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.
Mike: I personally think the description for the term ITIS (If There Is Such) is a complete abomination and almost totally incomprehensible. For me this ITIS definition requires a non-confusing example along with a diagram.
I asked my 15 yr old grandson to decipher this ITIS and he “no way…. complete gibberish.”.
I sure hope ITIS is not used in the Friday Nighter rally events.
Out of curiosity, why was ITIS originally created in the rules. Was it because some clarity was needed for ACTION POINT ?
Regarding the above NRI 119. R AFTER 2ND “TRAIL CROSSING”, CAST 25, WATCH FOR HORSES FOR 1 MILE I would assume if no horses are observed during the 1 mile it’s OK to end NRI 119. That is, all that is required is to be on the alert for horses that may or may not bee seen during the 1 mile.
In fact, for me, executing NRI 119 it really boils down to running out the 1 mile at 25 mph after the R after 2nd “TRAIL CROSSING” to complete NRI 119 and start to execute NRI 120..
ITIS is not unique. This same term and similar definition exist in the rules of other regional rally programs as well.
Commonly used in at least three different scenarios –
A) In an instruction that by itself is a trap.
91. L AT STOP CAST 34
92. CAST 32 AT “FLUORESCENT COWS” ITIS
93. R BEFORE BRIDGE
94. R AT T CAST 49
Some distance after executing NRI 91, teams will pass a sign on which there are day-glow pink and green cows. Would you execute NRI 92 there? Whether or not NRI 92 has been executed, NRI 93 should be executed as soon as its conditions are met. The penalty for the trap is the time difference for using the wrong speed.
B) To manage divergent on-course and off-course routes
101. L ONTO JONES
102. R AT STOP PAUSE 15 ITIS
103. CAST 48 AT “50”
You’ve completed NRI 100 and then reach a T at Jones.
You execute NRI 101, and some distance later encounter a side road with a backwards facing stop sign on the right which is signed as Old Jones. There is no identification for the road straight ahead. The view to the left side of the road is spectacular (distracting) and many teams don’t even notice the aforementioned side road. Continuing straight ahead, the road eventually curves to the right. There is another side road on the right, again with a backwards facing stop sign. There are no signs identifying the roads here, but in fact this side road is where Old Jones rejoins. A half mile past this intersection, the road improves and there is a SPEED LIMIT 50. Off-course cars do not encounter NRI 102, but all should execute NRI 103.
Can’t add images to a comment/reply or I would just have drawn this one.
C) Filler – something to do while covering distance.
123. CAST 34 AT SPEED LIMIT 35
124. CAST 33 AT 22ND “25 MPH” ITIS
125. R AFTER “PINE LAKE”
Regarding this that you’ve posted…
==================================================================
A) In an instruction that by itself is a trap.
91. L AT STOP CAST 34
92. CAST 32 AT “FLUORESCENT COWS” ITIS
93. R BEFORE BRIDGE
94. R AT T CAST 49
Some distance after executing NRI 91, teams will pass a sign on which there are day-glow pink and green cows. Would you execute NRI 92 there? Whether or not NRI 92 has been executed, NRI 93 should be executed as soon as its conditions are met. The penalty for the trap is the time difference for using the wrong speed.
==================================================================
For me I would definitely execute 91.
For 92. and 93. I would start looking for the wording/text on a sign reading “FLUORESCENT COWS” and if not seen (i.e., If There Is Such) before reaching the BRIDGE, I would ignore 92. and its CAST 32.
The ‘day-glow pink and green cows’ sign is a sign/picture presumable and is not a sign with ‘wording or text’ as in “FLUORESCENT COWS” (the double quotes signifies a sign with this wording on it, right?
The difficulty here is how the Navigator communicates this to the driver. The navigator has to convey to the driver with words such as this…
a) Look for a sign reading ““FLUORESCENT COWS” and CAST 32, or a turn R just before seeing the next BRIDGE.
then
b) R AT T CAST 49
The trap is trying to persuade the rally team to CAST 32 at the sign with a picture of day-glow pink and green cows.
Do I have this correct?
You are correct. The REFERENCE needed for NRI 92 is a sign with the phrase FLUORESCENT COWS on it. A picture of glowing cattle does not meet the criteria.
Course following rallies are a test of communication skills, and there is a delicate balance between needing to read the instructions exactly as written or rewording them to clarify the meaning. When I drive with a rookie navigator, I want them to read things word for word with zero editing. If I navigate for a rookie driver, I’ll likely rephrase instructions to minimize the current workload.
