[Audi UrQ]

Co-drivers one and all,

Please join us for our eighth FREE co-driver conference call.

Date: Tuesday August 25th
Time: 6 p.m. Pacific / 7 p.m. Mountain / 8 p.m. Central / 9 p.m. Eastern

Dial in: (218) 339-4600
Code: 989102#

Please bring up topics specific to the co-driver (e.g. rules, differences in procedure, challenges, driver feedback, event feedback, general thoughts).

Proposed Agenda:

1. Past events debrief:
- X Games 15 (Aug 2)
- Galway-Cavendish Forest Rally (Aug 8)
- Rallye Lac-aux-Sables (Aug 15)

2. Upcoming events:
- Ojibwe Forests Rally [Paul Bunyan's Ride / 10,000 Lakes] (Aug 28-29)
- Gorman Ridge Rally (Aug 29)
- Rallye Defi (Sep 11-12)
- Targa Newfoundland (Sep 12-19)
- Rally Colorado [Middle Cog 1/Middle Cog 2] (Sep 19-20)
- Black River Stages (Sep 19-20)
- Wild West [Lewis and Clark Trail Stages / Rucherts Reward] (Sep 26-27)

3. Novice co-driver Q&A session. Passive listeners welcome, however novice co-drivers are actively encouraged to participate and ask questions. Please feel free to ask any questions you want, even if they seem basic

4. MaxAttack feedback

5. Co-driver tips / techniques to help the driver keep the car on the road
e.g. from Kim: "personally I'd like to chat with any co-drivers who might have gotten wide at 1.72 miles into Stage 11 at NEFR...note read L5+ Stay Out (Rox) >4+/Cr. There were two HUGE boulders in that underbrush! This little gotcha caught a half dozen cars out including Block. We suffered terminal rear suspension damage and Shindle went over with Matt Bushore. I just want to chat about the note and discuss with others so similar miscalls don't happen in MY future! Yeah, pretty detail-y, but my interpretation is that it was a co-driver issue (we recce'd didn't we?)".

6. Clarification on when you are, and more importantly when you are NOT, allowed to work on or service your car (please see post #3 below: http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showpost.php?p=320208&postcount=3)

7. Running overall vs. incremental mileages (advantages, disadvantages, when to use which etc.)

8. Using paper maps & Potti/Barrow-style magnifiers (see: http://www.donbarrow.co.uk/magnifiers.html)

9. Date for next conference call (propose Sep 29th)

Topics we don't discuss due to time limits will be carried forward & added to next conference call's list of agenda items.

Additional co-driver related agenda items welcome. PM me or post in this thread and I'll update the proposed agenda.

Request: Please be considerate i.e. NO calls from noisy places e.g. bars, sports venues etc. as it ruins the call quality for everyone else.

If you can't make it, you can always read the meeting minutes when posted after the call. And if you have questions, feel free to submit them ahead of time, and you can read the responses in the meeting minutes too. Also, please switch fax machines on shared / party lines off.

Please help spread the word. You may learn something here. You may be able to help others learn something here. Whether you already are, or plan to be a co-driver, there's a good chance a great deal of collective wisdom (well, at least, of the rally co-driver variety) can be found here.

 

[Audi UrQ]

Co-driver Conference Call VIII (8/25) Minutes

1. Past events debrief:

- X Games 15 (Aug 2) - no significant change in event from last year to this year, local announcers on site (no television coverage), Chrissie and Jen could talk to each other while in the car, spectator question posed to rallyist: "So what do they do? Just run into each other out here?", anecdotal evidence of more spectators attending event this year, it seems that more people know about "rally" and it can lead to a conversation about real rally.

- Galway-Cavendish Forest Rally (Aug 8) - 21-22 cars at event, solid roads, not many DNFs, did have issues with ATV's which caused moderate delays, organization is laid-back, there is talk about expanding but need financing to repair some roads that connect to new stages and need additional marshals, regional rally.

- Rallye Lac-aux-Sables (Aug 15) - none attended.

2. Upcoming events:

- Ojibwe Forests Rally [Paul Bunyan's Ride / 10,000 Lakes] (Aug 28-29) - weather supposed to be cool,rain will help with dust, mosquitoes are bad - bring bug spray, no recce, notes are okay, a couple good jumps, technical roads, MaxAttack event. Video recce available if purchasing stage notes - cannot pick it up until registration on Thursday - $50 cost, idea: it would be nice to have it several days in advance of the rally, idea: online registration link to download.

