[Graham]

I have revised and posted on the leading page the Revised Format of the Event under the headings below
Which I think is fair and understandable.........at least for me 

Series Format (Revised) The format will now follow the conventional practise for slot car Rally Events.

[b]Rally Proxy Round Scoring and Awards[/b]

[Kevan]

Yes, that's what we do also.

What about default time for a DNF?  We usually use the slowest time achieved on the stage regardless of class or era but have use 120 seconds in the past.

Also what about stage run time length? 60 seconds + end lap?

[Graham]

Yes, that's what we do also.

What about default time for a DNF?  We usually use the slowest time achieved on the stage regardless of class or era but have use 120 seconds in the past.

Also what about stage run time length? 60 seconds + end lap?

 I kind of guess that the clubs who have the stages will know best what works for them, and probably depends on the length of run of each stage which may differ.
So I don't want to be too prescriptive on those issues. But I guess we should have a Standardised DNF time at least, I will ask the guys at Wye Valley next week what they tend to use then we can decide between the hosts.

[woodcote]

The rally-style cumulative time format is perfect for a rally proxy - and it certainly worked well for our WHO Rally-Sprint in 2021. Glad you're using it.

We went with a 180-second maximum time on stage - which was also the default time for an DNF across all our stages. Our stage lengths varied considerably - from a 13.9 second winning time to 84.78 seconds. The maximum time means the host can decide if a car is running very slow or coming off on every corner, then it won't get in the time limit and get a default. Not a mechanical DNF, but an authentic rallying 'out of time'.

A DNF meant a car was immediately out of contention for the overall or a class win, so clear guidance on a shake-down session and any repairs is important. We controversially required changes (eg guide depth) or repairs to be made after a stage, hence the car receiving a 180-second default time, if the car could not get round the stage or was out of time. It could be argued that a rally car only gets a shake-down on a stage or two before the event begins - it does not get a practice run through each stage.

I'll be running two stages over the second weekend in March. One will be on the Brighton Ice Rink...

       

It's a tight, low-grip course, routed into PVC foam board with copper tape...

       

I'll be using the Laptracker-Auto Timer app for timing...

   

I haven't quite decided on the second stage... The choice is a flat Ninco asphalt/off-road layout based on my Extreme Slotting stage, but with more tarmac than shown here - and no Rally-Raid obstacles!

   

A repaved (Ninco/Policar) Devil's Dyke Hillclimb...

       

Or my permanent single-lane Scalextric Sport hill-climb that I've had a lot of fun developing  functionally, but a proxy appearance would encourage me to get some scenics in place...



I've got a few months to make a decision on that second stage...

Expect a couple of standard (Class A) Ninco cars to be entered into Events 2 & 4.

[Kevan]

I agree, Raid obstacles are for Raid vehicles.  We tried a couple of Raid sections in the past but tarmac Rally cars aren't designed for lumps, consequently everyone went off the track, the evening was ruined for all and we vowed never to repeat the experiment.

[Graham]

Andy,
I have tried very hard to address the guide issue in the rules, but I dare say that there will be problems again 
One reason I have posted a one month ahead date for delivery of the cars is so that it gives me time to check the cars and advise, return or make changes if the cars don't look suitable from that point of view. And I will be using your guide from earlier this year on the front of the guide catching the Scalextric/SCX track at steep angles. But I will not be expecting Hosts to be changing guides etc, if they are not working then just give the car a DNF and let it move onto the next stage.

I have to confess that I have never watched an actual real Rally taking place, I wonder what time penalty criteria they use for cars which do not complete a stage ?

[woodcote]

I have to confess that I have never watched an actual real Rally taking place, I wonder what time penalty criteria they use for cars which do not complete a stage ?

That’s quite a confession! You are missing out on a treat. There‘s nothing quite like wrapping up and going out on chilly winter’s day to enjoy the action - and see how the event is run. A popular format these days is a one-day single-venue event based at a circuit or on MOD land. Not quite the same as classic forest stage, but still great fun. If you want to get really close, organisers always welcome volunteers to help marshal the event.

If you prefer to stay warm, there are plenty of highlights free online (RedBull have extended highlights each evening of a WRC rally), including classic rallies from the 80s & 90s on the fabulous VHS Rallies YouTube channel.

As for the time penalty, the WRC currently use ten minutes for cars that fail to finish a stage. If a car misses two stages, that becomes 20 minutes etc. They plan to reduce that to two minutes next year for hybrid malfunctions that have blighted some rallies this year - that would mean a penalised car could score championship points. At ten minutes, any points are highly unlikely.

[Kevan]

I'm really lucky to have witnessed many famous rallies here in the Isle of Man in the past, it's still fairly popular but nothing like the 80s and early 90s. I've not been out to watch one for 30 years now. 
I have the petrol tank cap off Michelle Moutons Audi Quattro Sport from 1985, she retired before the end. The car was on a trailer on Douglas prom so I 'acquired' a souvenir.

[Graham]

I have to confess that I have never watched an actual real Rally taking place, I wonder what time penalty criteria they use for cars which do not complete a stage ?

That’s quite a confession! You are missing out on a treat. There‘s nothing quite like wrapping up and going out on chilly winter’s day to enjoy the action - and see how the event is run. A popular format these days is a one-day single-venue event based at a circuit or on MOD land. Not quite the same as classic forest stage, but still great fun. If you want to get really close, organisers always welcome volunteers to help marshal the event.

If you prefer to stay warm, there are plenty of highlights free online (RedBull have extended highlights each evening of a WRC rally), including classic rallies from the 80s & 90s on the fabulous VHS Rallies YouTube channel.

As for the time penalty, the WRC currently use ten minutes for cars that fail to finish a stage. If a car misses two stages, that becomes 20 minutes etc. They plan to reduce that to two minutes next year for hybrid malfunctions that have blighted some rallies this year - that would mean a penalised car could score championship points. At ten minutes, any points are highly unlikely.

Feeling even more embarrassed (as I never been or watched a stage right through),  So I guess a Real Rally stage is around 8 minutes long ? and if the penalty for a DNF is 10 minutes, it is just over twice as long as the average Rally time ?

[woodcote]

Stage lengths and times vary - although they are now generally much shorter and more uniform that in the past. At the last WRC round in Catalunya, the winning times on the 19 special stages varied between 5 and 12 minutes - 8 minutes is not a bad average for a WRC stage. There are stage results and stats from thousands of rallies on the amazing eWRC Results website: https://www.ewrc-results.com/

The ten minute penalty is in addition to a nominal stage time - usually the fastest time for the car's class. That's slightly different to how it's done with slot rallies at the moment.

Your last chance to watch a full WRC rally this year is Japan (10-13 Nov) - £11 for full coverage on the WRC+ streaming service.

To find a stage rally near you, this is a good start: https://www.itsmymotorsport.co.uk/by-month.htm