The final event of the competition is the Rodeo Relay: a sequence of six events. A team member carries a baton from each station to the next and hands off the baton to another team member before starting the station event. The baton must be handed off. The team will choose the number of team members participating in any individual event. Safety attire must be worn during the entire Relay. Baton runners may exchange positions as long as 1 person remains in the box the entire time. Teams may not use whistles or air-horns as signals, as judges and time-keepers use these to start events and it may cause confusion on the course.

There will be a Truck & Trailer, Egg Pickup, and Softball Pickup practice session for teams competing in the Rodeo. The practice session is 10:00 am- 2:00pm on Friday, with each operator allowed a maximum of 2 minutes total (including time to enter and exit the backhoes). Operators are not allowed to touch the dirt piles; doing so will result in an immediate end to that operator's practice time. Access to the practice time is on a first-come, first-served basis. NOTE: There will be no practice time on Saturday before the event.

The following describes the order for the 4-Person Teams in which each event must be completed and a description of each event.
Drawing of the 4-Person team Relay event

Note: The Relay for 2-Person teams is different; it consists of the Truck & Trailer to Egg Pickup to Softball Pickup to Regulator Bypass to Water Cooler. Event descriptions and rules for the 2-Person Relay events are the same as listed here.
Description of the 2-Person team Relay event

STATION #1 - TRUCK AND TRAILER BACK-UP
Event Captain: Larry Buie 423-490-4232

A truck and trailer will be maneuvered and backed into an alley of cones. The cones are positioned 9.5 inches out from the trailer wheel. The trailer must touch an additional cone placed in the center of the alley, without knocking it over and without knocking off the golf ball. The truck's air brakes must be set before contestants can advance the baton to Station #2. Operator must have commercial driver's license or permit. Use of third gear at anytime will result in team disqualification from the competition.

All drivers CDL will be confirmed prior to event start.

The truck will likely have an automatic transmission.

Time penalties will be incurred as follows:

• Any cone knocked over - 10 second penalty per cone
• Intentional knocking over of cones - 3 minute penalty
• Non-use of seat belts - 3 minute penalty
• If trailer doesn't touch the center cone - 30 second penalty
• If golf ball falls from center cone - 30 second penalty
• No spotter - 30 second penalty
• Driver exits truck without setting air brakes - 30 second penalty
• Driver exits truck without shutting off truck - 30 second penalty
• Runner leaving designated spot before the center cone has been touched and the air brakes set - 10 second penalty (4-person only)
• Hard hat falls off - 10 second penalty
• Eye protection falls off and hits the ground - 10 second penalty
• If baton is not advanced - 10 second penalty
• Not having right foot on brake - 30 second penalty
• Must start in first gear, otherwise - 30 second penalty
• Not wearing safety vest for spotter - 30 second penalty
• Runner's deviation from course layout - 10 second penalty per infraction
• No Baton Runner in Box - 10 second penalty (4-person only)
• Runner's foot touching or over the box line - 10 second penalty per infraction (4-person only)

Drawing of event set-up.

 

STATION #2 - EGG PICK-UP
Event Captain: Michael Chitwood 704-564-1664

Once the baton has been advanced to the safety zone area, s/he will attempt to pick up an egg with a spoon attached to the backhoe bucket. Once the egg pick-up has been made, the egg is to be placed in an 8 inch weld cap. Then the operator must return the backhoe bucket to the marked resting place and advance the baton to Station #3. The backhoe may be started at any time. A broken egg can not be put into the weld cup (broken defined as cracked and leaking fluid). The whole egg must be inside the weld cap.

There will be three sand piles; two with eggs and one with the 8 inch weld cap. In the event an egg is dropped or rolled off the sand, you can try for the second egg. After three minutes, the bucket must be returned to the starting position and the baton advanced to Station #3. Team members are allowed to set the egg with assistance from the event judge. Only judges can manipulate sand piles.

We anticipate the backhoe being a Case model 590 SL.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

There will be a 30-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

Drawing of event set-up.

