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Tricks n' traps
What is a trap? A trap is a planned opportunity for you to earn penalty points.
A trap may take you on a planned off course route that rejoins the on course route. Or a trap may
entice you into making incorrect speed changes or pauses. The penalty for falling for a trap could be as little as a small fraction of a minute or as great as a max for the leg, depending on the event.
Traps exist in the context of the rules for that event. For the following examples, the relevant
rules are provided.
Number switch
Rule: Numbered route instructions must be executed in numerical order.
Trap: The route instructions are out of order.
Example:
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36.
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Right at STOP ONTO CAMPBELL.
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37.
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Left at T. CAST 30.
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39.
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Left at T. CAST 35.
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38.
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Right at T. CAST 34.
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40.
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Left ONTO 219. CAST 45. PAUSE 0.33 minutes.
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To stay on course: Always check the sequence of the route instruction numbers. To be sure, check them in reverse order.
Spelling
Rule:
Signs quoted in the route instructions will be exact as to spelling and symbols, as close as graphically possible.
Trap: The sign is quoted incorrectly.
Example:
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41.
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Right at "SMITH RD".
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42.
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Right at Stop, watch for rally traffic next 2 miles.
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43
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Left first Opportunity.
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Where signs reading "SMYTHE RD" or "SMITH ROAD" are encountered before the correct sign
which says "SMITH RD".
To stay on course: Always make sure the sign matches the route instruction.
Completion (Mileage trap)
Rule:
Complete each numbered route instruction in entirety before working on any part of the next numbered route instruction.
Trap:
You're offered an opportunity to do the next route instruction before competing the one you're on.
Example:
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42.
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Right at Stop, watch for rally traffic next 2 miles.
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43.
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Left first Opportunity.
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Where an opportunity to go left occurs before the 2 miles has elapsed.
To stay on course: Pay special attention to route instructions which include a duration, either time or distance.
CAST down / CAST up
Rule: CAST – Change average speed to.
Trap: Don't jump to a conclusion before carefully examining the instruction and thinking it
through. You've fallen for the trap if you assume that, after decreasing your speed by 100%, increasing your speed by 100% will restore you to your original speed.
Example:
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52.
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Right at Stop. CAST 40.
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53.
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At "MAIN" reduce your speed by 100% for 0.25 minutes, then increase your
speed by 100% for 0.25 minutes, then CAST 45.
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To stay on course: Reduce your speed by 100% which is zero, so you stop and pause for 0
.25 minutes. Increasing zero by 100% is still zero, so you pause another 0.25 minutes. Then you leave at a speed of 45.
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