Abbreviations for pacenotes from Jemba system

Abbreviations for USA national system for stage notes

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A standard has been set for official stage notes for national championships in the USA. The official notes are produced by the latest version of inertia based Jemba Safety Notes System. So far two types of notes are produced: a prefered figure based system and, in some events, an optional descriptive system.

The main system is a straight figure based system, similar to the one used as the only official system in NZ, only a bit more course. The idea with increasing number for increasing speed (gear) is similar to most figure based systems even if some drivers use the opposite. All corners except the fastest may have a plus or a minus if needed, only to be read by skilled users.

Click picture to enlarge a view of the definition of corners

The following abbreviations are used:

Direction of corner

Direction is given as R or L BEFORE grade of corner for numeric system and AFTER for descriptive.

Grade of corner (describes mainly the angle of the steering wheel = radius of the corner) and direction

A "+" after the corner means a slightly FASTER corner. A "-" after the corner means a slightly SLOWER corner. Only skilled crews should read + or -. All others are adviced to ignore those terms.

Proposed term for descriptive	Note descriptive left	Note figure based left	Note descriptive right	Note figure based right
Flat or fast plus (Fastest corner)	FL+	L6+	FR+	R6+
Flat or fast	FL	L6	FR	R6
Easy plus	EL+	L5+	ER+	R5+
Easy	EL	L5	ER	R5
Easy minus	EL-	L5-	ER-	R5-
Medium plus	ML+	L4+	MR+	R4+
Medium	ML	L4	MR	R4
Medium minus	ML-	L4-	MR-	R4-
Kay plus	KL+	L3+	KR+	R3+
Kay	KL	L3	KR	R3
Kay minus	KL-	L3-	KR-	R3-
Bad plus	BL+	L2+	BR+	R2+
Bad	BL	L2	BR	R2
Bad minus	BL-	L2-	BR-	R2-
Hairpin plus	HL+	L1+	HR+	R1+
Hairpin, (Slowest corner)	HL	L1	HR	R1

Duration of corner

Information for duration is given after the basic corner description (direction and grade).

Information	Note
Length in yards is less than a normal corner of indicated grade but at least same angle. Note! this may be slower than the normal corner of same grade!	short
Normal duration
More duration than normal	lg
Very long duration	Vlg
Still longer duration-Extra long	Xlg
Extreme duration or where it is hard to define the position e.g. Cr/100 L6/150	/xxx

Further Corner Description

Information for linking of corners is given after the basic corner description (direction and grade). Note that linked corners will give you a longer combined corner than the normal basic corner.

Information	Note
Late or very late apex, where the first (fast) part of the corner is less important compared to the second (slow) part. The first part of the corner has been omitted in the notes. Example: R4late or MRlate	late
"Tightens" or "Closes". Corner is immediately, without any straight, followed by a slower corner in the same direction. The slower grade will be indicated if there is a difference of more than two steps in the grades as L6 >5-, which means the L6 continues into a L5-. In this example "L6 >5-" is a short form for "L6 into L5-"	>
"Opens". As above but indicating a faster grade. Grade is not given for the continuation.	<
"Opens and tightens". A combination where the first section is followed by a faster section and finally a slower section. Grade (but not direction) is usually given also for the last section. Note that the last section may be faster than the first section. This makes it possible to see combinations like: L3<>4 or (KL<>M). It may also be combined with duration(s) like L3<'lg>4 or (KL<'lg>M) or even L3< /150 >4 or (KL< /150 >M).	<>

Straights

Official distances are given in the left-hand column at the start of each line of the stage notes, and instruction numbers are given in the right hand margin – cumulative distances to some route book instructions are given under the appropriate stage note. These may be useful, should the co-driver lose his or her place in the notes, as a pick up point.
The numbers given in the right hand column show the distance left to the finish of each stage.
Straights are mainly measured to/from entrance/exit of corner, middle of crest, bridge, etc. Measurement to a long crest (lgCr, lgsmCr) ends where the first impression of a peak seems to be and starts when you see the road past the crest.

