General Instructions

for

Monte Carlo Rallies

Olympic Rally Competition Association

Revised February, 2011
General Instructions

1. Rally Roads

a. Any road surface may be used. Only through-roads will be used unless the route instructions indicate otherwise. Roads marked “DEAD END”, “NO OUTLET”, “PRIVATE”, “CLOSED”, or with a similar sign as well as obvious dead ends and driveways are not through-roads.

b. Physical obstacles—curbs, ditches, raised traffic islands, signs and such may serve to define a rally road.

2. Route Instructions

a. There will be no intentional course following traps or misspellings.

b. Down arrows in the mileage column indicate that the next mileage comes up quickly.

c. This event will primarily use alpine instructions supplemented by a written instruction and/or mileage. For instructions with mileages, the mileage shall prevail as the main course following determinant; otherwise all criteria given (alpine and description) must be satisfied. Instructions may be redundant with the main road (see Section 3).

d. Execute the sections of the route instructions in numerical order, and the instructions within each section in numerical order. Execute each route instruction in its entirety before working on any part of the next instruction.

e. Clarifying comments may be used, but will be clearly identified as such by parentheses. They are not to be considered a mandatory part of the route instructions.

f. Speed changes are to be executed as a reference is passed or as a turn is commenced.

g. An alpine instruction is a diagrammatic representation of an INTERSECTION (defined in Section 8), the dot indicating entry and the arrow the direction of exit.

h. Where more than one INTERSECTION is shown, proceed through them consecutively via the shortest legal route. Instructed mileages and speed changes will apply at the first INTERSECTION where it is legally possible to execute them (example k1).

i. In the alpine instruction, all rally roads will be shown. Non-rally roads, driveways and obviously inferior roads may be shown for clarification by means of a dashed line (example k2).

j. Areas of EXPOSURE (defined in Section 8) may be represented in an alpine instruction by hash marks (example k3). Bridges may be represented as in example k4. A diamond graphic as in example k1 may represent signs. A concentric circle graphic may be used to indicate other objects, as in example k2.

k. Examples of Alpines:

1) 2) 3) 4)

1) Instructs a right turn at a 4-way INTERSECTION after a sign reference (diamond graphic) followed by a bear left.

2) Instructs a right and shows a non-rally road. The concentric circle graphic refers to an object on shoulder.

3) Warns of an exposure on the left.

4) Instructs a right turn across a bridge.

3. Main Road Determinants

Route instructions should be executed at each INTERSECTION that meets all of the specified criteria. In the event no instruction applies at an INTERSECTION, then the main road will be determined by the following rules. The first applicable rule determines the main road. Route Instructions may be redundant with the main road.

a. Protection – The main road is the road choice not controlled by an official highway Stop or Yield sign at the INTERSECTION. If there is more than one choice, do not apply this rule.

b. Similar Surface – The main road is the road choice with the same type of surface that is currently being used. Only a paved versus unpaved distinction will be made. Again, if there is more than one road choice, do not apply this rule.

c. Straight – The main road is the road as straight ahead as possible. This is not applicable where all road choices involve more than 45-degree changes in direction.

4. Signs and Other References

a. A sign is any object marked with text or symbols. House numbers, utility pole identification, graffiti and signs of a temporary nature, such as those for road construction areas will not be used unless specifically identified. Signs on vehicles and text or symbols on the road surface will not be used. Official highway speed limit signs will be used only when they are on the rally route.

b. Signs may appear anywhere, except as noted in 4a. However, it will not be necessary to look backwards to see a sign.

c. All material in quotation marks in the route instructions will refer to text or symbols upon a sign. Spelling is intended to be exact and symbols will be represented as closely as possible. Case and punctuation (including hyphens) are irrelevant.

d. Any prominent part of a sign may be quoted. No intervening text will be omitted. No text or symbols will be split, combined or reordered. Symbols may be omitted. Signs will be read left to right, top to bottom.

e. Physical objects, including non-rally roads may be referred to in the route instructions.

f. The same sign or object will not be used simultaneously for two references.

