A Copy of Rally Terms & Definitions are provided to each team.  The documentation provided with the rally takes precedence over this page.

 

Rally Terms & Definitions

Acute – Used to describe a turn that is substantially more than 90 degrees.
AL – Acute Left turn.
AR – Acute Right turn.

AKA – Also Known As.  May be used in an ONTO or TOWARDS when the name varies on some signage.

At – This instruction directs you to turn at a specific place.  It DOES NOT hold any priory after your turn.  After an AT the team proceeds as per Main Road Rules.  AT instructions cancel any previous ONTO.

Bear – Used to describe a turn that is substantially less than 90 degrees.
BL – Bear Left.
BR – Bear Right.

Becomes – Often used in conjunction with ONTO it tells the navigator that at sometime the current street will BECOME a different name.  If under ONTO instruction the ONTO rule still applies only using the new name.  BECOMES is not always used.  There may be times when the only route becomes a different name but the ONTO road later meets that route.  The ONTO instruction must be followed.  BECOMES can be but is rarely used with an AT instruction.

CAST – Change Average Speed To.

Free Zone – A part of a TSD where there are no checkpoints or traps.

Ignore – Used to direct teams to IGNORE signs they might otherwise take into consideration.  For example “Ignore No Exit”, is sometimes used at the end if stage where cars are going into a park.

Into – Directs you INTO a place you would not normally go due to no exits etc.  For example “Into Smith Park”.

L – Left turn of about 90 degrees.

Main Road Rules – When teams encounter an intersection for which there is no given specific instruction in the route instructions, the following descending order of priorities for proceeding should be applied:
(Space has been left to cut these out if you wish to tape them to your dash.)


    Competitors are to proceed via:

  1. The road they have been directed ONTO, TOWARD or directed to follow by name, route number, or other specific road identification.  Teams are NOT to take roads that are signed as no through routes (Dead End, Cul-de-sac, No exit, etc.) unless specifically instructed to IGNORE sign.  AT instructions cancel any previous ONTO.
  2. The most protected route (i.e., the through road, as defined by stop signs, yield signs, etc.)
  3. The route indicated by highway arrows
  4. The route indicated by the painted centerline
  5. The paved route (There are no gravel roads on this rally.)
  6. The straightest route

    The teams finding themselves with a choice of routes on any level should descend to the next level until only one route remains.

 

MBC – May Be Considered
MBCU – May Be Considered Unnecessary.

Monte Carlo – In this type of stage, teams are given a destination point (Standoff) to which they travel to view a Timing Line.  The Standoff MUST be approached from the correct direction.  The Timing Line is a check point at which the competitors MUST cross from the correct direction at a given time from the beginning of the stage.  Waiting at the Standoff is allowed, however once the Standoff is left, teams are NOT allowed to stop before they reach the Timing Line.  Maps are provided and it is the responsibility of the team to find their own way to the Standoff.  Approaching the Standoff or Timing Line from a direction other than a that specified in the Rally instructions or stopping prior to the Timing Line after leaving the Standoff will result in forfeiting the stage.  Monte Carlo Stages are for bonus points.  If you cross the Timing Line within 5 seconds fast or slow you gain 2 Bonus points. (Bonus points reduce penalty points gathered during the rally.)  If you cross from 6 - 10 seconds you gain 1 Bonus point.  Outside of that no points good or bad are awarded.  Some Monte Carlo’s don’t use a Standoff, in which case the Timing Line must be approached without stopping from the last traffic control.

MR – Mileage Reference.  A reference point into the first stage of a Rally that is used to calibrate odometer accuracy for the Rally.  This occurs usually at an easy to work with distance such as 10 miles or 10 kilometers.

OC – Off Course or On Course.  This sign is usually white letters on Green Background and will be HELD by a course worker on the RIGHT side of the road.  When a team has this sign waved at them, they MUST proceed to the course worker to get instructions.  If they are On Course they will not incur any penalties.  If they are Off Course they will incur a 5 point penalty.  If they fail to stop after the sign is waved at them, they will incur a 5 point penalty.

ODO – Odometer.

Onto – An ONTO instruction means you must look for side roads labeled with the name that you are ONTO.  ONTO's are a form of a trap.  Watch out for them.  DO NOT pass any intersection when on an ONTO without checking the street signs.  Also see BECOMES.  ONTO instructions are cancelled by AT instructions.

Opportunity – Any paved through road.  An OPPORTUNITY is not marked private, not marked to indicate no through or not marked to indicate no entry.  An OPPORTUNITY can be a lane way if not marked as above.  Parking Lots ARE NOT OPPORTUNITIES.  (IE Strip Malls)  An OPPORTUNITY can be a Bear, 90 degree or Acute turn unless qualified otherwise.  For example if instruction says AR at 1st OPPORTUNITY, the team would ignore any OPPORTUNITES other than Acute Rights.  (This example is rarely used.)  The following example is more common:  R at 1st OPPORTUNITY.  For this example Bear and Acute turns count.  Forced turns DO NOT count as OPPORTUNITIES.  T intersections are OPPORTUNITES.

Pause – A delay built into the rally to help teams deal with possible delays at busy intersections etc.

R – Right turn of about 90 degrees.

Safety Zone – This is a section where you WILL NOT find timing checkpoints but there could be traps.  Usually this is used for school zones or other areas where extra caution should be observed.

SAP – Straight as Possible.

SOL – Sign On Left.
SOR – Sign On Right
- RIP – Reads In Part.  Part of what is printed on a sign.

Standoff – See Monte Carlo.  Also marks the beginning and end of some Stages.  It is usually a cone with a rally marshal present.

Stop – Stop Sign

T – T intersection as approached ONLY from the bottom of the T.

Timing Line – See Monte Carlo.

TL – Traffic Light.  Light may be of standard 3 lens light or Flashing Blinker type light.  Light can be functional or non-functional.

Transit/Transit Stage – This is a stage that moves the rally from one area to another.  There are no timing checkpoints in a Transit Stage, however there may be traps.

TSD/TSD Stage – Time Speed Distance Stage.  A stage where teams are expected to stay on time.

Y – Where the roads from the Left and Right meet at an angle of less than 180 degrees to each other and ARE NOT ACUTE to the bottom leg.  Y intersection is approached ONLY from the bottom of the Y.