Rally App Information for all competitors
Tuesday 4th March 2025, Message from the Clerk of the Course, Ken Quinn;
"
As you all will know, the entries are now live for the
De Lacy Taurus Rally on the 5th/6th April (See link above Editor). For this year the event will be using the Rally App system as well as using traditional marshalling , so we will be running what we are referring to as a Hybrid of the system. Allow me to explain;
Marshals will still be signing timecards in the old
fashioned way at controls, this way competitors will still have that human
interaction with a real person. Please Note that WE ARE NOT using Timing App Live (Another item
from the developer.) to record times. What we are doing, is utilising Rally App
Live to record codeboards, unmanned passage controls, standing give ways and black spots, and these are the
items that will incur a penalty in the same way they would have always done if incurred by competitors.
So in that
respect, it is no different, the only difference is, technology is being used
to cut down on the number of mistakes, therefore lessening the chance of
getting things wrong from both the competitor and organisers point of view.
Now I know that some people
are wary of using this system, and having looked on the developers site, I
totally get it, because the developer has shown ALL of the features that are
available. We are not using them all, but have selected the ones that are appropriate
to our event. I have also had people say to me, “Well if anything goes wrong I
could get into trouble with the law as I am being tracked.” Just remember this.
Your mobile phone is a tracking device anyway, and if the law really wanted to,
they could delve so deep into your phone, you would be mortified what they
could find out.
Here at De Lacy,
we have used the app extensively on 12 cars, and also on the Catterick Targa last
year, with a majority of competitors saying how easy it is to use once you get used
to it. Therefore, we on the Taurus Organising Team, feel confident enough to use it on a
full blown road event, and we have tested it thoroughly over the last 9 months
or so, and on the night, I will be available to help you guys set it up, and
answer any questions that I can possibly do, in order for you to use it.
Now as I type this, we have
74 unmanned pc’s and 19 physical codeboards, and some will say, “Well can you
not just go out beforehand and put 93 codeboards out?” Logistically it is
impossible for us as a club to do, hence why we have gone down this route. This
makes it more logistically manageable for us.
So it
will work as follows;
Unmanned
P.C: As you approach the location of the control, you will notice that the screen will be at the default blue. as you get closer, you
will then get 2 warnings. One is a yellow visual warning at about 300 metres.
Then you will get an audible warning at 200 metres, then once you are in the
zone, a pink inverted triangle will appear, and you MUST bring your car to a
complete standstill, and on the right is a red square. The red square is a
timer set at 5 seconds. DO NOT try and jump it or you WILL incur a penalty.
Once it turns back to blue, you may leave. Other than the default blue screen
turning yellow, there will be no visible control board at the roadside!
SGW’s:
Similar to above, but instead of a pink inverted triangle, it will have a red
hexagon. The default time for a SGW, is 2 seconds. Again, you MUST bring your
car to a complete halt. The approach distances on SGW’s, are shorter because
you should have the SGW’s on your map anyhow.
Codeboards: All of our codeboards are on NAM’s. Again
like above, you will get an audible warning, and when you arrive at the
codeboard, the screen will have a grey icon. Tap the icon in the middle of the
screen to reveal 6 codeboard options. Select the correct one, and then confirm.
Once done, you may move off
Black
spots: If you enter a black spot, and to be honest there aren’t that many, the
GPS will know and will record your location. It is an instant disqualification
for entering a black spot, in the same way it has always been. There will be
no way back from this, so TAKE CARE
So those are the main four that we are using. Others will be;
- Caution: (Red screen and audible
warning with the hazard.)
- Quiet Zones: (Green screen with audible warning which
will extinguish once you leave the area.) These are none penalty items but put
in to help you.
It is important to say this, the
app works on GPS, and only needs a miniscule amount of data to start it, and
submit your information at the end. There are 2 submission points. MTC2 and
MTC4. I should be on hand at both to assist you.
When using your phone (or other electronic device), phones,
during the event, it is be a good idea to close all other apps down to
- A. Preserve battery life,
- Help the app run smoother.
As per the Supplementary Regulations, you would be very well advised to have some sort of charging
system in place to keep the battery topped up. If you run out of battery, then
penalties will be incurred for all items not recorded. I sincerely don’t want that to
happen. I want you guys to have a good night of motorsport. I'm sure that in some cases, you will be trying something new which a lot of people seem scared of. If I can use it at
60, along with one of my Deputy’s who is 72, then I am sure you all can! (Me Too, Ed)
We have set
up four test items at the start of the rally, and in order they are:
- Quiet Zone
- Code Board
(In a layby just after the start which will require the physical input. One of
my team will be on hand at this location.)
- Caution
- Unmanned
PC.
These are
none penalty and will be used to help you guys familiarise yourselves with the system. (Remember that on the App official website, Sapphire Solutions there are some useful videos and test routes in you local areas to look at. Ed)
Hope you
have a great night.
Ken Quinn
CoC
De Lacy
Taurus Navigation Rally 2025."
