A trial section in an American Road Rally?

Hello Trials Enthusiasts.

 

I'm trying to figure out how to include a trials section in a future American-style road rally. Over here in Massachusetts we know how to run navigational rallies using very accurate timing, but don't know anything about setting up a trial section.

 

One problem is that we classify cars based on how much navigational computer power they have, not by the engine size, tire type, or number of driven wheels. 4WD trucks with mud tires compete evenly with MX-5s and Hondas. Is it practical to run such a wide range of cars through the same section? Is there some sort of handicap system that could be used to level out the scores?

 

Thanks.

 

Doug.

 

 

Lands End '99

Situations Vacant

As many of you know David Alderson, the current chairman of ACTC, has uppped sticks and left for the warmer climate of Turkey.    This has resulted in something of a cabinet reshuffle within ACTC and there has arisen the need / oportunity to fill two "entry level" posts.

 

1) Class 7 Co-ordinator / Tyre Officer
This role is about keep track of the kit car specifications, liasing with people who want to use a new/different kit car in class 7, liasing with the manufacturers to ensure that the vehicle is a legitimate entry (though not very much) and collating the specification for submission to ACTC Technical Panel for approval.   Supplying newcomers (and not so new) with copies of specifications for cars they might want to use.    This person also acts as arbiter of tyres inspecting tyres on request from competitors and passing judgement.  This part of the job is not as onerous as it sounds, 6 new tyres have been insected in the last 12 months, and all were done either by inspection at an event or from photographs and prints in the privacy of home.

 

2) Quality Assurance
This role is the back room to the observers reports that some of you may have been asked to fill in.  It requires the liason with all the organisers to obtain an early copy of each entry list from which 3-4 observers are selected for each event.  They have to be written to in plenty of time for each event so that they can expess opinions of the organisation.  Their reports then have to be collated into a summary for return to those organisers for their use and for submission to the ACTC Council.   This is done for all ACTC events, not just the championship, and is very important for the selection of new events for the championship.  In addition this person controls the scrutineering database.   At each event the scrutineer fills in a report of all the dubious items that have been picked up on any vehicle and these are passed forward to the next event in which that person competes so that, in theory, if someone still hasn't fixed something after being told about it they can justifiably not be allowed to start.   Happily it has never come to this. 

Both these roles involve the attendance at 4 meetings per year, held in  either Tormarton (near the Allen Start), Aztec West (M4/M5 Junction) or Cheltenham.

 

If you think you could put something back into the sport, contact me at bsw_holdings@compuserve.com or on 01584-881348 (daytime); or Giles Greenslade (e-mail address in the member's directory of this site)

I don't suppose we will be overwelmed by volunteers!

Hill Poll Result

Thanks to all of you that sent me your lists of favourite and least favourite hills.

Without further ado I shall announce the results, with apologies for the delay between the close of the poll and this information.

 

By  fairly narrow margins your top three favourite hills were:

1)  Simms

2)  Bluehills 2

3)  Clinnick

 

By an even narrower margin the least favorite threesome were:

1)  Uploders 2

2)=Bedrock

     Uploders 1

 

I have complied a list of the top 15 favourite hills into a 'Fantasy Trial', and their opposite numbers in the Least Favourite section into a 'Nightmare Trial'.

 

I'm not able to post the lists right at this moment, and as I leave with the day job for a month in India tomorrow, very early, I shall have to submit them via someone else.

When you see them perhaps you might like to try your hand at compiling the road book for both, using the shortest route!!

 

I haven't forgotten that I promised a small prize for the competitor that got the hills closest to the results.   I'm glad to say that we did get a result on the hills and didn't have to resort to the Special Test Times.

The winner is a young man who has already started winning other prizes....Aaron Haizeldean.

Congratulations, Aaron, and you will get your prize when I get back.

 

Chris

Triple

Just got my copy of Triple which I immediately sat down and read from cover to cover as usual.

It was confirmed that Steve Harris is giving up the editor’s chair for "personal reasons". What a wonderful phrase. It's as informative as people that resign jobs "to pursue other interests"

I have a love hate relationship with both "Triple" and "Re-Start". I love reading them but always feel a bit controlled on an "auntie knows best" basis where either the editor or the establishment is controlling the information flow.

I have had my biggest problem with Re-Start in the days when Anne was in the editor’s chair. There was a lot of debate about the roughness of sections. I wrote a letter and Anne published an extract, which portrayed the complete opposite view I was trying to make, but endorsed her own opinion! I never really forgave her for that! In fairness to Re-Start's current editor I don't believe Pat would do that as she is very correct in everything she does and expects others to be as well. I have had a few e-mails when she has felt I was stepping out of line on my Web activities!

Steve Harris and I had a rather formal relationship when he used some stuff in Triple from my Web Site without asking or acknowledging where it came from. I thought this was most impolite and said so and he never used my stuff again! The whole thing was even more complicated as someone else wrote the piece, he had written it for the supplement I do for the Falcon magazine and I hadn't asked if I could publish it on the web myself! A mistake I haven't repeated and the author must have forgiven me as he still helps me out from time to time!

I also had problems in the past with the SODC magazine.

There is a bit of controversy over a letter Ian Blackburn wrote in an earlier Triple which upset a few members. Consequently, there is an apology in the latest Triple and a statement that "On reflection........... should not have been published".

That brings me back to paragraph 3. I believe (and will write to Triple to say so) that a member should be able to write a letter with the expectation that it is published. The fact that the club and/or it's members may or not agree or may be upset is irrelevant. It's the individuals opinion and he or she must stand the consequences if others don't like it. As much as I love my Triple I am over 21 and I don't want a sanitised "everything is rosy we all love each other " version. Or is all this perhaps part of the MCC charm? It probably is!

Michael

 

 

Problems Posting Messages - Help from Andrea

Andrea e-mailed me about various things the other day, including some advice if you are having problems posting messages. If you are having problems give it a try and let us know how you get on.

 

..........By the way I see that some people are having trouble posting messages. It is probably because they are using the 'sign me in automatically on this machine' function. If they sign out and then sign back in again it will work. It's best not to use the 'sign me in auto etc as it causes all sorts of problems...........

 

Michael