RA Bulletin 2006 #11

Promptly was posted following SnoDrift. Mentioned in another post but worthy of its own discussion. A little late but in my opinion another step in right direction for RA.

http://www.rally-america.com/pdf/Rule_Bulletin_2006_011.pdf

Bulletin #2006-011 1 – February - 2006
Subject: Penalties for competition vehicle equipment and class violations
Overview: One of Rally America’s guiding principles is that of fair and equal treatment
of all competitors. We have been scrutinizing competition vehicles at post event impound
for a year now and we believe this has raised the bar for vehicle preparation and
compliance. Currently, article 8.2.D.1 gives the stewards a broad range of penalties for an
equally broad range of rule infractions. The purpose of this bulletin is to identify specific
penalties for such violations, and identify where the stewards have latitude.
Effective immediately, 8.2.D.1 is replaced with the following:
The Rally America Technical Director, the event Chief Scrutineer, or their designate may
inspect any competition vehicle at any time. If the vehicle is found not to be in
compliance with the rules, the following penalties shall be issued. Claims against vehicles
as described in 8.3.D are subject to these penalties as well.
1. Any violations that were in compliance at the beginning of the rally (as indicated on
the tech inspection form) and subsequently found not to be in compliance that are not the
result of a real incident occurring during the event (see 4.b below) shall be penalized as
follows:
• 1st violation; Exclusion
• 2nd violation; Exclusion and suspension of competition license for 4 events or 6
months, whichever is longer
• 3rd and subsequent violations; Exclusion and suspension of competition license for
8 events or 12 months, whichever is longer
2. Any violations found during the event or at post-event impound that are not the result
of a real incident occurring during the event (see 4.b below) shall be penalized as follows.
These penalties also apply to fuel violations:
• 1st violation; 3 class positions
• 2nd violation; Exclusion
• 3rd and subsequent violations; Exclusion and suspension of competition license
for 4 events or 6 months, whichever is longer
3. Claims by competitors against P and PGT entrants regarding non-performance
violations of Article 10.2.C (see 4.a below) that are not the result of a real incident
occurring during the event (see 4.b below) are not subject to 1 and 2 above but shall be
penalized as follows:
• 1st violation; 1 class position
• 2nd violation; 3 class positions
• 3rd and subsequent violations; Exclusion
4. The stewards shall exercise discretion in determining if any violation is either:
a) so minor as to have no practical effect on performance (the Rally America Technical
Director and/or the chief scrutineer's opinions shall be sought in these cases) or
b) is the result of a real incident occurring during the event (an Incident report shall be
filed in such cases, and the stewards are cautioned to determine if the incident is real or
contrived).
In such cases the penalty may range from requiring the competitor to address the issue
prior to the next event to one class position.
5. The penalties prescribed above shall be the minimum penalty applied. If the stewards
determine that any violation warrants a more severe penalty, they may apply additional
penalties as provided under Article 8.2.
6. In the case of multiple violations by a competitor as an event, the most severe penalty
shall be applied.
7. Position penalties will be imposed by computing the time necessary to move the
competitor being penalized 0:00.1 behind the competitor in the class position the penalty
prescribes. In the case where there are fewer finishers than the penalty prescribes, the
position penalty will still be imposed. For example, if there are only three finishers in a
class and a 3 position penalty is imposed on the 2nd place finisher, they will only receive
5th place points, final results would be 1st, 2nd, 5th. Overall position changes are not
predetermined by these penalties, but are the result of class position changes. There will
be no gaps in Overall finishing positions.
8. In every case, the violation, regardless of penalty, must be corrected PRIOR to preevent
technical at the next Rally America event where the competition vehicle is entered.
Failure to do so will result in exclusion from this event (not the event where the violation
originally occurred). If the competitor has any question as to whether the violation has
been satisfactorily resolved, they shall consult with the Rally America Technical Director
prior to presenting the competition vehicle for pre-event technical inspection.