Tip-Toe Through the Tulips 2009

[draco50]

At long last, the T5 is back for our fourth sort-of-annual running.

The starting point will be the BP gas station of co617 and US-250 in Oilville, VA.

• 08:00 -- Rallymasters arrive at starting point.
• 09:30 -- Competition meeting.
• 09:45 -- Car Zero receives instructions.
• 10:00 -- Car Zero begins calibration leg.
• 10:20 -- Car Zero begins competitive section 1.
• 11:35 -- Car Zero begins competitive section 2.
• 13:10 -- Car Zero completes competitive section 2. (approximate)
• 13:15 -- Lunch and scoring.

We need workers! We might be short one worker team.  If you can help out, please email me at pasha (dot) paterson (at) (that Google mail domain that everyone uses).

[draco50]

See attached general instructions for the rally.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[skinsfn36]

So, sorry for being a complete noob at this, but what exactly is this, is this like a straight dirt rally liek you see on TV or road, could my Civic do it?

[Curmudgeon]

Hey, everybody is  noob the first tiime they try something.  The T5 is a "tour" rally by SCCA definitions, which means it is nothing at all like the FIA Rallys you see on TV where crazies throw their cars around on a closed course.

The T5 is a very straightforward tour thru the countryside, at speeds a little below the posted limits.  Course following is deliberatly simple, the main thing is maintaining the correct speed (which is harder than you might think).  Your Civic will be fine, but please note that you will need a navigator to keep the driver advised of upcoming turns and correct speeds.  (My nagrivator has to keep my heavy foot in line all the time!)

Check this out: http://www.goss.com/rally.htm for a good intro to TSD (Time/Speed/Distance) rallying.

[skinsfn36]

So how does one win, if you figure most people are doing the same speed is it just dependent on going the right course?

[Curmudgeon]

Of course you must stay on course, but to win you must also maintain the correct speed at all times.  At various checkpoints along the way, your time is noted and the time you took for the leg is computed.  The rallymasters will have already calculated the "perfect" time from the measured distance and the specified speeds, and so you score one point for each 1/100 of a minute you are early or late.  (This is why it is called Time/Speed/Distance or TSD rallying.)

Lowest total score for the event wins.  A score of 25-30 on a leg is good in stock class running "seat of the pants", with calculation it can be under 15.  The serious equipped teams with their onboard computers and such expect to score zero points on about half the legs and under 5 on the rest!