TRC Gimmick Rallye Rules

Document Status

This is currently just a working draft, with no official standing.

When it is approved by the board, a copy shall be archived for reference (though there may also be a draft in which we discuss possible future changes).

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THE RALLYE CLUB OF SILICON VALLEY
RULES FOR TIMED AND GIMMICK RALLYES

Originally approved on June 19th, 1985
Amended November 19th, 2003
Amended Month Day, Year

Purpose: To assist TRC and its members in the production of quality rallye events.

1. Advertising and Flyers
   1. Flyers must be ready before the quarterly mailing prior to the rallye. Sometimes, flyers must be ready earlier, since quarterly mailings often include the flyer from the first rallye of the next quarter. To allow time for printing, folding, and addressing the mailing, flyers are needed between 2 and 5 months prior to the rallye, depending upon where the rallye's date lands in the mailing schedule.
   2. An electronic copy (in PDF) should be sent vie email to the Mailing Chair and to the webmaster.
   3. All flyers must have the following on them: date and start time, start location, type of event, entry fee, classes, rallyemaster name(s) and contact info, TRC name/logo, and TRC web address. Rallyemasters are encouraged to publish the rallye-specific email addresses (mmmYY@TheRallyeClub.org where mmm is the month and YY is the year) that forward to their real email accounts. Phone numbers (if provided) should include area codes. Flyers should also include a map of the start location, and may also include the awards presented.
2. Pre-check
   1. The pre-check must be driven.
   2. It must include a full instruction set, a critique with point values and a map or other indication of sign locations.
   3. It must be performed at least two weeks before the event by a qualified expert.
   4. It is desirable to have more than one car pre-check (may be done at separate times).
   5. The rallyemaster must either make all changes required by the pre-checker, resolve the problems with the pre-checker, or if they cannot resolve it between them, report the problem to the President or Competition Director or their delegate. The rallyemaster is subject to their decisions.
   6. At least one week before the event date, a corrected copy of the instructions shall be received by the pre-checker to confirm that all changes and corrections have been made.
   7. The rallyemaster is responsible for removing any old course markers along his route from any previous rallyes.
   8. The finish should be notified at least one week in advance of the event. A reminder call the day of the event is also a good idea.
3. Rallye
   1. Have provisions for Emergency instructions and signs (generally called SI's or Special Instructions). There will never be any gimmicks or traps based on these Emergency or Special instructions.
   2. The rallye course must be previewed within 24 hours of the event. Putting up the CMs for Gimmick rallyes would meet this requirement. The lead car on a timed rallye running 15-30 minutes ahead would meet this requirement.
   3. All posted signs should be placed in safe locations where easily seen, and they shall be legible. On night rallyes, reflective tape should be on all posted signs, unless there is a gimmick preventing it.
   4. On timed rallyes, there must be a lead car and a sweep car (a designated competitor may fulfill the job as sweep car).
   5. All TRC rallyes will provide a club supplied evaluation cards to all contestants.
   6. At the finish, results shall be posted on scoreboard, projector, computer screen, etc.
   7. Busy streets should be avoided, except during traverses. Rallyists must be able to pull over safely to review/discuss the rallye instructions without blocking traffic. This is especially important at coursemarker locations, and at locations where Route Instructions, Bonuses, Notes, etc. are executed. There is no absolute rule for which streets are too busy and which are acceptable. Some two-lane streets with 25mph speed limits can be too busy to use for a Saturday night rallye. Some four-lane streets with 35mph speed limits can be quiet enough.
   8. Rallyists appreciate being able to download preliminary General Instructions from the TRC web before the rallye. Rallyemasters should send preliminary General Instructions (in PDF format) to the TRC web master about a week prior to the event. Rallyemasters should note any changes between the preliminary General Instructions and the final General Instructions. For example, updated sections can be highlighted or marked with change bars, or a list of changes can be posted at the start.
   9. Gimmicked instructions higher in precedence than the General Instructions risk unintentionally undermining the basic rallye structure that the GIs provide. Be very careful if you include such instructions. Better yet, let General Instructions be the highest precedence instruction that can include gimmicks.
