NSR Rally Rules

All + All -

• + - General Information

• • + - Rules, we don't need no stinking rules, do we?

  • • Yes, rules make the expectations of the Rallymaster clear and ensure that all participants understand what is expected, required and not allowed. That way everybody is playing to the same tune.

  • + - Are your rules different?

  • • Not really, we have endeavored to make the NSR rules consistent with the rules you will find used in other popular rallies. We encourage you to compare and contrast our rules with those you can find published on the web. If you find any areas which are not clear, or that you feel deviate from other standard rules, feel free to ask questions and clear things up before the rally starts. Please note our Digital Camera and Data Entry rules are state of the art and supersede any other procedures you may find elsewhere. See What kind of photography is acceptable? under Bonus Information.

  • + - Paperwork! Do I need paperwork?

  • • Yes, at some point, before you can participate in this rally, you will need to produce the following items:
      • Release Form—Riders must sign a Release for Liability from rally staff and sponsors and Declaration of Risk before being signed into the rally. Open this link — http://www.notsupermanrally.com/release.html
      • Valid Liability Insurance—equal to or greater than $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence as evidenced by a Coverage Limits Declaration Sheet. Valid means that it must be: current, in your name, for your motorcycle, in your state) This declaration sheet is available from your insurance company on request.
      The insurance card you normally carry DOES NOT SHOW the dollar amounts of coverage.
      • Drivers License—Current license with your name. It must show a motorcycle endorsement if required in the state of issuance.
      • Vehicle Registration— All riders must have a valid and current registration card for the motorcycle they are riding in this event.
      

  • + - Can I get disqualified?

  • • You'd better believe it! There are several things that will not be tolerated. Some are so severe you will essentially be banished from this rally, all future NSR rallies, and if egregious enough, maybe even the entire long distance riding community. Here is the list:
      • Riders must render aid and assistance to any motorcyclist they encounter in need of emergency assistance. Not stopping to render aid is at the top of the disqualification list. (See What if I stop to help someone and get delayed?)
      • Knowing you are going to be late, or not arrive, and NOT NOTIFYING the rally staff. As soon as you know that you will be late to the rally finish you MUST call the rally staff. Remember staff will be concerned for you and want you to return safely.
      • Riders must obey all rules of law while riding in this rally. If it comes to the attention of rally staff that a rider has ridden carelessly or deliberately broken the driving rules of any state the rider has traveled in during the rally, the rider may be disqualified.  
      • Carrying more than 11.5 gallons of fuel. See Can I carry auxiliary fuel?
      • Any manipulation of photographic bonus location imagery or EXIF data will result in disqualification.
      

  • + - How do I contact the rally staff?

  • • Riders will be given the rally phone numbers from the Rallymaster when Rally Books are issued.

  • + - Can I ride with anyone else?

  • • Riders may not ride with anyone who is not registered in the rally. You may travel with other registered riders, but you must work as individuals when collecting bonus photos and other requested information.

  • + - We are riding two up, how does that change the rules?

  • • All two up riding teams (as declared on the rider list) must complete all tasks as a team. Your pillion rider must appear in all photos asked for by the rally book. If the bonus asks for the rider to appear in photo then you both (rider and pillion) must be in photo. If your task is to walk one mile to find the bonus location, you must both walk to the location.

  • + - What if I disagree with something?

  • • The Rallymaster's decisions are final. Every effort will be made to be fair but no protest of Rallymaster's final decision will be allowed.

  • + - Do you have any other tips for me?

  • • Yes a few:
      • This rally is NOT A RACE. Riding faster is not an advantage to coming in first. Planning a good route and riding it within your planned schedule will do far more for your success than speeding.
      • There is no accommodation for bad luck on the ride. Riders must deal with whatever may come their way on the journey.
      

• + - Registration and Check In Information

• • + - When can I check in?

  • • You must check into the rally during the hours posted in the rally schedule. Friday, July 10, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM for both the 48-hour rally and 12-hour rally.

  • + - What happens at check in?

  • • In addition to the Check In procedures and paperwork completion, there will be a Measured Course Odometer Check Ride (approx. 30 miles round trip).

