If you love the thrill of rally racing and you’d like to experience it for yourself from behind the wheel, why not sign up for a 12-car rallying competition? These events are regularly organised by car clubs all over the UK as a means of encouraging motorsport participation, giving enthusiastic amateurs the opportunity to learn about the importance of accurate navigation and speed control.
The basic requirements for entrants include a standard motor vehicle, an Ordnance Survey map and a sense of adventure.
However, you will face a challenging decision over the assignment of driving and navigational duties. It may be worth teaming up with a fellow amateur and taking part in a table top rally (a simulation event in which you navigate your route in the comfort of a pub) as a means of ascertaining your navigational abilities.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race?
As a designated driver, you’ll have the difficult job of maintaining an average speed of 30mph during the 12 car rally. However, the speed requirement does take account of time spent map-reading and waiting for registration at check points.
Competitors who drive too quickly or slowly face the prospect of penalisation. Points are also deducted for skipping sections of the designated route and arriving at check points from the wrong direction.
The 12 car navigation rallies are usually held during the during the evening. The routes vary in length from 50 to 60 miles, so there is plenty of potential for costly navigational errors. It is quite common for the drivers and map readers to have heated debates while rallying. However, the local motoring clubs encourage participants to embrace the ethos of fun, and competitors are given the opportunity to resolve their issues at a post-rally pub meet-up.
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