STATION #3 - PIPE SQUEEZE (4-person only)
Event Captain: Randy Utecht 303-571-3911

This event involves a squeeze off of 2 inch plastic pipe. The pipe will be pressurized to approximately 40 psig. The pipe will be a 2-way feed. This event will require the installation of 2 mechanical squeeze tools. The squeeze tools will be positioned in front of the area of the squeeze and will be open prior to the start of the event. The area for each team to squeeze will be identified in a designated area.

To determine that the pipe is sufficiently squeezed, a section of clear PVC pipe is installed on a tee at the center of the event. Inside the pipe is a foam pig. The pig will rise to the top of the clear pipe when the system is pressurized. When the squeeze tools are installed, the pig will drop to the bottom of the clear pipe. Once the pig has dropped to the bottom of the clear pipe, the baton may be advanced to the next station. NOTE: The baton must be placed inside of the ring to start the event.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

• Failure to install squeeze tools in designated area for your team
• Picking up baton prior to pig dropping
• If baton is not placed in box
• Hard hat falls off
• Eye protection falls off and hits the ground
• If baton is not advanced
• Handling of squeeze off tools before baton is in box

STATION #4 - SOFTBALL PICK-UP
Event Captain: Michael Chitwood 704-564-1664

Once the runner and baton are in the runner's box, the operator will attempt to pick up a softball with a mini-excavator bucket and deposit it in a five-gallon plastic bucket.

There will be 3 sand piles, 2 with softballs and one with the five gallon plastic bucket. In the event the softball is dropped or rolled off the sand, you can try for the second. After three minutes, the bucket must be returned to the starting position and the baton advanced to Station #5. Only the event judges are allowed to manipulate softballs and sand piles.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

• Operator not shutting off equipment before exiting the excavater
• Team member(s) entering the danger zone at any time
• Not returning bucket to designated area
• Hard hat falls off
• Eye protection falls off and hits the ground
• If baton is not advanced
• Bucket teeth not in up position prior to touch-down
• Bucket not in Bucket Return Area prior to team member exiting Participant Area
• Runner advancing baton from station 3 is not in the box before operator operates equipment
• Both baton and runner must be in the box before the operator moves the equipment
• Runner's foot touching or over the box line

Drawing of event set-up.

 

STATION #5 - REGULATOR BYPASS
Event Captain: John Christenson 760-801-1715

NEW: 2-person teams will compete in the Regulator Bypass.

Team members must connect the bypass hose to the union connections on the simulated regulator station. The hose is a 1 inch hydraulic hose approximately 36 inch long with 1 inch threaded unions on each end. There will be two pipe wrenches provided. When the hose has been connected, the valves may be opened or closed in any order. When the Regulator Station work has been completed, the wrench, if used, must be placed on the hook provided. The baton can now be advanced to Station #6.

NOTE: The baton must be placed inside of the designated area to start the event. Wrenches will be in the closed position prior to the event.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

• Valves opened and closed prior to installing bypass hose
• Hose union threads not run all the way down and hand tight
• Baton leaving the designated area prior to valves being fully operated and wrenches on hooks
• Baton is not placed in box
• Hard hat falls off
• Eye protection falls off and hits the ground
• If baton is not advanced
• Wrench on valves prior to bypass hose installed
• Wrench not placed on hook (penalty per wrench)

Drawing of event set-up.

 

STATION #6 - WATER COOLER
Event Captain: Bob Cavaliere 718-938-5849 and Connie Garrett 217-532-8250

This is the last stop in the relay. Each team member must empty a plastic cup filled with water, which has been placed on the water cooler table. The cup must be picked up and emptied using only the mouth. After emptying the cup, team members are free to use their hands to throw the cups in the trash. As soon as all four team members have disposed of their cups, they must throw their hand up to signal the completion of this event.
Team members cannot start emptying their cups until the baton has been placed in the designated area and all four team members are present.

There will be a 10-second penalty per infraction for any of the following:

• Using hands before the cup is completely emptied
• If baton is not placed in designated area
• Hard hat falls off
• Eye protection falls off and hits the ground
• Knocking table over
• Knocking cup over (per cup infraction)
• Starting to empty cups prior to all members present and baton in designated area (per infraction)
• Baton will be placed in basket with cups