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Rock Crawling Rules

Official R/C Rock Crawling Competition Rules
(2009)
Introduction:
This rulebook is intended to standardize the remote control rock crawling competitions that are held at
various locations throughout the United States.
SECTION 1
Penalties
1.1
Reverse:
1 point
Gate Marker:
10 points
Rollover:
5 points
Boundary Marker: 10 points
Vehicle Touch:
10 points
1.2 - Back Up/ Reverse: (1 pt) point is given when a vehicle reverses course after making forward progress.
Reversing is defined as at any time if the tires move the vehicle backward or spin in the reverse direction,
whether intentional or not. Once a reverse penalty is given, no further reverse penalty can be given until
the vehicle makes forward progress. No penalty is given if the backward movement is part of a penalized
rollover. (See Reverse examples and explanations, sec. 7.1.)
1.3 - Rollover: (5 pts) points are given when vehicles rollover, and cannot be corrected without touching.
Vehicles that land back on their wheels are not penalized. No reverse penalties are given until vehicle is
back on 4 wheels. A vehicle can only be pushed back on to its wheels from the side. Anything else is a
Vehicle Touch.
1.4 - Vehicle Touch: (10 pts) All vehicle touches excluding “Rollovers” (See Rollover rule, sec 1.3), intentional or
unintentional, are given an automatic 10 points. The judge then will stop time when either the driver calls
for a vehicle touch or the judge calls a driver touch. The vehicle is then moved back by the driver to the
previously cleared gate with the rear axle aligned to that gate. If the vehicle cannot be aligned to the gate
due to course design, the judge will reposition the vehicle to the next stable location after the cleared
gate. This location will be used for all drivers. Note: All gates are still “live” unless a gate has already been
deemed “dead”.
•
1.4.1 - Vehicle Touches include but are not limited to: repairs, repositions, vehicle driving/falling
into the driver.
•
1.4.2 - Time is stopped by the judge to allow for safe reposition of the vehicle only, but is not
allowed to be used for driver review of the course or other advantages.
•
1.4.3 - Repairs: Repairs taking less than 1 minute may be completed on course. Repairs taking
longer than 1 minute must be completed off course in the pit area. If repairs cannot be made
within 30 minutes the driver is given a DNF minus progress points. If the repair is made in the
allotted time the driver may return to the course. 1 minute will be subtracted from the time that is
left on the course and the timer will continue once the vehicle makes forward progress.
1.5 - Gate Marker: (10 pts each) each gate will be comprised of 2 gate markers. Points are given when 4 wheels
do not travel between gate markers or any part of the vehicle or driver touches a gate marker. A gate
marker will remain "live" for the entire duration of the attempt on the course. Once any gate marker has
been touched or straddled, no more penalties will be given for that gate marker. Only when a gate penalty
is assessed will that gate marker be deemed "dead". No further penalties will be assessed at this point for
that gate marker. (See Gate Marker and Gate Clearing explanations, sec. 7.2 & sec. 7.3.)

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1.6 - Boundary Marker: (10 pts each) Points are given when any part of the vehicle touches a boundary marker.
Once any boundary marker has been touched or traversed the vehicle must then return to the course with
out making forward progress. During this time no additional boundary marker penalties will be assigned
until the vehicle is completely back on the course. While attempting to return onto the course all other
penalties apply. A boundary marker will remain "live" for the entire duration of the attempt on the course.
Course designer may modify the boundary marker rules as needed to reflect the intentions of the course
design. Boundary markers are not required in the design of a course.
1.7 - Maximum Penalty Points:
•
1.7.1 - The maximum points per gate is 20. Once a driver has reached the maximum of 20-penalty
points, they will be placed past that gate. No progress points are given for the gates not cleared. (20
pt maximum per gate is optional)
•
1.7.2 - The maximum points per course are 40. At that time the driver is given a DNF and the run is
complete and the vehicle should be removed from the course.
1.8 - DNF (Did Not Finish): (40pts) are given anytime a driver cannot complete a course for any reason.
(Timed-Out, Point-Out, Vehicle not Repairable, Went Home …etc) Progress points are awarded for each
gate completed.
1.9 - DNS (Did Not Start): (50pts) are given anytime a driver cannot start a course for any reason. To start a
course the vehicle must break the plane of the start gate.
1.10 - Progress bonus: (-1 progress point) will be awarded to drivers for each gate that is cleared by the
vehicle during the attempt of a course. Both axles of the vehicle must clear a gate, and not just break the
plane of the gate, before progress bonus is awarded. These points are deducted from the total course
score. Once a driver has pointed out, no further Progress Points will be awarded. A progress bonus will not
be awarded for the start gate or the finish gate.
SECTION 2
Vehicle Requirements
2.1 - General:
•
2.1.1 Vehicles are limited to 4-wheeled vehicles only. These 4 wheels can be the only source of
propulsion for the vehicle.
•
2.1.2 - Bodied vehicles: Any support chassis allowed.
o
2.1.2.1 – Super & 2.2 Class body must be 3” minimum height on sides. No less than 12.5”
total length and full original width, and no less than 5” in the center. All bodies should
resemble its original form (Jeep bodies look like a Jeep)
o
2.1.2.2 – 1.9 Class body must be 2.75” minimum height on sides. No less than 9” total
length and full original width, and no less than 3” in the center. All bodies should resemble its
original form (Jeep bodies look like a Jeep)
•
2.1.3 - Bodiless vehicles: Must be a self-supporting, structurally complete, rigid frame. The roof
must be raised a minimum of 1” from the main chassis to resemble a cockpit. The frame sides must
be an overall minimum of 1” tall (The cockpit & frame side are to be measured vertically from where
the hood intersects the cab). Bodiless vehicles should resemble a 1:1 vehicle. NOTE: These bodiless
rules are in a 1 year trial period to see how people respond to it and after that time these rules &
requirements may be revised.
o
2.1.3.1 - Bodiless vehicles must have solid hood panel, solid roof panel and a minimum of 2
solid side-panels. Hood, roof and side panels must be separate pieces of solid material
installed onto the bodiless vehicle frame. All body panels are to be separate pieces from the
complete structural frame. Body panels must be solidly installed in a manner that is
representative

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