Once you’ve completed NRI 91, the new workload can be simplified to this:
A) Don’t cross BRIDGE.
B) Look for COWS.
Those are the first things to convey. If the navigator is busy with head-down tasks and the driver is the only set of eyes looking outside the car, the most critical bits to communicate and remember are BRIDGE and COWS.
‘I see cows.’
‘Need sign reading FLUORESCENT COWS.’
‘Understood. Declined. Now I see a bridge.’
‘Is there an intersection before the bridge?’
‘Affirmative’
‘Looking for R BEFORE BRIDGE’
‘Need your eyes.’
Using verbal shorthand, you break complex instructions into smaller bites. Also be aware that there is risk of verbal tunnel vision. Remember initial statement ‘A)’ above? It was just that, an initial statement made so that driver knew to look for, but not cross, BRIDGE. Crossing BRIDGE might be the correct thing to do, but not until additional communication has occurred.
So now you’re at the intersection and there is a bridge on the other side of it. Consider each of the following questions independently and explain your answers.
If we go right, did we execute NRI 93?
If we cross the bridge, did we execute NRI 93?
If there is a sign reading “FLUORESCENT COWS CREEK” just before the bridge, and the sign is visible before reaching the intersection, do we execute NRI 92?
Regarding this one….
===============================================================
B) To manage divergent on-course and off-course routes
101. L ONTO JONES
102. R AT STOP PAUSE 15 ITIS
103. CAST 48 AT “50”
===============================================================
I drew a diagram to show how how I think this one unfolds, as it’s trying to lure the car off-course onto Old Jones road, right?
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1AGUHe36GyNuo8
Incorrect. On-course route is via Old Jones.
All cars execute NRI 101, which creates the condition ONTO JONES.
At the 1st side road, the road directly ahead has no identifying sign. The side road is signed OLD JONES.
Since NRI 102 is an ITIS, evaluate NRI 103 first. Can’t execute NRI 103 here as there is no SPEED LIMIT 50, so go back to considering NRI 102. The intersection is not a STOP, so NRI 102 is not executable here. Without an instruction to execute, follow the THROUGH ROUTE.
The first through route determinant is ONTO (section 3.1.1 in the Generals). You are currently ONTO JONES. Old Jones is the one road leaving the intersection that meets the ONTO criteria. On-course cars will take the side road and execute NRI 102 before reaching NRI 103. Off-course cars reach NRI 103 without executing NRI 102.
If Old Jones was identified at both ends, there would be another off-course route for cars that were distracted by the view and missed the first side road. If they spot Old Jones at the far end (where on-course cars use NRI 102) and keep ONTO, they end up running the on-course route backwards, then executing NRI 102 to end the loop. They’ll reach and execute NRI 103 eventually, but be very late…
Mike: This one confuses me. The NRI 101. L ONTO JONES tells me the road name is explicitly JONES, and the road to follow, and when I see the 1st side road marked as OLD JONES I deduce it’s not the JONES road that NRI 101 directed me ONTO, so I ignore this side road, and continue past it with the assumption I’m still following the road name JONES..
After passing the OLD JONES side road and continuing on I need to see if NRI 102. can be executed (because it’s an ITIS instruction) while also looking for NRI 103 to CAST 48 at “50”. As NRI 103 is encountered and NRI 102 has not been encountered I ignore NRI 102 and execute NRI 103. CAST 48 AT “50”.
Where in the rules does it say a road named X (X=JONES in this case) is same as a road named Y+X (Y=OLD in this case) at an intersection where there’s no road sign indicating where road JONES goes? If there is such a rule than I would agree that turning ONTO the side road named OLD JONES is correct…. because at the OLD JONES side road intersection there’s no indication what the name of the road ahead is named, and because JONES and OLD JONES are equivalent per the Rally rules.
A ruling that a road named JONES and OLD JONES are equivalent is absolutely crucial here IMO.
Generals section 3.1.1 allows the specified name to be included if intact and gives examples. If placed ONTO JONES ROAD, Old Jones Road meets the criteria. Jones Place or Jones Farm Road would not.
Pay special attention to the allowance for abbreviations. The signage used by the instruction that places you ONTO JONES ROAD must match the instruction, but once ONTO, abbreviation (or expansion of an earlier abbreviation) is acceptable. Meaning that 101. L ONTO JONES RD needs to match the sign to be executable. Then once the ONTO condition is established, OLD JONES ROAD is a viable option.
