What is a TSD Rally?
Some call it the game that takes you places; others describe it as a life size board game. Time/Speed/Distance or TSD Rallying is a motor sport that can be enjoyed by anyone with virtually any sort of motor vehicle. Not to be confused with PRO rallying, which is a form of racing, TSD is a course-following event involving control of vehicle speed.
Teams are comprised of a driver and navigator utilizing a set of route instructions which details the course they must follow and the average speeds they must travel. Since public roads are used for those events, speeds are set at or below the posted legal speed limits. The goal is to follow the course correctly and arrive precisely on time at checkpoints encountered along the way. Scoring is based on the difference between the team’s actual arrival time versus the calculated perfect arrival time at the checkpoint; a point per second, late OR early.
TSD rallying is a fun time for a nominal fee, requiring little specialized equipment. For night rallies, however, it is recommended that the navigator have a good map light.
Competitors are classed as Novice, SOP (Seat of Pants), Equipped, Masters, or Unlimited, based upon experience level and type of navigation aids being used. The NWRC General Instructions is the rulebook that explains this in more detail. You can find this rulebook on the Documents page.
The NWRC Friday Nighter Series is usually the best way to get involved. There are always plenty of people ready to answer questions for the Novice. This series is held on the 2nd Friday of the month and runs from early Spring to late Summer. Check the Events calendar for specific dates.