We've put together a little article on how to get started in motorsport - and rallying in particular. This is a question we get asked the most so it makes sense to put it down in some basic detail for all and sundry. It's by no means a full and comprehensive guide, but should give you a good idea of how to get started and what to expect. The best bit of advice, without wanting to sound like a 'hard sell', is to join your local motor club. Go along to one of their club nights and chat with other members who've been out there and done it already - they can offer specific answers to your questions.
Two golden rules we offer for you to remember at all times....
- You can spend as much as you want - rallying can be expensive when you get the bug!
- Whatever happens, enjoy it.
The Crew
The crew is comprised of the driver and the navigator. You must have a complete crew to enter an event - you cannot enter with a driver alone, and you cannot change the navigator or driver half-way through... the crew that starts the rally must be the crew that finishes (and does everything in the middle!). On international events, like the WRC, the navigator is often referred to as a co-driver because he or she can often drive the car on the road sections.The crew will need the following :-
- Driving license (driver only on non-international events)
- MSA-affiliated Motor Club membership card
- MSA Competition license
- MSA-approved helmets
- MSA-approved fireproof overalls
Despite common misconceptions, you do not need fancy race boots, gloves, balaclavas and underwear for rallying in the UK (although international events are different, as they are governed by the FIA who offer stricter regulations).
The Service Crew
On pretty much any event, you will have breaks between some of the stages where you can attend to your car, making any repairs that are necessary and performing any necessary maintenance (topping up fluids, for example). These points are called Services. While it is quite possible that driver and navigator do this role, 99% of the time a separate bunch of people help out in this role - the Service Crew.
Not only do they guard your tools and spare parts, but they are also the people who roll around in the mud repairing your car (you don't want to get your expensive fireproof overalls dirty do you!?).
Some events have service areas at different places during the rally (as the rally cars move from forest to forest). Your Service Crew will be able to pack up your kit and drive to the next service area, unpack the kit ready to get dirty again for you.
A number of Streetly Motor Club teams have a regular service crew who "know" their car. They have become familiar with which nuts and bolts come loose, what the tyre pressures should be and the torque settings of the wheel nuts. They also know who has sugar in their coffee. A good service crew are worth their weight in gold!
The Management Crew
Management cars are only allowed on certain events - generally multi-venue events where the crew travel from one stage to another over a significant distance. You will never find management cars allowed (or necessary) on single-venue events. When the rally car leaves the service area, the management crew will follow in their own car (containing a small selection of spare parts). When both cars arrive at the start of the stage, the management car makes its own way the end of the stage along the public highway to await the rally car.
Spare parts carried in the management car might include:
- A couple of spare tyres
- Spare distributor cap
- Spare fan belt
- Tyre pressure gauge and pump
- Torque wrench
- Tank (gaffa) tape
To summarise, the Management car crew can be considered as an emergency service crew - just in case.
Running management cars on an event when they are not allowed by the organisers is strictly prohibited, and doing so can result in disqualification for the competing crew.
