RAINFOREST CHALLENGE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
CONTENTS
1. Event Format and Awards.
2. Scrutineering
3. Compulsory Equipment / Attire
4. Recommended Equipment
5. Vehicle Specifications & Modifications
6. General Rules
7. General Rules Regarding the Environment
8. Advertising
9. Special Rules & Regulation for Special Events
10. Competition Rules and Penalty Points
11. DNS
12. DNF
13. Prohibited Behaviour
14. Breakdown Assistance
15. Media Crisis Management
16. Rights of Organiser
17. Insurance
18. Indemnity
1. Event Format and Awards.
Each of the six events will follow a different format, notified to the participants at the start of each event.
Mick Doherty will be the Event Director on all events held throughout the 2006-2007 season and the final say lies soley with him.
The scoring method for each event will be advised at the start of each event and a scoreboard will be available for viewing at the end of each day. The points awarded will determine the final positions of the participating teams and thus their championship points. These final positions of the teams will also include those not competing in the overall championship.
Team Spirit award will be judged by the competition committee which will comprise the Event Director and all the marshals, with individual competitors earning points on a daily basis for exceptional motivation, leadership skills and the ability to act on ideas to assist others.
2. Scrutineering
All vehicles are required to be available for scrutineering, no less than 2 hours prior to the start of the event. Both, driver and co-driver must be present, during scrutineering. Further spot checks may take place at any time, before, during, or after the event and the appropriate action will be taken, including disqualification.
Entrants are required to report to scrutineering with these items and documents;
Drivers licenses (both driver and co-driver). Vehicle registration document, insurance certificate and where appropriate a vehicle test certificate.
Any vehicle presented for scrutineering which is not in a condition appropriate to compete in the event, or fails the scrutineering inspection process, may render the entrant liable for exclusion.
All vehicles must pass the scrutineering process, or they will be excluded from starting the event.
3. Compulsory Equipment / Attire
All vehicles must be fitted with one or more forward operable winches, of at least 8000lb capacity. It/they must be adequately attached to the vehicle and must be fitted with a rope or cable, with a strength (MBS ) which exceeds the stall rating of the winch by at least 5%. If in doubt ask us.
Unless two forward operable or 'interchangeable' winches are fitted to each competitive vehicle, a minimum of one spare winch cable/rope must be carried.
All towing or recovery points must be of a sufficient strength to withstand a load of no less than 5000kg and all jacking points should be of a serviceable strength.
All vehicles must carry an operable 2kg fire extinguisher with a current service sticker, from any recognized fire safety organization. The unit must be mounted securely within easy reach of the driver/co-driver at all times.
All vehicles must carry a comprehensive first aid kit.
All vehicles must carry a high lift jack and Jacking Pad and these must be in serviceable condition.
All vehicles should carry a Tyre Inflation Device, this may be drawn from Axle Locking Air Compressor, but compressed air cylinders other than those fully tested and adequately secured will not be allowed.
All vehicles must carry a Recovery Kit, all items must be tested and be in a serviceable condition. Items such as “Commercial” or untested shackles will not be allowed. All equipment must have a minimum breaking strain of at least 6,000kg. If in doubt ask us.
Winch rope damping devices will not be used.
Finger-saving devices must be used on all electric winches and all high speed hydraulic or mechanical winches.
All items carried in the vehicle must be adequately secured, to protect both the vehicle occupants and any third parties from possible injury.
If the vehicle is not fitted with closable windows, then side netting must be fitted instead.
All vehicles must carry a minimum of one large garbage bag for each day of the competition. All competitors rubbish to be brought out by each team.
All vehicles must carry their own road legal, spare wheel/tyre.
4. Recommended Equipment
A list of the recommended equipment is shown on the website.
This is a recommendation only,
5. Vehicle Specifications & Modifications
A minimum 3-point seatbelt is required for all occupants.
The seat belts must not be frayed, torn or damaged in any way.
