2023 UK Targa/Road Rallying Thread
Discussion
Happy New Year everyone!
What are you plans for 2023? Good luck with whatever you do....
I'll be carrying on with the Weald MC 12 Car Rally Championship, but also some selected events nearby. This weekend is Southsea Motor Club's first 12 Car of the year, the "Meon Monte". I'll be out in the Mini Cooper again, which has had some absolutely essential mods recently
A proper seat for the navigator, which came out of my stage rally car having done only one rally. No harnesses as yet, anchoring the shoulder straps at the correct angle without a cage, whilst retaining rear seat capability is a bit of a challenge. The Driver's side seat will get fitted over the summer, I'll need more time to make it properly adjustable.
An LED reversing light - the correct "E-marked" version from Halfords, which is permitted in the regs:
And a sticker representing my heritage (which also seems to be an Australian slang term for weed!).
What are you plans for 2023? Good luck with whatever you do....
I'll be carrying on with the Weald MC 12 Car Rally Championship, but also some selected events nearby. This weekend is Southsea Motor Club's first 12 Car of the year, the "Meon Monte". I'll be out in the Mini Cooper again, which has had some absolutely essential mods recently
A proper seat for the navigator, which came out of my stage rally car having done only one rally. No harnesses as yet, anchoring the shoulder straps at the correct angle without a cage, whilst retaining rear seat capability is a bit of a challenge. The Driver's side seat will get fitted over the summer, I'll need more time to make it properly adjustable.
An LED reversing light - the correct "E-marked" version from Halfords, which is permitted in the regs:
And a sticker representing my heritage (which also seems to be an Australian slang term for weed!).
ecsrobin said:
These have always interested me as I feel my strength is navigation. What’s the best way to give it a go?
Hi,You are in luck! In many ways....
Firstly, navigators are always in demand - at all levels from Beginner to Novice up to Expert.
Secondly, assuming you are in Hampshire as per profile, there are three fantastic clubs which organise 12 Car Rallies in the area:
Southsea Motor Club
Basingstoke Motor Club
Farnborough & District Motor Club
Good news is that you only have to join one club as each of these invite members of the others to their events.
The rallies take place on Friday evenings, and the area covered is roughly bounded by the A24 in the East, the M4 in the North and the A338 in the West. Suggest you have a look on their websites, Facebook pages and Facebook groups for details of upcoming events.
Thirdly, this is a great time of year for rallying, it's high season due to the long nights.
Southsea have a rally on tomorrow:
http://www.southseamotorclub.co.uk/?page_id=79
Farnborough have one on in 2 weeks:
https://fdmc.org.uk/harlequin23
And Basingstoke the week after that:
https://basingstokemotorclub.weebly.com/wosson.htm...
Fourth - it's a very friendly sport!
My suggested first step would be to come along and marshal, to get the feel of the event. If you want to do that, make contact with the Chief Marshal or Clerk of the Course for each rally and ask to buddy-up with someone experienced. They'll be glad to explain things to you.
Then, when you are ready to compete - you need to join a club and also get a competition licence from Motorsport UK. The grade you need is called "RS Clubman" which can be applied for on-line, and is free.
https://www.motorsportuk.org/competitors/rs-clubma...
If you want to navigate, you'd generally start in "Beginners" class - the organisers will give you a marked-up map for you to follow, and your job is to direct the driver along that route, while trying to keep to a 30mph average speed, and write down the route checks as you pass them.
After a year or so of Beginners, you would generally move up to "Novice" class - the organisers will give you written route instructions which you then have to interpret, then mark the route on a map. In Novice class, these instructions are generally quite easy and there are lots of online resources with hints and tips. Some organisers give the Novice instructions out 30 -60 mins ahead of the start time, which takes the pressure off a bit.
Once you are very proficient at Novice class, you move up to Expert, and the instructions get cryptic, But let's not get ahead of ourselves!
Once you've been to an event or two and are ready to navigate, either bring along your own car and driver (there a a couple of other minor things to sort out) or offer your services on the various Facebook groups.
