Improve Your Scores

Feeling Stuck in a Rallye Rut?

Looking to boost your rallye score? Have your eye on the next class up? Here are ideas that can improve your score and make your next rallye more fun:

1. Self-Help: Review the Guides

First, have you read TRC's Coursemarker Gimmick Rallye Guide? It is available free at that link, or a hard copy booklet can be purchased at TRC rallye registration.

Or comfortable with CM rallyes but not with AB rallyes? There is also a 2-page guide to A-B gimmick rallyes on TRC's web site. And TRC's Resources page includes sample rallyes of each variety (CM, A-B, Q-A); these can be "run" on your table (on their map), with a critique to explain each gimmick.

2. Ask the Experts

Have you understood each rallye critique's explanation of the gimmicks you missed? If not, ask an upperclassman at the rallye finish for an explanation. (The Rallyemaster is usually busy until the protest committee is active, but most expert participants are willing to explain gimmicks after the protest cutoff.) Re-reading the critique the next day can also be helpful. Questions can then go the RM at mmmYEAR (3 letters of the month, 4-digit year, like jun2015@TheRallyeClub.org).

3. Invite an Expert for a Rallye Ride-along

TRC has a few Expert- or Master Expert-class volunteers available to review rallye materials with you and ride with you in your car, providing in-the-moment instruction and evaluation and explaining their thought process. For this rallye, your car would be competing one class below the upperclassman's competition class. The "apprenticeship" is intended as a one-time learning experience to improve your skills for future rallyes.

4. Volunteer for a Rallye Pre-Check

Prechecking a rallye you cannot attend on rallye day is also a good way to improve rallye skills. We may be able to arrange for you to precheck along with an expert or master expert. You'll be able to hear their thought processes and gimmick speculations. You won't be able to compete in that rallye, but you'll have learned a lot and helped improved the experience for everyone.

5. Novice or Up? Write a Rallye

Write a rallye, write a leg of July's The Amazing Rallye, or rethrow an old rallye from TRC's files. Any of these give insight into how a rallye is constructed and scored. If considering this, talk to Teresa (TRC's president).

To request a ride along for a rallye or a precheck, contact Dean dean@TheRallyeClub.org well in advance. (Experts and master experts may volunteer to ride along by contacting Dean. Then, when looking for a volunteer for a specific rallye, you'll be among those he asks.)