FAQ: Frequently-asked questions
The 2023 event has some slight rule changes from previous events. Please read them carefully, even if you are an experienced TT rider so you can plan your event to match your skills and interest in the event.
Q: I want to achieve The Pilot Award. Am I only allowed to get plane theme checkpoints?
A: No, you are free to gather any checkpoints that are on your route to build up your final score. However if you are aiming for The Pilot Award then to finish the rally you must have all 10 checkpoints that make up that award. The same goes for any of the other Awards. The short answer is any checkpoints you visit you will earn those points.
Q: Is there an actual TT2000 official route like some of your earlier years?
A: The exact route is left completely up to riders to decide for themselves, but each rider must visit enough checkpoints to gain the required distance and points and collect the 4 (two paired) compulsory checkpoints. All checkpoints (regular and mystery) can be visited any in order.
Q: Do I have to get to all the checkpoints and if not, what is the purpose of so many checkpoints?
A: No, you do not have to get to all the checkpoints and we believe that's unattainable anyway, given their geographic spread. You only have to ride to enough checkpoints (inc. mysteries) to gain the minimum required points. The total number of checkpoints is to give riders options and allow them to create a ride that suits their bike and their abilities.
Q: I want to ride JUST the minimum 2,000 kms. Which checkpoints do I have to go to?
A: First choose an award that you will aim for - The Driver,The Pilot, The Captain or The Engineer. This will start to form your route. Plan your route to visit and photograph all 10 locations and then work out what other checkpoints you need to visit to make sure you have 2000 points.
Q: I just want to ride 2,000 kms and not mess about with checkpoints. Can I?
A: No, not on this rally. If that's all you want to do you don't need to enter the TT, just go out one weekend and have a long ride. To earn the TT2000 rally badge you need both minimums - 2,000 kms AND the minimum points. There are other rallies in New Zealand that cater for those who just want to ride from A to B.
Q: Why have the points and what relevance are they?
A: The points are to make the rally more interesting than merely a weekend's outing. By theming it with checkpoints it entices you up roads you've never ridden before, adds a novelty value in finding things like bridges and gates and puts your name on a results list for brag value. There are no trophies, simply a ranking on a sheet. For most riders the personal accomplishment of a damn fine weekend's ride is motivation enough.
Q: Can I simply ride 2,000 kms from my home town, back to my home town, and not bother with any
checkpoints?
A: No, the purpose of the TT is to promote advance planning, stretch riders to achieve personal goals that they would otherwise simply mull over at home and think about one day doing, provide an event with sufficient safety parameters and to intersect with other like-minded riders both on the road and at the finish. If you want to do a solo effort then no need to join the TT... just go out and ride 2,000 kms anytime you feel like it.
Q: What happens if I fail to complete the 2,000 kms distance or fail to arrive at the finish by 4pm on Sunday?
A: You are classified as a DNF in the results and miss out on the rally badge, fridge magnet & barbecue BUT you get to keep the t-shirt. Every year a few riders pull out, finding the distance too onerous. At least they gave it a crack.
Q: Some checkpoints are vistas. What if I'm there at night & can't capture the view?
A: The GPS location that is included in the checkpoint information will take you to a generic area of the location not to the exact spot needed for the photo. This will mean either you take a small amount of time during the rally to locate the photo location, or you may wish to do some research to find the exact position. In most cases the photo is of a sign, but in other cases they are of other easily recognisable locations. In most cases you will be able to light up the location with your bike lights.
Q. Do I need to get the checkpoints in a particular order?
No, you may choose to get the checkpoints in any order that best meets your riding plan and the goals you set yourself.
Q. Do I need to get the bonus points?
No, the bonus points are there to add an additional challenge to riders who wish to add a level of complexity to their ride. The bonus points will be automatically added as part of the scrutineering of the photos after the event.
Q. What happens if I have more than 5000 points?
To make this event a challenge without encouraging speeding or pushing riders beyond their limits, the 5000 point is a cap and no record will be published with the points over this.
Q. Do the photos have to be at the exact spot shown in the run sheet?
Yes! In the past there was more latitude towards the location of the photos, as long as the photo proved you were in the general location oftentimes it was accepted. This year the requirement of having the exact location is necessary due to the other challenges that are being added. With the efficiency and navigation challenges, riders are trying to ride the least amount of km for the points they need, and to be fair to all riders the photo needs to be in the specified location. Prior planning to identify the photo locations will help. The locations are usually fairly easy to find, but make sure you get the correct sign/location as some locations may have several.
Q. Can I use a GPS track for my distance record?
If you take your starting odo and finishing odo photo then you can also submit a GPS distance (with a gpx track to back it) and this distance will be used. If you don’t provide a track you will be ineligible for the Twisting Throttle Award.
Q. What if I am riding in a group, what distance do we use?
Where riders are riding as a group - they can use 1 speedo or GPS as indicative for the group (as long as the GPS requirements are met) and photos of all the bikes included in this group are in all the photos.
