[EricH]

<R07-D> is what they probably were calling you on. That's the bumper segment length rule. The exception to <R07-D> is <R07-C>, soft stuff in the corner.

"Quick" solution for North Carolina: Wrap the pool noodles around the corners, but don't put wood into the corners. If anybody complains that that's illegal, point them straight to <R07-C>, where that method is explicitly allowed. Then use the frame attachments that you did before.

If they were passing teams that had blatantly obvious and relatively easy to fix bumper problems (ground clearance, numbers, and non-secure fastening methods), while enforcing a rule that's tough to enforce and tough to fix non-compliance, there's another problem there. All the rules are rules, not just the ones that you want to enforce.