- Gorman Ridge Rally (Aug 29) - Gibeaults are doing the notes (organizer supplied) and/or 2-pass recce available, 6 different stages (2 completely different roads, with the 3rd being a variation of one of the former, all 3 run in both directions), 13 entries currently with another 5 signed up but not paid yet, event needs 15 paid entries for event to break even, overlap with Ojibwe possibly contributed to a few lost entries, some competitors who went to or are planning to go to some of the other regional events with smoother roads, e.g. Idaho, North Nevada, Prescott, may have chosen to not run Gorman (selectively choosing event participation to balance budget, miles for money, etc.). More grading being done prior to event to help smooth out the roads though, so that should help. Also, several new competitors on entry list which is encouraging.

- Rallye Defi (Sep 11-12) - Karen planning to run with Bruno in Open Class Subaru?

- Targa Newfoundland (Sep 12-19) - tarmac stages, some broken pavement in small sections, lower number of entries this year, fun event, in town stages are great, largest difference is timing - handicap system to meet target time based on car class, attracts a lot of non-rally people - less co-driver intense aspects to event, issuing ideal time to start each stage - add on delays accumulated throughout day to calculate stage check-in time, control boards are text only rather than symbols, a lot of spectators in towns/schools, "hero" cards are very popular with children, navigation with road book.

- Rally Colorado [Middle Cog 1/Middle Cog 2] (Sep 19-20) - no one on call planning to compete

- Black River Stages (Sep 19-20) - no one on call planning to compete

- Wild West [Lewis and Clark Trail Stages / Rucherts Reward] (Sep 26-27) - no one on call planning to compete, but same roads as last year

3. Novice co-driver Q&A session:

- Drink lots of water even if the weather is cool.

- Targa Canada West possibly on next year's calendar.

- Co-driver eating habits - high protein diet, not eating before rally, unable to eat after rally - possibly caused by dehydration, eat substantial meal in the morning - eat "normal" food throughout day - some "nervous" eating, co-drivers may need to think ahead re: meals depending on the level of the team/management, carry protein bars in the car, carry some kind of candy for last minute sugar push.

4. MaxAttack feedback: tabled to next month's agenda so as to be able to include feedback from Ojibwe.

5. Co-driver tips / techniques to help the driver keep the car on the road:

e.g. from Kim: "personally I'd like to chat with any co-drivers who might have gotten wide at 1.72 miles into Stage 11 at NEFR...note read L5+ Stay Out (Rox) >4+/Cr. There were two HUGE boulders in that underbrush! This little gotcha caught a half dozen cars out including Block. We suffered terminal rear suspension damage and Shindle went over with Matt Bushore. I just want to chat about the note and discuss with others so similar miscalls don't happen in MY future! Yeah, pretty detail-y, but my interpretation is that it was a co-driver issue (we recce'd didn't we?)".
- Christian Edstrom posted a response to this on SpecialStage -- " we had: Stay out L5+>4+/Cr<>4+/Cr in the notes, and had no issues on the corner."

- Keep the driver concentrated on the process of becoming a better driver rather than on the competition.
- Help redirect driver's attention to new stage rather than thinking too much about errors of the just completed stage.
- Most successful strategy: drive your own race, push only as hard as you and your team are capable of handling.
- Most drivers will perform better if they strive for seat time rather than for placement.

What if driver is not listening?
- adjust the notes to force driver to slow down
- keep reading the notes - do not engage in a discussion on stage
- regain control of the interior of the car at the earliest possible time

6. Clarification on when you are, and more importantly when you are NOT, allowed to work on or service your car (please see post #3 below: http://www.specialstage.com/forums/s...08&postcount=3): not discussed as post #3 below gives detailed explanation

7. Running overall vs. incremental mileages (advantages, disadvantages, when to use which etc.): tabled to next month's agenda.

8. Using paper maps & Potti/Barrow-style magnifiers (see: http://www.donbarrow.co.uk/magnifiers.html): tabled to next month's agenda.

