Civilian Challenge Rules

These are the official rules for the Gulf Coast Civilian Challenge.

All rules are subject to revision without prior notice, subject to approval by the Rules Committee.

All forms, documents, correspondence, the Gulf Coast logo and materials used by the Gulf Coast Police Motorcycle Skills Championship are the property of the Gulf Coast Police Motorcycle Skills Championship, hereafter referred to as “Gulf Coast”.

Rules Committee

Defined: The Rules Committee will be made up of 5 members of the Gulf Coast assigned by the President of the Gulf Coast board or his designee.

Disputes: Disputes will be handled in the following manner:

Any dispute of scoring of a particular event must be addressed by the affected Competitor after completing the run in question.
Only the Competitor may dispute scoring or a judges decision.
Disputes will be brought to the Head Judge for a ruling over an event / course score.
If the dispute is not resolved by the Head Judge, the Rules Committee will resolve the dispute.
All decisions of the Rules Committee are final.

Conduct: Participants who display or engage in unprofessional or unsafe conduct as determined by the Head Judge or his designee may be ejected from the skills competition.

General Rules

Eligibility: Competition is open to any civilian or any law enforcement officer not currently assigned to a Motorcycle Division or a reserve or alternate to their Motorcycle Division within their respective department.
Running Order: Each rider will be assigned a rider number at registration. The rider will ride in numerical order.
Competitor Attire: Competitors must wear long pants and boots that support the ankles. All other clothing must not be of an offensive or sexual nature.
Protective Gear: All competitors must wear a helmet that is properly fastened while on the course.
Emergency Motorcycle Repairs: Prior to entering an event, a competitor will be allowed 15 minutes to repair a motorcycle malfunction. If the motorcycle is unserviceable, the competitor may continue in the competition provided that the competitor can locate a replacement motorcycle within 15 minutes.
Entry Restriction: A competitor may compete in only one class

Competitors Meeting: A meeting of all competitors riding in the Civilian Challenge will be held prior to the start of the competition.

The scoring and the approved path of travel through the events will be reviewed.
Competitors should understand course events prior to the end of the meeting.
The meeting will be conducted by the Head Track Judge or a designee.
The competitors meeting time will be announced in advance.
It is the competitors responsibility to attend the meeting.
After the competitors meeting, any disputes concerning information disseminated at the competitors meeting will not be considered.

Awards

“James Foster” Mr. Rodeo Civilian Challenge Award: This award will be awarded to the best overall rider in the competition. Riders must compete in all events (Speed Runs (2), Challenge Ride, Slow Ride) and must compete in the expert class to be eligible for this award. Points for each event will be awarded in order placed; 1^st place finisher will be awarded 1 point, 2^nd place finisher will be awarded 2 points, etc. The competitor with the lowest overall points after all events will be the recipient of this prestigious award. There will be 3 places awarded for overall competitor performance with the first place winner being named Mr. Rodeo. The winner of this award will receive an invitation to practice on the track and perform exhibition runs for all events during the Gulf Coast Police Motorcycle Skills Championship.
Expert Class: The top 3 competitors in the expert class with the fastest combined speed run times on both runs including penalties will receive awards.
Novice Class: The top 3 competitors in the Novice class with the fastest combined speed run times on both runs including penalties will receive awards.
Challenge Run: The top 3 competitors with the fastest Challenge Run time including penalties will receive an award.
Slow Ride: The top 3 competitors with the best slow ride time will receive an award.

Classes

Expert Class: A competitor who has placed in the top 5 in any previous motorcycle competition or who has entered more than 3 previous motorcycle competitions.
Novice Class: A competitor who has not placed in the top 5 in any previous motorcycle competitions or who has entered 3 or fewer previous motorcycle competitions.