My only other piece of advice is - don't get despondent if you miss a junction and have to double back, or are a bit slower than the 30mph average, or can't understand the instructions, or miss a route check - EVERYONE does it, at all levels. It's very rare for crews to completely "clean" a rally (i.e. follow the perfect route, stay on time all the way, get all the route checks).
Feel free to PM if you like,
good luck!
pacenotes said:
Just won a MG ZR on ebay Targa rally car.... Picking it up on Sunday......
Was cheap with a 12 month MOT, Needs a good clean up but seriously can't wait to start out. I've done navigating, Marshaling, Timing and organiser but have never been in the position to either afford a rally car or space for one.
I'm not great with the spanners or have a good drive/garage to work on a car. Happy to do the basics tho. How do you find a local friendly garage who would be happy with a rally car showing up?
Excellent stuff - well done and good luck!Was cheap with a 12 month MOT, Needs a good clean up but seriously can't wait to start out. I've done navigating, Marshaling, Timing and organiser but have never been in the position to either afford a rally car or space for one.
I'm not great with the spanners or have a good drive/garage to work on a car. Happy to do the basics tho. How do you find a local friendly garage who would be happy with a rally car showing up?
Whereabouts are you based? There's a lot of good advice on here and from motor club members.
So, the 12 Car Rallying season progresses (slowly).
We were supposed to compete on Maidstone & Mid Kent MC's 12-Car on 27 Jan, but it was oversubscribed and we ended up marshalling.
We were supposed to compete on Guildford MC's 12-Car on 10 Feb,, but I had a family emergency and had to miss it. My navigator Chas got a run with someone else tho.
So tonight, 3rd time lucky hopefully! It' Eastbourne & DMCs 12 car somewhere in deepest darkest Kent. Then I'm off to Korea for work, then straight back into Bexley Light Car Club's 12 Car on 10th March. It's all go!
We were supposed to compete on Maidstone & Mid Kent MC's 12-Car on 27 Jan, but it was oversubscribed and we ended up marshalling.
We were supposed to compete on Guildford MC's 12-Car on 10 Feb,, but I had a family emergency and had to miss it. My navigator Chas got a run with someone else tho.
So tonight, 3rd time lucky hopefully! It' Eastbourne & DMCs 12 car somewhere in deepest darkest Kent. Then I'm off to Korea for work, then straight back into Bexley Light Car Club's 12 Car on 10th March. It's all go!
It was the latest round of the Weald MC 12 Car championship on Friday. Bexley LCC arranged a tricky 48 mile route out the back of Brands Hatch, and it was a rally of two halves.
First half was tight, twisty and very muddy and rough. We were keeping pretty much on time and were leading the Expert class up until TC6 (of 8). Second half not so good - a bit of delay plotting the 6-7 section and a plotting error on 7-8 meant we dropped a few minutes and got a fail for missing a code. The roads were much faster and our opposition could move quicker than us!
A lot of general public traffic on the route too, so catching up time was tricky. Still, we came 2nd Expert and 7th o/a (overall results merge Expert / NonExpert / Novice (30 min pre-plot) and Beginners (marked maps).
One more to go in this series this year, then Berwick Targa at the end of April.
Now I have to use the grubby Mini to take my daughter to Wembley Arena because I've sold the family car!
First half was tight, twisty and very muddy and rough. We were keeping pretty much on time and were leading the Expert class up until TC6 (of 8). Second half not so good - a bit of delay plotting the 6-7 section and a plotting error on 7-8 meant we dropped a few minutes and got a fail for missing a code. The roads were much faster and our opposition could move quicker than us!
A lot of general public traffic on the route too, so catching up time was tricky. Still, we came 2nd Expert and 7th o/a (overall results merge Expert / NonExpert / Novice (30 min pre-plot) and Beginners (marked maps).
One more to go in this series this year, then Berwick Targa at the end of April.
Now I have to use the grubby Mini to take my daughter to Wembley Arena because I've sold the family car!
It was the last round of the Weald MC 12 Car championship last night, organised by Blackpalfrey MC and based out of a village near Maidstone.
