MWCSCC Standard Rally Rules 1997

Rally Objective: Rallies are competitive, navigational, automotive events held on public roads in compliance with applicable traffic laws. The basic object of most rallies is for a crew, consisting of a driver and a navigator, to follow a predetermined course and maintain precise average speeds. It is not a race. The competition is based on minimizing errors. Errors are determined by the deviation at a checkpoint from a perfect time -- that time which would be taken if all instructions were followed perfectly (i.e., their "perfect arrival time"). Being early carries the same penalties as being late. Specific scoring procedures and penalties will be described in the General Instructions for a rally. A crew will be disqualified for unsafe or unsportsmanlike conduct, unsafe equipment, any in-motion traffic citation, consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal substances, failure to wear seat belts, or other appropriate reason.

Route Instructions: Route Instructions for the rally will be issued at a time specified in the General Instructions (e.g., ten minutes prior to the crew's official starting time). They will consist of numbered instructions, but may also contain other types of instructions as defined in the General Instructions. The contestants use the Route Instructions in accordance with the General Instructions and these Standard Rally Rules to determine the route they will follow. The General Instructions may add to or modify the Standard Rally Rules and take precedence if there is a conflict.

Bought Time: In the interest of safety, a crew that knows they will be late at a checkpoint may "buy time" to avoid speeding or reckless driving. The amount of bought time is subtracted from the crew's elapsed time for the leg. The General Instructions should describe the procedures, conditions, and applicable penalties for buying time for that rally.

Odometer Calibration: The odometer calibration leg at the beginning of each rally allows each crew to compare their car's odometer to the official mileage. By computing the percentage difference between the two measurements, the crew can determine what their odometer should read at any official mileage given in the Route Instructions.

Control (Checkpoint) Procedures: A control is used to record a crew's arrival time at a specific place (i.e., checkpoint) on the rally course. The timing line of a control is identified by a checkpoint sign ( ), and the vehicle is timed as it crosses the timing line. The time is recorded in hours, minutes, and hundredths of a minute (e.g., 45 seconds equals 75 hundredths of a minutes, so 10:12:45 am is recorded as 10:12.75). Crews may not stop, obviously stall, or take evasive action (e.g., U-turn) to delay or avoid crossing the timing line unless permitted by the instructions, required by traffic laws, or in a free zone. If a control worker deems that a crew has violated this rule, the worker will wave in the crew. The crew should then immediately proceed past the timing line at rally speed, or risk being assessed a penalty. There are three major types of controls -- open, passage, and do-it-yourself (DIYC) -- with specific procedures are described below. The General Instructions will determine which types of controls are used.

Open Control: An open control is manned by a team of control workers. After passing the checkpoint sign (timing line), the crew should stop at the timing station and follow the workers' directions. The crew should not block the workers' view of the timing line and should avoid passing other rally cars to prevent confusion. The crew should make sure they have written any required information (e.g., bought time requests, DIYC times) on their scorecard properly and then give it to the workers. The control worker team will write the crew's arrival time and assigned out time (i.e., time for departure from the start marker), if any, on the scorecard and return it to the crew. Any timing discrepancy or other problem with the scorecard should be claimed immediately by the crew and resolved with or recorded by the workers. A new departure time may be assigned if necessary. Timing discrepancies of less than .03 minute will not be considered. The workers will also provide a leg review slip to the crew that describes the leg just completed. (If the leg before that ended in a DIYC, the workers will also provide a leg review slip for that leg.) These slips include official information related to scoring the leg (e.g., official elapsed time, official mileage to the control) as well as information needed for the next leg (e.g., speed when leaving). When the scorecard (and any additional information) is returned to the crew, the crew shall proceed safely to the starting point for the next leg, identified by a start marker as described on the leg review slip, General Instructions, or Route Instructions. The crew should not block the start marker while waiting for their out time so as not to hinder other rally cars or normal traffic.

Passage Control: A passage control is also manned by a team of control workers, but the contestants do not stop at the control. The timing line and start marker are considered to be at the same place. Crews receive scoring and leg review information at the end of the rally (or sometimes at a break such as lunch).

Do-It-Yourself Control (DIYC): A DIYC is an unmanned control and is not required to have a checkpoint sign. The location will be clearly identified in the Route Instructions. The location and identification of DIYCs will not be the basis of any trap. At a DIYC, the crew write their calculated arrival time (i.e., the time they think they should have gotten there) in the appropriate location on the scorecard (e.g., the IN box for the leg). The out time for the control is exactly 2.00 minutes after the calculated arrival time recorded by the crew. For example, if the arrival time is 10:12.75, the out time is 10:14.75. The crew should write the out time in the appropriate location on the scorecard (usually the OUT box at the top of the next column). There will be a 1.00 mile free zone, which may overlap subsequent instructions, after a DIYC so that contestants can clear the area of the DIYC for other cars.

Protests: A crew that has received a penalty as a direct result of an alleged error in the rally may file a written protest at the end of the rally. Consult with the Rallymaster for appropriate procedures.