Speed Runs

Goal: The objective is to complete the courses with the fastest time including penalties.
Competitors are required to make 2 runs on their designated course by class. Both runs will be timed beginning when the competitor’s front tire breaks the electric eye and ending when the front tire breaks the electric eye when exiting the last exercise. A back-up stop watch will be used by the Head Track Judge in the event of a malfunction.
Penalty Points: Penalty points for all rides will be assessed as follows:
- Touch a cone = 1 penalty point
- Knock a cone down = 3 penalty points
- Put a foot down = 5 penalty points
- Drop the motorcycle = 10 penalty points
- Fail to complete an exercise = Disqualification
Final Score
- Final score will consist of each competitors final time of their timed runs. After completing both runs, competitors times will be added together after penalty points (if any) have been factored in.
Ties
- In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken with the competitor with the fastest clean run. If neither competitor has a clean run, the tie will be broken with the rider who has the fastest time with penalty points added.

Slow Ride Competition

Goal: The object of the individual slow ride is for the competitor to travel down a pre-determined space as slowly as possible. The greatest time will determine the winner.
Penalties: The competitor’s time will stop at the occurrence of any of the following:
- A competitor puts a foot down.
- A competitor drops the motorcycle.
- A competitor crosses a boundary line.
Competitors will receive 1 free slow ride. Competitors will be allowed to purchase additional runs with a $5 donation per run until the course closes.
The closing time of the Slow Ride Course will be determined the day of the competition as the day progresses. An announcement will be made a minimum of 30 minutes in advance of the closing.
Timing: The time starts when the competitor’s front axle crosses the start line. The time ends when the competitor’s rear axle crosses the end line.

Challenge Run

Goal: The object of the Challenge Run is to complete the designated course in the shortest time including penalties. The lowest time will determine the winner.
Penalty Points: Penalty points for all rides will be assessed as follows:
- Touch a cone = 1 penalty point
- Knock a cone down = 3 penalty points
- Put a foot down = 5 penalty points
- Drop the motorcycle = 10 penalty points
- Fail to complete an exercise = Disqualification
The Challenge Run will be designated by the Track Judges. The Track Judges will determine what exercises will comprise the Challenge Run. The Challenge Run will not be revealed until set up by the Track Judges on the day of the event. One place will be awarded for this event, regardless of Class.
Competitors will receive 1 free slow ride. Competitors will be allowed to purchase additional runs with a $5 donation per run until the course closes.
The closing time of the Challenge Run Course will be determined the day of the competition as the day progresses. An announcement will be made a minimum of 30 minutes in advance of the closing.

Glossary of Terms

Competitors Meeting: A meeting of all competitors to review the rules, path of travel and scoring procedures.
Course: A series of events which a competitor much complete. Includes the path of travel between exercises in the individual times runs and Challenge Run.
Cross Boundary Line: If the contact patch of the tire crosses a boundary line. Crossing is determined if a judge can see space between the tire and the boundary line.
Drop the Motorcycle: In an exercise or in the space between exercises, the motorcycle falls to the surface and the competitor does not have control of the motorcycle, which would allow for safe operator.
Exercise: A specific set of obstacles which make up a part of the course.
Fail to Complete an Exercise: If a competitor starts an event and does not finish by exiting the event at the designated exit point or if the competitor does not follow the designated path of travel with that exercise.
Foot Down: When a competitors foot comes in contact with the surface after having crossed the start line of any course.
Judge: A person designated to score and/or time a competitor on a course.
Knock Over a Cone: Whenever any part of the motorcycle or competitor hits any part of the cone which cause the cone to have to be replaced to its assigned position.
Running Out of an Exercise: When the front and rear wheel of the motorcycle cross the imaginary line between the center points of the two adjacent cones where the motorcycle would not normally enter or exit an event. In events which use a visible boundary line, if the tire contact patch crosses the boundary line, the competitor has run out of the exercise. If the competitor runs out of an exercise, he/she must re-enter the exercise at the exact spot where they ran out of it in order to complete the exercise. Failing to re-enter at the same location will result in a “Fail to Complete an Exercise”.
Touch a Cone: Whenever any part of the motorcycle or competitor touches any part of the cone.