How about 'Modern Practical Biathlon'?
While reading a friend's post that mentioned some serious off-roading, I was struck by inspiration. I suggest the creation of a new "practical sport:", for which I propose the working title of 'Redneck Biathlon'.
Redneck Biathlon (or whatever we end up calling it) works like this:
You need a substantial area of wilderness. Within this wilderness area, you set up a number of reasonably widely separated waypoints. There should be multiple routes between these waypoints, including designated marked routes containing obstacles of various levels of difficulty. Observers are stationed at the designated obstacles. Competitors begin the course at, say, fifteen-minute intervals, and are free to choose their preferred route between waypoints, but must navigate from one waypoint to the next in a specified order and within a specified time limit. Failure to reach the next waypoint within the time limit is counted as a failure of that "stage". Obstacle observers have the authority to "wave off" a competitor who is clearly unable to pass an obstacle if other competitors are waiting to attempt it. A competitor waved off an obstacle may either allow the other competitors to pass, then re-attempt it, or bypass the obstacle and receive partial credit (assigned at the judge/observer's discretion) for attempting it. Competitors receive bonus points for successfully completing routes of higher difficulty.
Upon reaching each waypoint, competitors dismount, and must identify and engage from three to five rifle targets at varying ranges, using any centerfire rifle firing a cartridge of at least equivalent power to 5.56x45mm or .30-30 Winchester. The minimum number of targets to be engaged at each waypoint, and the time limit within which all targets must be engaged, will be clearly posted. The ranges to each target will not be posted. Designated spotter/observers will be posted to score the shooters. Targets may be fully exposed or partially concealed, and shots may be level, uphill or downhill. Competitors must secure two good hits on each target to be engaged. Each competitor is allowed two free ranging shots at each target; unlimited shots are permitted, but additional rounds expended beyond four per target incur a point penalty. Laser rangefinders are not permitted. A given stage may have more targets than the competitor is required to engage; in this case, competitors may elect to engage more or less difficult targets, or additional targets beyond the minimum required. Failure to successfully engage the required minimum number of targets within the time limit counts as a failure of the stage.
At the completion of the course, competitors are scored on the following factors:
- Number of complete stages successfully completed within the time limit
- Time taken to complete each stage
- Bonuses for completing or attempting difficult obstacles, with higher bonuses for more difficult obstacles
- Score on required targets and time taken to engage all required targets
- Bonuses for engaging more difficult targets, or additional targets beyond the minimum, within the time limit
- Penalties for ammunition expended beyond four rounds per target
In the event of a tie, additional bonuses may be awarded for unused ranging shots, or for surmounting difficult judged obstacles with "exceptional style and panache".
After thinking some about how to fairly divide classes, I came up with the following. There are really two variables to assign classes on: Vehicle and rifle/sights. I'm thinking there's two obvious divisions for rifle classes; one would be iron sight vs. optical, the other would be hunting rifle/service rifle/precision rifle. The obvious major divisions of vehicles are 4WD car/truck, ATV, and offroad motorcycle. Cars/trucks might be further subdivided into "production 4WD" vs. "modified 4WD", where "production 4WD" vehicles are permitted aftermarket wheels/tires, off-the-shelf chassis lift kits, bash/skid plates or winches, but any more extensive modification has to compete as "modified 4WD". This makes a total of 24 subclasses, such as "off-road motorcycle, service rifle, optical sight" or "production 4WD, hunting rifle, iron sights", or for the lots-of-money set, "modified 4WD, precision rifle, optical sight".
Did I miss anything obvious?
Update:
A possible better name: 'Modern Practical Biathlon'?
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