GPS Navigation Info
To find out which GPS devices are allowed and the Red Bull Romaniacs Rules and regulations for GPS please read 5.6 and 5.7 of the Regulations
New suitable models are added each year, if the Garmin GPS is not on the list please send an email to Andrei Dragan Radulet andrei@tlg.ro to ask if we can accept this Garmin GPS.
- learn how to activate the "Track recording/Track log/TrackBack" in the GPS before arriving in Sibiu. It is the competitors responsibility to make sure that their GPS records during the race, competitors will get large time penalties for not having a recording. Check the manual of your GPS so you know how to check this setting.
- If a competitors GPS has a built in battery (special battery, not rechargeable AA/AAA), you need to also give us the charger suitable for 220V with EU Plug.
- A good GPS mounting is essential - be sure to buy one in advance as you cannot easily find one in Sibiu/Romania.
- Taking care in mounting the GPS, reducing vibration or GPS device movement during racing can prevent a competitors GPS device from suffering from poor or irregular recordings which attract time penalties.
- We will delete ALL data from competitors handed-in GPS (including old recordings and maps). Be sure to make a backup before you give us your GPS.
- Competitors hand-in their GPS at the Inscription at the Ramada Hotel then receive again in the morning of the offroad day.
At Red Bull Romaniacs the GPS device is mainly used as a safety device and helps keeps competitors on the course track.
During Red Bull Romaniacs competitors navigate by following banners & markers on the track. For Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro rallye - BLUE is right way, YELLOW is wrong way.
These banners & markings are usually well placed and visible but it can happen that the banners or markings get stolen, moved or damaged.
This can cause competitors to get lost or to go on the wrong track, so competitors must check carefully they are following the ''right track'' by checking their GPS display BEFORE and AFTER race class marked intersections.
The tracks in the GPS are named by class and race day:
Day 1 G1, S1, B1, I1
Day 2 G2, S2, B2, I2
Day 3 G3, S3, B3, I3
Day 4 G4, S4, B4, I4
IMPORTANT: In order to be sure that you have the right racetrack, you should check it when you pick up your GPS in the morning. The GPS team can correct any errors fast on the spot. For any problems regarding GPS during the race, you can call the number +40 741 617924 (Andrei Dragan Radulet).
Recording – Why does GPS need to be set to record?
When competing in Red Bull Romaniacs the GPS "must be'' set to record during racing. It is the competitors responsibility to ensure it is set to record.
Recording a track enables the TrackBack® function, that assists competitors to return to the track if they have got lost.
After competitors dismount their GPS and hand it/them in at the 'Offroad finish' our Red Bull Romaniacs GPS team download their recorded track.
or
If competitors abandon the race day due to mechanical, injuries or any other reason they must hand-in their GPS at either the Offroad finish if passing it, or at the ''GPS FLAG'' at the ''Competitor paddock checkpoint'' where The Red Bull Romaniacs GPS team will download the recorded track. Competitors MUST carry tools needed to mount or dismount their GPS.
Competitors must check their race results as soon as possible in the ''Detailed UNOFFICIAL results' on the website.
Note:- a competitors failure to provide a complete recorded track can attract large time penalties!
Tracks – How are they named?
The tracks which are uploaded to competitors GPS devices are composed of a number of parts, each of 500 points. The number of parts depends on the length of the day's course.
A track at Red Bull Romaniacs is named as:
Over 90% of the GPS devices will have the racetrack uploaded as a “custom map” - this will hide all the other maps on the device and can not be deactivated easily by mistake. Just turn on the GPS and go to the map screen. The race track looks like a road with the name of the class and of the race day.
Day 1 G1, S1, B1, I1
Day 2 G2, S2, B2, I2
Day 3 G3, S3, B3, I3
Day 4 G4, S4, B4, I4
IMPORTANT: In order to be sure that you have the right racetrack, you should check it when you pick up your GPS in the morning. The GPS team can correct any errors fast on the spot. For any problems regarding GPS during the race, you can call the number +40 741 617924 (Andrei Dragan Radulet).
500 points Tracks details:
Older GPS devices that cannot have custom maps installed, will have the racetrack uploaded as a track, divided at refueling points.
First the initial of the class you are riding at, followed by the number of the day and the part of the track. For example the name of the 2nd part of the track for the Silver class for day 3 would look like this: S3PART2 (S = Silver, 3 = 3rd day, PART2 = 2nd part of the track).
Parts of tracks – Where and how do competitors change to the next part?
According to the length of the daily course, the track will be split in a number of parts. The changing of the parts will be done only at the fuel points so competitors don’t lose precious time on the racetrack doing it.
To see what tracks are saved to competitors GPS device enter the menu, then select TRACKS and then LIST SAVED. Here competitors will see a list of the tracks saved to your GPS device and a section which tells them how much memory they are using (this memory is only for the track called ACTIVE LOG which is what your GPS is recording).
