Iowa Streets & Roads Conference 2004

Snow Plow Roadeo, October 14, Ames

Agenda

7:30 - 9:00 a.m.	Registration (Hilton Auditorium, map)
8:00 - 8:30	Judges' meeting
8:00 - 9:30	Written Test
8:30 until done	Vehicle Defect Identification
8:45 - 1:00 p.m.	Driving Test
11:30 - 12:30 p.m.	Box Lunch on Course
Follwing Driving Test	Awards, Door Prizes, Vendor Drawings

About the Snow Plow Roadeo

Roadeo contestants compete in three activities that represent knowledge and skills that operators of snow removal equipment should possess:

a written exam
a timed vehicle-defect identification exercise
a driving test on a course that simulates roadway situations

The highest total number of points accumulated in all three activities will determine the winning team. By competing in the Roadeo, participants

learn from each other
hone operational skills and techniques for winter
review safety practices
demonstrate for the public the challenges of winter road maintenance

Who Should Participate?

Operators of snow plow trucks from every city and county in Iowa are invited to compete in the Roadeo. Send one team from your shop, or send the whole crew. Operators compete in teams of two.

Registration Fee and Deadline

The fee for the Roadeo is $65 per person, which includes a box lunch. Registration deadline is October 1, 2004.

Cancellation Policy

Registrations cancelled in writing by October 1 will receive a full refund. After that date a $10 cancellation fee will be assessed. Substitutions may be made at any time.

Vehicles

All competitors will drive a neutral vehicle. The City of Ames will provide three identical trucks. The City of Clive will provide trucks for the vehicle defect competition. Roadeo participants are encouraged to bring their own innovative vehicles for display. The plow must be supported on blocks provided by the team at all times when vehicles are on the site.

Determining the Winners

A team’s total score from the driving course, written test, and vehicle-defect-identification activity will determine the winning team (730 points possible). In case of a tie, each team’s stopping distances from the alley dock and stop line will be totaled. The shortest total stopping distance will win.

Snow Plow Roadeo Contest Requirements

Part 1. Written Exam: 30 min. time limit; 30 points, 1 point per correct answer

All participants will take a written exam using representative questions from the Iowa Commercial Driver’s License Examination and from the Iowa Driver’s manual. The average score of both team members will be entered in the contest.

Part 2. Vehicle Defect Identification: 10 min. time limit; 50 points, 10 points for each of 5 defects found

Each team will examine a snow plow truck to find vehicle defects. This activity uses a neutral vehicle. Examples of defects include but are not limited to the following: missing fire extinguishers, missing seat belts or mud flaps, inoperable lights, windshield wiper blades missing, rocks between the duals, radio microphone missing or broken cord, punctured hoses, dead instrument panel, missing fuel cap, missing plow shoe, loose lug nuts, low fluid levels, inoperable plow, and inoperable turn signals, horn, or backup alarm.

Part 3. Street Simulation Driving Course: 15 min. time limit (including driver switch); 650 points, 50 points possible in each of 13 sections

This part of the contest deals with maneuvering the vehicle through 12 separate sections of a driving course that replicates features of streets and roads. Each team member will drive a portion of the course, while his/her partner sits in the passenger seat. The vehicle will be operated in both forward and reverse directions through portions of the course. The 12 sections include (A) making a left-hand 90 degree turn, (B) performing a right-wheel straddle, (C) negotiating a hammer-head turn-around, (D) negotiating a serpentine route delineated by barrels, (E) backing into an alley dock, (F) negotiating a narrow horizontal clearance area, (G) plowing along a right curb line, (H) mailbox plowing, (I) plowing between parked cars, (J) making offset lane changes, (K) turning around in a cul-de-sac, and (L) positioning the plow close to a stop line. The 13th section is (M) total driving course time.

Scoring the Driving Event

In all sections of the course, points will be deducted for

hitting or running over obstacles (cone, barrel, car, etc.) with the plow or truck
jerky movements
unauthorized stops
leaning out the window

10 points per minute will be deducted for overall driving time in excess of 15 minutes.

A 25-point deduction for not using seat belts (each occurrence) will be enforced. (Remember this when you switch drivers.)

Point deductions unique to each section of the course are specified within the descriptions below.

Snow Plow Roadeo Course Details

See the following course sections on the official course layout on page 10.

Left-Hand 90 Degree Turn: Driver must turn with plow pre-set through two rows of traffic cones set to require precise driving.
Right-Wheel Straddle: Driver must, with the right wheels, drive between two rows of 9" traffic cones.
Hammer-Head Turn-Around: Driver must negotiate a complete turn-around of snow plow and leave area of simulated dead-end turn-around.
Serpentine Course: This is the “barrel race.” Driver will negotiate the vehicle in and out between a set of barrels. At the end of the line of barrels, the driver will re-negotiate the truck through the barrels back to the starting point—in reverse. Points will also be deducted for passing any barrel on the wrong side.
Alley Dock: This section tests the driver’s ability to back up in an alley, stopping as close as possible to a simulated dock without touching any of the barricades making up the simulated dock. Points will also be deducted for hitting or moving the alley dock barricade by any part of the truck or anything extending from the truck, failure to sound horn, truck moving forward or back after the stop, and stopping more than six inches from the barricade. Measurements will be made from the plane of the barricade to the closest point on the rear of the truck or anything attached to the rear of the truck. For example, if a hitch protrudes from the rear of the truck, the measurement will be made to the hitch. Also note that if the hitch touches the barricade or breaks the plane of the barricade, it counts as a hit and points will be deducted.
Narrow Clearance: Driver will drive forward through a narrow lane and then return in reverse through the lane. Points will also be deducted for plow not passing the final cone before backing begins. Drivers will switch before plowing the right curb line.
Plow Right Curb Line: Driver must knock over 4"x4"x12" blocks without hitting traffic cones set 12" to the right of the blocks. Points will also be deducted for missing any of the 10 4"x4"x12" blocks.
Mailbox Plowing: Driver must knock over 4"x4"x12" blocks without hitting traffic cones set 12" to the right of the blocks. Points will also be deducted for hitting mailboxes and missing any of the 4"x4"x12" blocks.
Plowing Between Parked Cars: Driver must knock over five 4"x4"x12" blocks without hitting either of two cars or five cones set 12" to the right of the 4"x4"x12" blocks. Points will also be deducted for hitting cars and missing any of the five 4"x4"x12" blocks.
Offset Lanes: Driver will negotiate a set of close turns.
Cul-de-Sac Turn-Around: Driver must enter and exit the cul-de-sac through two parallel rows of traffic cones.
Stop Line: Driver will stop the leading edge of the plow blade as close as possible to the stop line without going over it. Points will also be deducted for failure to sound horn, stopping with the plow blade’s leading edge more than six inches before the stop line, plow blade hitting or going over the stop line, and truck moving forward or back after stopping. Points will be deducted for the distance from the leading edge (driver corner) of the plow to the stop line.
Total Driving Course Time: Driver will be penalized 10 points per minute for overall driving time in excess of 15 minutes.

Snow Plow Roadeo Course

(click image for full-size map--487 kb pdf)