Why ?

[Matra et Alpine]

Those who've been around will know I'm into rallying and have navigated since the tender age of 15.

A few have shown interest in learning and taking part in rallying and dI"ve been PM'ed by a few ( some VERY insistent ) asking on how to get started.

In this sub-thread we'll cover the basics of navigating as it can be started many years before you are old enough to drive and compete behind the wheel. So as a start into motorsport, it's a great entry.

The next few threads will cover the basics of navigating and a Q&A thread and then I'll be setting navigational challenges for you to test the skills learned.

All I ask is that if anyone ever DOES become a WRC nav then remmeber me and get me some freebie parc-ferme passes for NZ and Monte

Hopefully it'll be interesting and in the way of things on the 'net, if not, it will quickly dies out

[GT500]

So wait....we navigate around Rally courses and wha....?
Oh haha, so it's s guide to rally navigating and stuff.....sounds cool!

[Nigel]

Rallying, to me is the best kind of racing. It is too expencive for me to get into now, but I can see myself getting into it with a little more money.

Im totally game for a series of nav lessons!

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

Those who've been around will know I'm into rallying and have navigated since the tender age of 15.

A few have shown interest in learning and taking part in rallying and dI"ve been PM'ed by a few ( some VERY insistent ) asking on how to get started.

In this sub-thread we'll cover the basics of navigating as it can be started many years before you are old enough to drive and compete behind the wheel. So as a start into motorsport, it's a great entry.

The next few threads will cover the basics of navigating and a Q&A thread and then I'll be setting navigational challenges for you to test the skills learned.

All I ask is that if anyone ever DOES become a WRC nav then remmeber me and get me some freebie parc-ferme passes for NZ and Monte

Hopefully it'll be interesting and in the way of things on the 'net, if not, it will quickly dies out

Wahoo finally ypu can count me in for this, as you already know i am startig navigating now and as soon as i get a bit of training i will be ok for the real thing (as long as they accept my licence application )

All I ask is that if anyone ever DOES become a WRC nav then remmeber me and get me some freebie parc-ferme passes for NZ and Monte

i will be sure to let you in, or atleast get you special VIP passes

[EvilPaladin]

I'm in !

[Spastik_Roach]

Can a 11 year old start this?

I'm really into rallying, I don't think i'd ever turn really professional, as I want to be a lawyer, but rather as a hobby, it'd be awesome.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Spastik_Roach

Can a 11 year old start this?

I'm really into rallying, I don't think i'd ever turn really professional, as I want to be a lawyer, but rather as a hobby, it'd be awesome.

Sure you can stat to learn, i dont know if the rules are different in your country, but in Britain you have to be 12 years old to be albe to enter Road rallies as a nav and 16 to enter Stage rallies as a nav.

Raod ralles

These are rallies that take place on roads, normally during the middle of the night. You are given a checkpiont that you need to get to and a certain time barrier that you are supposed to arrive in. during this time that you have been allocated you hve to plan your was (with the drivers help) and make sure that you know what too look out for (markers or signs that you need to record down what it says on them). When doing road rallies you are supposed to stay within the speed limit, and you can get penalised if you ge to your markers to early because this usually means that you have been doing faster than the speed limit , you are also penalised if you miss out markers along the way, or if you miss out clues.

Road rallies are not about who is the fastest although it helps it is mainly a test of nav and map skills. this is ehy it is important for a nav to be alert at all times during a road rally and NOT to lose his place on the pace notes



Introduction

All manner of events are run under the umbrella title of `rallies', including economy runs and treasure hunts. However, the most popular are simply known as road rallies.

The essence of this type of event is to maintain a time schedule through a series of control points by following route instructions which often put a great emphasis on navigation.



These events take place on normal public roads, almost always at night. All competing cars must be properly taxed, tested and insured.


Major UK Events

No national championship is permitted.
However, most Regional Associations and motor clubs run one or more championships.


Minimum Requirements

Any standard road car.

2 crew members with valid club membership cards.

Ordnance Survey maps.

The driver must be at least 17 years old and must hold a valid RTA Driving Licence.
The navigator must be at least 12 years old.


All these are for British events

[Mustang]

Stage rallies


Introduction
These are far more expensive than road rallies, with more emphasis upon car preparation, speed and driver ability, rather than navigational skills.

Most famous rallies are special stage events, like the Wales Rally GB, Britain's round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

At a national level the British Rally Championship is the most significant challenge and incorporates rounds across the country.



The basis of such events - the special stage - is a stretch of road closed to all other traffic, which must be covered at a high average speed.

In most of Great Britain (the exceptions are Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Mull, the Channel Islands and the roads used by the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally), public roads are not available for this purpose, so special stage events use private land, frequently Forestry Commission roads or disused airfields.



Linking the special stages are sections of public road, where the required average
speed is low (usually 30mph or slower).

Because of these sections, all competing cars must be properly taxed, tested and insured.



Major UK Events

British Rally Championship (Events in England, Scotland, Wales and Isle of Man).

Wales Rally GB (FIA World Rally Championship) in November

If you require further information about the Wales Rally GB please contact the Rally Gb at: rallygb@msaevents.co.uk


Minimum Requirements


The Driver must be at least 17 years old and must hold a valid Road Traffic Driving Licence. Before you can apply for your first Stage Rally Driver Licence, you must do the following:

1. Purchase a "Go Rallying" starter pack from MSA which includes a VHS video, a copy of the Motor Sports Yearbook, the necessary application form, plus various other useful items.

