TSD Rally : A Navigators Diary

By

Capt. Abhilasha Singh

A TSD Rally Navigator should know the following:

1. Reading the Road book
2. Strategic use of the Time Chart
3. Use of apps to calculate time speed distance
1. Reading the Road book:
1.1. The Road book is the bible of the Rally. Brief
yourself with the page explaining marks and
symbols.
1.2. ODO means total distance readout on the top of
the waypoint box.
1.3. Instructions on waypoints associated with Loops
should be read out carefully. There are high chances
of missing a waypoint and the TCs as they placed at
one of the legs in the loop.
1.4. Waypoint description & Communication to the
driver must be short and very precise.
Example, Bi (bifurcation) at 200m take left;
crossover at 1 km go straight; 200m to left turn
etc.
1.5. Communication brief between the Navigator &
Driver should be done much before the start of the
Rally. Both should decide on distance to go to be
reminded; the style of communication; whether a
speed reminder is required; track change from
tarmac to dirt or gravel or highway.
2. Strategic use of the Time Chart:
2.1. Intimate the initial speed required for n kms
and next waypoint instruction to the Driver before
going heads down to do the data entry into the
computer.

2.2. Check out the Free Zones and mark the start
and end on your road book.
2.3. Do not slow down in the Free Zone. TCs are not
placed in the Free Zones. To help you not to break
the vehicle and lighten the stress on the Driver
during the Stage, there are 2 ways you could use
the Free Zone:
Free Zone placed after the Stage There is a high
possibility of losing a lot of time during Stage and
this is where you can speed up make up for the
lost time.
Free Zone placed before the Stage Strategize to
be two mins early entry into the Stage. Be warned
that TCs might be placed right at the end of the
Free Zone. You can speed up to gain time and
take a break for tea / food / washroom. Gaining
time can also cater for the unforeseen traffic
jams, toll booths and railway crossings.
3. Use of apps to calculate time speed distance:
3.1. The helpful apps are: RallyGDP (TSD Rally
Computer & Drivers console) and Odometer.
3.2. RallyGDP TSD Rally Computer with Navigator.
Load the map
Give a tentative time of start
Start the Rally (GPS takes time to initialize, hence
advised to start beforehand)
Revise the start time (one given by Steward) while
final flag off.

 Fill in Time Chart until 1st (or 2nd) entry so that

driver has a reference speed readout (fill the rest
in a longer leg).
Fill in ODO reads roughly 1 entry per page (fill
rest in a longer leg).
Once all entries of Time Chart and ODO are
completed, your app becomes self-sustainable. It
can autocorrect the ODO on waypoints.
Manually correcting ODO by CHG ODO from right
hand menu: Only at waypoints.
Adding TC by ADD TC from right hand menu:
Whatever time the TC gives you.
If one waypoint is missed, blue cursor will keep
pointing its direction towards it. To manually
correct the navigation NAV TO WPT from right
hand menu and select the required waypoint.
Time late or early is calculated from TC to TC. The
time lost (penalty = seconds x 1) or time gained
(penalty = seconds x 2) does not carry forward
and fresh time starts from next TC.
3.3. Drivers Console:
The readouts to look for are: speed required and
seconds late or early.
In dirt and in Stages, speed up only to the point
where you will not break the vehicle. Preserving
the vehicle and completing the Rally has a priority
over time penalties.
3.4.

Odometer:

 This is a backup and acts as a great reference

when you have lost your TSD Computer due to
any reason.

4. Points to note:
4.1. Road book, Time Chart & TSD Computer must be
secured together. Tie the pen on a strap hanging
from your neck
4.2. Read Roadbook carefully dont get lost. Miles
gone on wrong course can bring heavy time penalty.
4.3. Dont assume cars infront of you are going on
course. Trust your readings.
4.4. Check 2-3 route instructions together (especially
one on the next page) to get a complete picture.
4.5. Dont shortcut the waypoints which are not
visible. There could be a TC on one of the legs or
have chances of getting lost.
4.6. Read out the Roadbook directions and x-check
the waypoints from Computer.
4.7. Some important abbreviations:
ACUTE LEFT Indicates a sharp turn or change in
Abbr: "AL"
direction to the left of perceptably
more than 90.
ACUTE
RIGHT
Abbr: "AR"

Indicates a sharp turn or change in

direction to the right of perceptably
more than 90.

BAS

Begin Average Speed

BEAR LEFT Indicates a gentle change in direction

Abbr: "BL"
to the left of roughly 45 and
perceptably less than 90.
BEAR RIGHT Indicates a gentle change in direction
Abbr: "BR" to the right of roughly 45 and

perceptably less than 90.

BLINKER

A single red & yellow traffic signal

operating in an alternating sequence
of off & on. NOT a traffic light (TL).

CAS or CAST Change Average Speed to.

