Lands End to John O Groats in the Le Jog rally
Discussion
Haven't done Lejog, but have done a fair number of regularity events. LeJog has got a reputation for being tough, though in the past few years the entries have started to tail off. The general feeling is it lost a bit of the quality it had when the organising team changed. There's a suggestion it would work better run as a biannual event rather than every year.
I'd suggest if you new to the sport you have a go at single day event first rather than leaping in at the deep end with LeJog. Have a look at some of the HRCR clubmans championship stuff, they are usually well run. HRCR also run training days where you can learn the roped from experienced crews away from a competitive environment.
What car were you thinking of using?
I'd suggest if you new to the sport you have a go at single day event first rather than leaping in at the deep end with LeJog. Have a look at some of the HRCR clubmans championship stuff, they are usually well run. HRCR also run training days where you can learn the roped from experienced crews away from a competitive environment.
What car were you thinking of using?
I've done it six times! Great fun and plenty of first timers do it every year so nothing to be afraid of. Don't bother with the tour, do the proper trial.
As for the car, use the one that you trust most! It's unlikely that you'll be be going for a win on your first attempt so make sure you get to JoG, the feeling is incredible.
Anything you want to know, ask away or send me a message, more than happy to help.
Duncan
As for the car, use the one that you trust most! It's unlikely that you'll be be going for a win on your first attempt so make sure you get to JoG, the feeling is incredible.
Anything you want to know, ask away or send me a message, more than happy to help.
Duncan
Rapid rental said:
velocemitch, thanks for the reply, i was thinking of using either a 1956 Merc 220s ponton or a Austin 1300gt. The Le Jog website mentions a fair bit of map reading using os coordinates etc to find timing points, which concerns me as i have only a basic experience i am afraid to say.
Obviously Duncan is your man to speak too, but I'd say you need to think about entering as a team and find a navigator first. The Navigator on most road rallies is the most important element of the team. The saying goes 'Good navigator - crap driver - OK result'.. 'Crap navigator - Good driver - crap result'. Obviously 'good navigator - good driver - broken car no result at all'.... but I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from. Just as an aside, HERO do a training day for this event which could be useful. They're also organising the Throckmorton Challenge one day rally in Worcestershire around the same time. Although that's in the Historic Rally Car Register championship, they'll also run a class for 'ordinary folks' too so you can see what it's all about. That would be a £100 entry fee seriously well spent.
AS VM quite rightly points out, a navigator capable of reading a map is required and being able to plot references is important but there's usually plenty of time. I've never navigated the event but am pondering doing so this year with my normal navigator behind the steering wheel. I'm not sure who's more nervous!!
Duncan
AS VM quite rightly points out, a navigator capable of reading a map is required and being able to plot references is important but there's usually plenty of time. I've never navigated the event but am pondering doing so this year with my normal navigator behind the steering wheel. I'm not sure who's more nervous!!
Duncan
But is it THE James May? Plenty of people have done this in vintage cars, very brave indeed.
I got a third of the way in my Alfa on the first attempt but did this in Wales;
Then saw the light and used a Volvo for the rest on the assumption that whatever I hit, the car would be fine! Could be in a Healey 3000 this year.
I got a third of the way in my Alfa on the first attempt but did this in Wales;
Then saw the light and used a Volvo for the rest on the assumption that whatever I hit, the car would be fine! Could be in a Healey 3000 this year.
More like B and C roads in truth. Mind you up in parts of Scotland you can't tell which is which anyway.
When you say Trials and driving around cones, were you thinking of the off road 'tests'?. I'm not sure about leJog in particular but 'tests' on these sort events can vary from a few cones in a car park to a miniature special stage around a forest. generally these are timed to the second and the fastest notches up the least penalty.
The bulk of the event is made up of the long navigation sections where your navigator has to plot and follow the route and try his best to keep you on time. As a driver you need to keep to the pace he sets, in theory it should be a reasonably brisk pace one, but if you are late... and you will be late, well...!