And..... we won it!
Got all the codes and only dropped 3 mins. We had a nip & tick battle all night with Derek Arnold and Simon Fuidge in car 1 (we were car 2) and we were on the same minute for much of the night. He's a much quicker driver than me, but my navigator had a better night. We sealed it on the last section when we correctly slotted right and we saw them going straight on and losing a couple of minutes more.
Delighted to pick up a mug trophy!
I'm waiting for the championship results to see where we came over the year. But it's been great fun competing in the same crowd each month or so since October. I think we will do the same again this winter. A couple of photos.
And..... we won it!
Got all the codes and only dropped 3 mins. We had a nip & tick battle all night with Derek Arnold and Simon Fuidge in car 1 (we were car 2) and we were on the same minute for much of the night. He's a much quicker driver than me, but my navigator had a better night. We sealed it on the last section when we correctly slotted right and we saw them going straight on and losing a couple of minutes more.
Delighted to pick up a mug trophy!
I'm waiting for the championship results to see where we came over the year. But it's been great fun competing in the same crowd each month or so since October. I think we will do the same again this winter. A couple of photos.
Here's a wee thing that some of you might be interested in - Eco Rally Scotland.
Basically a regularity rally for EVs. We are considering an entry in my pal's Tesla.
https://www.smrc.co.uk/news/ecorally-scotland-laun...
Basically a regularity rally for EVs. We are considering an entry in my pal's Tesla.
https://www.smrc.co.uk/news/ecorally-scotland-laun...
Great performance, sounded like a lot of fun.
Re: Beginners / Novices / Experts etc, we have the same issue down in the Kent/Sussex Weald area.
This year, one beginner crew pretty much won every event (and organised one) so they wrapped up the championship with a round or two to go. In this case, the driver (father) was very experienced and the navigator (son) was the beginner.
To be honest it doesn't bother me, and we managed to beat everyone on the last event. As long as those beginners stick with rallying and move up through the ranks, then all is well.
The issue down our way is that there's nowhere for the experts to move up to from 12 Cars locally. There is occasional talk of a 20:20 but prospects of a proper long navigational rally or road rally are pretty thin nowadays. So the experts get more expert in the local area, the organisers have to become more devious to avoid them cleaning it, and the newly-promotors experts find it hard.
But in the end, we all enjoy it and have a laugh in the pub afterwards. Long live 12 car rallying!
Re: Beginners / Novices / Experts etc, we have the same issue down in the Kent/Sussex Weald area.
This year, one beginner crew pretty much won every event (and organised one) so they wrapped up the championship with a round or two to go. In this case, the driver (father) was very experienced and the navigator (son) was the beginner.
To be honest it doesn't bother me, and we managed to beat everyone on the last event. As long as those beginners stick with rallying and move up through the ranks, then all is well.
The issue down our way is that there's nowhere for the experts to move up to from 12 Cars locally. There is occasional talk of a 20:20 but prospects of a proper long navigational rally or road rally are pretty thin nowadays. So the experts get more expert in the local area, the organisers have to become more devious to avoid them cleaning it, and the newly-promotors experts find it hard.
But in the end, we all enjoy it and have a laugh in the pub afterwards. Long live 12 car rallying!
Well, this year's Berwick Classic Rally was pretty eventful for us.
When driving up there on Friday, the trailer broke an axle beam and punctured a tyre. I called up a welder and while going to ATM to get some cash and meet him, the ATM ate my card. So I jerry-rigged the trailer on two wheels and drove slowly up the single carriageway A1 to Berwick but too late for the welder. Sorry to all those I held up!
By the time I got there and met the Nav, it was too late and we were too tired to plot the route, so it was beer and curry time.
Scrutineering on Saturday morning was juggled with trying to source parts and facilities to repair the trailer, and plot the route and many amendments.
All sorted, we started early afternoon and straight into the first tests. On the way out there it felt like the front brakes were binding and the wheel bearings humming. So all road sections were done at 40mph or less.
