RE: New to IMAC and confused.
The 2 minute rule is hardly ever enforced.
You will takeoff upwind.
I generally turn 90 degrees away from the flight line and then do a 270 degree turn in the opposite direction back to the downwind leg. Use this 90/270 maneuver to climb to your base altitude and position the downwind leg using the 90/270 to set the line you want to fly the entire sequence on. You will want to start the first maneuver into the wind. That will require you to do a turn around at this point. You can either do another 90/270 (90 away from the flightline) or you can do maneuver such as #9 above to get you turned around and pointing into the wind.
You are not in the "box" until your caller calls you "in the Box" to the judges. Generally done on this upwind pass.
Once the judges hear you are in the box they will be looking for you to start with maneuver #1 on that pass. Then just fly each maneuver in order till you are finsihed with the sequence. After you fly it once you will fly the entire sequence again on that same flight. Your judged twice each time up.