Gimmick Rallye Timeline

Though this checklist is worded the first time rallyemaster, consulting it should keep any rallyemaster from forgetting anything important and help the rallye stay on schedule. More detailed instructions are in the Rallyemaster Handbook.

Before the Rallye

9 months prior

• Sign up to write a rallye
• Decide the type of rallye you will write, theme of rallye & if it will be a rethrow, a partial rethrow or a new rallye from scratch
• Join the TRC-RM mailing list
• Choose a mentor
• Start writing the rallye

6 months prior

• Consult with mentor. Discuss concepts, basic gimmick ideas, flyer, route, etc.
• Try to assure no major (traffic-causing) events will occur along the route. Check that Shoreline Amphitheater will not have an event on rallye night if you are going anywhere near it.
• Continue writing rallye.
• If you want to finish at the San Jose Round Table Pizza (4400 Stevens Creek Blvd. between Lawrence & Keilly), you can reserve the large room only 3-5pm, 5-7pm, or 7-10pm. This means that reasonable rallye finishes are 4, 6, 8, and 9 PM. Plan accordingly before publishing a flyer.

4 months prior

• Prepare flyer including your mmmYY@TheRallyeClub.org E-mail address and send it to webmaster.
• Send mail to Steve Watt <steve@watt.com> asking him to put you on the mmmYY@TheRallyeClub.org mailing list. You may have more than one person get this mail, but probably want to agree who will answer, so questioners don't get duplicate or conflicting responses.
• Finish writing rallye
• Either start attending monthly General meetings to give updates or email updates to TRC's Secretary at least 4 days before meeting.

3 months prior

• Arrange for precheckers.
• Get first prechecks done; make corrections to rallye as needed.

2 months prior

• Order Par Plaques & Awards (optional).
• Arrange checkpoint workers, if needed.

2 weeks prior

• Prepare checkpoint crew instructions.
• Obtain equipment (marker parkers).
• Arrange for printing
• Choose scoring method (by hand or by computer)
• Contact Finish location (San Jose Round Table will often give us a discount. Ask for one, and then mention it in your final traverse or at the end of your GIs.)

1 week prior

• Conduct final pre-check.
• Confirm workers.
• Email preliminary GIs to the webmaster so they can be posted on the web site. (If they are not identical to the final GIs, label them Preliminary.)

File naming convention

Mail your preliminary GIs as a PDF attachment named yyyy-mm-dd-PreGI-NAME.pdf where:

• yyyy-mm-dd is the date the Rallye was run
• PreGI is just like that (and case matters)
• NAME is the name of the Rallye

For example, the preliminary instructions for Ghostchasers, a rallye to be run on October 6th of 2012, use the preferred filename 2012-10-06-PreGI-Ghostchasers.pdf

3 days prior

• Send your materials for printing if you're having TRC handle it.
• If you're printing, print 20 extra registration packets (without score sheets) to sell for back seat passengers.

1 day prior

• Notify the police of rallye cities (or county sheriff) that the rallye is tomorrow.
• Send email with electronic copies of the rallye materials.
  • If the registration workers are competing in the rallye, then they will need PDF copies. This allows them to spend two hours plus driving the rallye before registration opens, to make up for the two hours plus they lose working registration (counting driving from the course to the start, setting up, packing up, and returning to the course). You may want to mention when you expect the course markers (if used) should be erected for the first portion of the course and what rallye portion(s) should not be attempted until the checkpoint is staffed.
  • If Michelle McGrew <michelle@TheRallyeClub.org> is competing in the rallye, then she will need plain text soft copies.

The Day of the Rallye

Before the start opens

• First thing (or the night before), E-mail a registration packet to the one staffing your registration table, so he/she/they can start the rallye before the start opens, to compensate for leaving the start after the start closes. Tell him/her/them if a CP will change things, if necessary. Do not send the critique or CP worker instructions, as that would be an unfair competition advantage.
• Post signs, if used.
• Call Finish location and remind them

At the start

• Arrive at Start 15 minutes before opening.
• Check with Registrar. Let them know any special instructions for giving out packets
• Instruct workers (checkpoint, Start).
• Start answering rallyists' questions.
• Do Q&A session and rallye school

After the start closes

• Remove all posted material at the start
• Drive route: check posted signs & check in with CP workers

At the finish

• If you have a finish reservation at the San Jose Round Table, someone must arrive and claim it within 15 minutes of its start time.
• Arrive at the Finish at least 15 minutes prior to Finish opening
• Display flyers, evaluation sheets, and protest forms.
• Setup scoreboard (whiteboard or computer cabled to the TV's HDMI input).
• Answer rallyists' questions.
• Collect score sheets and give Critiques.
• Begin scoring.
• Update scoreboard.

After finish closes

• Start marking score sheets as late.
• Start reading protests.
• At last call, stop accepting score sheets.
• Give any extra registration packets and critiques to the treasurer (or registrar) to sell.
• Re-score score sheets as necessary.
• Post decided protests (in red).
• Presentation and Announcements (need not be done personally by the RM):
  • Announce awards.
  • Thank workers and rallyists.
  • Announce next month's rallye.
  • Announce that additional registration packets and critiques are for sale ($1 for the combo) and any leftover par plaques are for sale ($.50 each)
  • Someone should issue the RM a free rallye coupon as a thank-you gift (though it isn't signed and active yet).
• Clean-up:
  • Give the Treasurer any unclaimed awards.
  • Give the Treasurer the flyer rack.
  • Give the whiteboard, stand, and markers to TRC's Equipment Chair.
  • Give the checkpoint signs (and any other TRC signs used) to TRC's Equipment Chair.

After Rallye

Within 2 weeks

• Send results to rallyists and webmaster
• Give score sheets to TRC's Treasurer
• Remove all rallye signs, if used
• Return TRC rallye equipment (checkpoint signs, scoreboards, marker parker) to the Equipment Chair, typically at the next business meeting.

• Seek reimbursement from TRC's Treasurer
  • Provide a list of what you want reimbursed (typically by E-mail, in advance of the next business meeting)
  • Provide receipts to the treasurer (scan and E-mail or bring to business meeting)

• Prepare a brief report on what went well and poorly, interesting protests, etc.

  Then E-mail the report to the business mailing list

  or give the report in person at the next business meeting.

• Start planning next rallye.