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Morison
There is an interesting question of what is considered a control zone.

Under Rally America, once you've checked in you are considered to be in the control zone, under CARS the control zone is the defined area. So, in Canada if you are in the first three or four on the road and there is a delay starting the stage you car caught in the control zone where you can't work on your car but the rest of the field that is outside of the physical control zone can't.

The reason - as was told to me by someone who wrote the rule - for not allowing work in a control zone is because of the crowded, chaotic and 'active' nature of the physical space. A lot of people trying to do a lot of things and having a crew work on the car only increases the dangers. (Doesn't always but it won't make it safer)

Similarly, CARS has a 10 minute penalty for reversing in a control zone. That is purely because of the lack of visibility out of the rear of cars and the naturally congested nature of a control zone.

I'm with Grant. Nothing should be allowed when in the control zone. Extending the control zone to all cars checked in is an equaliser for time to 'work' on a car but becomes unenforceable if the entire field is stacked.

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tipo158
FWIW, I am with Grant on this.

I don't think any work should be allowed on cars in a control zone, even if there is a stage delay. Too much opportunity for abuse.

alan

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jimmy
I have "accidentally" fastened hood pins on cars at the start line.

I have told the competitors that they did not see me.

For some of the slower (thinking) ones, I had to tell them twice.............

ymmv

press on,

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john vanlandingham

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tipo158
FWIW, I am with Grant on this.

I don't think any work should be allowed on cars in a control zone, even if there is a stage delay. Too much opportunity for abuse.

alan

Begs the question: what is work?

LOOKING is not WORK. ie opening the hood to look---and see if the smoke or steam or whatever is whatever---looking and maybe deciding---is not work, but opening the hood has been protested and upheld in the past as "working"....

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john vanlandingham

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tipo158
FWIW, I am with Grant on this.

I don't think any work should be allowed on cars in a control zone, even if there is a stage delay. Too much opportunity for abuse.

alan

Begs the question: what is work?

LOOKING is not WORK. ie opening the hood to look---and see if the smoke or steam or whatever is whatever---looking and maybe deciding---is not work, but opening the hood has been protested and upheld in the past as "working"....

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fliz
But your distinction requires the control workers to be a judge of fact on what is working on the car.

Control workers already are "judge of fact" at rallies.

We already know volunteers are overworked and (often) under-trained, why give them one more gray area?

I agree volunteers are overworked and under-trained. But there is generally one person at each control that is experienced. As a "judge of fact" they are empowered to interpret the gray area, expereienced or not.

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fliz

Although it would be nice to be able to open the hatch to get my helmet if I'm running late and have forgotten to put it on before the transit started.