Roads: Unless otherwise specified, only through, public roads exist for rally purposes. The following types of roads are designated as nonexistent, which means they cannot be considered for any purpose: (1) roads marked to indicate they are not through, public roads, such as Keep Out, Private, Road Ends ..., Dead End, etc.; (2) roads that clearly end in a garage, plant entrance, parking lot, etc.; (3) roads that visibly terminate without public outlet; and (4) roads marked as an illegal entry or illegal turn (e.g., Do Not Enter, One Way, No Right Turn). A divided highway is treated as a single road.

When it is necessary to determine the name or number of a road, this information may be taken from road name and/or number signs which provide an obvious positive identification of road name and/or number, including premarkers. When a road is marked on each side of an intersection with a name or number sign, each side is that named or numbered road only. When a road is marked on a single side of an intersection with a name or number, the name or number applies to roads on both sides unless an arrow(s) indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise stated, signs identifying routes must meet the requirements for quoted signs; that is, they will be visible when viewed from an angle of 90 degrees or less from the straight-ahead position. The following variations in road designations are immaterial: (1) spacing of words in a road name; and (2) unless otherwise specified, designation of a route number as US, County, State, Interstate, East, Alternate, etc.

Signs and Objects: Numbers, letters, and symbols enclosed in question marks in the Route Instructions refer to information obtained from signs. If not enclosed in quotation marks, the reference is to an object (e.g., Jones Road itself, not the "Jones Road" sign identifying it). Information enclosed by a single set of quotation marks shall be taken from a single sign, and may refer to all or part of the material on the sign. If multiple signs are mounted on the same post or structure, they are considered individual, separate signs. Spelling of quoted information must be accurate, and word spacing must be correct. Case and type font are irrelevant; Ø is the same as 0 (zero). Punctuation, including hyphens, may be inaccurate. The order of the quotation will be in accord with the obvious intent of the erecting agency. Each word or number will be quoted in its entirety. No numbers or letters that fall between the first and last of the quoted information will be omitted. Items on signs that are clearly not part of the erecting agency's intent (e.g., graffiti, political advertisements) and holes defacing signs should be ignored. The following items will not be used: signs painted on road surfaces; actual animals and vehicles (e.g., cow means a picture of a cow, not a real cow); signs on actual animals or vehicles; material identifying a utility pole; and material on mailboxes or tombstones. All referenced signs, objects, and signs identifying objects shall be visible when viewed from an angle of 90 degrees or less from the straight-ahead position. When an instruction requires a specific number of signs or objects to be observed, it is understood to mean that at least that number is observed.

Performance of Instructions: Instructions are performed at the first opportunity. A course-following action is not applicable unless it defines a unique course through an intersection. If an instruction contains multiple actions, they are to be performed in the order indicated in the instruction. If an instruction contains a condition(s) for performance, the instruction can only be performed correctly when the condition(s) has been met. Information enclosed in parentheses in an instruction should be helpful but is not considered to be official. When an official mileage or approximate mileage is given in the left-hand margin of an instruction, the mileage applies to the first course-following action of an instruction, or to the first action point for instructions without any course-following actions. Such mileage is a condition of performance of the applicable portion of the instruction. Whenever actions are referenced to a mileage (or equivalent elapsed time), correct performance shall not require determination of the mileage to less than 0.10 mile. A U-turn will never be implied or required unless specifically instructed.

Performance of an instruction will not depend on information gained on a previous portion of the rally, unless otherwise specified. An instruction is considered begun when any action required by the instruction has been performed, including passing referenced signs or objects. An instruction is considered completed when all required actions have been performed, distances traversed, times elapsed, clues encountered, and conditions of performance met. If an instruction (or portion of one) requires that an action be taken based upon going away from or toward an object, the object does not have to be seen if there is a positive indication as to the location of the object. A portion of an instruction specifying an action to be performed toward or away from a sign or object is considered complete when the action has been performed; the referenced sign or object need not be passed.

Numbered instructions will be printed and begun in numerical order. The action point marking the beginning of a numbered instruction will be past the action point marking the beginning of the previously begun numbered instruction. All numbered instructions must be completely performed, and unless otherwise specified, each numbered instruction must be completed prior to beginning the next numbered instruction. A numbered instruction cannot be canceled or reused. The use of numbered instructions that are deliberately flawed or illegal within the framework of these rules and the General Instructions is prohibited. Inability to perform a numbered instruction with an official mileage or approximate mileage at that mileage is a positive indication that the crew is off the rally course.

Speeds: The crew will be assigned an average speed to maintain, which will remain in effect until one of the following conditions requires a change: a route instruction requires a change in average speed; a leg review slip specifies a different speed to start the next leg; or a condition in the General Instructions requiring a different average speed is met (e.g., the road surface changes to unpaved). Unless otherwise stated, all speeds will be assumed to be in miles per hour. Rally speeds normally should be at or below the posted or statutory speed limit. If the rally speed is greater, the crew should continue to make time calculations based on the assigned speed, obeying the law, as there will be ample time to make up any time lost.

Terms

Common Abbreviations: The following abbreviations may be used without definition in the rally's instructions.

