2007 Event Map	Texas State Championship Enduro Circuit
	Checkpoint Operation

Supplies Needed
Flip-Cards, Time Clock, 2 Clip boards, or three Tablets, Checkpoint Time Sheet, Back-up Sheet showing minutes, Marking Tape, Several Ball point Pens, 8 to 10 Wooden Pickets, Mileage/Key Time Sign, Flags, Water, Hatchet or Hammer, Duct Tape. The Checkpoint Chairman usually assembles these supplies.

Personnel
A Regular Checkpoint will need two people to score riders, one person to work flip cards, one person for back-up sheet (two people work better on back up). Minimum Personnel needed is four or five people. The checkpoint captain should contact all members of his crew and arrange a central meeting place where they will assemble to depart to the checkpoint. The Captain should know when the checkpoint should be ready to operate and make adequate allowances for travel time. He should also be responsible for all materials needed to operate the checkpoint.

Checkpoint Set Up
Lanes should be established at the checkpoint with the wooden pickets and marking tape. They should be wide enough to allow several riders to enter without difficulty (See TSCEC Rulebook).

Assign each person a responsibility and follow up to be sure each one understands his duties.

The checkpoint should be operational well before the first rider is due to arrive, and technically should be open 15 minutes before the first rider is due.

Locate the lanes in a place where riders will not be able to see them before they should, The flip cards should be displayed where riders can see them, on their right, as they are being scored. A flag is required to be displayed where riders can see it before entering the checkpoint. It is usually attached to the first picket at the opening of the lanes; the flag designates the type of checkpoint the riders are approaching.

Members of crew that operate the back-up check sheets should be positioned where they can see the rider’s number that is on his motorcycle. This number is written on a line on the back up sheet that represents the minute he arrived at the checkpoint. This number is also the same number that shows on the flip cards, The back up sheet many times helps the scoring crews settle disputes about time recorded on the riders score cards. It is a very important function.

One person should be appointed to operate the flip cards. He should have the time clock, As each minutes begins, it is his responsibility to change the number on the flip card. This is done in a consecutively numerical manner - that is, number 001 might be showing at 9:00am, number 002 would then be showing at 9:01am, number 003,at 9:02am, etc. Extreme caution should be exercised to be sure that the operator of the flip cards knows at all times which number should be showing. He should have a time sheet that will inform him which number that should be displayed at any particular time.

Scoring of Riders
Once the checkpoint is properly set-up and each member has been assigned their responsibilities, it becomes a simple matter of recording the time on the score card of the entrants on the proper place designated.

Example: A rider may arrive at the checkpoint at 9:15. If the time displayed on the flip card shows number 114, the scorer should record that number on his score card. Disregard the number that is showing on his card or cycle. The score card has pre-numbered spaces where this number should be entered. If you were operating checkpoint #2, the number would be entered on Space #2.

During the time that the scorer is writing down the flip card number on the riders score card, the person that is operating the back-up sheet should also be recording his number on a prepared sheet that will show the same number that is written on his score card.

In the operation of a tie-breaker checkpoint, the process becomes a little more complicated in that the seconds also have to be recorded on both the score card and back-up sheets. This will require a person to call out the time on each rider as he enters the checkpoint so that he can be scored with that time. Tiebreaker checkpoints usually take more personnel to operate than a regular check because of the necessity of recording minutes and seconds. It is good club policy to never give a rider a “00” at a checkpoint. This causes a rider to lose one more point at that check and is very frustrating to the competitor. It’s better to give him a “59”, or if he is really there well after the turn of the flip-card, then a “01” is in order. Try to give the rider the benefit of the doubt when possible.

Also, it is an old trick of some riders to call out their own number when they are late in hopes that an inexperienced worker will give him his minute. Some will also to holler 30, 30, 30 at a tie-breaker in hopes of also causing a mistake in their favor. Most of the riders will be courteous and honest but watch for the few that are not.

After the rider has had his time scored on his card, he should proceed on the course. Any disagreement with any member of the scoring crew should be recorded on a Protest Sheet that is placed just past the checkpoint. It is the duty of the rider to officially write down his dispute on this pad. At the time the race is being scored, the appropriate person will resolve the dispute. Always attempt to keep traffic flowing through lanes in order to avoid traffic jams. Once the riders began to arrive and all members have performed their functions, the operation of the check becomes almost routine.

The score that is written on the riders score card is the number that shows on the flip cards or is called out by the checkpoint captain when the front wheel enters the checkpoint or when the captain feels a different time is appropriate such as a rider deliberately avoiding the check for one reason or another.

Checkpoint workers cannot leave the checkpoint to call a rider early. Today’s enduro instruments are very accurate and a rider that is “riding the possibles” is justified in stopping a few hundredths of a mile in front of the check, behind a bush, over a hill, or whatever. It is the check captain's call, but use discretion and common sense when calling a rider early. If someone comes into plain sight and tries to turn around and avoid the check, then he is fair game. But a rider that knows exactly where he is and is slow-riding into your check should be given every courtesy possible. The “dabbing” rule is back in effect, so when a rider “dabs” to keep from falling is when his time should be taken. Again, use common sense. If the check is in real soft sand, or mud, the rider might have had to dab anyway so give them a break when you can.

With events that have a chance of having high temperatures, water should be provided at all checks. If it is going to be provided then it should be located in a place beyond the lanes in order to avoid traffic congestion. You should also take water and food as needed for your own personal use.

Your checkpoint should remain open for one hour after the last rider is due or until a club sweep rider comes through to tell you to close early. Immediately send someone back to scoring headquarters with the backup sheets and clock! The importance of this cannot be over emphasized. The scorers must have the clock and backup sheets to do their jobs.