Blanco
10-04-2007, 11:49 AM
SCORE racers work entirely too hard to throw away your race at the finish line by not having your vehicle
numbers visible and legible. The SCORE timing & scoring team and checkpoint crews are spending too much
time trying to decode race numbers on passing vehicles in an effort to see that racers gets credited with the
correct time. The SCORE rulebook is very specific as to size, font, background, and the number of
identifying plates required.
Please refer to Rule CR50 on Page 41 of the SCORE 2006-10 Rulebook.
Unfortunately, too many racers feel the need to use trick fonts that can be hard to read. Please understand
that it is the responsibility of the racer to be sure that the checkpoint personnel and scoring staff can read the
vehicle number. The rules are made very clear on Page 41 of the rulebook.
Many racers seem to think that because they readily recognize their own vehicle and those of their friends and
competitors that the race numbers aren’t important. Well, they are important if you wish
to be scored properly. It is hard enough to read vehicle numbers after they get dirty, but that says nothing
about the numbers made with electrical tape.
A new pinnacle of sloppy numbers is emerging and must be stopped, especially with the Motorcycle and ATV
classes. These classes are always the most difficult to identify, due to the smaller size of the vehicles and less
space on which to display numbers even if the rules are followed, but disregard for the rules is increasing. A
large number of these vehicles lack the correct numbering per the rules.
As it states in the rulebook, numbers on the fenders are not acceptable.
At the last Baja 500 some had no numbers on the sides or back, and some had completely illegible numbers
on the front due to special fonts. A vehicle read clearly as number 18 was actually number
78 when we stopped him to verify. If the rider had not been questioned about his number, he would not have
been credited for his finish. An ATV was displaying the wrong race number. The only place that his correct
number showed was on the back of his jersey. Again, if the rider was not stopped and questioned, he would
not have been credited for his finish. A motorcycle lost his only number plate on the right side, but neglected
to alert SCORE officials and wasn’t scored as he passed through the finish.
ATTENTION RACERS - these numbering issues are completely your responsibility.
Truck classes are not immune from this problem. At the last Baja 500, a truck came across the finish line
missing the last digit. A new level of vehicle number incompetence was reached at the last Primm race when a
Trophy Truck had no visible numbers at all.
Please open the rule book and check your vehicle to determine if it complies with the rules on Page 41. The
rules call for black numbers on white background, or white numbers on black background.
The multiple numbers actually serve a real purpose. We need all numbers on the front, sides and rear of the
vehicle to be legible. The lovely colors and cool fonts are attractive, but please follow the rules.
Please be aware that enforcement of these rules will be tightened, and with the Baja 1000 fast approaching, it
will be very important to have your numbers correctly and legibly displayed
numbers visible and legible. The SCORE timing & scoring team and checkpoint crews are spending too much
time trying to decode race numbers on passing vehicles in an effort to see that racers gets credited with the
correct time. The SCORE rulebook is very specific as to size, font, background, and the number of
identifying plates required.
Please refer to Rule CR50 on Page 41 of the SCORE 2006-10 Rulebook.
Unfortunately, too many racers feel the need to use trick fonts that can be hard to read. Please understand
that it is the responsibility of the racer to be sure that the checkpoint personnel and scoring staff can read the
vehicle number. The rules are made very clear on Page 41 of the rulebook.
Many racers seem to think that because they readily recognize their own vehicle and those of their friends and
competitors that the race numbers aren’t important. Well, they are important if you wish
to be scored properly. It is hard enough to read vehicle numbers after they get dirty, but that says nothing
about the numbers made with electrical tape.
A new pinnacle of sloppy numbers is emerging and must be stopped, especially with the Motorcycle and ATV
classes. These classes are always the most difficult to identify, due to the smaller size of the vehicles and less
space on which to display numbers even if the rules are followed, but disregard for the rules is increasing. A
large number of these vehicles lack the correct numbering per the rules.
As it states in the rulebook, numbers on the fenders are not acceptable.
At the last Baja 500 some had no numbers on the sides or back, and some had completely illegible numbers
on the front due to special fonts. A vehicle read clearly as number 18 was actually number
78 when we stopped him to verify. If the rider had not been questioned about his number, he would not have
been credited for his finish. An ATV was displaying the wrong race number. The only place that his correct
number showed was on the back of his jersey. Again, if the rider was not stopped and questioned, he would
not have been credited for his finish. A motorcycle lost his only number plate on the right side, but neglected
to alert SCORE officials and wasn’t scored as he passed through the finish.
ATTENTION RACERS - these numbering issues are completely your responsibility.
Truck classes are not immune from this problem. At the last Baja 500, a truck came across the finish line
missing the last digit. A new level of vehicle number incompetence was reached at the last Primm race when a
Trophy Truck had no visible numbers at all.
Please open the rule book and check your vehicle to determine if it complies with the rules on Page 41. The
rules call for black numbers on white background, or white numbers on black background.
The multiple numbers actually serve a real purpose. We need all numbers on the front, sides and rear of the
vehicle to be legible. The lovely colors and cool fonts are attractive, but please follow the rules.
Please be aware that enforcement of these rules will be tightened, and with the Baja 1000 fast approaching, it
will be very important to have your numbers correctly and legibly displayed