Mike:
IMO the NRI 101. L ONTO JONES does not say L ONTO JONES ROAD, and therefore is not equivalent to OLD JONES ROAD and certainly not JONES PLACE and JONES FARM ROAD. Why….? because the word ROAD and PLACE is used. However, I see that rule 3.1.1 tries to clarify this anomaly.
The 3.1.1 ONTO states “If you are ONTO a road, the THROUGH ROUTE is the road with the *same* name…… I emphasize the word “same” here.
However…
For example, if you were instructed ONTO JONES (as in NRI 101.), you would be ONTO any road whose names included JONES.
Yet this ruling is contradictory by also stating …but not JONES PLACE which surely you would agree contains JONES! …. unless one considers PLACE is not a ROAD!
The last sentence for 3.1.1 states “If you come to an INTERSECTION where the road name is not present, or more than one choice exists, do not apply this rule.” So when at the side road named OLD JONES, and the road ahead has no name one has to deduce the side road OLD JONES is the THROUGH ROUTE, right?
Based on the above, I respectively say that 3.1.1 is very confusing for me, primarily because JONES PLACE contained “JONES”.
…But I do agree with you say that the side road OLD JONES is in fact the THROUGH ROUTE and the correct course to follow….. and would call you ‘foxy’ RM. ;-))
Mike: Considering the example you’ve posted…
B) To manage divergent on-course and off-course routes
101. L ONTO JONES
102. R AT STOP PAUSE 15 ITIS
103. CAST 48 AT “50”
What is the correct THROUGH ROUTE if at the side road named OLD JONES the road ahead is signed reading JONES ROAD ? The THROUGH ROUTE is ambiguous and the correct THROUGH ROUTE could be either taking the OLD JONES side road or taking the straight ahead following JONES ROAD, and proceeding to NRI 103 with ignoring NRI 102 as it’s a ITIS instruction and NRI 103 is encountered.
3.1.1 says ONTO does not apply where there is more than one choice meeting the criteria.
Therefore we evaluate the next rule, and so on until a rule shows us the one road that is the THROUGH ROUTE.
Since the side road has a backwards facing stop sign, PROTECTION is probably the rule that applies, making the THROUGH ROUTE straight ahead.
Yes, I would agree with that. Thank you.
Mike…. OK, now onto this one….
C) Filler – something to do while covering distance.
123. CAST 34 AT SPEED LIMIT 35
124. CAST 33 AT 22ND “25 MPH” ITIS
125. R AFTER “PINE LAKE”
I figure this ….
Starting with…
NRI 123. CAST 34 AT SPEED LIMIT 35 …
When encountering the SPEED LMIT 35 sign (but this is not an instruction referring to the text “SPEED LIMIT 35”) because it’s not embedded within double quotes), right? Now if the instruction 123 read CAST 34 AT “SPEED LIMIT 35” I would execute CAST 34 at the sign reading “SPEED LIMIT 35”. So basically, I’m quite puzzled what to do with NRI 123. Does SPEED LIMIT 35 refer to a sign that reads SPEED LIMIT 35 ? Is Rule 6.6 the rule to honor here maybe?
NRI 124. CAST 33 AT 22ND “25 MPH” ITIS I think is quite straight forward and I would count the “25 MPH” and if 22 of them are encountered before encountering NRI 125. I would CAST 33 at the 22nd “25 MPH” sign, otherwise it will be ignored if NRI 125. R AFTER “PINE LAKE” is encountered prior to encountered 22 “25 MPH” signs with this text.
Can you please detail the correct course of action for the rally car to take for this “C) Filler – something to do while covering distance” example? Thanks.
If you look at the supps for June, specifically the definition of SPEED LIMIT, does that clarify things for you?
I believe so. That is, SPEED LIMT 35 and “SPEED LIMIT 35” are synonymous. Thanks. :-))
They are not quite synonymous. If they were, that text on a PREMARKER would qualify.
The text must appear on a specific color (white) and shape (rectangle) of sign and not be text on a PREMARKER.
Mike: I do hope you aren’t a RM who would lay out a rally that has numerous numerical consecutive instructions containing ITIS. This would place quite a burden on the rally car’s driver and navigator to handle easily. ;-))
I hardly ever do that, but for you I can make an exception.
Please, please, don’t. ;-))
I promise you won’t have to look for four different things simultaneously this month.