CHECKPOIN A spot along the rally route, the
T
location
of
which
is
generally
Abbr: "CP" unknown to the rallyists in advance,
where their car will be timed and
given penalty points for being EARLY
(ahead of) or LATE (behind) their
correct arrival time.
OPEN CP

An OPEN CHECKPOINT is easily seen

by the rallyists. They may be required
to stop after crossing the timing line,
to receive an official timing slip or
further instruct-ions as stated in the
GIs. FOR THE PURPOSES OF SAFETY,
ALL OPEN CHECKPOINTS WHICH
REQUIRE CARS TO STOP WILL BE
LOCATED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
OF THE ROAD IN YOUR DIRECTION OF
TRAVEL.

CLOSED CP

A CLOSED CHECKPOINT does not

require rally cars to stop. It may be
concealed from rallyists in such a way
that they may not know they have
passed it.

CROSS

To go straight across. To cross a

divided highway is to cross both
halves of it.

FINISH

The location of the last place along

the rally route where rally cars are
timed. This need not be the gathering
place at the end of the rally.

(AND)
FOLLOW

If you are placed on a road by name

or number, you are to follow that road
until another instruction directs you to
leave it. To execute a follow it is
necessary to make AT LEAST one
action (turn or straight) that would
not have had to be made in the
absence of the follow instruction.

FREE ZONE

A part of the timed rally route in

which there are no timing controls.

GENERAL
Printed matter describing the rules &
INSTRUCTIO definitions under which the rally will
NS
be run.
INTERSECTI A crossing of roads.
ON
ISLAND

A road or traffic-separating device of

indeterminate shape.

LEFT
Abbr: "L"

A turn from your direction of travel to

the left of roughly 90.

LEG

section

of

the

rally

between

LEG
RALLY

OF checkpoints, or between the Start and

the first check-point. Several legs
comprise a complete rally.

LOSE TIME

Add the amount of time specified in

the RIs to your running time by
delaying at a named point or during
passage of a specified distance.
EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL INSTRUCTION
IN THE RIs: "Between mile 35 & mile
50 lose 5 minutes." This means that
the official time allowed for this
section of the rally is 5 minutes MORE
than it would be if you continued at
the prescribed average speed. This
type of instruction is often used when
the
Rallymaster
anticipates
the
probability of traffic delays or traffic
lights.

MPH

Miles Per Hour

ODOMETER That portion of your car speedometer

which measures distance traveled in
miles & tenths.
ODOMETER A precisely measured, clearly marked
CHECK
section at the beginning of a rally
route {usually a minimum of 10
miles) giving the navigator an
opportunity to compare his car's
odometer with the "official mileage"
shown in the RIs.

ODOMETER The difference between the official

ERROR
rally mileage and your odometer is
reading.
OFFICIAL
MILAGE

Rallymaster's
official
measured
distances from the start to any point
along the rally route given to within at
least 0.1 and preferably 0.10 of a
mile.

PAVED

A road having a continuous hard

surface such as concrete, macadam,
etc.

PAUSE

See LOSE TIME, TAKE TIME OUT

RALLYMASTE The individual in charge of planning

R
and putting on a particular rally.
RIGHT
Abbr: "R"

A turn from your direction of travel to

the right of roughly 90

ROUTE
INSTRUCTIO
NS
Abbr: "RIs"

The directions handed to rally teams

at the start of the rally, which tell
them specifically where, how, and at
what speeds to proceed along the
rally route.

START

That point which marks the beginning

of the rally's measured course.
Odometers are zeroed and watches
started at this point.

STRAIGHT
Abbr: "S"

Proceed straight ahead.

STOP

A conventional, octagonal red stop

sign.

TEE
JUNCTION

A point at which a road terminates

into another road running more or
less at right angles to it, thus forming
the crossbar of a capital "T" .This term
applies only when you are heading
upward on the vertical bar of the T. It
is not possible to go straight at a T.

TAKE
OUT

TIME See LOSE TIME, PAUSE.

TIMING LINE A real or imaginary line across the

rally route at a checkpoint, odometer
checkpoint, or at the start for the
purpose of timing rally cars.
TRAFFIC
LIGHT
Abbr: "TL"

A conventional red, yellow & green

traffic control signal light, used to
regulate
movement
of
traffic.
WARNING: DO NOT MISTAKE THIS
ABBREVIATION FOR 'Turn Left" , that is
correctly abbreviated as simply "L'.

TRIANGLE

A three-sided ISLAND.

UNPAVED

A road having a discontinuous, nonhard surface such as broken stone,

gravel or dirt.

A branching of roads in the general

shape of the letter "Y" , requiring a
turn to the left or right, both turns
being substantially less than 90
degrees. This term applies only when
you are heading upward on the
vertical tail of the Y. It is not possible
to go straight at a Y.