Guide to JCNA Club Rallying & Program Rules     Chapter 9 - Winning Rally Rules and Techniques

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Index Introduction (TSD) Rally Instructions and Terms Route Instructions Avg. Speed and Calc. Odometer and Tires Rally Equipment Timing Your First Rally Rules and Techniques Variations to the Rally JCNA Rally Rules Rallymaster Guide Appendix A Appendix B

RALLY RULE #1:
DON'T GET LOST. Concentrate on the route first, on time second. This is rallying's most important rule regardless if you're on your first rally or your hundred and first. Time lost while off course may never be made up and can bring you your greatest penalty.

RALLY RULE #2:
DONT ASSUME ANYTHING. Be sure you really read the General Instructions and don't hesitate to ask questions; many penalties can be avoided by so doing.

RALLY RULE #3:
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR OWN ABILITY TO STAY ON COURSE. Don't assume that the car(s) in front of you during the rally know where they are going, and try to follow them. Although they have the same Rls you do, they may be wrong. Also remember that wise rallymasters may have the route double back upon itself just to fool followers!

RALLY RULE #4:
CHECK OFF EACH ROUTE INSTRUCTION AS YOU COMPLETE IT --BUT ONLY WHEN IT IS COMPLETED. Checking off an item in advance is the surest way to miss that instruction altogether, since you then act on the one next in line.

RALLY RULE #5:
DON'T GIVE UP. If you're lost, or think you are, pull off the road and look things over calmly. Plan a recovery by examining road maps or trying to recall significant landmarks. TRY THIS TRICK: When you discover you're off course, STOP AT ONCE AND NOTE YOUR ODOMETER READING. Turn around and return to where you left the rally route using exactly the same route you just traveled. Read the odometer again and double the distance from the previous reading (where you turned around). Subtract this total distance off course from your present odometer reading and recalculate your timing to know what time you should have been at this point. You will not be able to turn back your odometer to compensate for being off course, but you CAN subtract the total distance off course from each subsequent odometer reading during the remainder of the rally, so don't despair. Sometimes it's worthwhile trying to cut across country to get back to the route. But if you try this stunt, bear in mind that you may skip a checkpoint.

RALLY RULE #6:
READ EACH NEW SET OF INSTRUCTIONS WITH SCRUPULOUS CARE. A favorite Rallymaster's trick is to issue a new set of instructions after a lunch break or scenic stop, or even at a special checkpoint. Beware of such traps.

RALLY RULE #7:
DON'T FORGET TO MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES TO YOUR ODOMETER OR TIMEPIECE. If your rally is being timed leg-to-leg, and the next Route Instruction shows mileage starting from "zero", then be sure to zero your odometer and clear your stopwatch. Restarts after lunch or other breaks in the rally may also require you to zero your odometer and stopwatch.

RALLY RULE #8:
DON'T SHORT CUT. Even when the end is in sight, follow every instruction to the letter. A favorite trick is to place a checkpoint or a finish line just across that intersection where the instruction says to "Turn Right." Follow the instruction and turn, or you'll be knee-deep in penalties. After you've made a few remarkable recoveries, avoided a few traps and done well with your timing BE CAREFUL because this is when you'll get cocky and get lost.

Some of the techniques used by winning rallyists:

CARRY MORE EQUIPMENT THAN YOU NEED. Add a set of rally tables to complement your calculator, slide rule or rally indicator. Try for several good watches and if possible, a short wave adapter for receiving radio time signals. Several different maps of the same area can be of great help as not all roads appear on all maps.

HELP YOUR ODOMETER WORK FOR YOU. If the odometer in your car has no trip counter, plan your trip to the starting line so that the odometer winds up at a convenient number (such as 23,100 for example). Circle the parking lot if necessary to complete the job to the last digit. If your speedometer cable is the kind that is easy to disconnect, then do so when a desired round number comes up, and re-connect it at the start line. IMPORTANT: Only original equipment odometers will be permitted on Jaguars in the JCNA Rally Program.

Aftermarket electronic, electro-mechanical and mechanical rally odometers are not allowed.

CHECK YOUR FIGURES BY WORKING THEM OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS. In the stress of rally navigating even simple calculations can go wrong. Make a habit of doing rough mental arithmetic to backstop the navigation. If you're on course and haven't had any great deviation in driving speed, beware of a calculation that shows that you're suddenly off time. Rally instruments can easily be read incorrectly, so try again.

BE READY FOR CHECKPOINTS ANYWHERE AND AT ANY TIME. In short, don't assume anything. Simply because you've just left a checkpoint, don't assume there won't be another for some time. Definite checkpoint procedure is as essential as is the definite procedure you use at average rate of speed changes.

DIVIDE THE WORK. Driver and navigator should divide duties. Then practice them. Be sure you know who reads which watch, who reads the odometer, and logs results, and who leaves the car when necessary to collect timing slips at checkpoints, for example. Practise arriving at a simulated checkpoint, or making a speed change.

KEEP TO YOUR AVERAGE SPEED. With experience, the navigator will work out a system that tells him or her how the team stands every instant in relation to the required average speed. With the driver, the navigator works out a plan of always being a few seconds ahead of time. This provides a cushion of safety against traffic lights or similar delays, and yet i t can be "lost " promptly if a checkpoint appears unexpectedly beyond a turn.

KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A MAP. Carry maps of the area you think you'll probably go through. Along with all the other navigational skills, try to develop the knack of following your rally route roughly on a map you can keep handy. There will be many times when knowing where you are will pay substantial dividends in terms of saving time getting back on course. HINT: Exxon Company maps are among the best.

DEVELOP A FOOLPROOF METHOD OF MAKING AVERAGE SPEED CHANGES. If you plan to become a serious rallyist, you'll want to go into this phase of rallying in a manner beyond the scope of this brief guide. One good tip, however, is to carry a spare stopwatch with exactly five minutes already set on it. Then, if you arrive at an indicated speed change point and find that you are late by three minutes (as an example), let the watch used on the previous leg run for two minutes more and then switch to your pre-set watch at the already indicated five minute mark.

GOOD LUCK -- AND REMEMBER, A RALLY IS NOT A RACE!!!

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