Q: I want to achieve The Pilot Award. Am I only allowed to get plane theme checkpoints?
A: No, you are free to gather any checkpoints that are on your route to build up your final score. However if you are aiming for The Pilot Award then to finish the rally you must have all 10 checkpoints that make up that award. The same goes for any of the other Awards. The short answer is any checkpoints you visit you will earn those points.
Q: Is there an actual TT2000 official route like some of your earlier years?
A: The exact route is left completely up to riders to decide for themselves, but each rider must visit enough checkpoints to gain the required distance and points and collect the 4 (two paired) compulsory checkpoints. All checkpoints (regular and mystery) can be visited any in order.
Q: Do I have to get to all the checkpoints and if not, what is the purpose of so many checkpoints?
A: No, you do not have to get to all the checkpoints and we believe that's unattainable anyway, given their geographic spread. You only have to ride to enough checkpoints (inc. mysteries) to gain the minimum required points. The total number of checkpoints is to give riders options and allow them to create a ride that suits their bike and their abilities.
Q: I want to ride JUST the minimum 2,000 kms. Which checkpoints do I have to go to?
A: First choose an award that you will aim for - The Driver,The Pilot, The Captain or The Engineer. This will start to form your route. Plan your route to visit and photograph all 10 locations and then work out what other checkpoints you need to visit to make sure you have 2000 points.
Q: I just want to ride 2,000 kms and not mess about with checkpoints. Can I?
A: No, not on this rally. If that's all you want to do you don't need to enter the TT, just go out one weekend and have a long ride. To earn the TT2000 rally badge you need both minimums - 2,000 kms AND the minimum points. There are other rallies in New Zealand that cater for those who just want to ride from A to B.
Q: Why have the points and what relevance are they?
A: The points are to make the rally more interesting than merely a weekend's outing. By theming it with checkpoints it entices you up roads you've never ridden before, adds a novelty value in finding things like bridges and gates and puts your name on a results list for brag value. There are no trophies, simply a ranking on a sheet. For most riders the personal accomplishment of a damn fine weekend's ride is motivation enough.
Q: Can I simply ride 2,000 kms from my home town, back to my home town, and not bother with any
checkpoints?
A: No, the purpose of the TT is to promote advance planning, stretch riders to achieve personal goals that they would otherwise simply mull over at home and think about one day doing, provide an event with sufficient safety parameters and to intersect with other like-minded riders both on the road and at the finish. If you want to do a solo effort then no need to join the TT... just go out and ride 2,000 kms anytime you feel like it.
Q: What happens if I fail to complete the 2,000 kms distance or fail to arrive at the finish by 4pm on Sunday?
A: You are classified as a DNF in the results and miss out on the rally badge, fridge magnet & barbecue BUT you get to keep the t-shirt. Every year a few riders pull out, finding the distance too onerous. At least they gave it a crack.
Q: Some checkpoints are vistas. What if I'm there at night & can't capture the view?
A: The GPS location that is included in the checkpoint information will take you to a generic area of the location not to the exact spot needed for the photo. This will mean either you take a small amount of time during the rally to locate the photo location, or you may wish to do some research to find the exact position. In most cases the photo is of a sign, but in other cases they are of other easily recognisable locations. In most cases you will be able to light up the location with your bike lights.
Q. Do I need to get the checkpoints in a particular order?
No, you may choose to get the checkpoints in any order that best meets your riding plan and the goals you set yourself.
Q. Do I need to get the bonus points?
No, the bonus points are there to add an additional challenge to riders who wish to add a level of complexity to their ride. The bonus points will be automatically added as part of the scrutineering of the photos after the event.
Q. What happens if I have more than 5000 points?
To make this event a challenge without encouraging speeding or pushing riders beyond their limits, the 5000 point is a cap and no record will be published with the points over this.
Q. Do the photos have to be at the exact spot shown in the run sheet?
Yes! In the past there was more latitude towards the location of the photos, as long as the photo proved you were in the general location oftentimes it was accepted. This year the requirement of having the exact location is necessary due to the other challenges that are being added. With the efficiency and navigation challenges, riders are trying to ride the least amount of km for the points they need, and to be fair to all riders the photo needs to be in the specified location. Prior planning to identify the photo locations will help. The locations are usually fairly easy to find, but make sure you get the correct sign/location as some locations may have several.
Q. Can I use a GPS track for my distance record?
If you take your starting odo and finishing odo photo then you can also submit a GPS distance (with a gpx track to back it) and this distance will be used. If you don’t provide a track you will be ineligible for the Twisting Throttle Award.
Q. What if I am riding in a group, what distance do we use?
Where riders are riding as a group - they can use 1 speedo or GPS as indicative for the group (as long as the GPS requirements are met) and photos of all the bikes included in this group are in all the photos.
