TSD street rally,Sat July12, in Rockland Cnty NY (starts in PalisadesMall,Nyack)

Time Speed Distance (gimmick/trick) NIGHT rally starting in Nyack NY at the Palisades Center Mall on Saturday night July 12th at 7pm.

http://www.wscc.org/flyers/2014SummerRallyFlyer.pdf

Registration from 5pm to 6:30, drivers meeting at 6:30, first car off at 7pm. Novice meeting at 6:15, these are HARD trick rallies. Cars leave in 1 minute intervals from your car number, so first come first start. Should be about 2-4 hours (usually 3ish). You need TWO people (driver and navigator), and $20 per car ($10 each). Recommended: a pen, something to write on on the nav’s lap (like a clipboard), a basic calculator (or a nav who likes math), a small light like an LED so the nav can read the instructions and write, and a watch/clock with seconds that you can easily reset to the rallymaster’s time. Rally computers, GPS systems, and lights above headlight level not allowed. Trophies for the winners of each class.

What is it? A TimeSpeedDistance (TSD) rally has an “average speed” that you should follow through the rally. Its set BELOW the speed limit. The rally instructions are very tricky and you’re looking for stuff at night (ie: make 3rd left after the word “STRINGS”, or make second acute right, etc) so you’re going to make a few bad turns. After you figure out you’re in the wrong place you have to backtrack to the correct turn without getting lost, then speed up to get back to your “average speed” (where you would be if you didnt get lost). There are hidden signs along the course you need to mark down, and hidden checkpoints where you pull over and they record what time you came in. Points are given for every second early or late to each checkpoint, and for each sign missed or put out of order. Lowest points win.

So questions like “is this illegal” or “dude this is awesome I’m gona go 175mph” or “wont we all get arrested” are silly since thats not what the rally is about. Some people do it in minivans with their kids in the backseat helping look for turns. If you make a wrong turn or get lost, its up to you if you choose you catch up slowly and safely and risk hitting a checkpoint and getting lots of points, or if you drive like an ass and risk getting pulled over by a cop or taking risks so you can make up time as quickly as possible and get a better score. There will be mostly twisty hilly backroads where you probably will never see a cop, but they are also public roads and you take any risks on your own. I can guaranty you will enjoy them a lot more in a sports car “taking a few risks” than a minivan full of kids tho. Some people will choose to have a nice ride down some twisty windy backroads in the dark, some people will get way lost and come into checkpoints late and gets lots of points, and some people will choose to drive in a manner to make up time each time they get lost and have a blast down some twicked roads. Its all up to the drivers. The roads are awesome and usually including some dirt and gravel roads, but nothing a lowered car couldn’t handle.

Bump. This Saturday night. I did a test run last night. Fun fun fun roads.

Why no rally computers?

What about external odo’s?

This is too far for me to go, just curious.

Ours is more of a trick rally to get you lost, then its up to you to make up time. So we hardly get any rally computer guys. They tend to like rallies that have easier instructions and its all about keeping perfect time. (which drive me mad) External odo would be fine, but you have to calculate yourself.

OK, we have both styles as well as I would call drivers rallies.

Trick rallies can be tough if you venture out or your area. Everywhere has different styles. For example up in Ontarion the last instruction of one section is repeated as the first instruction of the next section. It’s not explicit, it’s just the way they do it. And it varies from one rally master to the next. I always fail safe my tricks so people don’t get hopelessly lost and pissed off. I’d rather they came into a control and have no idea why they were a minute or so early or late. Some are content to send you off on a wild goose chase so you’re basically hosed for the whole event.

Sounds like fun, wish it were closer.