9. Date for next conference call: planned for Sep 29

 

[Audi UrQ]

Clarification on when you are, and more importantly when you are NOT, allowed to work on or service your car:

Per R-A Rulebook:

7.5.A.6 All controls, (i.e., Observation Controls, MTCs, Arrival with Start
Controls, Finish Controls, and Regrouping Controls) will be indicated
by means of Rally America approved signs. A Control Zone is
defined as being from 100' prior to the Clock sign or flying finish, to
100' after the last manned portion of the control, unless indicated
otherwise by Control Zone signs (illustrated in Appendix 2).

7.5.A.7 All control zones are considered Parcs Fermé (refer to Article 7.5.I).
No servicing of the rally vehicle is permitted in a control zone, except
the cleaning of windows and lights is authorized, providing this act
does not hinder the operation of the control or prevent you from
starting on your assigned minute. As an example, the opening of
your hood or trunk would be considered servicing. Competitors will
be considered to be in the control zone the moment they check into
the control, whether or not their car is within the physical boundaries
of the control zone.

Per NASA RallySport GRRs for Rallies:

2.17.3 Control Check-In Procedure
The check-in procedure begins at the moment the car passes the
time controls area entry sign or when competitor hands in a time
card.

2.17.7 Control Zones
At a special stage, the area from the first yellow sign to 160 feet
after the last sign of both the start and finish control is considered
a Control Zone. If Control Zone signs are present, their location
supersedes the aforementioned 160 foot distance. A control zone
is considered Parc Fermé and servicing is prohibited. Competitors
are allowed to clean lights and windows as long as it does not
affect the operation of the control or their readiness to start the
stage.

Once a crew has checked in, their vehicle is considered within the
control regardless of the vehicle’s physical locations.

Per CARS GCRs & RRs:

VI.A.5 All control areas (i.e. all the areas between the first yellow warning signal and the final beige sign with three transversal stripes) are considered as parcs fermé and no repairs or assistance may take place within the control area.

Summary:

U.S. (R-A & NASA): Once car is physically inside a control zone OR the team has already checked-in, the team is subject to penalties for servicing.

Canada (CARS): Only when the car is physically inside a control zone (regardless of whether the team has already checked-in or not), the team is subject to penalties for servicing.

Sidenotes:

1. I personally think the U.S. system is fairer, since in the event of a delay and resulting back up inside an ATC control zone, a team just outside the control zone has the possibility of extended service not permitted by the team immediately ahead of them that is just inside the control zone.

2. The CARS system is obviously easier to monitor/police by rally officials. The U.S. system, in cases where potential servicing infractions outside the control zone are dependent on whether the team has already checked-in or not, relies somewhat on teams monitoring/policing each other.

 

[Grondl]

Wow, packed agenda! I think I can make this one.

 

[Anders Green]

Request: Please be considerate i.e. NO calls from noisy places e.g. bars, sports venues etc. as it ruins the call quality for everyone else.

I'm also a big fan of the MUTE button on your phone. If you're not talking, please use it.

Anders

 

[Bjorn240]

5. Co-driver tips / techniques to help the driver keep the car on the road e.g. from Kim: "personally I'd like to chat with any co-drivers who might have gotten wide at 1.72 miles into Stage 11 at NEFR...note read L5+ Stay Out (Rox) >4+/Cr. There were two HUGE boulders in that underbrush! This little gotcha caught a half dozen cars out including Block. We suffered terminal rear suspension damage and Shindle went over with Matt Bushore. I just want to chat about the note and discuss with others so similar miscalls don't happen in MY future! Yeah, pretty detail-y, but my interpretation is that it was a co-driver issue (we recce'd didn't we?)".

Not sure I'll be on the call, but we had:

Stay out L5+>4+/Cr<>4+/Cr in the notes, and had no issues on the corner.

- Christian

 

[RallyK]

I'll have to look up our notes but I don't even recall the corner so I presume it wasn't an issue.

Looks like I might be able to make this call. I'll be sure to be on my best behavior and use MUTE a lot.

 

[Audi UrQ]

Kim notified me that he won't be able to make the conference call this eve (or if he does it'll be much later), so I'll be hosting the conference call this eve.

Looking forward to a good discussion these eve with some of the regulars, and hopefully some novice co-drivers will tune too.

 

[Jeff Hagan]

I'm going to try my best to call in this time. The past few calls, I either couldn't make it or found out about them after the fact.

BTW - another upcoming event: Targa Newfoundland (Sept. 14-18)... though I don't know if anyone but me is entered and will be on the call.

 

[Audi UrQ]

Meeting minutes added to post #2.