When you say Trials and driving around cones, were you thinking of the off road 'tests'?. I'm not sure about leJog in particular but 'tests' on these sort events can vary from a few cones in a car park to a miniature special stage around a forest. generally these are timed to the second and the fastest notches up the least penalty.
The bulk of the event is made up of the long navigation sections where your navigator has to plot and follow the route and try his best to keep you on time. As a driver you need to keep to the pace he sets, in theory it should be a reasonably brisk pace one, but if you are late... and you will be late, well...!
Rapid rental said:
its all A& B roads?
Not done Hero LeJoG, but have navigated on the VSCC Measham a couple of times. For the Measham (a night rally) it is mostly on "yellow" roads. Knowing a few of the Alvis Hares (who won the team event some years ago), they were more "12 car rally" than "cafe to cafe tourists". We also did this years LCES Summer Rally planned by John Brown, most Route boards were in fords. So I'd assume sections of yellow, or even white!
I'm sure some one said the first night stage through Wales is considered the most tricky.
The only bit of motorway you can expect is from North Somerset on the M5 up to Magor services just over the Severn Bridge, some link sections may use a motorway depending on the route but they will be short. Other than that, it's mainly 'yellows'(minor roads).
The night through Wales is pretty stiff (hence my incident above) and you need to press on to keep on time but it can be done. Usually reach Telford around 4am. Up again at about 8am Sunday for a fairly easy day run up North to another hotel somewhere like Gateshead or Cumbria. Then on Monday, drive all day and all night arriving at John O Groats at dawn on the Tuesday. Off to bed then up early evening for a monster black tie beer up!
Possibly then the worst bit for me.....13 hours on Wednesday from Wick back to my place near Bath and in to work the next day. Usually recovered by the weekend though!
You tube has a few vids of what you can expect. The tests you mention are just autotests with the odd bit of smooth forest thrown in. Highlight is possibly the couple of hours you'll spend on the Caerwent army base in the dark.....closed roads, seemingly endless junctions and even flat out, you'd struggle to keep the 30mph average speed required. Brilliant fun!!
The night through Wales is pretty stiff (hence my incident above) and you need to press on to keep on time but it can be done. Usually reach Telford around 4am. Up again at about 8am Sunday for a fairly easy day run up North to another hotel somewhere like Gateshead or Cumbria. Then on Monday, drive all day and all night arriving at John O Groats at dawn on the Tuesday. Off to bed then up early evening for a monster black tie beer up!
Possibly then the worst bit for me.....13 hours on Wednesday from Wick back to my place near Bath and in to work the next day. Usually recovered by the weekend though!
You tube has a few vids of what you can expect. The tests you mention are just autotests with the odd bit of smooth forest thrown in. Highlight is possibly the couple of hours you'll spend on the Caerwent army base in the dark.....closed roads, seemingly endless junctions and even flat out, you'd struggle to keep the 30mph average speed required. Brilliant fun!!
AJAX50 said:
If you've got a sound and reliable car, what additions are essential for LEJoG?
Wow, there's a question! You need to think about the 'in car' enivironment, after all you'll be spending a lot of time in there! The navigator will need a good clock, one both members of the crew can read at a glance and in the dark, one with a stopwatch helps. The Brantz Rallytimer is great for the job and is now permitted without penalty. A tripmeter will also help you, Brantz make a simple one with two readouts called the International 2. You'll need good interior lighting (a lot of the the 'night-nav' boys rubber band a 12v strip light to the sun visor) and a map light would help too on a bendy stalk. Don't buy a cheap one, get a Hella. If you're feeling flush, get a Potti light for map reading. After that, it's all about personal comfort and storage.
The only real add-on a good period car will need is better outside lighting. A good pair of driving lights is a must and avoid pencil beams or fog pattern. Look at PIAA, Cibie or Hella.
You must add safety kit for first aid and fire, that's in the regs.
The list can be endless and in reality, you only NEED the safety kit but the few bits above will make life so much easier and the rally more fun.
FWIW, this is how the 'office' of my Volvo looked;
Edited by LFB531 on Sunday 28th August 23:46
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