• + - Safety Information

• • + - AGATT, What is AGATT?

  • • Your safety is of paramount importance. You must wear a DOT approved helmet and eye protection at all times. The rally staff strongly suggests wearing full body protection including armored jacket and pants, full-fingered gloves, and full height riding boots. If you show up without such gear an IQ test may also be required at check in.

  • + - Do I need an inspection before the rally?

  • • Yes, it is a do-it-yourself inspection. Using the checklist provided you will perform a self-inspection of your motorcycle and gear. If you find any problems you must report them to the Rallymaster immediately. Problems with your motorcycle must be repaired before you may participate in the rally.

  • + - Can I carry auxiliary fuel?

  • • Yes, up to a maximum of 11.5 gallons total including capacity of motorcycle tank in a securely mounted auxiliary fuel tank made specifically for the purpose of carrying fuel. If you carry auxiliary fuel you must meet safety standards.

  • + - What are the safety standards for auxiliary fuel?

  • • This can be a complex answer and subject to interpretation. In a nutshell, your aux fuel system needs to be safe in the sense that it is: of a robust construction, securely mounted, properly vented, doesn't leak, and so on. The NSR rules do not attempt to provide guidance nor standards on what is proper. Other rally rules, readily available on the web, provide some guidance. You are strongly encouraged to review these rules and guidelines. Remember, you are responsible for performing your pre-rally safety inspection. The bottom line is, if your motorcycle catches fire and burns up because of your aux fuel system, it wasn't safe.

• + - Bonus Information

• • + - What is the rally flag?

  • • You will be assigned a rally flag with a unique number assigned to you. This flag is used to validate photo bonuses. It must be clearly readable in every photo requested. The flag will have a fringed edge attached to it. This fringed edge must be visible in every photo taken for a bonus that requires a photo.

  • + - What if I find another riders rally flag?

  • • If you should come across another rider’s flag in your travels, do not pick it up. That rider may be on his/her way back to get it.

  • + - How will I get bonus information?

  • • You will be given bonus numbers with bonus location in written descriptive form (not GPS coordinates) and bonus point values at 6:00 PM CDT 7 days before the rally start. This information will allow you to perform route planning but will NOT contain the details of bonus capture requirements.

  • + - Where is my Rally Book?

  • • The night before the rally start you will be given a Rally Book, which will contain the complete details of the bonuses. It will spell out exactly what you need to do to claim the bonus. There will be no significant surprises in the Rally Book because, in the interest of safety, we want all riders to get a good night's sleep before the rally start.
      
      You will be told how many pages you will find in the Rally Book. It is your responsibility to count the pages and report to the Rallymaster any shortage before leaving the meeting at which the rally books are handed out. Riders must hand in the Rally Book at the end of the event. Rally Books are the property of the NSR. No book = No points. Please keep it dry.
      

  • + - Will the rally book provide good directions?

  • • The Rally Book will provide all information necessary to find the bonus locations. Bonus information is designed to be accurate. There will be no intent to deceive the rider.

  • + - Is there a rider's log?

  • • Yes, the Rally Book will have space that allows you fill in bonus information while you are on the ride. This is provided to help you organize you information but is not a requirement to receive bonus credit. A Rider's Log will be required. It lists only the bonuses you visited in the order that you visited them and will include the following information written in by you (either as you go or at the end of the rally prior to turning in your paperwork, receipts, etc.):
      • Bonus #
      • Date and Time (CDT in military format)
      • Odometer reading
      • Answer to question (applies only to those bonuses that have a question for you to answer)

  • + - How do I claim a bonus?

  • • At each bonus location you must make a logbook entry of the following information:
      • Bonus #
      • Date and Time (CDT in military format)
      • Odometer reading
      • You must also complete the instructions for the bonus. This may be one or more of: answer a question, obtain a receipt, or take a photo of the bonus location (with your rally flag).

  • + - What kind of photography is acceptable?

  • • Only digital photos are acceptable. NO POLAROID or other instant photography will be accepted. The time and date must be set on your digital camera to local rally time (CDT — your cell phone will give you the accurate local time).
      
      Any manipulation of the photographic image or EXIF data will result in disqualification.
      
