Internet Table-Top Rally Championship 2006
Round 1 - Five Diamonds Rally
Bulletins

sponsored by
Don Barrow Rally Navigation - http://www.donbarrow.co.uk


Bulletin No.2 - February 27, 2006

Entries

A total of 74 entries which is a bit disappointing since there are 424 potential competitors on the mailing list.

Congratulations to entrant Alan Crabtree who has been a finisher on all of the 33 table-top rallies that have qualified for World ranking status. Also to Peter Robertson who has missed just one, and Mitch Fielding, two. Thanks for your dedication (or masochism?). 

Longevity appreciation goes to David Keetley. Of this year's competitors, the oldest record I have of previous outings is for David who is listed as a finisher on the 1986 Langer Park TT Rally.

I am missing results of many National postal TT rallies from the late 70's and early 80's. If you are old enough and have them in your attic somewhere, could you let me have a copy? Thanks.

Final Piece of Advice

Particularly for Novices, make sure you understand the legends in the Route Checks. If at all in doubt, ask a question on the TT Forum. I wouldn't want you to crack the Route Card and then make a silly mistake by interpreting the requirements of a Route Check incorrectly.

Also, don't be tempted to submit your answers too early. Sometimes there may be queries and clarifications which will emerge on the forum, which might influence your route or answers. Best wait a couple of weeks until all the queries have been settled.

Good Luck.

"Crow"


Bulletin No.1 - February 18, 2006

Table-Top Rallying Forum

The previously published forum was hosted remotely and has been mysteriously deleted! A new forum has been set up on the TT server and should now be secure. If you registered previously, I must ask you to re-register.

I'll be using the forum to communicate information about any updates to the Five Diamonds Route Cards after they are published. Simply go to the forum page, click on Five Diamonds Rally and then click on any Announcements. You can view the postings without having to register.

If you want to ask questions about the event, you will need to post them to the Forum. Posting requires registration, so click Register on the forum page. As a minimum you will need to enter: a Username, Password and Email address. For your Username, choose a name like Firstname.Surname e.g. Ray.Crowther so that I can cross-reference you to the Entry List, since the forum is only for TT competitors. If you are a bona fide registrant, your access will be activated shortly afterwards.

I will answer your questions officially with a reply post, so that all competitors will be able to see the results of my adjudication. If you ask specifically for help on a Route Card, I may simply answer "No comment". If you raise a problem which requires a change to the Regulations or Route Cards, corrections will be posted to the forum as Announcements and the original web pages will be updated.

My thanks to Derek Newbould for his help in configuring the forum.

Historic Entries?

Over time I am publishing results of ancient table-top rallies. Recently I added the results of the Nelly National postal event from 1987. Quite interesting is that of the 159 finishers in 1987, so far the following have entered this years Internet Championship 19 years later: David Bell, Mick Lowe, Derek Newbould, Mick Wicks and David Keetley.

Route Card Access

The Five Diamonds Route Cards will be published around 22:00 on March 1st. They will be on a password protected page. I will be emailing the required User Name and Password to competitors (that have paid the entry fee - some haven't yet!) during the weekend before the event.

Route Card Answers

Also during the weekend before the event I will send you a template email form that you can use for returning each set of Route Card Answers. However I would prefer that you complete an Internet form for submitting your answers for greater security. Use the Masters Answer Form or the Experts/Novices Answer Form as appropriate.

Class Upgrades

Some of you were unsure of which class to enter. 
If you've entered as a Novice and find that you can easily complete 10 Route Cards (as opposed to the five required), optionally when you submit your answers, add the comment that you wish to upgrade to the Experts class.
Same for Experts. Have a go at the Masters Route Cards (no extra charge). If you easily crack them, optionally when you submit your answers, add the comment that you wish to upgrade to the Masters class (£4 extra charge).
This is a one time offer for the Five Diamonds Rally. Thereafter, you must stay in your assigned class.

Multiple Sclerosis Society

I have today passed another £200 of the entry fees to our nominated charity - Multiple Sclerosis Society -  bringing the total to £350. Thanks.

"Crow"