute that instruction within 0.10 mile of the intended instruction.
Unpaved roads are to be considered as non-existent while traveling upon paved roads unless specifically mentioned in the route instructions. Paved roads are to be considered as non-existent while traveling on unpaved roads unless specifically mentioned in the route instructions.
The distance between the in-marker and out-marker at a checkpoint is rally mileage and therefore time and mileage begin at the in-marker.
The following conventions are recognized as universal enough to be used without mention in the General Instructions:
(a) Illegal entry or illegal turns do not exist.
(b) "U" turns are never required without instructions except at the end of a cul-de-sac.
(c) Any road which clearly ends in a garage, plant entrance, or parking lot does not exist.
(d) Roads marked "Private", Keep Out", "No Outlet", "Dead End", "No Thru Traffic", etc., do not exist.
(e) Multiple TCL's or Blinkers at an intersection shall be considered as one. A TCL or Blinker at an intersection will be considered as the intersection.
(f) Multiple STOP signs at an intersection shall be considered as one. A STOP sign at an intersection will be considered as the intersection.
(g) A divided road is considered as one road.
(h) Roads other than cul-de-sacs that obviously end do not exist.
(i) A course following instruction can not be executed at an intersection where the Main Road Rule (Section IV, F) would take you in the same direction.
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A sign consists of one or more surfaces intended to be read as an entity by the erecting agency.
When words or numbers appear in quotation marks (") in the route instructions, reference is made to the sign itself from which the quotation is taken, and all indicated action should then be taken in reference to the sign and not to the landmark to which the sign refers. The quoted portion of signs will be read left to right, top to bottom, with no intervening words or numbers skipped.
The text may be given in whole or in part, no indication being given as to which was done. Fragments of either words or numbers will not be quoted. The portion quoted shall be a prominent part of the sign, and the quotation shall be absolutely accurate (except for punctuation and/or the size and style of lettering.
Signs used on the rally are not necessarily applicable to the rally route but must be of sufficient size to be readable at rally speeds.
Signs may be on either side of the road or in front of you. They may be placed parallel to the road, but none will be used that necessitate your looking backwards to read.
Signs on the road surface will not be used.
The word stop (no quotation marks) refers to an intersection with one or more stop signs at which you are required by law to stop. "Stop" (within quotation marks) refers to any sign reading (in whole or part) stop, and may include stop signs.
Route instructions shall not identify action points (turns, speed changes, etc.) by names on mailboxes, by numbers on utility poles, or by other landmarks of similar character (frequently recurring and difficult to read) unless such action points are confirmed by a mileage reference or by other substantiating information.
A road, encountered at an intersection, identified by name or number on one side of the intersection shall be considered as having the same name or number on both sides of the intersection, unless defined otherwise by an arrow. (It is therefore possible for a road to have more than one name or number.)
Landmarks referred to in the instructions should be large enough to be readily recognized at rally speeds. Those that may not be obvious will be identified by a sign. Landmarks may be on either side of the route or in front of you.
At a turn at which you are to make a speed change, make the speed change as you cross the hypothetical line representing the edge of the road you are leaving. This hypothetical line extends across the intersection
A speed change given for a specified distance is in effect only for that distance; when that distance has been completed, the average speed reverts to the speed in effect prior to that instruction.
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In the absence of an applicable course following instruction at any intersection, you are to follow the main road as determined by the following priorities:
If placed on a road by use of its designation (name, number, or letter), you are to follow that road, regardless of turns or changes of direction, until you execute a subsequent course following numbered instruction that places you upon a new road or route.
In order to apply this rule, the words ONTO, or PICKUP must be used in the instruction.
2. BLACK-ON-YELLOW CURVE ARROWS
Stay on the prescribed rally route as determined by official highway black-on-yellow curve arrow signs and black-on-yellow directional arrows. These signs are to be used with the same intent as that of the erecting agency.
Stay on the prescribed rally route as determined by following center lines. Center lines are usually painted white or yellow and may be continuous or dashed.
When the main road cannot be determined by the preceding priorities, continue as straight as possible. The determination of which road is straight as possible should be obvious.
It is not the purpose of these rules to stifle or in any way restrict the ingenuity or the originality of rally organizers in their efforts to develop new and improved rally techniques. However, variations in the procedures that are described here must be completely explained in the General Instructions.
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This glossary provides definitions of a number of commonly used rally terms.
Terms not included in this glossary, intended to be used in any individual rally, must be defined in the General Instructions of the rally. Terms included in this glossary, but intended to be used in any individual TSCC rally with meanings different from those in this glossary, must be defined in the General Instructions.
