Northwest Rally Council

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Stop him! He’s been thinking, again.

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I’ve been pondering the universe more than usual in the last few days. And by that I mean I have poured over the Generals front and back looking for cracks in the foundation. Not to exploit, but to mend. I prefer to exploit solid rules. I was testing alternate interpretations against the June route instructions to see if it held up and avoided weak spots.

Some of the rules in the Generals are simple and clear. Some are confusing or lumpy. Lumpy? That’s a rule that almost did the job and then a problem was noticed so the cooks just dropped another word or two into the pot as a fix. That pot hasn’t been stirred since 2007. Yes, I was among those in the kitchen at the time.

I challenge you to read the first two sentences of section 4.1 and say the words “that is perfectly clear” in a believable manner.

4.1 A route instruction may have multiple actions and may also have multiple ACTION POINT(s). Execute each route instruction at its first possible ACTION POINT(s).

That looks pretty harmless. Multiple actions and ACTION POINTs are allowed, correct? Is it possible for a route instruction to have no action or ACTION POINT? Can the number of actions be different from the number of ACTION POINTs? I’ll suggest that the last question might be answered by the language used in the first sentence. I think that was probably the intent. If the action quantity was lockstep with the ACTION POINT count, the “may also have” would not be needed. Still wouldn’t be perfectly clear.

Route instructions are meant to be logical and readable (special terms and definitions aside). We can easily understand the instruction RIGHT AT SIGNAL PAUSE 30 and accept it as legitimate. It has two actions [RIGHT] and [PAUSE] doesn’t it? And they occur at the same ACTION POINT, so this may help answer the question of differing quantities and does so more clearly, if the example holds. If you want to raise your hand and ask about 4.5, you’re reading ahead in the Generals. Just back the truck up. We’ll get there soon enough. Until then, your punishment is to think about whether or not PAUSE is really an action. I assure you that its definition makes no convincing argument.

Which conveniently brings us back to the first question: can a route instruction have no action and/or ACTION POINT? Yes, and no. I have come to the understanding that the no action condition must be acceptable and yet there must be at least one ACTION POINT. To make things worse, the ACTION POINT can also be invisible, hypothetical, or fictional. You might hear people speak of an implied action. That is weak sauce. We use things like OBSERVE “NEXT EXIT” on almost every event. Sometimes it is just “NEXT EXIT”. Is there a need to imply OBSERVE? Is a lonely “NEXT EXIT” an executable instruction? I posit that it is fully compliant with 4.3.2. There is no change of direction specified but there is a REFERENCE, so the instruction should be executed AT the REFERENCE. The ACTION POINT is AT the REFERENCE, because 4.3.2 told us where to execute and 4.3 labels that an ACTION POINT. The only action that took place was the completion of the instruction. Woof. Invisible, hypothetical, and fictional ACTION POINTs are mentioned only to emphasize that while we’ve used 4.3 to identify the ACTION POINT(s) where execution actually took place, the definition in section 8 reads “can be…”

I’ll tear apart the second sentence of 4.1 in a future rant.

You, in the back having your 4.5 fit, wanted to ask how RIGHT AT SIGNAL PAUSE 30 is allowed when 4.5 reads

4.5 The same ACTION POINT will not be used simultaneously for two route instructions.

RIGHT and PAUSE are two actions (argument for another time) of the same route instruction, not two route instructions. This is an important distinction. It is part of the reason the first sentence of 4.1 specifically mentions multiple actions and ACTION POINTs. This example is considered two actions at a single ACTION POINT. I’ll let you stew over 6.7 for a bit.

I’ll end for now with a summary of how FOOTZ interprets the following instructions:

  1. SIGNAL – no action, one ACTION POINT
  2. RIGHT AT SIGNAL – one action, one ACTION POINT
  3. RIGHT AT SIGNAL AFTER SIGNAL – one action, two ACTION POINTs (maybe, really tough to justify)
  4. RIGHT AT 2ND SIGNAL – one action, one ACTION POINT
  5. OBSERVE SIGNAL THEN RIGHT AT SIGNAL – two actions, two ACTION POINTs

In Just One Week:

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We’re back again for more fun going places. 3L&AR is loaded with fun roads, bright yellow signs, and an occasional, mild, instructional exercise. This is a clean event suitable for beginners and masters alike.

Checkpoint procedure will be a bit different than last month. There is another post on this site which describes it in detail, along with an example checkpoint slip. Upon reaching a checkpoint, pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do. Open the checkpoint slip and follow the information in it to continue the rally. The start of the next leg will be nearby. The slip tells you how to get there and how much time you have.

There are Supplemental Generals for June. Read up! Make sure you understand the new defined terms PREMARKER, SPEED LIMIT, and SNOCONE.

From the regular NWRC Generals, the usual suspects include BEAR, ITIS, MBCU, OR, and the quintuplets of the Through Route Determinant family.

Entry fee for 2023 NWRC Friday Nighters is $30.

Registration will be open from 6:45pm-7:15pm.

Start location details if you haven’t done this before.

See you Friday!

What’s more fun than a discussion of rally minutiae? Many things. Since we’re on the topic of Many Things…

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Extensive waffling and editing has taken place since this post first appeared 5/28. As of the evening of 5/29 some things are completely different. It might be worth reading it again.

While writing a checkpoint slip, I suddenly realized one (ha!) of the route instructions might be faulty. It passed the sniff test initially, but as I retraced the logic and checked specifics in the rules, my confidence in it wavered. What concerned me even more was that I used similar instructions earlier without incurring any doubt. Something was critically different this time, but what?

