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Time, speed, distance
 A TSD road rally is a contest of precision – being in exactly the
right place at exactly the right time. The winner is the team most able to run the course in exactly the correct amount of time.
However, it will do you no good to be on time if you're not in the
right place. Novice ralliers find most success by focusing on course following, and not worrying too much about staying on time.
That said, accurate time and distance measures are essential to
TSD road rally. That's why official time is identified at the start so contestants can synchronize their timepieces. Some events measure time in seconds and some in hundredths of a minute. Make sure
you know what units are used. Always time yourself out from the outmarker at your assigned out time.
To give contestants an opportunity to "synchronize" their distance measuring devices (odometer), the
route instructions begin with an odometer calibration section. This lets you compare your odometer to
official mileage for the event. When distances are given in the route instructions, you'll know how to adjust for your odometer.
The route instructions may direct you to average a speed (CAST – change average speed to)
beginning at a specific reference. Always drive a little faster. You'll need a little extra time to safely navigate corners and stop at stop signs. If your odometer is greatly different than official mileage, you
might even want to adjust your speed by the odometer calibration factor.
You may be instructed to pause for a period of time, usually at a traffic signal or other intersection
where you may be delayed. Always cross the intersection and wait out your pause time on the other  side.
Checkpoints
As you drive the rally route, you'll encounter checkpoints where the exact time that you pass the
checkpoint sign will be recorded. The checkpoint sign marks the end of one timed section of the event – one leg.
 Usually you will pull over after passing the checkpoint sign to
exchange information with the checkpoint crew. (Sometimes an event will have passage controls, where you just drive by the checkpoint and keep going.) Note the time you crossed the line,
and compare it to your assigned in time. Carefully read any information provided at the checkpoint. Time yourself out from the outmarker at your assigned out time.
At a Do-It-Yourself Checkpoint (DIYC), the end of the timed leg
is at the sign referenced by a DIYC route instruction. Note the precise time you arrived at the referenced DIYC reference. Record that time as your end time for the
leg just completed. Assign your own out time according to the event rules, e.g. exactly 2 minutes after your in time.
Scoring
Your score is a measure of how well you are able to drive the course exactly on time. The seconds
or hundredths that you are early or late on each leg (early is as bad as late) is summed up to your total score. Lowest score wins, like golf.
Time allowances
Sometimes you miss a sign. After regaining the course, please do not attempt warp speed to regain
your time. Your safety is more important than getting back on time. Figure out how much time you lost and request a Time Allowance to adjust your score on this leg for the amount of time you're requesting. Not all events offer Time Allowances, but they should.
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