Odometer check

A short, measured section at the start of a TSD rally where the crew compares its odometer with the official distance (also odometer calibration run, OCR).

The odometer check (also odometer calibration run/zone) is a short, officially measured section – usually about 10 miles – at the start of an American TSD rally. The crew drives it and compares its own odometer reading with the rallymaster's official distance. This gives the correction factor ('theirs over ours'), used to convert all the distances in the route instructions to the crew's own odometer. It thus compensates for odometer measuring error. It corresponds to the European reference section or 'measured mile'.

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Related terms

  • Clock synchronisation

    Aligning the team's clocks and stopwatches with the official rally time before the start, so its timing matches the organiser's exactly.

  • Document check

    The pre-start check of the entered vehicle's papers – driving licence, registration document and proof of insurance. Only then is start clearance given. Also called administrative checks.

  • Correction factor

    The factor from the odometer check used to convert the rallymaster's distances to the crew's own odometer – calculated as 'official distance divided by your own'.

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