In the Eastern Centre, we normally run "no stop" for the old buggers (that's me!) at pre 65 and Twinshock events and the "hop and bounce antics" rules at events for modern bikes. However, the vast majority of the observers we have are girlfriends or other press-ganged helpers that have never read the rules let alone know the difference between TSR 22 and TSR 22A. And many have never ridden in an event.
I recently attended an Eastern Centre championship round and for once was determined not to observe but have a walk round instead. This was being run under the rules allowing stopping (I can never remember which is which). I noticed many riders hoping bikes both backwards and sideways without forward motion and stopping. At most sections, this was going unpeanalised, as the observers simply do not know the rules.
I witnessed one rider attempt a mud climb riding around the bottom turn into the climb non stop but had 2 dabs near the top whilst another rider stopped at the bottom, hoped the back wheel sideways, then the front wheel sideways without forward motion and then bounced the bike backwards several times to get the longest run up. This second rider made the climb and did not dab once and was given a clean by the inexperienced observer.
In my opinion, the standard of observing makes our centre championship a bit of a lottery as to what riders have managed to get away with.
Most organisers of which I am one do not seem too concedrned about this standard of observing, just grateful to get volunteers and are very careful not to upset them.
Stuart
