Competing on a Road Rally

THE LONG WAIT

The period between signing on and the actual start of a rally always seems to drag. There's very little to do other than hang around the Start Venue and wait. However there a number of tasks that could be carried out.

1. If they've been issued with your Rally Pack, plot the blackspots and quiet zones. At the end of the event you may find that most were red herrings which the organisers used to keep you guessing as to the actual course of the rally, but it's rare for all of them to be so, some will actually have some relevance to the night's proceedings.
   
2. Check the official notice board for any amendments. There will be a notice board at the signing on venue where the event's MSA Permit and other authorisation letters will be posted. In addition there may be amendments to the instructions you have already been given or route amendments that have had to be made since the Route Cards were printed.
   
   If an amendment has been issued it must be signed by the Clerk of the Course. There should be space on the amendment notice for each navigator to sign their name, this is to ensure that all crews know of the change and have accepted it. Amendments may be issued at any time during an event, not just at the Start. However when ever they're issued the same procedures apply.
   
3. Almost all events now issue Spectator Information, giving three or four points where spectators can watch the competition. These are usually available in the form of a booklet with a copy of the entry list, a description and site of the spectator points and rules for behaviour while spectating. They're usually on sale at signing on.
   
   It's always useful to get a copy as when plotted before the start they can save you time when you're given the route card for the relevant area during a competitive section. Spectator points are sometimes at controls and these can help enormously. If they don't indicate a control but just a junction they're still useful in confirming to you that you're on the right route.
   
   It's debatable whether you should have such information plotted on your map before the start of the event. My opinion is that under Blue Book Regulation K.14.3.c you're allowed "Information provided by the organisers of that event" and I feel Spectator Information must come under that description. So use it unless the event's Regulations specifically exclude its use.
   
4. Set your watch to match that of the event clocks. All clocks on the event should have been set to exactly the same time, this should be the correct BBC time. However a clock is allowed to be up to 15 seconds out on a section timed to the minute or up to 5 seconds out on a section timed to the second, so don't be surprised if they differ slightly during an event. There should be at least one official clock on display at Signing On or the Start. Having your watch set to this time will help you keep track of your progress during the event.
   
5. There may be a Drivers Meeting at some point between the end of signing on and the start. At this you'll probably be informed of the procedures you'll have to deal with at the various types of control. Whether there'll be code boards to note down or whether you'll be expected to write down something on the Marshal's check sheet. Take notice, it might help you later.

MARSHALS

Most Welsh road rallies these days require each crew to provide at least one marshal. Basically with the 30 mph rule being strictly enforced organisers have to slow competitors down and one way to do this is to increase the number of controls, therefore they need more marshals to man these controls. The easiest way to get these controls manned is to get competitors to provide the necessary bodies.

If this is to be the case for an event your entering it will be stipulated in the Regulations that a marshal must be provided. 'No Marshal, No Start' is the phrase that's coming into common usage.

Getting your marshal signed on is then a part of the competitors signing on process; the Process Card must be signed to indicate that a marshal has been supplied before you are allowed to complete the documentation stage. Some organisers have been known to let crews compete without supplying a marshal but fine them £10 instead, however don't rely on this happening - get a marshal.

AND THEY'RE OFF

Blue Book regulation K.14.1 specifically forbids any route information being issued by an organiser to competitors before their due start time. Therefore when you approach the Start it will probably be the only control you'll know of.

At the Start you'll probably only be given the location of the start of the first competitive section. However you may be given a extended time for your run out and part of the competitive route to plot, or you could be sent to a Holding Control where you'll be given some route information and a certain amount of time in which to plot it.

When you get to controls make sure the marshal fills in your card correctly and that you've been given the right time. Double check you've asked for the right time, as I found out to my cost a couple of times last year it's very easy to book in early and pick up a fail.

During the event keep an eye on your time limit. As mentioned previously there will normally be a 30 minute maximum lateness, although this may be extended to 45 minutes especially for Novice crews. If you fear you're getting close to going over the time limit (OTL) cut the route so that you can regain some time. It's better to pick up a few fails for missing a few controls than going OTL at a Main Control where the penalty will be exclusion.

Try and keep an eye on the penalties you're picking up, this will allow you to check that the penalties you've been given at the Finish are correct. If a penalty seem incorrect then place a query as the Results Team may well have made a mistake - having produced results on numerous ocassions I can tell you that they frequently do!.