 

[AlanPerry]

- X Games 15 (Aug 2) - no significant change in event from last year to this year, local announcers on site (no television coverage), Chrissy and Jen could talk to each other while in the car, spectator question posed to rallyist: "So what do they do? Just run into each other out here?", anecdotal evidence of more spectators attending event this year, it seems that more people know about "rally" and it can lead to a conversation about real rally.

I chimed in and indicated that I was there, but you changed topics before I could say anything. I was working the floor at X Games, directing the cars to the start line (including sending Brack to the wrong side once, luckily during a commercial break) and manning the red flag for the right side stadium entrance/exit ramp.

There was TV coverage in the stadium (that is how I knew when to be ready for the cars coming back into the stadium), but there was no TV commentary in the stadium.

One of the disadvantages of not having co-drivers was that there was no one to remind the driver to "hug the wall" after re-entering the stadium. Luckily only a couple of drivers made the mistake.

Sure, it is not rally (hint: the event is called 'Rally Car Racing' (RCR), which seems a fairly accurate description), but it definitely helps build awareness of the sport. When the rally drivers were doing autograph sessions, the lines were long. When I walked through the vendor area, the crowds stopped to watch the rally segment that aired on the TV displays there. The service area was swamped with spectators after the RCR event; it created an issue for security because RCR was the last event and there seemed to be an expectation that people would leave after that, not hang around the service area.

alan

 

[AlanPerry]

- Wild West [Jerry Moon Sou'Wester/Lewis and Clark Trail Stages] (Sep 26-27) - no one on call planning to compete, but same roads as last year

Actually, it is the Lewis and Clark Trail Stages and the Rucherts Reward Rally.

 

[flatOVERcrest]

Suggestion for next time, you may want to pick a week where there isn't a major event in the calendar as I'm sure many people (myself included) were wrapping up their work week/proceeding to travel to MN and couldn't make the call.

 

[Audi UrQ]

I chimed in and indicated that I was there, but you changed topics before I could say anything.

My apologies, Alan. I tried to leave a reasonable pause between each agenda item in order to allow anyone that wanted to say anything to do so. Maybe I moved on a little hastily from this point since none of the co-drivers on the call actually competed at the X Games, and I know some co-drivers aren't that thrilled with no longer being part of the X Games. I was also trying to keep the meeting moving along since we had quite a lot of items on the agenda to discuss. Anyway, thanks for the written feedback on the X Games, and sorry about not pausing long enough to allow you to provide your insight.

Actually, it is the Lewis and Clark Trail Stages and the Rucherts Reward Rally.

Sorry, I was going off what was listed on the Rally Racing News schedule. Corrected now in both agenda & meeting minutes.

Suggestion for next time, you may want to pick a week where there isn't a major event in the calendar as I'm sure many people (myself included) were wrapping up their work week/proceeding to travel to MN and couldn't make the call.

Thanks for the feedback, Alex. Unfortunately the conference line is only available on the 2nd & 4th (& 5th when applicable) Tuesdays of the month. So we typically have the conference call on the last Tues of the month to gather feedback on events that have happened over the past month, and to discuss events coming up in the next month. Sorry you weren't able to make the conference call tonight, and hopefully you'll join us on future calls when you're available.

 

[AlanPerry]

My apologies, Alan. I tried to leave a reasonable pause between each agenda item in order to allow anyone that wanted to say anything to do so. Maybe I moved on a little hastily from this point since none of the co-drivers on the call actually competed at the X Games, and I know some co-drivers aren't that thrilled with no longer being part of the X Games. I was also trying to keep the meeting moving along since we had quite a lot of items on the agenda to discuss. Anyway, thanks for the written feedback on the X Games, and sorry about not pausing long enough to allow you to provide your insight.

To me, the co-driver conference call seemed like THE opportunity to discuss what was missing from X Games with no co-drivers, since I am a recently retired co-driver myself and was in the middle of the operations of the event.

For example, I would have preferred to be dealing with co-drivers than drivers when a) I had to break it to the teams that Sunday practice was being cut short (I think I would have gotten less of a vibe that I was about to be lynched) and b) trying to have cars ready to move to the start line as soon as the previous run finished.

alan

 

[Anders Green]

Bump! Time for a new thread for the next one next week???

 

[Audi UrQ]

yep, just been busy ... will create a new thread with agenda later this eve for Tues 9/29.

EDIT: now done.