The Event
You've got your car and you've got your crews sorted out - so now it's time to find an event in which to compete!
Events are regularly announced and published in various motoring magazines such as "Motorsport News", but we find your best bet is to join up and closely watch the internet forum on BritishRally. Otherwise speak to members of your motor club, who can advise you of upcoming events and what might suit as a first one.
Events break down into two main categories.
Single Venue events
Single Venue events take place all in one location, so are very convenient and relatively cheap. Typically they run on private land, such as disused airfields, country estates or land belonging to the Ministry of Defence. Since they do not use public roads, cars do not need road tax or insurance, so these types of event often work out cheaper in the long run. There is less variety, as the stages often go over the same roads repeatedly (with minor changes in route and direction to add a degree of 'variance'). Some may argue that SV events are easier and less exciting, but that does not necessarily mean they cannot be fun and challenging. They certainly make for ideal first events upon which to cut your teeth.
Multi-venue events
Multi-venue events are exactly as their name suggests. Unlike single-venue events, they take place at multiple locations and invariably use public roads to get from one to the other. They offer more variety, as you are repeating less stages over the course of the rally. There are more challenges for the navigator also, as more co-ordination and timing is needed to make sure you're in the right place at the right time. Multi-venue events are often more expensive to enter as the organisational costs to run them are greater, but many competitors believe the challenge is greater - and hence the feeling of accomplishment when you reach the end is greater also!
Whichever event you choose, the other variation will be the surface upon which you compete. Tarmac events differ greatly to gravel events. The former offers smooth, fast conditions for cars set up with low suspension, lots of grip and lots of power. Gravel events are completely different, with less emphasis on power and outright speed and more focus on driver skill and car control on a slippy, loose surface. Since gravel events generally take place in the middle of forests, there's often higher risks and more room for damage.
When you've chosen your event, it's time to register your entry. Entries open a few months before the event. You ring the event secretary up (or email them, in this modern day and age!) and ask for an entry form. With this comes the supplementary regulations, which are specific to the event. Read these and, once accepted, complete your entry form and mail it back to the organisers with your payment.
Supplementary Regulations
The Supplementary Regulations contain information relative to the event to enable you to decide whether or not to enter. Some information includes:
- Eligibility - who is eligible to enter the event (you might have to join the organising club)
- Championships - The event is possibly a round of one or more championships
- Program - Entry cut off date, scrutineering times etc
- Penalties - how penalties are issued
- List of officials
The SR's will also include an event application form, which should be completed fully and signed by both the driver and navigator. Post your completed entry form with your payment to the Entries Secretary.
Final Instructions
On or after the date described in the SR's, you should receive your Final Instructions. This is typically one week before the actual event.
The Final Instructions ("finals") will give you information along the lines of:
- Your competition number (you might have to buy your own door numbers)
- Your noise check time
- Your scrutineering time
- Restrictions on access times to the venue
- Service vehicle pass
- Revisions to the Supplementary Regulations
- A list of other competitors
- Directions to the venue
Once you arrive at the venue, their are a few things to be organised.
- Follow the Officials instructions around the venue
- Secure your trailer in the designated trailer park
- Park your service van in its allotted service pitch
- Present your car for noise check on time
- Present your car for scrutineering on time
Following scrutineering, proceed to signing-on. (you might at this point like to let your service crew return your rally car to the service van for pre event checks). At signing on you might be presented with any of the following:
- Door numbers (if supplied by organisers)
- Rally plates
- Event stickers
- Road Book - containing stage diagrams/instructions
- Time cards
- Management car road book