There are still a lot of holes in the NWRC Generals. When I fell into TSD rally, the entirety of the NWRC Generals fit on a single, double-sided page. Today it fits on four, with much of the increase due to larger font size and formatting. That’s still pretty thin for rules that support course following events. I don’t have any problem with a thin rulebook. My focus is where the rules get vague or leave a gap that is open to multiple interpretations.

Today’s soapbox is about route instruction actions and ACTION POINT(s).

  • [A] All route instructions have one or more actions to be executed, whether or not an action is explicitly stated.
  • [B] All route instructions have one or more ACTION POINT(s) where actions are executed.
  • [C] Multiple actions within a route instruction may occur at one ACTION POINT.
  • [D] An action may consist of several sub-actions occurring at different ACTION POINT(s). The sub-actions may be implied.

These statements are not found in the NWRC Generals but can be derived from the rules therein and stand up in practice.

Section 4.1 only says that an instruction may have multiple actions and it may have multiple ACTION POINT(s). That an instruction must have at least one action and ACTION POINT comes from section 4.3 telling us that an instruction can only be executed at an ACTION POINT.

  • 77. R AT STOP, CAST 25

NRI 77 has two actions at one ACTION POINT. This conforms to [A] & [B], demonstrates [C], and [D] does not apply.

  • 78. L AT “STOP”, CAST 25

This is less obvious. You could make a case that NRI 78 has three actions and two ACTION POINT(s). Is there an implied action to OBSERVE “STOP”? In this instance, I think there is no need to visually note and pass “STOP” before taking other action because AT places the REFERENCE in the vicinity. NRI 78 has two actions at one ACTION POINT. This conforms to [A] & [B], demonstrates [C], and [D] does not apply.

  • 79. OBSERVE “TRUCK ROUTE”

This is the easy one, in case you weren’t paying attention. NRI 79 has one action and one ACTION POINT. This conforms to [A] & [B], while [C] & [D] do not apply.

  • 80. “CONGESTION”

WTF (words, too few). Lazy Rallymaster? Saving toner? This is the previously mentioned implied OBSERVE. One action and one ACTION POINT. The instruction must be executable, and section 4.3 tells us it must have an ACTION POINT. The appropriate action is OBSERVE, although it is not explicitly stated in the NRI. While there is nothing in the Generals about implied actions, they must exist for 4.3 to hold up. The ACTION POINT is at the REFERENCE. Once again, this conforms to [A] & [B], while [C] & [D] do not apply.

  • 81. L AFTER “TUNNEL”

Two actions and two ACTION POINT(s)? Nope. There is no implied OBSERVE hiding here. The AFTER requires that you pass the indicated REFERENCE before you can execute the L. This is just another one action, one ACTION POINT instruction when written as above. I would consider it two actions with independent ACTION POINT(s) if it was worded OBSERVE “TUNNEL” THEN L. Both ways conform to [A] & [B], while [C] & [D] do not apply.

Now let’s jump ahead a few chapters and get this over with.

  • 119. R AFTER 2ND “TRAIL CROSSING”, CAST 25, WATCH FOR HORSES FOR 1 MILE

Are there five actions? Three, maybe four ACTION POINT(s)? Perhaps multiple implied OBSERVE(s)? That was my thinking, too. But there is nothing to support that position in the NWRC Generals. The foundation established with NRIs 78 and 80 above means the AFTER kills off thoughts of an implied OBSERVE action. The first ACTION POINT has three actions – R, CAST, WATCH FOR HORSES FOR 1 MILE. We don’t have terms for the situation where (or when) the start and end of an action occur at different points. The instruction is readable and logical, so I maintain there must be another action and ACTION POINT. At that first ACTION POINT, the three actions are actually R, CAST, and [Start WATCH FOR HORSES FOR 1 MILE]. The final action – [End WATCH FOR HORSES FOR 1 MILE] – and second ACTION POINT occur one mile later. This NRI effectively demonstrates all of the concepts [A]-[D].

I hope that all made sense. When the Generals talk about actions/ACTION POINT(s), whether or not a REFERENCE is needed/used, and determining execution or completion of an instruction there are some places that could use improvement.

3 Lefts & A Right!

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Next Friday Nighter just two weeks away, on 6/9.

Next up on the NWRC calendar is our June Friday Nighter.

3 Lefts & A Right is presented by the Fraternal Order of the Zero.

Will use the Richta GPS Checkpoint system again! Get the Introductory Quick Guide to the Competitor app.

Will run under additional/altered rules. In addition to the NWRC Generals, be sure to get the June supplemental generals.

Leg format will be slightly different from Appetizer (the May Friday Nighter). Checkpoints will not be identified in the Numbered Route Instructions. The Competitor app will make a warbling tone or announce your score when you pass the checkpoint. Pull to the side of the road as soon as possible. Open the checkpoint slip by tapping that line on your device’s screen. The slip will tell you when to start the next leg and where it begins (the SNOCONE).

Example:

In the example above, you will need to execute NRI 84 between the checkpoint and the SNOCONE. Next NRI: 84 means If you were still looking for NRI 83 when you reached the checkpoint, skip ahead to NRI 84 to continue. Likewise, if you executed NRI 84 after CP8 but before reading the checkpoint slip, do not repeat it. There may be official mileage (OM) noted for an NRI or REFERENCE between the CHECKPOINT and SNOCONE for checking your odometer. If no good reference was found there, OM for a previous NRI might be provided. If the previous sentence seems confusing, you’re not wrong and it doesn’t apply to you. The Out Time adder can vary. It will be sufficient to travel the route segment at legal speed and provide 2-3 minutes to read the critique and prepare for the next leg.

(This post has changed extensively, so older comments may appear out of context.)