5. Measurements, Calculations and Timing

a. All times shown in the route instructions will be for Car #0.

b. The course will be measured to the thousandth (0.001) of a mile.

c. The mileage listed in the instructions will be the measured mileage truncated to the hundredth (0.01) of a mile. End of section mileages may be given to the thousandth.

d. The calculations will use the mileages listed in the instructions. For mileages not listed, such as checkpoints or instructions with non-mileaged speed changes, the measured mileage (to the thousandth) will be used.

e. Official times at checkpoints will be the ideal time calculated to the thousandth of a mile, truncated to the second. Checkpoint crews will truncate to the second when timing the cars.

6. Controls

There are three kinds of controls:

a. Passage Controls (Checkpoints) - These controls may or may not be identified or visible. Competitors will be timed as they pass the control, i.e., they are timed without having to stop for the control.

b. Do It Yourself Checkpoint (DIYC) - These are non-crewed controls specified in the route instructions. The DIYC will appear as a numbered route instruction referring to a particular hard reference; e.g. DIYC #4 AT “STOP”. When a competitor encounters the reference, they will record the time of day they passed it onto their DIYC scorecard.

c. Route Controls - An official route control sign, to be displayed at the start of the rally, will identify these controls. These are non-scored controls used for emergency purposes (see section 11). In the event of any problems in the rally, these controls may provide changes to the route instructions so the competitors may proceed.

All controls will open 10 minutes prior to the ideal passage time of the first car and will close 10 minutes after that of the last car.

If competitors slow to less than half rally speed on approach to a checkpoint timing-line, they may be regarded as balking. It will be at the discretion of the witnessing checkpoint crew whether to time that competitor early.

7. Definition of Sections

a. Monte Carlo – A time and mileage will be given for the start and finish of a Monte Carlo section. There will be no checkpoints in a Monte Carlo section, including the beginning and end of the section. Allowed times for these sections will be calculated at or below the legal speed limit.

b. Transit – These differ from Monte Carlo sections in that they may pass through heavily trafficked areas, such as towns. These sections frequently include additional time for gas and meals. There will be no checkpoints in a Transit section, including the beginning and end of the section. The average speeds for these sections will be calculated below posted speed limits.

c. Regularity – Also known as a TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) section. Competitors must maintain the average speed specified in the route instructions. A start and finish time will be specified for these sections, and checkpoints may be located anywhere within the section, except there will be no checkpoints within 0.4 miles of the start of the section.

8. Definitions

The following terms when written entirely in capital letters will be used only in the sense described below. When written otherwise, the common dictionary definition will be used.

AFTER The first possibility after the indicated reference.

AL Acute Left. A left turn of obviously more than 90 degrees.

AR Acute Right. A right turn of obviously more than 90 degrees.

BEFORE The last INTERSECTION prior to the referenced sign or landmark.

BLINKER An INTERSECTION controlled by an official traffic caution or stop blinking light. It is capable of operating only as a blinker and may be on or off.

BL Bear Left. A left turn of obviously less than 90 degrees.

BR Bear Right. A right turn of obviously less than 90 degrees.

CWC Concrete Water Crossing.

EXPOSURE A drop-off of some kind that provides some measure of risk to passage. This may include ditches, washouts, or cliffs.

FREE ZONE A portion of the rally that will not contain any checkpoints, but may have Route Controls.

HPL Hairpin Left. A sharp turn to the left of approximately 180 degrees; stay on the main road going left, ignoring any side roads to the right.

HPR Hairpin Right. A sharp turn to the right of approximately 180 degrees; stay on the main road going right, ignoring any side roads to the left.

INTERSECTION A point at which two or more roads meet and there is more than one choice of direction. A U-turn is not a choice.

KL Keep Left. Stay to the left-most possibility.

KR Keep Right. Stay to the right-most possibility.

L Left.

NRI Numbered Route Instruction.

OBSERVE To visually note and pass a sign or landmark.

OMR Obvious Main Road. Used only as a supplement to a BL, BR, KL, or KR instruction.

R Right.

PAUSE A time to be added to the calculated section time. Unless specified otherwise, the time will be in seconds. There will be no checkpoints 0.1 mile before, or 0.1 mile after the action point.

S Straight.

