Automapic Navigational Rally: The Challenge Awaits!

Get ready to test your navigational skills and teamwork at the Automapic Rally on October 4th! Hosted by the Kitchener Waterloo Rally Club, this event is set in the picturesque surroundings of Stratford, Ontario.  The current forecast promises sunny skies and temperatures in the low 20s, setting the stage for a spectacular drive. With the local trees already bursting into full autumn colour, expect Mother Nature to provide a truly scenic and beautiful backdrop for the rally!

The rally kicks off at noon and should wrap up between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM.  Competitors are encouraged to arrive early for registration, with online registration highly recommended to save time. For newcomers, a dedicated class will be held before the event to provide a solid foundation in navigational rally basics.

Click here for additional details or to register for the rally.

How Navigational Rallies Work

A navigational rally is a timed event where a team of two people—a driver and a navigator—follows a precise route using a set of instructions provided at the start. The best part? Any street-legal car is acceptable! No special gear is required for your vehicle. For the navigator, all you need is a clock, a clipboard, and a pen. While a GPS (or Google Maps) isn't required, it can be a helpful tool.

The navigator is usually the brains of the operation, communicating upcoming turns, road changes, and the target average speed to the driver. The driver's job is to focus on the road, obey all traffic laws and road signs, and maintain the requested speeds as closely as possible.

Along the designated route, teams will encounter a series of hidden checkpoints they must locate and stop at. These checkpoints aren't marked on any maps or provided in the instructions in advance; they are found by successfully following the course.

Check Point!

Calculated Average Speed (CAS): This isn't an instruction type, but a crucial concept. The CAS dictates the average speed you must maintain over a certain section of the route. Checkpoints measure how closely you adhere to this speed. If you arrive too early or too late, you'll incur penalties. 

Common Rally Instruction Types

The Automapic Rally uses several types of instructions, catering to three difficulty levels:

Beginner: Uses dead-easy instructions to help new competitors get a feel for the sport.

Novice: Offers easy instructions, a step up from the beginner level.

Expert: The most challenging level, requiring an advanced understanding of rally instructions.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the instructions you might encounter:

Tulips: A series of simple diagrams showing the path you should take. Each drawing represents an intersection or turn, with an arrow indicating the correct direction to follow. They resemble a tulip, hence the name.

Each box contains a tulip & a distance relative to the section start point.

Straight Line Diagrams (SLDs): These are diagrams of a long section of road. Key landmarks like intersections, bridges, or unique road features are shown in order, helping you stay on the correct road even with multiple turns.

Lines that branch off from the main line represent roads seen at the intersection.

Giant Tulip Maps: A series of interconnected tulip diagrams, often representing a more complex or longer section of the route. They provide a more comprehensive visual guide than individual tulips.

In this example, you follow the route from the large dot until you reach the end (EOS)

Maps with Marked Way-points & Notes: These are actual maps with the route drawn out and specific points marked. Accompanying notes provide additional guidance, such as road names or specific driving instructions.

More details are found on the Rally Sport Ontario website: RSO Beginner Resources

KWRC looks forward to seeing you in Stratford on the 4th!