      Set your camera at its lowest resolution. This may show as TV, VGA (640x480), or a pixel count with the first number 800x--- or less. More expensive cameras have image quality settings in addition to image size settings (example: low, std, high). Read your camera's Owners Manual to learn how to do the above including how to save the image size and quality settings so that you do not have to reset every time you turn your camera on.
      
      And practice doing the above before you come to the rally. If you have questions on setting your image size and quality, see a rally staff member at the Rider's Meeting supper.
      
      The digital photo requirement is easy:
      
         1. Take as many photos as you like at each bonus stop.
         2. Pick one and only one to upload to the website database for each bonus.
         3. Be familiar with how to download your rally photos onto your computer before showing up at the rally.
         4. There will be four (4) iKruz All-in-1 USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Card Readers available for rider use.
         5. Transfer your digital photos to your notebook PC or to one of four (4) available NSR computers.
      

  • + - Am I required to rest?

  • • Yes, there is a mandatory 6-hour rest stop. The rider is completely free to choose when he or she stops to rest for at least 6 hours. The only requirement is that the 6-hour rest stop must must occur sometime between the start and finish of the 48-hour rally.

  • + - Do I need to rest in hotel/motel?

  • • No. You need to document that you remained in one location for the mandatory 6-hour rest stop.

  • + - How do I document a rest stop?

  • • You need two valid receipts, one for the start of the rest stop and one for the end of the rest stop (see What is a valid receipt?). The locations of these two receipts may not be more than 2 ½ miles apart. What this means is that your odometer may not increase more than 5 miles while obtaining the two rest stop receipts.

  • + - What is a valid receipt?

  • • A valid receipt is a computer generated printout that contains the following information: location, state, time, and date. Examples of valid receipts are: ATM printouts, electronic cash register receipts, credit card receipts. NOTE: Increasingly, service stations are not showing location but rather store number be aware that if the receipt does not contain the four items specified your documentation is at risk.

  • + - What if I can't find a bonus?

  • • This might be the result of several conditions, which may or may not be the case. If you think: 1) that the Rally Book has improperly described a location, 2) that the location no longer exists, 3) that the location can not be reached by any legal path of travel, then you have two options. 1) Call the rally staff for clarification, 2) document the location, as it does exist, and submit it as a protested entry. Please be aware that protested entries will be denied if another rider is able to document that bonus location in a legal manner.

  • + - Can I get help with a bonus?

  • • Very limited. Registered entrants (as declared on the rider list) must go to the location and retrieve the bonus request by their own work. You may not share bonus information with another rider. You may obtain assistance in that another person may photograph the rider holding his or her rally flag at a location.

  • + - Will I need a fuel log?

  • • Yes, you must keep all fuel receipts and transcribe the information on these receipts into a fuel log. An accurately completed fuel log is worth ____ bonus points (TBD). If any required information is missing you will receive zero points for the fuel log. You should record your odometer reading on each fuel receipt before you ride away from the pump. You must maintain the log throughout the rally ride no matter of your success at previous fuel stops.

  • + - Okay, so what information is required in the fuel log?

  • • The fuel log requires location, state, time, date, gallons of fuel purchased, and odometer reading. The first 5 items (all but odometer) must be substantiated by a valid receipt.

  • + - What if my fuel receipt doesn't have this information?

  • • You may make corrections to the time entry only. If any other information is incorrect or missing then you must attempt to obtain that information in another manner. Here are your options: 1) obtain a business card that has this information and/or, 2) have them print out a indoor gas receipt that does have this information and/or, 3) obtain a second credit card receipt that has the correct information. If all of the above are unsuccessful you will need to go to another near by service station, or store, or ATM, and secure a second receipt, which submitted together with the "bad" fuel receipt (missing adequate location information) will constitute a valid fuel receipt. You must keep all receipts collected during this pursuit and keep them together when handed in at the end of the rally.

• + - Scoring Information

• • + - How do I finish the rally?

  • • You must be check in at the rally end point and have your official finish time and odometer reading recorded by the NSR staff.

  • + - Can I check in early?

  • • Yes, you may check in any time before the rally closes.