ACUTE - A turn of substantially more than 90 degrees at an intersection where there exists more than one opportunity to turn in the direction indicated.
AFTER - An instruction containing the term "after" shall be executed at the first opportunity after the sign or landmark identified.
AT - Even with - for speed changes, mileages, etc.; in the vicinity of - for course following instructions. (It is possible to be at a road if you are on it.)
BEAR - A turn of substantially less than 90 degrees at an intersection where there exists more than one opportunity to turn in the direction indicated.
BEFORE - An instruction containing the term "before" shall be executed at the last opportunity before the sign or landmark identified.
BLINKER - A warning signal, as at a highway or railway intersection, consisting of a light or lights, usually red or yellow, operating in alternating sequence of off and on. It will be counted whether operating or not. A TCL shall not be counted as a blinker.
CONTROL - The timing line of an open control as identified by a checkpoint sign.
COURSE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION - An instruction that requires the execution of a right, left, straight, pick-up, turn, etc., at an intersection.
CROSS - To go straight across. To cross a divided highway is to cross both halves of it.
CROSSROAD - An intersection at which two public roads cross each other at approximately right angles.
CUL-DE-SAC - A road ending in a wide circular area, which has only one access. At the end of a cul-de-sac, execute a U-turn by proceeding cautiously around the perimeter in a counter-clockwise direction.
FREE ZONE - A part of the timed rally route in which there are no timing controls. It will not be necessary to avoid entering a control solely because you are in a FREE ZONE.
GAIN - To make up a specified time at a named point or during passage of a specified distance. The gain time is subtracted from the time required at the given average speed. The distance in which a GAIN is operative is a Free Zone.
INTERSECTION - Any meeting or crossing for two or more public roads.
LEFT - A turn to the left from 1 to 179 degrees.
LEG - The part of a rally route extending from one timing control to the next or from an assigned starting time to the next timing control.
ODOMETER CALIBRATION LEG (Odo Check) - A Free Zone specified for the purpose of comparing the contestants' mileage to the official mileage. There shall be a specified elapsed time to complete the odometer calibration leg within the legal speed limit and complete 5 minutes of calculation.
OFFICIAL MILEAGE - The distance from the start of a section to a point along the rally route given to 0.01 mile.
PAUSE - To delay a specified time at a named point or during passage of a specified distance. The pause time is added to the time required at the given average speed. The distance in which a PAUSE is operative is a Free Zone.
PAVED - A road having a continuous hard surface such as concrete, brick, macadam, etc., obviously suited to moderate or heavy duty traffic.
PICKUP - To go essentially straight onto a new road, route or surface.
RIGHT - A turn to the right of from 1 to 179 degrees.
SECTION - Any part of the rally at the beginning of which the official mileage is zero and at the end of which the mileage ends or reverts to zero.
STRAIGHT - To go straight ahead. To execute a straight, you must leave the main road.
T or SLANT T - An intersection having the general shape of the letter T, as approached from the base, requiring a turn to the left or the right. It is not possible to go straight at a T or SLANT T.
TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT - A signal light used on highways, especially at an intersection, to regulate the movement of traffic. A traffic light is usually fixed, alternating red and green, and frequently including yellow as a transition between green and red, indicating stop and go (and caution). It will be counted or considered whether operating or not. A TCL may be set to operate as a blinker, but will not be referenced as such.
TRANSIT ZONE - A part of the rally route in which there are no timing controls and in which no specified speed need be maintained. Either an exact time for passage, or a restart time from the end of the Transit Zone must be given. An approximate distance for the length of the Transit Zone is desirable.
TURN - To make a change of direction at an intersection where there exists a single opportunity to leave the Main Road.
UNPAVED - A road having a discontinuous, non-hard surface such as broken stone, gravel, dirt, clay, obviously suited only to light duty traffic.
Y - An intersection having the general shape of the letter Y requiring a turn to the left or right, both turns being substantially less than 90 degrees. It is not possible to go straight at a Y.
Y-T - An intersection composed of a T preceded by a triangle. Commonly used for clarification.
CAST - Change Average Speed To, Commence Average Speed To or Continue Average Speed To (in miles per hour)
DITY - Do-It-To-Yourself Leg
DIYL - Do-It-Yourself-Leg
DTOM - Distance To Out-Marker
L - Left
MDNC - Maximum Distance Next Control
R - Right
SOL - Sign On Left
SOR - Sign On Right
TCL - Traffic Control Light
WOIN - Working On Instruction Number
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