Below are a suggestion on possible rule modifications to the 2014 SORRCA RULES for our local club to use. The suggested changes with reason supporting suggested changes are posted in red, all else is unchanged. Let me stress this again .... below are SUGGESTIONS to POSSIBLE rule changes based on feedback I've heard from club members. We do need to come up with a set of rules that work for our local club and this is a starting point. CONSTRUCTIVE comments, suggestions and discussion is requested.
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2014 Course Points and Penalties
Points:
Progress: -2 points
Reverse: +1 point
0 points, NO penalty
Gate Marker: +10 points
Rollover: +5 points
Boundary Marker: +10 points
Vehicle Touch (Repair & Repositions): +10 points
Course Direction: +10 points
Self Recovery : +3 points
0 points, NO penalty
Assisted Recovery: +10 points
0 points, NO penalty
Dig/Rear Steer: +5 points
Did not finish (or point out): point out or high score on course +20 points
Did not start: Point out or high score on course +50 points
+30 points
Safety Time Out: FREE
Vehicle out of Spec: Varies
Progress Bonus: (-2 progress point) shall be awarded to drivers for each gate that is cleared by the vehicle
during the attempt of a course. A gate is considered cleared and a progress bonus shall be given when at least one front and one rear tire passes completely through the gate in the intended direction of the gate. All tires must pass completely through the gate to receive the progress bonus without a gate penalty. A 10 point gate penalty shall be given if all tires do not clear the gate, even if no gate marker is touched or straddled. The tires of the vehicle must travel completely through the gate, and not just break the plane of the gate. Tires must pass through the gate in the same direction and in the same attempt before a progress bonus is awarded. These points are deducted from the total course score. Once a driver has pointed out, no further progress points will be awarded.
Back Up/Reverse
0) two thoughts; scalers do not have digs (as comp crawlers do) to assist in making extremely sharp turns plus in real 1:1 scaling action reverses are used normally/naturally and freely; therefore should not be looked upon as a penalty in a scaled competition.
Gate Marker: (+10 pts each) Each gate will be comprised of 2 gate markers. Points are given when all wheels do not travel between gate markers or any part of the vehicle, a tow strap or winch line touches a gate marker. A gate marker will remain "live" for the entire duration of the attempt on the course. Once any gate marker has been touched or straddled, no more penalties will be given for that gate marker. Only when a gate penalty is assessed will that gate marker be deemed "dead". No further penalties will be assessed at this point for that gate marker. There will no longer be a penalty for stepping on a gate (for safety reasons) but please stay off course as much as possible and limit course damage.
Rollover: (+5 pts) Points are given when a vehicle rolls over and cannot be corrected without touching. Once the vehicle has stopped it may be rolled back onto its wheels and a +5 point penalty shall be given. Vehicles that
land back on their wheels without assistance are not penalized. No reverse penalties will be awarded until the
vehicle is righted. The vehicle may at no time be lifted, slid or moved in any way other than a smooth, continuous roll to the left or right side only. Any other manipulation or movement of the vehicle will be considered a "vehicle touch" penalty.
Boundary Marker: (+10 pts each) Points are given when any part of the vehicle touches a boundary marker. Once a boundary marker is touched the judge then will stop time, and the vehicle is then moved back by the driver to the previously cleared gate with the rear axle aligned to that gate. If the vehicle cannot be aligned to the gate due to course design, the judge will reposition the vehicle to the next stable location after the cleared gate. This location will be used for all drivers. A boundary marker will remain "live" for the entire duration of the attempt on the course, and should be replaced if moved. Boundary markers are not required in the design of a course.
Vehicle Touch: (+10 pts) All vehicle touches excluding “rollovers”, "winching", "assisted recoveries" (see associated rules), intentional or unintentional, are given an automatic +10 points. The judge then will stop time when either the driver calls for a vehicle touch or the judge calls a driver touch. The vehicle is then moved back by the driver to the previously cleared gate with the rear axle aligned to that gate. If the vehicle cannot be aligned to the gate due to course design, the judge will reposition the vehicle to the next stable location after
the cleared gate. This location will be used for all drivers. Note: All gates for progress are still “live” unless a gate
has already been deemed “dead”. Vehicle touches include but are not limited to: repairs, repositions, vehicle driving/falling into the driver.
