RSO rule change for Novice ORRC cars

[Rita Moore]

NOTICE OF RALLYSPORT ONTARIO RULE CHANGE PERTAINING TO ROAD RALLIES

As of January 1, 2007, Section 30.0(e) now reads,

“A ‘Novice’ is any other competitor; however, if a vehicle is equipped with a computerized system capable of performing simultaneous, real-time odometer and timing calculations, the competitor may not enter as a Novice”.

In other words, if you have a computer hooked up to your car in such a way that it knows how fast you’re going and can tell you how your timing is doing, you must enter as an Intermediate or Expert.

Those with electronic odometers such as a TerraTrip, or those using laptops not connected to the car, are not affected by this rule change. However, those with Alpha or Timewise computers, for example, are now barred from the ORRC Novice class.

If you have any questions about this rule, please see Rita Moore, RSO vice-president of Navigational Rallies, at the next ORRC event; or e-mail her at vpnavigational@rallysport.on.ca

[dtompsett]

Hehehe... good thing I'm moving up to intermediate this year! :rolleyes:

[CobraStang]

Good decision, IMO.
Looking forward to the Jaunt!

[Ferdinand]

... if a vehicle is equipped with a computerized system capable of performing simultaneous, real-time odometer and timing calculations, the competitor may not enter as a Novice”.
So odometer only is okay, and Timewise/Alpha type computers displaying how many seconds ahead or behind schedule are not okay. That's clear enough.

But what about the stuff between those extremes that displays odometer and your computed average speed?

[dtompsett]

But what about the stuff between those extremes that displays odometer and your computed average speed?



computerized system capable of performing simultaneous, real-time odometer and timing calculations... hooked up to your car in such a way that it knows how fast you’re going and can tell you how your timing is doing, you must enter as an Intermediate or Expert.

Those with electronic odometers such as a TerraTrip, or those using laptops not connected to the car, are not affected by this rule change.

-Calibrated odo's are fine.
-Units that display a CAS (but do not show timing ahead/behind) are also fine.

So you are still allowed to use a Terratrip, or the built-in display in your car which displays average speed. These units, while they do allow you to manually calculate timing based on a known distance travelled, do not automatically tell you timing. Can't come around a corner, glance over, and scrub off 10 seconds before going through a checkpoint... the manual calculation takes too long... unless you pre-made a set of tables as a reference using rough differences in CAS and mileage... not usefull right at the checkpoint, but could be a good reference during a long section (if I know I'm 2km/h avg over given CAS, and have been driving for 'X'km , I can determine how much time that is).

[Rita Moore]

Yes, Doug has it all correct. Basically, if the Navigator still has to take the info from the computer system (eg average speed) and do the timing calculations (interpret that into your current plus/minus time), it is allowed in Novice. If the system does timing in real-time, giving you this info 'on the run' as it were, the car must go Intermediate or Expert.

[craig]

Neat rule :)

... and my Terratrip still works ... :p

[craig hamm]

On a good day (it *nearly* happened...) a team can achieve a < 1.0 score on a 2 hour navex rally without any calculations using a Brantz with avg speed display. It's still quite an advantage, and they still cost about $500 new, so it's not a Novice friendly expense. Might be more fair to real Novices to simply ban any odo which recieves an input from the final drive ratio of the auto and displays anything more than distances. e.g. wheel probes and tranny outputs which are needed for rally odos, and contains a clock. But I still support the changes made for 2007. Good direction.

[dtompsett]

Only problem Craig... what about cars that have a CAS function built into the trip computer? Yes, I can't calibrate the stock odo on my car... but I do have the ability to generate a CAS by simply changing to the correct display and holding the reset button for 2 seconds... and it isn't new technology... this was stock in a car thats now 19 years old. Of course, all that, and they couldn't even put a bloody cupholder in the thing!

[IanO]

Only problem Craig... what about cars that have a CAS function built into the trip computer? Yes, I can't calibrate the stock odo on my car... but I do have the ability to generate a CAS by simply changing to the correct display and holding the reset button for 2 seconds... and it isn't new technology... this was stock in a car thats now 19 years old. Of course, all that, and they couldn't even put a bloody cupholder in the thing!

It's calculating the CAS on your incorrect odo though. It's definitely an assistance but I'm pretty sure the error is high enough that you couldn't zero a 200km+ ORRC event.

I agree that limiting some computers from being used in novice was a good start but I'd also like to see computers like the Brantz and 303 not allowed in novice. Basically any computer that can be calibrated and that shows CAS (although an accurate odo without CAS can be a big help especially in the winter events).

In the 2005 ORRC series basically the top 4 or 5 teams in novice were all running Alfas by the end of the year. It doesn't seem so novice at that point :)

[craig hamm]

I agree with you both. :)
I know thew bimmers have had an avg. speed calculator built in for years. It does help, for sure, but at least it only increments distance forward (and related to that, the Brantz etc will still calc your CAS when you put it in decrement, so that when you put it in increment again you know when you're back on time) and does not have a vernier. At least you can argue it's OEM. Not perfect, obviously.

[Andrew Harvey]

This is a great new rule. The novice class has been abused by some in past years. I'm glad to see the changes.

Thanks to RSO! I guess intermediate just got a bit harder :)