CALI RALLY

A rally is an automotive contest in which teams comprised of a driver and a navigator follow a prescribed common route at specified legal and reasonable average speeds. PRECISE driving and navigating are stressed.

 

The idea of a rally (sometimes called a TSD rally for "Time, Speed, Distance") is, quite simply, to follow an established course at an established speed. Penalty points are assessed by straying off course, by driving too fast or too slowly, or by missing course markers (landmarks). The car with the fewest number of penalty points (lowest score, as in golf) wins.

 

In our rally most cars won't be sports cars -- so the rally is planned for safety and scenery -- not spectacular automotive performance.

 

If you've never rallied before, or if it's been years and years, you still have an excellent chance to win because the rally is run with no special rally equipment. For our rally the only equipment needed is the odometer in your car, a watch capable of showing minutes and seconds, and pencil and paper. It'll be easier for the navigator to work if you also have a clipboard.

 

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: 
 

When you arrive at the starting point on rally day you will be assigned a starting time and car number and will be given your information packet. Cars will line up at the starting line in sequence and will begin the rally in intervals. You get to open the packet one minute before your starting time; one minute later you're on your way!
 

The detailed instructions (in your packet) will tell you when to turn, how fast to go, what course markers to look for and so forth. You follow each instruction in sequence - religiously.

 

Rule #1 is "Don't get lost!” Staying on course is the most important thing about rallying. If you get off course, get back on as soon as possible. Sometimes just finishing wins the rally!

 

The second rule is to maintain as close to the average speed (dictated by the rally instructions) as possible. You will be penalized for arriving early or late at the finish line and at intermediate CheckPoints. And to discourage speeding, the penalty for arriving too early is twice as great as the penalty for arriving too late.

 

There are all kinds of sophisticated instruments available to help rallyists but in our rally you'll have to do it with no more than your car's odometer, a watch and pencil and paper.

 

Each rally leg (the distance between CheckPoints) stands on its own. If you have a large error on a given leg, don't worry; every time you go through a CheckPoint it's a new ball game. There will be one or more CheckPoints along the course where your performance will be measured. 

 

The driver and navigator have decidedly different roles and must work as a team in order for the team to win. The driver's job is to drive safely, maintain the correct average speed and to look for course markers The navigator's job is to alert the driver to course markers, average speed changes and turns -- and to figure out whether going a bit faster or slower than the current pace is indicated. Remember that this is a team effort; relationships have been shattered by rallies...

 

Here’s a primer for your reference.