SIGNAL An INTERSECTION controlled by a multi-light traffic signal(s). It may be on, off, or operating as a blinker.

SOL Sign On Left. This is advisory only. This need not be used in every case.

SOR Sign On Right. This is advisory only. This need not be used in every case.

STOP A legal highway Stop sign that controls the progress of the competitor.

T An INTERSECTION in the general shape of a T as approached from the base by the competitor.

Y An INTERSECTION in the general shape of a Y as approached from the base by the competitor.

YIELD A legal highway Yield sign that controls the progress of the competitor.

9. Scoring and Penalties

Scoring:

a. Monte Carlo and Transit Sections: There will be no checkpoints in these sections.

b. Passage and DIYC Controls: 1 point per second early or late from perfect time.

c. All timing controls will have a maximum penalty of 300 points.

d. Score Cards (when applicable): 30 points may be given for any inaccuracies, e.g. card incomplete, wrong time format or handwriting illegible.

Sportsmanship: The rally master shall be the arbiter in displays of poor sportsmanship. The penalty will be determined by the rally master and may include disqualification of the competitor.

Time Allowance Requests:

The time allowance request must be in writing, and submitted to the official when you arrive at the finish. Time allowance requests must provide a reason for the delay, your car number, the regularity section number, the mileage where the time allowance begins, and the time requested in whole minutes plus 30 seconds, up to the maximum allowed, 9:30. Time allowance forms are provided with Route Instructions.

The time allowance time will be subtracted from your “in-time” at each applicable control. The time allowance will be in effect from the mileage specified to the end of the section.

You should attempt to reduce your lateness as much as possible by using the extra time included in Monte Carlo and Transit sections. If you still need a time allowance to continue into the next Regularity section, a new time allowance form must be submitted. If the time allowance is requested from the start of the section, enter 0.00 (zero) for the mileage.

Tie Breaking:

In the event of a tie score, the winner will be the competitor with the most zeros, followed by most 1s and most 2s, etc.  If there is still a tie, the winner shall be determined by the order of registration for the event.

10. Route Markers

Route markers will be identified at the start of the rally, e.g. Off-Route, On-Route and Route-Correction. These markers take precedence over the route instructions.

a. Route-Correction Marker - This will generally display a number corresponding to a numbered route instruction. Upon encountering this marker execute the indicated numbered route instruction immediately, and follow the subsequently numbered instructions from then on.

b. Off-Route Marker - Literally means OFF COURSE; the competitor should proceed no further beyond that marker.

c. On-Route Marker - May display the number of the route instruction the competitor is currently executing to clarify that they are on course.

11. Emergency Speeds

In the event of inclement weather, poor road conditions, extraordinary traffic etc., a rally official may invoke an emergency procedure. The emergency procedure will remain in effect until canceled by a rally official. Emergency procedures may be one of the following:

a. Manned Route Control - If a manned route control is encountered, stop and receive instructions from the rally official.

b. Unmanned Route Control - If an unmanned route control sign is encountered, there will be no more checkpoints in the remainder of the section, and competitors shall proceed at a safe pace. At the end of the section, the competitors are to add 10 minutes to the car 0 times for the rest of the rally, or until instructed otherwise by a rally official.

c. Emergency Speeds - Increase the elapsed time of each section by 20 percent, specifically, speeds being divided by 1.2 and PAUSEs being multiplied by 1.2

12. Classes

a. Novice - Same as SOP, but neither competitor has previously entered more than five rallies.

b. SOP (Seat Of the Pants) – Class is restricted to the use of any type and number of timepieces, writing instruments and paper or maps. Additional odometers may be used as long as they may function only as an odometer. Use of navigational aids such as GPS and calculating devices, including preprinted tables and cell phones, is prohibited.

c. Equipped - Any equipment may be used as long as no calculating devices are attached to an odometer. A GPS displaying average speeds is not allowed.

d. Unlimited - No limit is placed on the equipment permissible for use.

If any competitor is found with equipment not permitted within their class, the rally master may take appropriate action, such as advancement of the competitor to the appropriate class, or disqualification. The sponsoring club reserves the right to conduct one or more equipment checks during the rally. Failure by a competitor to permit such a check may be grounds for disqualification.