On-Course Repairs: (+10pts) Must be completed on course and in the spot of which the driver decided to take the repair. Repairs must be made within the course time, while the course timer will continue to run. If repairs are made within the course time, the driver must return to the last previous gate cleared. If repairs cannot be made within the course time, the driver is given a DNF minus progress points for that course. There are no restrictions on whom or how the repairs are made.
Off-Course Repairs: (+10pts) A driver can call time to make an off-course repair. Repairs should be completed within 30 minutes, or the driver is given a DNF minus progress points. If the repair is made in the allotted time, the driver must return to the last previous gate cleared. A 1 minute time penalty will be subtracted from the time that is left on that course, the timer will continue once the vehicle makes forward progress.
Reposition: (+10 pts) The vehicle will be placed with its rear tires in the last gate progressed or the nearest stable location after the last cleared gate if the last gate cleared is unstable.
Course Direction: (+10 pts) Gates must be cleared in their intended direction and sequence. Any part of the vehicle entering an non-cleared gate in the wrong direction, or driven through out of sequence will result in a
+10 point penalty. The judge will stop time. The vehicle is then moved back to the previously cleared gate (see reposition rule). Once the gate is cleared and awarded progress it can be traveled in any sequence or direction.
Self-Recovery
0) The time needed to use a winch line is enough of a penalty. Self-recovery techniques are pretty cool in themselves and shouldn't be discouraged. If at any time during the process of removing recovery tools and/or winch line from vehicle, the vehicle is moved by any force other than it's winch or its own power (within reason), a touch penalty will be assessed and the vehicle repositioned to the last cleared gate (see vehicle touch rule). All selfrecovery tools must be carried on the vehicle.
Assisted Recovery
0) See reason above. At any time during the course, a driver may call for an assisted recovery. With the clock running, another vehicle will be brought onto the course to pull or winch the stranded vehicle to safety. The stranded vehicle shall not be pulled beyond the original position of the rescuing vehicle or it will result in another assisted recovery penalty.
Dig/Rear Steer (Class 3 only): (+5 pts) Dig and rear steer are both legal in Class 3, but only one may be used per course. The first use of dig or rear steer will incur a +5 point penalty, subsequent uses of the same feature (dig or rear steer) on the same course are free. Use of the other feature is prohibited. If at any time on the same course the driver uses rear steer after using dig, or uses dig after using rear steer, a +10 reposition penalty will be incurred, and the truck will be placed at the last cleared gate.
DNF (Did Not Finish): (High score or point out +20 pts) are given anytime a driver cannot complete a course for any reason. (Time expired, point-out, vehicle not repairable, went home, etc) Progress points are awarded for each gate completed and scale points are awarded. **If there is no point out you use the highest score on that course before scale and progress points**
DNS (Did Not Start): (High score or point out
+30 pts)I can understand having more points than a DNF but 50 seems excessive to a point of knocking a driver totally out of the competition. are given anytime a driver cannot start a course for any reason. Vehicle must start course under its own power. No scale points will be awarded to this course.
Safety Time Out: A driver may call for time to stop so that he or she may safely reposition themselves on the course. This time shall be used for the purpose of driver safety and may not be used to survey the course or for any other advantage. Once the competitor is repositioned the time will start, however the judge has the right to start time at any point.
Vehicle out-of-spec: If the Judge has reason to believe a vehicle is out of spec during a course run, he may call time to stop. At that point no additional inputs maybe given by the driver to the vehicle via touch or radio control. The Judge must mark the vehicle’s location and perform a tech inspection in the specified tech area (same
manner as all other tech inspections). If the vehicle has been deemed within spec, the driver and vehicle will
return to the location marked by the judge and the clock will start once again. If the vehicle is now out of spec and the Judge has determined that the vehicle has gained an advantage, the driver must take a repair to correct the problem. If the problem cannot be corrected to bring the vehicle back within spec, the driver will receive a DNF for that course. If a vehicle falls out of spec due to breakage on course and the judge determines the driver has not gained an advantage, then the driver may be allowed to continue on course without stopping time and requiring a tech inspection. Bodies, and body panels are not included in this exception, and must be replaced immediately, standard repair procedures and penalties apply.