4. Posted Signs
   1. For CM rallyes. Tape should be removed from poles along the route so that contestants do not think that there is a missing marker
   2. Writing on street signs. Erected for the purpose of guiding or informing motorists at large should not be altered or defaced in any way. Reflective tape may be placed on such signs, if needed, as long as no lettering is covered and the tape is removed after the rallye. If lettering is covered. Tape must be removed immediately after the event.
   3. Signs posted for the rallye should be readily visible. They should be of substantial material and strategically located so that they are not easily removed or altered.
   4. Provisions must be made for emergency signs. There shall never be any gimmicks or traps based on emergency signs.
5. Scoresheets
   1. Each car will be provided with one scoresheet
   2. Each scoresheet will have spaces for the following information: car number, class, driver & navigator name, club affiliation, email addresses, and passengers. To avoid difficulties publishing the results, never include gimicks on: car number, driver & navigator name, or email addresses.
   3. A 15 minute grace period must be provided for scoresheets to be turned in after the rallye end time. A penalty can apply during this time of not more than 10 points per minute late.
6. Protests
   1. All rallyes will have provisions for written protests. There must be a time given for when protest are due, general 5 minutes after last call for scoresheets.
   2. The Competition Director or their designee will select the protest committee, preferably consisting of at least one qualified non-competitor (not the rallyemaster) and two competitors (experts if possible, and if it is a timed rallye, one equipped and one non-equipped expert is preferred).
   3. Rallyemasters may voluntarily eliminate or re-score a portion of the rallye prior to the actions of the protest committee, though they cannot deny any protest; they may only pass it on to the protest committee. Any protest granted by the Rallyemaster should be passed on to the protest committee to ensure consistency.
   4. The committee should preferably decide any protests in private.
   5. Actions taken in resolving protests should be applied as evenly as possible, but they may affect only one car, one class or all competitors.
   6. Any change affecting all cars, other than the discarding of a portion of the rallye, shall be made known before protests close (to allow for counter-protests).
7. Results
   1. Written results must E-mailed or posted on the TRC web site within 2 weeks.
   2. The winner of the TRC Top Score must be indicated. This award goes to the highest placing member of TRC.
   3. The results must include full names, class, club affiliations, car number, score and place. Also, the names of all workers and pre-checkers must be included.
   4. A copy of the results must be sent to the Championship points keeper.
8. After Event
   1. All posted signs must be removed within nine days.
   2. Within two weeks, or at the next club meeting, the scoresheets shall be given to the club Secretary.
9. Financial Accounting
   1. During the event, the Treasurer or his designee shall collect all moneys received. At the next club meeting, a complete financial report will be made to the club.
   2. Moneys owed the rallyemaster may be withheld until all posted signs are removed and the results are sent, as well as the rallyemaster having made an earnest attempt to comply with all provisions of TRC operating procedures and these Rules.
10. Financial Policy
    1. Sufficiently prior (about 2 to 4 months) to the presenting of an open to the public event by The Rallye Club of Silicon Valley, the event's Rallyemaster or Rallye chairman will decide and inform the club's Treasurer, which of the following plans they prefer the event to be put under. If no choice has been indicated within one month of the event, option #1 below will be enforced. The option selected may not be changed within one month of the event date without approval of the TRC board. All decisions are subject to the approval of the TRC board.
       1. 100% profit or loss by the club. All reasonable expenses are paid for by the club. (Usual expenses generally include, but are not limited to, CP give aways, trophies, insurance, championship series fee, postage for flyers, and printing.) The Rallyemaster risks no financial loss.
       2. 50% profit or loss by the club, 50% profit or loss by the associated club or Rallyemaster. After all reasonable expenses are paid, TRC and the associated club or Rallyemaster will evenly split any profit or loss.
       3. Other financial disbursement plans will be considered on a case by case basis.