Roof-racks are allowed. The maximum weight allowed to be carried on a roof-rack will be limited to 100kg.
All items carried in the vehicle, must be secured adequately while the vehicle is in motion.
Soft top and open top vehicles shall be fitted with a full roll cage
The Chief scrutineer reserves the right to reject any fuel tank that is deemed to be unsafe.
All vehicles will be carrying supplementary fuel, either in Jerry Cans or additional vehicle mounted fuel tanks, all these carriers must be adequately secured to the vehicle at all times. In the case of petrol containers, they may not be stored in any passenger compartment at any time and carefully attention should be made to the proximity of any electric device where a spark may occur.
Tyre and wheel combinations are restricted to a maximum 35” inch and 13 inch width.
Agricultural tyres of any type are not allowed.
Wheel chains of any type are not allowed during competition.
Tyres must be of a mud type tread pattern and be classified for road use.
Tyres must have at least 80% tread depth at the start of the event.
Wheel and tyre combinations can protrude up to 45mm from the vehicle body, but must
be accompanied by the use of 50mm flare material, extending the whole length of the wheel arch.
It is compulsory for 1 spare wheel to be carried and be securely mounted on or inside the vehicle.
All lights, indicators, reverse and brake lights must be connected and operable. All vehicles must have an effective horn.
6. General Rules
The appropriate competition rules will be advised at the start of each event.
7. General Rules Regarding the Environment
All campsites must be left as we found them. Take all of your own rubbish, and maybe that of other peoples. Do not bury any rubbish.
When toilets are not available, ensure you dig a hole and bury “night soil” at least 100 meters away from campsites and water courses.
Failure to use a tree protector during winching operations may result in disqualification from the event.
Do not cut down standing trees or plants, this will result in disqualification from the event.
In some areas on some events, the lighting of open fires will not be allowed, so ask Mick Doherty before lighting any, failure to do so may result in disqualification from the event and legal action may also result.
9. Special Rules & Regulations for Certain Events
The Event Director reserves the right to modify or add supplementary rules and regulation at any time and reserves the right to decide on matter not covered in this set of rules and regulations and allocate penalty points at its discretion. A Team cannot incur penalties in a Stage above any score it gains in that Stage.
10. Competition Rules and Penalty Points
No Driver or Co-Driver shall seek favour from, influence, manipulate, obstruct or interfere with the duties of any member of the event Officials. (Disqualification)
No Driver or Co-Driver shall interfere or tamper with any other Crew’s vehicle whatsoever. Any participant doing so shall be immediately disqualified.
(Event Disqualification) Seat belts shall be worn during the competitive Stage whilst the vehicle is in the motion. (10 points)
Neither the Driver nor Co-Driver shall ride on the outside of a moving vehicle. (10 points)
A Driver or Co- Driver shall not stand between an anchor point and a vehicle winch drum and then only if the vehicle is stationary. 1 warning will be given before a penalty is imposed.
The Driver or Co-Driver shall verbally warn by-standers when a recovery is about to commence. 1 warning will be given before a penalty is imposed. (Disqualification)
A participant shall not handle or step over a anchored winch cable under tension. 1 warning will be given before a penalty is imposed.
(10 points)
A winch cable shall not be allowed to drag under the vehicle. 1 warning will be given before a penalty is imposed.
(10 points)
A vehicle shall not be driven over a winch cable. 1 warning will be given before a penalty is imposed. (10 points)
Unless otherwise directed, winching shall take place once. Forward Momentum ceases. The Driver shall not engage in Excessive Wheel Spin. 1 warning will be given before a penalty is imposed. (10 points)
The maximum speed limit of all off-road sections is 20kph or 12mph, unless otherwise advised by the Event Director, exceeding this speed limit by 10kph, as determined by the Event Director or marshals, shall incur a penalty (10 points).
