(Note that BORG is not longer registered as an MSA club, with Motor Sport UK. These rules are just for historic reference)

In an attempt to encourage beginners and drivers of a less competitive disposition to participate in our RTV Trials, we have devised some of our own rules to make these events less intimidating.
The nature of these events is for Members to be able to learn new techniques and hone their driving skills.
The general objective is the same as any other RTV. It is to drive, without stopping, a defined route through a succession of 10 ‘gates’ without any part of the vehicle coming into contact with that gate. The gates are defined by a pair of canes marked red for the left side and white for the right side. You must drive through each gate, between the canes keeping the red to the left and white to the right. The ‘marked’ gates will be numbered from 10 down to 1, and the course will be driven starting from the 10 ‘gate’ down to the 1 ‘gate’ in succession. The objective being to incur as few points as possible on each section, and hence overall. If the vehicle should come to rest between gates it will incur a penalty equivalent to the next ‘gate’ in front of the vehicle. If the vehicle contacts the canes on any gate, the driver will incur a penalty equivalent to that ‘gate’. At no point is speed relative to the competition, indeed it is better to drive as slowly as possible without stopping.

Competitor Categories

We allow two categories of driver to compete on the same course – Novice and Experienced. This is to allow any driver who has never driven an RTV to gain confidence and experience regarding what is required. The Novice driver will be marked in the same way as an Experienced driver. A Novice driver will be defined as any driver who has competed in up to 3 RTVs. A Novice driver will be allowed to be accompanied by a passenger of any type (fellow Competitor, Marshall etc at his/her whim) on any section. They may also accompany any other Competitor on any section. This is to allow a period of learning and confidence building. A Novice driver will be identified by a sticker on his/her car, and their score card will be also identified. This concession will be removed after they have competed in 3 RTVs, when they will be deemed to be Experienced. An Experienced driver will be allowed to carry a passenger, but must declare that passenger at ‘signing on’. The designated passenger must accompany that driver, and only that driver, on all sections. No competing, Experienced driver may accompany any other competing Experienced driver on the same event. Any competing Experienced driver who wishes to accompany any other competing Experienced driver on the same event, may do so, but will do so in the ‘spirit of fun’ and will incur maximum points (10) for each section.

Start of section

The vehicle must start each section as indicated by the start marshal, and will start with the handbrake engaged fully. The start marshal will check the course is clear
and indicate that the vehicle may proceed. Once started, the vehicle is in the ‘competitive mode’ and must make progress through the course as above General Objective.

Hub Through

A gate will be deemed as ‘cleared’ by the vehicle having at least 1 front hub past an imaginary line between the 2 canes of the gate. The car must come to a stop at that point (not roll back or move forward to contact either cane on that gate). The score then given will be for clearing that gate.

Cross Canes

The competing vehicle must not proceed beyond the line denoted by any cross canes on the course. Any Competitor doing so will be penalised to the score of the next ‘gate’ in front of the vehicle.

Crossing Tracks

No Competing vehicle may cross its own track at any point on the course. There is no concession, and any incursion will incur a penalty equivalent to the next ‘gate’ in front of the vehicle.

Shunt (reverse & realign)

There are 2 classifications of vehicle – Short Wheelbase (90”) and Long Wheelbase (100” and above). Long Wheelbase vehicles (alone) are permitted 1 ‘shunt’ (only) per section. The position of this ‘shunt’ should be declared prior to the vehicle starting the section. Taking a ‘shunt’ in other areas will incur a penalty equivalent to the next ‘gate’ in front of the vehicle.

Stopping on course

A vehicle may come to a standstill for no more than 2 seconds. If the vehicle fails to move forward in any meaningful way after that time, it is deemed to have ‘failed’ and penalised accordingly. Wheel spinning is not permitted after forward motion has ceased (to avoid unnecessarily ‘digging out’ of the course).

Outside Assistance

Assistance from outside the vehicle is not permitted (‘spotting’ etc) and any infringement will mean maximum points (10) scored on that section.

Traction Aids

Many vehicles these days come with various traction aids as standard (Traction Control, LSD etc). These devices, in many cases cannot be disabled. Therefore, we will accept those vehicle in our RTVs in the spirit ‘having fun & mutual learning’. We will not, however, allow the use of retro fitted traction aids which can be disabled.

Summary

The above rules apply to ALL competitors in BORG organised RTVs ONLY. It is essential to understand that BORG Members competing in trials organised by other Clubs will have to abide by their rules, which may differ from ours. The above rules are based on the MSA rules for competition.