Next challenge - regularities! Now we haven't done one since 2019, and even then we'd only done two rallies with them. But, now equipped with a trip meter we felt better prepared. And we were doing great until we caught a queue of competitors, stuck behind a couple of general public who were following cyclists on a narrow road. So that scuppered Reg 1!
Onto the next test, on the last 1/2 mile flat out uphill blast to the finish we just about caught our minute man but also wrecked the exhaust. So now the Mini sounded like a tractor at low revs and an R5 Fiesta at high revs!
The next regularity was a bit better but we took a wrong turn which screwed our times.
Much of the Saturday route covered the same area and roads as the Jim Clark rally, so plenty of wonderful (and familiar) roads and scenery.
Back to Berwick for the overnight halt and we were delighted and surprised to find ourselves in 5th place overall and leading our class.
Not far behind were our friends Alan and Gary Ross, same class as us, they are usually up at the front of the field but they'd had one serious screw up on a regularity. Despite them being quicker than us everywhere else, we were still ahead.
Sunday dawned slightly hungover and we were given a load more route instructions for the day's two regularity sections. Plus another 13 tests, all to the south of Berwick.
We tried to pick up the pace a bit but were still dropping time on the tests to the Ross brothers. Reg 3 went fine apart from a small 500m wrong direction. Reg 4 was tougher, with what we thought were conflicting instructions, so we very nearly missed a control and we dropped a lot of time.
By lunch halt we'd moved up into 4th place and still had a small margin over the Rosses in 5th. Sadly we saw them on a forest test planted in the hedge, and we nearly joined them after a surprisingly slippy chicane.
Never one to follow our own advice, we said to each other "just take it easy now". So we went flat out and nearly collected some farm buildings and machinery on the way. At the finish we were surprised but pleased to see Alan and Gary there, they'd extracted the car, got a test maximum and completed the rally.
We ended up in 4th place, winning the class by less than a minute from our pals and picking up the "Spirit of the Rally" trophy for our efforts.
While we were competing, the welder had opened up his workshop on a Sunday and rebuilt the trailer. What a star! I loaded up and headed home, getting back to London at 2am.
Overall the Berwick is a tough event for navigators, the historic section attracts some of the best in the country and only one or two of them put in excellent performances. For us in the Targa section with less real navigation experience, it was a hard weekend. Some crews felt it required too much brain power but they all finished. We did find it challenging at times but that was all part of the enjoyment for us. If we'd been in the historic section, we would have been in the Top 10.
We felt we did OK, third ever event with regularity and learning such skills in your 50s ain't easy! A few photos:
When driving up there on Friday, the trailer broke an axle beam and punctured a tyre. I called up a welder and while going to ATM to get some cash and meet him, the ATM ate my card. So I jerry-rigged the trailer on two wheels and drove slowly up the single carriageway A1 to Berwick but too late for the welder. Sorry to all those I held up!
By the time I got there and met the Nav, it was too late and we were too tired to plot the route, so it was beer and curry time.
Scrutineering on Saturday morning was juggled with trying to source parts and facilities to repair the trailer, and plot the route and many amendments.
All sorted, we started early afternoon and straight into the first tests. On the way out there it felt like the front brakes were binding and the wheel bearings humming. So all road sections were done at 40mph or less.
Next challenge - regularities! Now we haven't done one since 2019, and even then we'd only done two rallies with them. But, now equipped with a trip meter we felt better prepared. And we were doing great until we caught a queue of competitors, stuck behind a couple of general public who were following cyclists on a narrow road. So that scuppered Reg 1!
Onto the next test, on the last 1/2 mile flat out uphill blast to the finish we just about caught our minute man but also wrecked the exhaust. So now the Mini sounded like a tractor at low revs and an R5 Fiesta at high revs!
The next regularity was a bit better but we took a wrong turn which screwed our times.
Much of the Saturday route covered the same area and roads as the Jim Clark rally, so plenty of wonderful (and familiar) roads and scenery.
Back to Berwick for the overnight halt and we were delighted and surprised to find ourselves in 5th place overall and leading our class.