CAS - Change, commence, or continue average speed of or to.

DAS - Decrease average speed by.

DIYC - Do-It-Yourself Control. See Control Procedures.

IAS - Increase average speed by.

LRI - Lettered route instruction.

NRI - Numbered route instruction.

OET - Official elapsed time. The amount of time it should take to complete a leg if all instructions are performed perfectly.

OMC - Official mileage to control. The official mileage as measured at the timing line of a control.

OMS - Official mileage to start. The official mileage as measured at the start marker for a control.

Glossary: This glossary defines a number of terms commonly used in Route Instructions or General Instructions. Terms included here, or in the Glossary of the General Instructions, will be used only in the sense defined. Terms not included here, but intended to be used in other than common-sense meaning, must be defined in the General Instructions. General Instructions may override these definitions.

ACTION POINT - A point at which an instruction or portion thereof is performed. No action points shall occur between the checkpoint sign ( ) and the start marker of an open control.

AFTER - At the first opportunity beyond the reference cited in the instruction.

APPROXIMATE MILEAGE - The distance from the point at which the official mileage measuring device was last zeroed to a point along the rally route specified to a tenth of a mile (e.g., 5.1). An approximate mileage will be accompanied by the words ''approximate mileage'' or ''approximate miles'' except when the approximate mileage appears in the left-hand margin of the instruction.

AT - "Even with" for non-course-following actions; "in the general vicinity of" for course-following actions.

BEAR - A modifier, always followed immediately by the word "left" or "right", defining the angle of the turn required to be substantially less than 90 degrees.

BEFORE - In sight of and at the last opportunity prior to the reference cited in the instruction.

CONFIRM - To pass the referenced sign or object.

COURSE FOLLOWING ACTION - An action of an instruction that causes the contestant to select a direction of travel at an intersection. Course-following actions shall include, but are not limited to, "left", "right", "turn", and "straightest".

CROSSROAD - An intersection where two roads cross each other at grade (the same level), names and numbers notwithstanding. These roads may cross at any angle.

DIRT - Unpaved.

DIVIDED HIGHWAY - A multi-lane highway with a dividing median strip. A divided highway shall be treated as a single road.

FREE ZONE - A specified part of the rally course in which there are no open controls. No penalties will be assessed for stopping within the confines of a free zone.

GAIN - To make up a specified time during passage of a specified portion of the rally course. The gain time is subtracted from the time required to traverse the specified portion of the rally course at the given average speed. The specified portion of the course in which the gain is operative is a free zone.

INTERSECTION - The meeting or crossing of two or more roads at grade (at the same level) where there is a choice of leaving in two or more directions. Nonexistent roads do not count as a choice.

LEFT - A command to make a turn to the left at an intersection. A phrase such as "on the left" refers to a location and is not a command.

OFFICIAL MILEAGE - The distance from the point at which the official mileage measuring device was last zeroed to a point along the rally course, specified to a hundredth of a mile (e.g., 5.10) or finer (e.g., 5.100). An official mileage will be accompanied by the words ''official mileage'' or ''official miles'' except when the official mileage appears in the left-hand margin of the instruction.

OPPORTUNITY - A point where an action of an instruction could be performed.

PAUSE - To delay a specified time at a specified point or during passage of a specified portion of the rally course. The pause time is added to the time required to traverse the specified portion of the rally course at the given average speed. The specified portion of the rally course in which a pause is operative is a free zone.

PAVED - An obviously solid road surface such as concrete or asphalt. Loose gravel on top of a visibly paved surface does not make a road unpaved. A short unpaved surface that can be seen to continue onto a paved surface shall be considered to be paved.

RAILROAD TRACK - A pair of parallel railroad rails.

RIGHT - A command to make a turn to the right at an intersection. A phrase such as "on the right" refers to a location and is not a command.

ROAD - An existent thoroughfare suitable for automotive travel. A road is a physical object; it may or may not be marked with a name or number.

SIDEROAD - At an intersection of exactly two roads, one of which is generally ahead and the other of which is either to the left or to the right, but not both, the sideroad is the road which is either to the left or to the right.

STOP - A conventional highway stop sign that traffic on the rally course is required to obey when encountered. Capital letters shall be used.

STRAIGHTEST - A command to proceed with the least angular deflection through an intersection.

T - An intersection having the general shape of the capital letter T, as approached from the base by the contestant, requiring a change of direction to the left or right.

TRAFFIC LIGHT - A traffic control device that is operating and shows at least red and green in sequence. Two or more such traffic control devices at an intersection shall be counted as a single traffic light.

TRANSIT ZONE - A part of the rally course 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. At least an approximate distance for the length of the transit zone shall be provided. A transit zone is a free zone.

TURN - A command to make an obvious angular deflection at an intersection either to the left or right.

UNPAVED - An obviously loose road surface such as dirt or gravel. A short paved surface that can be seen to continue onto an unpaved surface shall be considered to be unpaved. Loose gravel on top of a visibly paved surface does not make the road unpaved.

YIELD - A conventional highway yield sign that traffic on the rally course is required to obey when encountered. Capital letters shall be used.