Technical Course Rules for KK5
1. Course Time - Every team will have fifteen (15) minutes to complete each course. Once the time has expired, the vehicle must be removed from the course using the quickest allowable route possible. Time will start once any part of the team enters the course. Time will stop once the spotter and entire rig cross the imaginary line between the finish gates. Vehicles may not straddle any finish gates to stop time. If the vehicle hits a finish gate while attempting to exit, time will be continued and the cone will be counted until two tires run in between the finish gates. This is set to clear confusion about hitting finish gates before vehicles cleared the gate.
2. Reversing - One point is issued for a purposeful reversal to the competitor. A purposeful reversal or back up is considered when a driver puts the vehicle in reverse and backs or pushes in the clutch and rolls back, etc. A back is not counted when the obstacle pushes the vehicle back, unless an advantage is gained during the process. A reverse in an attempt to save a rollover is considered an infraction and will receive backing points. A backing penalty is also counted if a team uses a “reverse burn”. If a team starts the course in reverse, they will immediately receive one (1) point for backing and everything will be judged as normal. If the team completes the course in reverse (never making a change in direction), the point for reverse will be removed from the score.
3. Gates - The course is marked with cones, and other “hazards” like marked bushes and trees, ribbon, banners, flagging, flags, etc. Five (5) penalty points will be issued for every cone or hazard touched. If the spotter, winch cable, pull strap, vehicle contents, etc. touch any cone or hazard, it will count the same as if the vehicle had touched it. A cone does not have to fall to be counted; it only needs to be touched at any point, including its base. Cones that fall due to exhaust, wind, and unstable rocks will not count as a touched gate unless a vehicle’s tire or axle crosses the original “intended” location of that cone. Rock stacking to allow a “bridge” over a cone will not be allowed. Competitors must stay within the defined course. Materials used to define a course may not be driven over, driven under, or be touched by the vehicle. The judge has the right to disallow any diversion off course. All gates must be taken in the order intended by the designer. The course is designed to be driven between the cones. 2 tires must pass through each gate with a 3rd tire at least touching a part of the gate for a gate to be completed. Any vehicle bypassing a gate entirely, intentionally or not will be given a DNF and assessed the course maximum of 50 points. Progression gates will be determined by the event Marshall and announced prior to competition. Competitors will be awarded -5 points for successfully clearing each progression gate.
4. Bonus Gates - In an effort to reward those who wish to attempt higher difficulty lines, Bonus Gates may be included throughout the course. Bonus gates are optional and will be marked or colored differently than a standard gate. Bonus gates are worth a -10 bonus points plus a progression point and are counted after the rearmost portion of the vehicle clears the imaginary line defining that gate. If bonus gates are hit, they count as any other gate, but bonus credit is still earned if the gate is then cleared. A team that attempts and fails a bonus gate may choose to return to the original departure point of the normal course to attempt to complete the course within the remaining time. All points accrued during the bonus attempt and return to the normal course will be counted.
5. Timed Out - If a team does not finish the course in the allotted 15 minutes they will be given a course max of 50 points and must exit the course via the quickest exit. Those points will be added to their score at the point of time out on the course.
6. Rear Steer - To ensure consistency and exactness of scoring, rear steer penalties will be issued only one time per obstacle. Rear steering will be assessed 10 points per obstacle once it is used on the obstacle. Rear steering can only be used by the 37” and larger class. 36.5” and smaller class cannot use rear steer.
7. Rock Stacking - Any rock, log, or other item found naturally in the course vicinity may be used to helps a team’s progress through a course. A team may go outside their current course’s boundary to locate rocks and wood. To ensure fairness, teams are not allowed to “pre-set” rocks and wood and will be called for sportsmanship and a penalty of 10 points if they are found to be moving anything prior to the start of their time. It is acceptable to “look” for these items, just do not move them unless you are on the clock. Any “outside” help in rock stacking will also be questioned for sportsmanship. One of the largest risks to spotters is stacking rocks near a moving vehicle. To promote safety, no rocks or wood are allowed to be stacked within 2 feet of a moving tire. If this rule is violated, a penalty of 10 points will be assessed for each occurrence. A common practice of having a spotter stand on a rock during a “burn” to keep the rock in place is also very risky; therefore, this too will carry a penalty of 10 points. Any rocks moved may be returned as close as possible to their original location. Any unstaking must be done on course time. Any team seen intentionally moving rocks to a more difficult location than their original placement, or destroying/breaking rocks or logs, will be penalized 10 points for unsportsmanlike activity. Furthermore, if a team rolls a rock downhill and cannot move it back uphill, they must leave that rock in place. Rolling it further downhill will bring sportsmanship into question. Rocks moved by the natural progression of a vehicle will not be penalized.
8. Winches - Winching is assessed a twenty point (20) point penalty if used, per course. Winching is considered when a team hooks a winch cable/rope to any anchor and begins to load the cable. A cable is considered loaded as soon as the cable has tension on it. As an example only, a cable that is off of the ground but sagging has tension on it. Each team may winch as many times as needed to complete the obstacle under the original winching penalty of 20 points as long as the winch point does not change or the rope/cable is not removed and then hooked back on. While winching, a winch-line weight bag must be used on any steel cable; teams must provide their own weight bags. Tree savers must be used.
9. Breakdown time - Due to time constraints at the Kansas Krawl no breakdown time will be allowed. If a vehicle breaks the team will receive a DNF and assessed course max of 50 points.
10. Spotters - For this event a spotter is required. While in the vehicle the driver and spotter must wear a helmet and stay buckled in at all times. If the spotter gets out of the rig he or she must stay out of the rig for the remainder of the course.
11. Sportsmanship - During all Kansas Krawl events, proper sportsmanship is required. If a competitor or team member(including backup help) promotes un-sportsman like conduct, is rude or abrasive to officials or local authorities, other teams or spectators, destroys property, or displays drunken or disrespectful behavior, they and/or the entire team may be disqualified from the current event and/or future events. The Kansas Krawl goal is to promote a respectable sport and promote sponsoring companies in a professional light. Therefore un-sportsman like conduct will not be tolerated.
12. Outside Assistance - Teams consist of driver, spotter, and vehicle. No outside assistance will be allowed, whether physical or electronic and any violation will result in a DNF, 50 point course max and possible disqualification. In case of a vehicle rollover or injury outside assistance will be allowed but the team will receive a DNF and assessed the course max of 50 points. Determination and investigation of this call will be made by the Marshall. Determination factors will include but are not limited to: Whether the person or persons are with the team in question, whether the person or persons are affiliated with another team, or whether the person or persons are spectators only and have no affiliation. Sportsmanship is the responsibility of everyone so be sure to warn your friends and teammates of the image they portray. This activity is called cheating and makes everyone look bad.