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What is a gate penalty?

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  • What is a gate penalty?

    Rule 5.1.B defines it as "a pair of cones placed opposite each other on the track or a single cone with a directional cone to indicate a specific way around that cone." Course designers (myself included) make this difficult to determine frequently. The attached diagrams show some of the problems of scoring a gate penalty. My current thoughts on some of the features below are that a feature with a single inside cone and multiple outside cones really should only be scored as 1 gate - no matter how you screw it up driving through it. With two inside cones, 2 gates maximum.

    So based upon the diagrams below, A-G, K and L would be scored as one gate. H, I, J, and M would be scored as two gates. I can also see other interpretations. What are yours?
    Charles
    MR 1986 Mazda RX-7
    PA 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX

  • #2
    I think it might be easier to approach this from a slightly different angle. I "gate" needs to be a minimum width, right? So, any cones closer than that minimum width should probably be automatically considered part of a single element, unless explicitly denoted otherwise, because you probably want some walls and slowdown chutes to carry a stiffer penalty than a single off course. Maybe throw in something about every cone X feet after the finish counts individually, as the slowdown chute is a safety thing.

    Does that makes sense?
    Jim Perrin
    WNY Region
    NEDIV RX Steward

    Comment


    • #3
      As a course designer we use cones to define the course and also to add visual interest. I like that a feature could be scored as a gate. I've used 5 gates in a row to make a "bridge." Certainly not my intention to have a potential 5 gate penalty feature.
      Charles
      MR 1986 Mazda RX-7
      PA 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX

      Comment


      • #4
        Did anything come of this?
        Jim Perrin
        WNY Region
        NEDIV RX Steward

        Comment


        • #5
          I've not taken it any further. Maybe it's not that big of deal.
          Charles
          MR 1986 Mazda RX-7
          PA 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX

          Comment

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