Not far behind were our friends Alan and Gary Ross, same class as us, they are usually up at the front of the field but they'd had one serious screw up on a regularity. Despite them being quicker than us everywhere else, we were still ahead.
Sunday dawned slightly hungover and we were given a load more route instructions for the day's two regularity sections. Plus another 13 tests, all to the south of Berwick.
We tried to pick up the pace a bit but were still dropping time on the tests to the Ross brothers. Reg 3 went fine apart from a small 500m wrong direction. Reg 4 was tougher, with what we thought were conflicting instructions, so we very nearly missed a control and we dropped a lot of time.
By lunch halt we'd moved up into 4th place and still had a small margin over the Rosses in 5th. Sadly we saw them on a forest test planted in the hedge, and we nearly joined them after a surprisingly slippy chicane.
Never one to follow our own advice, we said to each other "just take it easy now". So we went flat out and nearly collected some farm buildings and machinery on the way. At the finish we were surprised but pleased to see Alan and Gary there, they'd extracted the car, got a test maximum and completed the rally.
We ended up in 4th place, winning the class by less than a minute from our pals and picking up the "Spirit of the Rally" trophy for our efforts.
While we were competing, the welder had opened up his workshop on a Sunday and rebuilt the trailer. What a star! I loaded up and headed home, getting back to London at 2am.
Overall the Berwick is a tough event for navigators, the historic section attracts some of the best in the country and only one or two of them put in excellent performances. For us in the Targa section with less real navigation experience, it was a hard weekend. Some crews felt it required too much brain power but they all finished. We did find it challenging at times but that was all part of the enjoyment for us. If we'd been in the historic section, we would have been in the Top 10.
We felt we did OK, third ever event with regularity and learning such skills in your 50s ain't easy! A few photos:
velocemitch said:
Well done on Pawnbroom just shows perseverance pays off. I loved the Berwick, but haven’t been back since 2011. I must go next year. It was a cracking result for our club, three of the top four, I expect it could have been all four but one seemed to retire. Don’t know why? Darren and Susan in the big Triumph.
Our run on the Taurus was fun, there were a few issues with the it which led to a big bust up at the drivers briefing, but once it starTed it won’t quite well considering it was the clubs first road event.
I ballsed up my maths and ended up with a fail for not waiting an extra minute at a Neutral, but that’s the way it goes sometime. On time we should have been fifth!
The organisers now have the problem of deciding who wins when three people have zero penalties!
When everyone cleans an event down here, they tie-break with engine capacity! Didn't work well for me the one time I used my Volvo XC70!Our run on the Taurus was fun, there were a few issues with the it which led to a big bust up at the drivers briefing, but once it starTed it won’t quite well considering it was the clubs first road event.
I ballsed up my maths and ended up with a fail for not waiting an extra minute at a Neutral, but that’s the way it goes sometime. On time we should have been fifth!
The organisers now have the problem of deciding who wins when three people have zero penalties!
Darren and Susan - I saw them parked up at the penultimate test with an OK board out, don't know the reason.
And yes - a very good event for Ilkley - well done all!
Well, my annual summer recess from rallying has been productive... after dragging the Mini back from Berwick and getting it up on axle stands, there's been some work. A lot of rusty bolts needed cut off!
She's back on the road now, plan is for a grass autotest at the end of August, then running course car on the Kent Forestry Targa in September and back into 12 car rallying early October. Targa rallying might include the South Oxfordshire Car Club multi-venue Targa (if they don't require a roll hoop and comp seats / harnesses) or the Rushmoor Targa. Then we will see!
The post-Berwick work has been:
Some pics:
She's back on the road now, plan is for a grass autotest at the end of August, then running course car on the Kent Forestry Targa in September and back into 12 car rallying early October. Targa rallying might include the South Oxfordshire Car Club multi-venue Targa (if they don't require a roll hoop and comp seats / harnesses) or the Rushmoor Targa. Then we will see!
