The 2013 rules have been posted: http://norra.com/mexican1000.php Note that I split them into two different sections: The General Rules - all the stuff about timing, penalties, and the structure of the event Vehicle Rules - everything related to classes, bike prep, et cetera All in all, with the editing I did, the rule book is about 60 pages shorter than last year, so enjoy not reading as much. Cheers! Anders
Anders, Curious as to the thoughts behind having both the ML400 (up to 400cc 1985 and newer) and MRR450 Rally Raid. Are there going to be more specifics as to what dictates a "Rally Raid" motorcycle? Also, I see just as last year there is a note about GPS trackers being attached to the vehicles. They had that in the rules last year but didn't actually use them. Curious if they plan on doing that this year. Could open up some more opportunities to have the roadbook divert some from the GPS track so that people navigating by roadbook could get some sort of bonus (verified by the tracker). There was talk of this last year but due to logistics and manpower they (understandably) didn't do any special navigation bonus.
MRR450 is to keep dakar pros from coming in and wiping the floor with everyone else on historic bikes, and also to give people building bikes to dakar size/spec a spot. Cheers! Anders Anders
So if Octavio enters again we will be on the same class. Might need to bore my Yamaha to 451cc just to avoid that! Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I have a 450x Honda Europe kit like Ocavio's that is available. It's in good shape. PM if interested.
Couple comments/questions on the updated rules: "9.5. Starting Order for the first Special Stage each day after the first will be based, not on the results, but rather on the modified average speed of each entrant. The average speeds for each stage are computed. Some stages will be thrown out in an effort to ignore anomalies (such as stages where a racer was stuck in a ditch for four hours), and the remaining good stages are averaged together. These calculations are based on all previous days, to get the best possible picture of the representative speed of each vehicle. The racers are then ranked with the highest result first and lowest result last. No penalty times are included when determining the mid-rally start orders." Seems unfair to penalize the folks who didn't have a mechanical/bad section once the race has started, however minor that penalty. "10.4.1.4. Starting out of sequence at a stage with a published start order: 10 minutes." How is this going to work in practice? As long as you get there 5 seconds before your start time, you're good? Do you have to be there the full 60 minutes early and lined up? One thing that looks like it's missing: 1) You have to turn in your timecard at the finish line of each day with no exceptions or you max out. Looking forward to '13 and electronic scoring! =)
10.4.1.4. Starting out of sequence at a stage with a published start order: 10 minutes." I think this is ment for the Start of each day ( not Stage)
Actually it is safer to have everyone that typically runs at the same pace running together. You really want Robby Gordon working his way though everyone after he has one of his typical brain farts? (Actually Rubby won't be there this next race but still....) Published start time would be at the first stage of the day. I don't know about the rest of you question as all of the stages I navigated in we were leading overall, we simply drove to the front of the line, presented our paperwork on time, and off we went! The official time is also written on the sticker on the vehicle.
Bike only specials ? How about roadbook navagation only? Fuel Minimums? Can riders CARRY GAS ? Malles Moto ? why not vehicle age groups 60-70... 70-80,,80's to 90 ? Wish this pot was stirred earlier..
Slow people on bikes are going to get passed by the cars no matter what. Robby did pass me one time during the race and he was quite polite! I don't think it's a big deal, so I'm not going to dwell on it, but I think if two people are pretty similar in speed and the slightly faster one had screwed up, they should have to work to pass the slightly slower one who didn't. I only know of one stage last year where I found the dust made it hard to pass/see, but it might as well not be the other way around. I'm referring to the first stage of the day, not the following ones and I guess I'm asking specifically about how this will work to avoid a repeat of Certain People showing up at the last possible second instead of sitting there for an hour like the rest of us. =) If you really do need to be there 60 minutes early, I'd like to know that as well. I hear that, but last year we had a bike without times recorded for 2 or 3 of the 4 days and it could affect people's strategies. No reason to be in that situation so we should make sure we can have (mostly) accurate results each night. It's fun, it's a rally, I get it, but when it doesn't cause us to have less fun, it might as well be more correct!
Actually what MaineRoot and I have been discussing is basically that -- My trucks carry all those "unsupported" riders supplies from night to night. I'd have it organized with everyone at the same hotel (even in BofLA). Riders do their own maintenance from their own boxes. We supply chemicals, some misc. parts, etc. Unlike Dakar you're not in a tent though We also transport all these unsupported (no personal truck/people support) bikes and supplies to Mexicali and back north from Cabo. I don't think a "no carry" rule can be made unless Norra was to handle the fuel (ala Dakar). Can you imagine if we all HAD to rely on a pit service that happened to not be in the correct spot (can't imagine that ever happening, right?). It would also play into stategy; hope you make the miles of a section with only what your tank holds, or carry extra bouncing around weight and possibly have to stop and dump it in, or don't carry and pray the pit service gas is actually where it's supposed to be. At the Nevada Rally we were not allowed to carry gas ever on our bodies but the pits were only like 90 miles apart and you'd see your own personal truck or if it was a longer section then BITD trailered your personal gas jug out to a set spot. So really it was a non-issue, everyone was in the same boat, it was reliable.
Fairness, which many people have different opinions on, is on part of the balancing act... one other part is safety. The more people don't have to fight past slower people, the better. Besides, the ultimate "fairness" is the results. You can't escape that those mechancials or slow sections ultimately move you further and further down the results. The penalties section: 10.4.1.3 Cheers, Anders
Anders, Great work on the many options and rule streamlining... I think what people are bringing up is cheating and preferential treatment that was witnessed last year without really saying it or naming names. There also should be a solo or team clarification or a seperate classification for multiple riders. I can also see many classes that may not even have an entry opening up this option.