Information	Note
A second corner/object has to be taken into consideration for line on the road for the first corner/object, eg. L4 into R3, means that there is no time to change your line after the L4, and that the driver may need to take a slightly different line to allow for the R3	into
A brief distance between corners, less than 40 yards, just allowing limited change of line
A slightly longer distance between corners/objects, usually between 40-60 yards	50
Distance in yards between corners/objects. Shorter distances than 50 yards are given only if it is very important, eg. Cr 30 L4.	50, 70, 100, 120, 150, 180, 200, 250...
A straight with less severe than 6+ slight corners in both R and L direction eg. kinks 150.	kinks

Cautions - warnings

Information	Note
"Caution". Used as a Wake up - may be marked in road book and alongside the road with signs	!
"Double Caution". Beware, there is likely to be something difficult on or alongside the route - may be marked in road book and alongside the road with signs	!!
"Triple Caution". Danger, serious hazard - may be marked in road book and alongside the road with signs	!!!

Road Descriptors

Information	Note
Small crest/brow. There may be two different reasons for giving a small crest in the notes: 1) You can not see the road at the end of a straight due to a crest that has marginal influence on the handling of the car. 2) There is a crest in a corner (you will usually see the road after it) and it will have some influence on the handling of the car.	smCr
Crest/brow. You lose a considerable amount of grip when passing a crest.	Cr
Big crest. Road falls away steeply on the backside of Cr - big loss of grip.	BigCr
Action on top of crest (Example: turn L3 onCr)	onCr
Long (small) crest is where the crest continues over a longer distance, making it difficult to define the peak. NOTE! Distance measurement to a long crest ends where the first impression of a peak seems to be and starts when you see the road past the crest.	lgCr, lgsmCr
Crest over 70 indicates a long crest over a straight of 70 yards	Cr/70
Small jump, car loose a lot of traction because of a crest	smJmp
Jump, car may leave the ground	Jmp
Big jump, car will leave the ground	BigJmp
Short sharp crest that will unsettle the car abruptly	kick
Bump, the road surface may be uneven as a result of ruts across the road, rocks poking up or other situations which will disturb the handling of the car when hit	bmp
Big bump, severe bump (potentially car damaging)	BigBmp
Dip, road in a shallow V shape	dip

Over

Information	Note
"Over". Usually associated with Crest, which begins before end of a corner so the crest may cause bad grip in the corner. May also be used with a bridge, corner or other objects (e.g. /][). Long crests or corners may be defined over distances (e.g. Cr/100 L6/350 bmp/70) where they are hard to define in terms of where they start and end or if the extension is extreme.	/

Miscellaneous

The first page of the stage notes for each stage gives:

· the page number, and number of pages for the stage concerned*. NB. Crews should check that they have the correct number of pages in the correct order for each stage.
· the name of the event*
· the stage name, number, and length*
· detail of the actual start location
· a brief description of the stage
· the line at the bottom of each page, which is in different print, gives the notes from the first line of the following page*

*these details are repeated on each subsequent page

Glossary of terms/descriptions used in the stage notes

Self explanatory terms are not included in this glossary, only abbreviations and terms which need an explanation.

Information	Note
Denote something that may be true. Mainly water or slippy have got this information as they may change over time. It may be read "maybe".	?
Bridge or cattle grid	][
Cattle guard	guard
Exposure/drop right, left or outside corner. To reduce number of terms to read this implies a caution without being explicitly printed	DropR, DropL, Drop outside
Junction which you pass	Jct, past Jct, rd L, rd R
No cut. Stone or other obstacle inside corner	n.c.
Road narrows	nar
Off camber	o.c.
Rough	ruf
Keep lefthand/middle/righthand side of road over crest or through corner	stay L, stay middle, stay R
Through	thru
Junction where you turn. Distance from start to junction is given under note. When the turn is a considerable change in direction and no space is left to overshoot: At T (-junction) is given. Example: turn R4@T	turn (@T)

Most additional information is given in full text

Tricky combinations may be underlined to indicate that parts belong to the same combination. Often used to indicate that a fast corner is closely followed by a slow corner which the driver should be made aware of early.

A sequence of notes could look like:

Last updated: January 2nd 2010