  • + - How do I get scored?

  • • After checking into the rally end point riders will be given time to work on their computers to log into the rally website and enter their Rider's Log information. Riders must transfer their Rider's Log information into the rally’s electronic format found at the rally website. In order to receive points for a bonus, a rider must document the bonus information requested into the scoring system at their home page. If you don't enter the bonus info in the electronic document you submit and upload the photo of your choice for that bonus, it will not be awarded.

  • + - What is this self scoring business?

  • • In order to speed up the scoring process and facilitate the use of digital photography we are using a web based scoring mechanism. This is a simple interface by which you will enter your bonus information into our database for scoring. Any photos submitted become the property of the NSR rally.

  • + - Okay, how do I self score?

  • • Enter the first Bonus # visited on your route and hit the Enter key or click the “Fetch Bonus Info” button. Complete the requested information:
      1. Date
      2. Time in Central Daylight Military Time
      3. Odometer reading
      4. Answer any questions asked as part of fulfilling the bonus requirements
      5. Click on “Browse” button to find and select the bonus photo you want to submit (not much different than uploading a photo to Smugmug)
      6. Click on “Submit” button
      7. A fresh blank form will appear - repeat for each bonus you want to enter in the order they were collected

  • + - What if I make a mistake on the scoring form?

  • • Ooops, you are in pretty bad shape, there will be one gimme but after that you will invited to join the Luddite group (discussed below) and will suffer any and all abuse the rally staff cares to pile on you. To prevent this please double check each bonus form carefully before hitting Enter or clicking the Submit button. If you make a mistake such as wrong date or wrong time or wrong odometer reading, call the Rallymaster and he will correct your data entry error one time (e.g. one bonus) at no charge.

  • + - I am such a Luddite when it comes to computers. Can’t I just do it the old way?

  • • Out of the sheer kindness of our hearts we will accommodate the more technically challenged riders. A rally staffer has volunteered to take your Rally Book, receipts, digital camera memory card, fuel log, etc. in your sealed rally envelope and manually score you. There will be a separate box clearly marked for you to deposit your rally envelope into.

  • + - Can I practice this self scoring before the rally?

  • • Yes, you will have a web page set up for you about one month before the rally. This is a sand box for you to play in, try out, and ask questions about.

• + - Mileage and Penalty Information

• • + - How is rally mileage measured?

  • • NSR staff will record four (4) odometer readings:
      1. start of measured course odometer check ride
      2. end of measured course odometer check ride
      3. immediately before start of rally
      4. end (finish) of rally ride
      It is recommended that at the start of the rally you reset the trip meter on your GPS since that may come into play.  (See What do I do if my odometer breaks?)
      

  • + - Is there a mileage cap?

  • • The 48-hour NSR has a mileage cap of 1700 miles. Riding beyond this amount will cost you additional penalty points which will be deducted from your overall score.

  • + - Are there penalties for riding too many miles?

  • • Yes, 10 points per mile.

  • + - What do I do if my odometer breaks?

  • • If your odometer should break during the rally you may use the GPS mileage log only if you call the rally staff and declare that you need to proceed this way. There is no going back at that point.

• + - Time and Penalty Information

• • + - Is there a penalty window?

  • • Yes, you may arrive up to 30 minutes late and still be considered a finisher. You will be assessed penalty points for this tardiness. (see What are the penalties for being tardy?)

  • + - What if I am more than 30 minutes late?

  • • Coming in after the window is closed will make you DNF (Did Not Finish).

  • + - What are the penalties for being tardy?

  • • Late Penalties are as follows:
      • 1-10 minute = deduct 10 points per minute
      • 11-20minutes = deduct 25 points per minute
      • 21-30minutes = deduct 50 points per minute
      • Over 31 minutes = DNF

  • + - What if I stop to help someone and get delayed?

  • • If you stop to provide aid and/or assistance you must call rally staff at the time of the incident (or as soon as phone service becomes available) to qualify for any time allowance for rendering this help. If this rare situation should occur, you will need to enter the event into your rider's log. Running out of gas is not considered an emergency except in a desolate area with little vehicle traffic or late at night. You should stop, inquire, and use common sense.

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