Any case of repeated speeding offences, excessive speed or reckless driving, as determined by the Event Director or marshals, will result in a penalty being imposed (Disqualification)
Any excessive speed on public roads comes under the jurisdiction of the local authorities, however, the Event Director or marshals may impose a penalty in certain circumstance if they deem it appropriate for reasons of safety (10 points)
No Driver or Co-Driver shall engage in abuse of or improper behavior before an official or to an official. (10 points)
No action by any Driver or Co-Driver shall exposure any person to harm or risk. (Disqualification)
11. Failure To Start (DNS)
A team that fails to present the vehicle at the starting line in a ready to start condition in the allocated order at the required time without the prior permission of the Competition Manager shall be awarded a DNS and no score or penalty points shall be allocated.
In the event that a mechanical defect causes the above such failure, the team may at the discretion of the Event Director, carry out repairs and request a later start time. This may only be granted once during the event, must be requested at least 10 minutes before the allocated start time and the later start time must be before the last start time for that stage.
12. Failure to Finish (DNF)
The following infringement shall result in a Team being awarded a DNF and require that Team to immediately remove its vehicle form the course to allow other vehicle start:-
1. When all four wheels of a competing vehicle cross the Course Boundary.
2. When the Team completes the stage in a slower time than the time allotted or does not complete the full length of the stage a score of 20 point shall be awarded.
3. When a Team having started a Stage chooses not to continue due to a mechanical fault.
4. When a Team receives any outside assistance during the running of a Stage.
13. Breakdown Assistance
In the event of a breakdown or disabled vehicle, the event organisers will assist in getting the vehicle to a suitable repair area, whereupon it is the competitor’s responsibility to arrange the necessary repairs and to rejoin the event. If repairs are not possible, they shall be deemed a non finisher.
No other assistance shall be expected from the organisers, remembering that participants are expected to be self-sufficient during the event.
16. Rights of Organiser
The organisers reserve the right to;
1. Refuse any entry, without giving any reason whatsoever.
2. Abandon, cancel, postpone or shorten the event without due notice in the event of any unforeseen circumstances. No claims whatsoever of any kind shall be entertained due to the abandoning, cancellation, postponement or shortening of the event.
3. Exclude any person or vehicle, which fails to meet the scrutineering or administrative guidelines, as set out in this event guide.
4. Cancel any special competition section at any time, including when some competitors have already completed the section for any reason whatsoever.
5. Disqualify any competitor who fails to abide by any rules set out in this event guide and any supplementary amendments or any instructions from the event officials.
17. Insurance
All participants are covered by a group personal accident policy for the duration of the event. This policy covers death and permanent disability, and certain medical expenses, Subject to terms and conditions.
The event is covered by a Public Liability Insurance (subject to terms and conditions).
Third party insurance for all European roads must be covered by the participant’s own vehicle insurance, plus any additional personal requirements.
All participants are advised to take their own event-specific medical insurance coverage for mishaps or illness for pre and post event days as well as during the event.
18. Indemnity
The event organiser its, staff, whether directly or indirectly employed, sponsors representatives, officials, marshals, servants and anyone appointed by the event organiser, and event sponsors will not be held liable in any accident or incident caused to the participants and their vehicles during the course of the event, including loss of personal belongings injury bodily parts or death.
The organisers and entities names in 18.1 will not be held liable for any breach of any laws or regulations. The participants will be entirely responsible for any accidents or breach of laws in which liability may arise and shall indemnify the organisers and sponsors of the event by signing the indemnity form.
The participants will have no claim whatsoever against the organisers or sponsors of the event. It is the participants own responsibility to have in force, a valid insurance coverage against third party liability.
All participants must agree to and sign, an indemnity form before the start of the event. Failure to do so, renders the participant ineligible to start with no refund of the entry fee.
Any clarification or information required in regards to the rules and regulations laid down in this event guide shall be directed to the event organiser at :-
RFC-EUROPE
Bell Lane Cottages
Chilworthy
Somerset TA20 3BG
Tel +44 (0)1460 61674
Fax +44 (0)1460 66609