2. Complete a one-day MSA course for novice drivers, run only by members of the British Association of Rally Schools (BARS). Contact your local school for costs.

When you have obtained a Competition Licence, you will require the following: a car with added safety equipment (rollcage, fire extinguishers fireproofing, etc) and an MSA Log Book; a navigator or co-driver who is at least 16 years old and holds a valid club membership card; crash helmets and flame-resistant overalls.


Rally Driver Schools

All rally schools teach driving techniques for special stage rallying.

A one-day course offers a chance to try rallying in someone else's car, to discover whether you enjoy the sport before spending your own money!

Some schools offer courses for front-, rear- and four-wheel drive cars, or for driving on asphalt and loose surfaces. A few schools offer courses for co-drivers, teaching advance skills such as pacenotes and services planning.

Click here for schools who are members of the British Association of Rally Schools (BARS) and are registered with the MSA

Rally Driving School Assessment

The driving assessment part of the test is quite straight forward. The Assessor will be looking for a safe and competent attitude behind the wheel rather than any advanced rallying techniques (hand brake turns etc.).

For example, the following points will be assessed:

Driving position
Hold on steering wheel
Use of brakes
Car positioning
Throttle control
Anticipation of hazards
Driving attitude & confidence on the relevant stage surface
Drives a "clean" Special Stage at a "reasonable" speed without hitting any marker cones.
Car sympathy

It is assumed that applications may not have had any formal rally driving training before this assessment.



all of these are for British events

[whiteballz]

there is a road rally in australia called the targa tasmanian rally, its a road rally, its FASTEST CAR WINS. roads are closed, and its a set stage, style of nav is up to the racers, there are some with the traditional "5 right over yump" etc people, and then there are, " medium right over lump" and THEN there are go to your right, NO you OTHER RIGHT IDIOT! *tyres screech* BANG type lol.

its a very large rally, with classics and modern etc, peter brock ran a monaro cv8 last year i belive, but was smacked down the feild by all the AWD skylines and porsches. not to mention STI's! lol, its a very windy island, so navagators have their work cut out for them.

my dad and i are going to buy a rally/hillclimb car soon, and ether way we dont want to go over 6 grand aussie$$, so we are a bit limited for choice, any sugestions?

[Spastik_Roach]

Mini or an old Escort maybe?

I'm lucky as I happen to have Manfield (racing track) in my town, and they have a racing school there, not rallying, but surely wouldnt do any harm... I'm sure I wouldnt have to go far to find a decent rallying school.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by whiteballz

there is a road rally in australia called the targa tasmanian rally, its a road rally, its FASTEST CAR WINS. roads are closed, and its a set stage, style of nav is up to the racers, there are some with the traditional "5 right over yump" etc people, and then there are, " medium right over lump" and THEN there are go to your right, NO you OTHER RIGHT IDIOT! *tyres screech* BANG type lol.

its a very large rally, with classics and modern etc, peter brock ran a monaro cv8 last year i belive, but was smacked down the feild by all the AWD skylines and porsches. not to mention STI's! lol, its a very windy island, so navagators have their work cut out for them.

my dad and i are going to buy a rally/hillclimb car soon, and ether way we dont want to go over 6 grand aussie$$, so we are a bit limited for choice, any sugestions?

if it is on set stages then it is prob more of a stage rally.

what sorts of championships are there over there?. here we are set up into different classes, F1000, 1300cc, super 1600cc, 2 Litre, 3 litre, group N and WRC cars.

I hape to be entering the F1000 next year when i am old enough to drive on the stages so untill then i am doing nav runs to get sused to the stages, and what rallying is really like, the F1000 is for 1.0L cars only and it has got limitations on tyres and you are not allowed to upgrade your engine to make it fair and cheap

Another thing that you could do is buy a cheap(ish) kit car for about £1500 and then buy a motorbike with a 1250cc engine and make a little rocket ship


have a look theough these pics you might get a few ideas http://www.britishrally.com/gallery/index.asp
most of these cars will be way to exoensive but there might be a few in your price range

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Spastik_Roach

Mini or an old Escort maybe?

I'm lucky as I happen to have Manfield (racing track) in my town, and they have a racing school there, not rallying, but surely wouldnt do any harm... I'm sure I wouldnt have to go far to find a decent rallying school.

the best thing if you are serious would be to find your local club, and get them to help you. they might even take you to rallies to watch or maybee help out like my club does

[whiteballz]

there are most classes in the ROC (rally of canberra) classic (fiat arbarth sweet, rs200, etc) and there is group N and group A, super 1600, and others. fairly cool set up aswell...

a mini... i guess, but still, its alot of money, we are moving to sydney in a couple of months, so i think we will wait till we are up there...

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by whiteballz

there are most classes in the ROC (rally of canberra) classic (fiat arbarth sweet, rs200, etc) and there is group N and group A, super 1600, and others. fairly cool set up aswell...

a mini... i guess, but still, its alot of money, we are moving to sydney in a couple of months, so i think we will wait till we are up there...

that is prob a good idea, i suppose a mini be good,there was a guy in a rally club near ours and he put a 1400cc motorbike engine in his and made it RWD, it beat everything in its class easilly and... well it was just amazing, so fast.

it will be good fun though if you get it running on the hill climb, good luck to ya

[taz_rocks_miami]

Sounds way cool Marta, count me in too!! I'll try not to fall behind cuz of work.