The post-Berwick work has been:
- Strip down and rebuild rear brakes
- Complete new discs, calipers and pads for front brakes
- New exhaust manifold
- Remount co-driver's seat and fit 6 point harness
- Rewire map lights which were intermittent
- Fit wheel stud/nut conversion kit
- Redesign spare wheel / tool kit mounts in boot
- Bleed brakes and cooling system
- New sump guard (extended and strengthened)
Some pics:
Edited by thepawbroon on Thursday 20th July 14:45
I've just had a stormingly awesome couple of days helping out on the Kent Forestry Targa Rally, set up on Friday and Dep Clerk / Course Car today. It was hot, dusty and very busy for the marshals. An excellent event at a brilliant venue, and less than an hour from home too.
Video:
https://youtu.be/CMsiBTq6jK8?feature=shared
Photos:
Video:
https://youtu.be/CMsiBTq6jK8?feature=shared
Photos:
I'm just back from my first 12 Car Rally of this winter season, it was all a bit last-minute changing of plans. This one was Southsea Motor Club, who always put on a good event.
Well, my regular navigator Chas had put in an entry for us last week, but Friday morning his wife tested for Covid which meant he had to withdraw. I spent the morning chasing up some leads for potential replacements, with no luck. So I contacted the chief marshal and signed up for a Passage Control.
Once I got to the start, they asked me to buddy up with a real beginner. Well, it was suggested that we compete as there were plenty of marshals. So with 30 mins till the start, young Luke jumped into my car and I gave him a crash course in navigating with the marked maps.
And he totally smashed it! He grasped calling the bends and junctions really quickly, was calm and collected all the way, kept us on the correct route and only dropped 7 mins over the 46 miles. Great performance for his first time.
It's really refreshing to see young talent still interested in night rallying, Southsea Motor Club are doing a great job developing newcomers.
Another Mini Adventure
Well, my regular navigator Chas had put in an entry for us last week, but Friday morning his wife tested for Covid which meant he had to withdraw. I spent the morning chasing up some leads for potential replacements, with no luck. So I contacted the chief marshal and signed up for a Passage Control.
Once I got to the start, they asked me to buddy up with a real beginner. Well, it was suggested that we compete as there were plenty of marshals. So with 30 mins till the start, young Luke jumped into my car and I gave him a crash course in navigating with the marked maps.
And he totally smashed it! He grasped calling the bends and junctions really quickly, was calm and collected all the way, kept us on the correct route and only dropped 7 mins over the 46 miles. Great performance for his first time.
It's really refreshing to see young talent still interested in night rallying, Southsea Motor Club are doing a great job developing newcomers.
Another Mini Adventure
Edited by thepawbroon on Sunday 8th October 15:23
fttm said:
Good effort Luke , in a non rally part of the country. Hope you signed him up for more ?
Ha ha I wish!He originally entered as a driver, with his girlfriend navigating. But then she became unavailable and they withdrew. It's great to see these young folk (19 years old) giving it a go.
Croydon & District MC's round of the Weald 12 Car series last night, pretty wet and muddy around Godstone. We were doing well, despite some Mal-de-nav, having got all the codes until about 3 miles from the end.
My error driving, I slid wide on a greasy 90R into a ditch. We were towed out by the closer, and I think we got a finish (not even last!).
Great fun and very little damage.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/1t85Uqa7.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/pQG9q1mm" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pQG9q1mm.jpg)
My error driving, I slid wide on a greasy 90R into a ditch. We were towed out by the closer, and I think we got a finish (not even last!).
Great fun and very little damage.
velocemitch said:
This one was being run almost entirely on Rallyapp and it all seemed to be working well, a PC which we seemed to drive through, and an apparently missing code board, unless it was a glitch?
I’m liking the system for 12 cars, but miss the marshal interaction.
I have still not done an event on RallyApp - I would like to, but not many down here use it. I think many folk were put off by early teething troubles, and in general we don't suffer a lack of marshals on the 12 Cars.....I’m liking the system for 12 cars, but miss the marshal interaction.
I'm back out this Friday on the Sevenoaks & DMC 12 Car (The Chin Memorial) - some bodge repairs, new arch trim and mirror, better spot lamp bulbs and tonight I'll remove the sump guards and clear out the mud!
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