On some older Garmin® GPS devices competitors have to select the next part of the track (as described above) and select NAVIGATE. On the next screen select TO END. Competitors have to change to the next part of the track at every fuel point.
On some Garmin® GPS devices competitors have the option to select “SHOW ON MAP”.
If they select this option for all parts they don’t need to change the parts at the fuel points any more because all parts are shown on their navigation screen at once.
Competitors GPS device receives signals from satellites.
To tell you an accurate position, competitors GPS device needs signals from at least 3 satellites. If they get good signals from more than 3 satellites their GPS device provides even more accurate positional information.
The antenna of the GPS needs a direct view to the sky! The quality of the signal depends on many factors like weather or surroundings.
If competitors are riding through a forest, or in a deep valley the signal will not be as accurate as it would be in an open field, bad weather like snowfall, clouds or fog can affect the quality of the signal the GPS receives.
GPS Track - What’s that?
A track is a series of connected GPS points which form a virtual road. Tracks can be up and downloaded from and onto the GPS device, recorded and saved.
At the Red Bull Romaniacs competitors navigate on a track(s) which we upload onto competitors GPS devices each evening.
When competitors are racing, the GPS device must record where they are driving, when competitors reach the finish we view their recorded track to check that they stayed on the race track.
Waypoints – Possible life-savers
Waypoints are points with exact coordinates. At the Red Bull Romaniacs we use waypoints for fuel points, rescue points and even for media camera points. In case of accidents or emergencies the easiest way to tell someone where you are is by creating a waypoint and providing the coordinates to the Red Bull Romaniacs rescue team.
- by pressing and holding the MARK/ENTER key, on most Garmin GPS devices, you create a waypoint, this displays your exact position.
If track banners are missing or visibility is low
Competitors can use the GPS as a navigation tool to stay on track. In case they are confused about which track to take, or the banner marks are missing, viewing the GPS display provides them with the direction to take.
Know the track in advance
A GPS device can help competitors drive more intuitively because it shows them in advance which way the track goes, will shows in advance a corner coming, or that they can maintain a higher speed because they can see a long straight line track on the GPS.
In case of problems, know where help is located
We use GPS devices as a safety aid (see Waypoints) - in case of problems, competitors can see where our rescue point vehicles are located beside the course.
If competitors go wrong way, you can still find the right track
If competitors miss a turn or leaves the racing track they will not see any more marks on the display. The safest way to find the track again is to return to the point where they left the course track.
Now that competitors know it works, they can practice how to create a WAYPOINT.
Rescue operations are possible! if we know competitors exact GPS position in the wilderness.
Competitors WILL be asked when they hand-in their GPS at registration to demonstrate how to make a Waypoint, how to read it and how to describe it over the phone to a member of the Red Bull Romaniacs rescue team.
GPS training is available at the GPS Inscription Hand-in desk at the Ramada Hotel Sunday 28 July & Monday 29 July
GPS Navigation – How do Competitors use it?
GPS Navigation helps competitors know where they came from, where they are going and gives a direction line to follow how to get there.
The Red Bull Romaniacs GPS Team will upload each night the next days racetrack on competitors GPS device(s). Before the offroad start, competitors need to turn the GPS on to get a GPS signal.
You will then see the day's racetrack (a line) and a little man/arrow (that's YOU).
In order to navigate using the GPS, all you need to do is to keep the little man/arrow on the line (the track).
The zoom level is important
The trick is to set a zoom level that fits your driving:
- a zoom level (120m) will tell a competitor their position on the track more exactly, but they will not see much of the track that follows.
- a zoom level (above 500m) won't tell a competitors position on the track as exactly, but they will be able to anticipate the track and see what is coming ahead.
If competitor want to ride fast - watch the markings
Competitors ride by looking for banners & marks on the track and checking their GPS to see if they are still on the right track. Trying to race by viewing only the GPS track will make their race time slower because too much time viewing the GPS screen, can lead to not seeing the banners & track marks and viewing what's ahead.
- You cannot find any tracks in your GPS memory. Probably your GPS has a custom map installed and you should go to the map screen and look if you see the racetrack.
- You cannot see the racetrack on the map.
- Check that the zoom level is not too high or too low.
- Set it at 200m and look for the track.
- Check also that you have a valid GPS signal (you must NOT see a question mark on your map). - The racetrack was there but it disappeared.
- Check that the memory card did not pop out from the vibration, some older devices have their map saved to the memory card. Newer models have it saved to the internal memory.
- If you have a GPS with tracks uploaded in parts, check that you have activated the correct part. Zoom in/out and check if you see any other track on the map. - The map does not move any more. Maybe you touched the joystick on the device and the map is now in a “browse mode”. Usually a “mouse arrow” will appear on your screen. Click back or go back to the main menu and back to the map display. Protect the joystick so that it does not get clicked by mistake.
- Batteries do not last for long. Some devices have the battery type set to the wrong type: it should be set on “Alkaline”. Go to Setup->System->AA Battery Type and change it to “Alkaline”.
