Ron Slott's Road Rally Navigation Guide
Lesson Five – More Timing and 'Qualifiers'.
Lesson 4 dealt with basic timing and how to maintain the correct times on your road book. The information given there will allow the most inexperienced Novice to competently keep time on a 12 Car or 20/20 type Rally. However, as events progress, more and more time is lost and 'OTL' looms near. Now OTL or 'Out of Time limit', is the point where your Rally is over. In most cases, OTL is 30 minutes after your original Due Time, and it means that you can only be a maximum of 30 minutes behind your original due time. 'How is it then, that you often see crews amassing penalties in excess of 30 mins in penalties?' you ask. Simple, they 'Make Up Time', and get back closer to their due time. They have still lost the time in penalties from previous lateness, and nothing can get that back. However, by getting back closer to their original due time, they can stay in the rally for longer.
Lesson Five – More Timing and 'Qualifiers'.
Lesson 4 dealt with basic timing and how to maintain the correct times on your road book. The information given there will allow the most inexperienced Novice to competently keep time on a 12 Car or 20/20 type Rally. However, as events progress, more and more time is lost and 'OTL' looms near. Now OTL or 'Out of Time limit', is the point where your Rally is over. In most cases, OTL is 30 minutes after your original Due Time, and it means that you can only be a maximum of 30 minutes behind your original due time. 'How is it then, that you often see crews amassing penalties in excess of 30 mins in penalties?' you ask. Simple, they 'Make Up Time', and get back closer to their due time. They have still lost the time in penalties from previous lateness, and nothing can get that back. However, by getting back closer to their original due time, they can stay in the rally for longer.
The three Quarter rule
Now clearly, taking a time before your due time is not generally acceptable, but there is a rule, known as the 'Three Quarter Rule', which allows you to make up no more than three quarters of the time allowed for the section you are on. This means that if the section you are currently on is 6 miles (or 12 minutes), you can 'make up time', but you cannot complete the section in less than three quarters of the 12 minutes allowed. Simply put, you can book in 4 minutes earlier without penalty. You won't have any benefit other than more time available before OTL. But beware of two scenarios that could be bad for you. Firstly that you book in earlier than planned (in this case 4 mins early is OK. 5 mins early breaks the ¾ rule and you will be penalised). Secondly, the ¾ rule may suggest 4 mins make up available, but if you are only three minutes down, you could book in earlier than your original due time …. disaster and penalties would then be applied, so in this case, you should only make up three minutes.
Exercise 1
Download and print this timesheet. You will note that it is filled in to TC2.
Imagine you are at TC2, but after a disasterous wrong turn you have dropped 28 minutes, and the marshal has ringed '01' on your card. Calculate the 'target' times for the remaining sections, employing the ¾ rule to get back on schedule.
Check your answer HERE, and NO CHEATING!
Qualifiers
So what you may ask, are qualifiers? I guess a lot of Expert Navigators will be asking the same thing. Well I only call them 'Qualifiers', because there is not a name that I can think of that suitably describes them. Qualifiers in this example, are the last three columns on the timesheet/road book, 'Env, App and Sig', and the row of 'Codeboards' above each TC. Now there aren't always all four of these, but in most cases they are all present, especially 12 Cars and 20/20s. Now it doesn't take too much brain to work out that the abbreviations stand for 'Envelopes, Approach and Signature', and it is vital that these are filled in correctly by the marshal, or in other words, your performance is 'qualified'.
So what you may ask, are qualifiers? I guess a lot of Expert Navigators will be asking the same thing. Well I only call them 'Qualifiers', because there is not a name that I can think of that suitably describes them. Qualifiers in this example, are the last three columns on the timesheet/road book, 'Env, App and Sig', and the row of 'Codeboards' above each TC. Now there aren't always all four of these, but in most cases they are all present, especially 12 Cars and 20/20s. Now it doesn't take too much brain to work out that the abbreviations stand for 'Envelopes, Approach and Signature', and it is vital that these are filled in correctly by the marshal, or in other words, your performance is 'qualified'.
Codeboards or Passage Checks passed en route, have to be recorded to confirm correct passage. As you pass each board you should write, clearly in ink, and in the next available square, entirely what is on the board (They are not always just one digit). On arrival at the next TC, the marshal will void all remaining squares for that section.
Most 12 Car or 20/20 Rallies give the route out in sealed envelopes. One for each section (TC to TC), the idea being that at each control you open the envelope containing the nav for the next section. However, you must NOT open any envelope before your due departure at the appropriate control, and the marshal at the TC will examine it to ensure that it is still sealed. If it is he will tic or initial the 'Env' box. If it has been opened he will void the box and you will be awarded a further penalty.
Most 12 Car or 20/20 Rallies give the route out in sealed envelopes. One for each section (TC to TC), the idea being that at each control you open the envelope containing the nav for the next section. However, you must NOT open any envelope before your due departure at the appropriate control, and the marshal at the TC will examine it to ensure that it is still sealed. If it is he will tic or initial the 'Env' box. If it has been opened he will void the box and you will be awarded a further penalty.
Now the Navigation dictates a specific route to follow. You can already be penalised should you miss a PC or Code Board, but it is also important to arrive into a control from the right direction, hence the marshal will observe your 'Approach' to the control. Again if it is correct he will initial or tic the box. If not he will void the box and another penalty will be imposed.
'Signature' speaks for it's self. This is where the marshal confirms all that he/she has written and recorded …...... But, as a navigator, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that they have filled in your timecard/roadbook correctly. There's no going back to ammend it later. Please also remember that you can ask the marshal to correct a mistake if you see that it is incorrect. You may insist on seeing the clock in case of a disputed time, but NEVER argue with a marshal. They are officials on the event, and volunteers braving the weather and cold so that you can enjoy yourself. No Motor Club will EVER tolerate abuse of marshals.
Well that's enough of Roadbooks and Timing. You have enough info here to get to the finish of a 12 Car or 20/20 Rally. Actually you could finish a NatB Road Rally with a bit of luck. However, practice makes perfect and there really is no substitute for experience, so get your entries in for your next event now!
Go to 'LESSON 6' where we will have a look at Grid Lines in navigation.
Useful Links:
Don Barrow Rally Navigation http://www.donbarrow.co.uk
The Basic Roamer Company http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk
Note: Before buying any equipment, check around your Motor Club Buddies first. You never know what is up for sale, or even available from the Club itself.
'Signature' speaks for it's self. This is where the marshal confirms all that he/she has written and recorded …...... But, as a navigator, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that they have filled in your timecard/roadbook correctly. There's no going back to ammend it later. Please also remember that you can ask the marshal to correct a mistake if you see that it is incorrect. You may insist on seeing the clock in case of a disputed time, but NEVER argue with a marshal. They are officials on the event, and volunteers braving the weather and cold so that you can enjoy yourself. No Motor Club will EVER tolerate abuse of marshals.
Well that's enough of Roadbooks and Timing. You have enough info here to get to the finish of a 12 Car or 20/20 Rally. Actually you could finish a NatB Road Rally with a bit of luck. However, practice makes perfect and there really is no substitute for experience, so get your entries in for your next event now!
Go to 'LESSON 6' where we will have a look at Grid Lines in navigation.
Useful Links:
Don Barrow Rally Navigation http://www.donbarrow.co.uk
The Basic Roamer Company http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk
Note: Before buying any equipment, check around your Motor Club Buddies first. You never know what is up for sale, or even available from the Club itself.