TulipWorks

The Complete Guide to Navigation.

TulipWorks

The Complete Guide to Navigation

DOWNLOAD - 'TulipWorks2000' here.   -   (Requires MS Publisher 2000)

DOWNLOAD - 'TulipWorks - XL' here.   -   (Requires MS Excel 97 / 2000)


General Points
Normally rallies are run on 1:50,000 OS maps.
The Route should never cross itself.
Navigation is always 'as Map' & not 'as Road'. 
Complicated junctions and roundabouts are normally treated as several smaller junctions, but it really depends how easy or complicated you want to make the route.
RAC rally type events usually use the first type of layout, every side road is indicated, with no extra labeling.

Car Club events should really include a lot more information or participants may get lost if they are not use to using these route guides and not turn up for the next one you organize.

Give each participant your mobile phone number (if you have one) so they can contact you if they get lost, and/or the final location, check point on the route. 

Types of Navigation Routes.

Tulip Diagram - Illustration of the junction as it appears on a map. An easy tulip has a dot for direction of entry and arrow head for direction of travel also the distance to the next point is indicated. More advanced versions may not, these could also be in a different orientation and show no other information.

Grid Lines - A list of numbers which represent grid lines which the route crosses. 
Ideas for grid line routes:

Grid Refs for each Junction.
SP 88752 11732
SP 82422 07000
SU 72000 97750
SU 61340 92012
SU 60446 80894

Grid references can be as accurate as above if plotted from a GPS or 3 or 4  digits if plotted from an OS Map.

Grid Refs for Entry into and Exit from a Grid.
TL65 30 - TL65 29 - TL66 28 ....

Grid references refer to the entry and exit from a grid on a map. The exit grid reference then becomes the entry to the next grid square. The rally route is then the shortest route between the 2 grid references. Use 3-5 digits if you want to specify a individual road.

Directions - uses the directions N,S,E,W or Compass Bearings and Headings, these represent either directions you leave the current OS Grid similar to Grid lines or Junction.

Herringbones - These are Straight lines with all roads missed or junctions to take. Because these routes show all the junctions you need to follow the route junction by junction and plot the route (White roads and paths are not used unless on actual route

.

Tracings - The actual route is drawn on tracing paper, which you have to fit to the map you are using.

Yellows - These use 'YRBW' = Yellow, Red, Brown, White which represent Map Road colours. First letter of each group indicates the colour of road taken on exit. Letters in the middle indicate any other road at the junction not part of the route. E.g. YBBY usually means straight across a brown road at a crossroads from a yellow to another yellow. YYY means turn Left or Right at a junction with 3 yellow roads, you need to look ahead on the route for the correct direction as you plot the route on the map.

TL's & TR's - TR = Turn Right TL = Turn Left SO = Straight On X= Cross-Roads. E.g. TL TR TRX SOX TR SO (Use SO at each missed junction) Roundabouts - (each exit is a junction)

Squares - Illustration of one or more grid squares along the route. Find each Square, then plot/drive shortest route between each.

Clocks - Hour hand show entry to junction & Minute hand is the exit. Can also be for Grids. Digital clock can also be used.

 

Text - Routes are written in text, short hand or Road Names and Numbers. These can have as much info as you want. From basic details to a full touring guide with details of places of interest etc.

M1-J8 then head towards Hemel Hempstead @ 2nd RB:A4147(L) - 2nd RB:A5183(L) - RB:A5183(R) - RB:A5183(S) - 1st Right past golf course - over Xroads - Right @ Tjct.

           Map Views - Scanned Images or a copy of the complete route with the route marked with a fluorescent pen.

Using AutoRoute 2000 Print-outs - Directions can be printed with either text or graphics and text.

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How to Set-up a Tulip Run.

  1. Get a good map for the area you plan to do the run.
  2. Work out your basic route - Town and Village names 
  3. Draw rough sketches of the main road junctions.
  4. Have a few different routes between some of the main junctions incase of road-works or other obstructions etc.
  5. Decide what information you want to show on the Tulips.
  6. Download a copy of TulipWorks2000 - if not already done it.   :-)
  7. Draw final route using the symbols in 'Design Gallery Object'
  8. Print draft route. (Single sided - Useful for making notes on the reverse when checking the route)
  9. Test Drive the route - make notes where necessary. Some junctions are different on a map than on the road. Also check the distance and length of time for the route. 
  10. Re-draw with any changes.
  11. Print final copy.
  12. Get someone if possible to drive the route to see if they can follow and complete it without getting lost.
  13. Make more changes if needed.
  14. Print enough copies for the event.

 

Navigation Charts

DOWNLOAD - 'Nav-Charts2007' here.