Writing the Critique

The purpose of the critique is to explain what (you think) the rallyist should have done and how any and every action was scored.

It should explain jargon and abbreviations it uses, quote or point directly to relevant portions of the GIs, and explain why your decisions are the most correct ones. Remember that first timers and beginners should be able to understand the rallye after reading the critique, without having to revisit the neighborhood to study signs again.

Your critique is also your "last defense against protests." Imagine a rallyist does not agree with your reasoning. Include enough justification to convince the rallyist that the gimmick is "clean." Then, if there is a protest, the protest committee will be convinced.

Maps

Maps with street names are popular, as they help rallyists figure out where events occurred.

Maps for CM rallyes should show:

• CMs, including which way they were facing (i.e., in which directions they were visible);
• The "Turkey Route" (Route Instruction route), perhaps noting where each RI is.

Maps for A-B rallyes should show the location where each RI (or RI part) would be executed.

Commercial maps cannot normally be enlarged enough to give room for CMs. RMs often save map images from online services (Google Maps, MapQuest, etc.) and add more street names and their CMs.

Printing

The critique should be printed duplex (two-sided), to save paper. However, the map for a rallye section should not be on the back of the explanation of that same section. If necessary, print all the maps at the back, but mention their existance on the front page of the Critique, lest a rallyist struggle to understand the critique without knowing there are maps to help.

El Dorado Touring Club (EDTC) prints their critiques in booklet form. Legal-size paper oriented in landscape mode (14in-by-8.5in) will produce pages that are 7inx8.5in. Each pair of facing pages can have the critique on the left and the map for that section of the critique on the right. A long-reach stapler is needed to staple the booklets at the fold.

Using standard letter-size paper (8.5in-by-11in), it is usually easier to include the critique at the top of the page, with the map for that section of the critique below it. Or simply put all the maps at the end of the critique, but be sure to refer to them, lest rallyist readers read the whole critique, struggling to understand, and then find them.