One way to compensate for speedo error is to set the first 10-15 miles of
the event as a calibration leg. It really dosen't matter if the Rally
director's odometer is off as long as everyone has the opportunity to
calculate a correction factor.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Howard <mgbob@juno.com>
To: ninab@scoresheet.com <ninab@scoresheet.com>
Cc: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2000 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: Rally info
>Hi Nina,
> Assessment of the participants is worthwhile if this is the first rally
>that you are doing for the group. If they are experienced, then anything
>goes. If they have never done it before, keep in mind that MG odometers
>and speedos are primarily decorative. Distances, speeds and times may not
>be significant to your first rally.
> Seems to me that a worthwhile destination is important, someplace that
>is worth the drive anyhow and easy to find with the rescue instructions
>that you included in a sealed envelope you gave them all, along with the
>phone # of someone who knows the area and can give directions to those
>who might be hopelessly lost.
> A scenic route is important.
> There are all sorts of ways to organise a rally, limited to one's
>creativity or innate cruelty quotient.
> We (group in CT MG Club) put on a rally a couple of years ago, based
>on the pattern of the Tulip Rally used at the NEMGT Register's GOF a
>month before. For this, you work out a route and then draw a set of
>instructions. Instructions picture intersections with turn arrows to show
>the way to go. We typed in distances between intersections---what a
>waste! Half the people got lost because they trusted their odometers and
>not their eyes, despite instructions to follow the map. Use landmarks,
>obscure for the experienced drivers, pretty darn obvious for the
>beginners.
> Put questions in- what is the figure of the weathervane on the
>Congregational Church? What is the third automobile related franchise
>store on your left in this section of the drive? Who is the person of
>the statue on the Town Green?
> If you do need to set distances, drive the route with different cars to
>measure mileage. One of our vehicles loses about 3/10 mile on the odo
>every time it is backed up. Folks may accept their own errors with
>equanimity, but they don't appreciate errors on the part of those who
>wrote the directions.
> You don't need to attempt to be tricky. Most folks can develop a fair
>sense of confusion on any written or pictured instructions. Think of
>software documentation. Think of Moses, who took 40 years to lead the
>troops 200 miles. Men didn't ask for directions then either.
>Bob
>
>
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