Starting Rallying
Discussion
This is something I am museing about at the moment and thought I would get the PH view on.
A couple of years back I watched the start of the Lombard Rally in Scarborough, sub 1400cc cars with very little mods (a cage, some lamps, standardised tyres etc) and thought it looked a bloody good laugh, also the requirements seem to indicate it would be a cheaper way into the sport than, say, stage rallying.
Has anyone done this? I was looking through the classifieds at bonny little 205 XSs at less than a bag, even prepped up they're going to be cheap.
ETA Ford Puma 1.4s must be a good choice?
A couple of years back I watched the start of the Lombard Rally in Scarborough, sub 1400cc cars with very little mods (a cage, some lamps, standardised tyres etc) and thought it looked a bloody good laugh, also the requirements seem to indicate it would be a cheaper way into the sport than, say, stage rallying.
Has anyone done this? I was looking through the classifieds at bonny little 205 XSs at less than a bag, even prepped up they're going to be cheap.
ETA Ford Puma 1.4s must be a good choice?
Edited by markmullen on Monday 18th February 00:44
http://www.britishrally.co.uk/rally
Great fun. Road rallying is cheaper and only done on one evening. Enduro rally is 1.4 < and done over a weekend, more driving and more expensive. Depends what you want to do really.
Great fun. Road rallying is cheaper and only done on one evening. Enduro rally is 1.4 < and done over a weekend, more driving and more expensive. Depends what you want to do really.
markmullen said:
This is something I am museing about at the moment and thought I would get the PH view on.
A couple of years back I watched the start of the Lombard Rally in Scarborough, sub 1400cc cars with very little mods (a cage, some lamps, standardised tyres etc) and thought it looked a bloody good laugh, also the requirements seem to indicate it would be a cheaper way into the sport than, say, stage rallying.
Has anyone done this? I was looking through the classifieds at bonny little 205 XSs at less than a bag, even prepped up they're going to be cheap.
ETA Ford Puma 1.4s must be a good choice?
yes the puma would be a good choice but they are quite rare iirc. rovers seem to do ok with the 1.4 k engine, then the metro GTa/i, 106 XSI etc etc lots out there, you should be able to find an entry list form the previous event online somehwere.A couple of years back I watched the start of the Lombard Rally in Scarborough, sub 1400cc cars with very little mods (a cage, some lamps, standardised tyres etc) and thought it looked a bloody good laugh, also the requirements seem to indicate it would be a cheaper way into the sport than, say, stage rallying.
Has anyone done this? I was looking through the classifieds at bonny little 205 XSs at less than a bag, even prepped up they're going to be cheap.
ETA Ford Puma 1.4s must be a good choice?
Edited by markmullen on Monday 18th February 00:44
road rallies would be a good place to get some experience but the concept is wildly different, from what i remember, the lombard uses a lot of stages in forest etc so there is nothing coming towards you and you are more likely to make up time by fast driving rather than good navigation (which is crucial in a road rally)
First thing is to get down to your local motor club. See if they do any 12 car events (which are a good start in getting to know the navigational elements and then build from there. Enduros are very good low cost motor sport and can be the stepping stone to different events (please note I did say different and not better!)
Britishrally.co.uk is very good for info and advice, just watch out for the old hands though (much like here....)
Britishrally.co.uk is very good for info and advice, just watch out for the old hands though (much like here....)
entry fees for enduros are at or above single venue stage levels, car prep is a bit less (in terms of minimums). the events range from one day to the lombard which is 3 or 4, which means hotels,they tend to be mixed surface with forestry, airfields, farm tracks etc. there are relatively few events so you will have to travel to compete. they are good fun and more like old fashioned rallying.
road rallies are cheaper in all aspects but personally i prefer the test/stage aspect.
the crews are generally friendly and helpful and at the front it is very competitive.
puma is ok but might be a bit pricy to run - 1400 fiesta of the same vintage might be cheaper, almost any 1400 or under cn be made to work, the crew seem to have more to do with the result than the car.
road rallies are cheaper in all aspects but personally i prefer the test/stage aspect.
the crews are generally friendly and helpful and at the front it is very competitive.
puma is ok but might be a bit pricy to run - 1400 fiesta of the same vintage might be cheaper, almost any 1400 or under cn be made to work, the crew seem to have more to do with the result than the car.
Have you looked at www.205cup.com - there is a 205 1400 class and its about as cheap as stage rallying gets, huge support from manufacturers, sky TV Rally Fever about 6-7 rounds in england and wales, tarmac and gravel.
markmullen said:
A couple of years back I watched the start of the Lombard Rally in Scarborough, sub 1400cc cars with very little mods (a cage, some lamps, standardised tyres etc) and thought it looked a bloody good laugh, also the requirements seem to indicate it would be a cheaper way into the sport than, say, stage rallying.
Has anyone done this? I was looking through the classifieds at bonny little 205 XSs at less than a bag, even prepped up they're going to be cheap.
ETA Ford Puma 1.4s must be a good choice?
I've not done the Lombard but I do Endurance rallying in a 205 XS (XR?) and it is a hoot. It's similar to stage rallying in the sense that you have a relatively relaxed road section and then a blast through a forest/country park/airfield against the clock at an average speed of 40mph (sounds slow, but it isn't as you have to stop to get signatures from marshals, you won't beat the average speed no matter how hard you drive)Has anyone done this? I was looking through the classifieds at bonny little 205 XSs at less than a bag, even prepped up they're going to be cheap.
ETA Ford Puma 1.4s must be a good choice?
Edited by markmullen on Monday 18th February 00:44
My driver bought his 205 for £50 off ebay and bought a rollcage second hand for about £100, it can be done on a budget, but like all motorsport costs money, and he has spent a fair amount on the car.
The top Rovers cost circa £10k though.
It's not cheap to enter, the South West Endurance on the second weekend in March is £300+ but you get 500 miles and about 120 miles in selectives.
A couple of links for you to peruse.
http://www.shmc.co.uk/rally.html
http://www.endurance-rallying.co.uk/
Hope that helps.
Endurance rallying is certainly a good formula to get involved with, if you're after long competitive events with a good atmosphere and banter between competitors.
There is a national endurance road rally championship, with events in South Wales, Devon/Cornwall, East Anglia, Yorkshire, and the Midlands (more details on the links Nic has posted above)
Road rallying is a different kettle of fish, as most of the competition takes place on the public highway at a lower average speed. Emphasis is more on going the right way, rather than going quickly.
Stage rallying is more expensive, although you could quite easily prepare a car thats competitive in all three discaplines - I'm planning on switching seats later this year, building a 1400 16v Corsa Sport, sorry Nic but the Corolla will have to go
How about a couple of pictures...
2007 Yorkshire Revival Endurance, Boltby Forest
2007 Bullnose Endurance Rally (navigating for my Dad, 1300 Escort Sport)
There is a national endurance road rally championship, with events in South Wales, Devon/Cornwall, East Anglia, Yorkshire, and the Midlands (more details on the links Nic has posted above)
Road rallying is a different kettle of fish, as most of the competition takes place on the public highway at a lower average speed. Emphasis is more on going the right way, rather than going quickly.
Stage rallying is more expensive, although you could quite easily prepare a car thats competitive in all three discaplines - I'm planning on switching seats later this year, building a 1400 16v Corsa Sport, sorry Nic but the Corolla will have to go
How about a couple of pictures...
2007 Yorkshire Revival Endurance, Boltby Forest
2007 Bullnose Endurance Rally (navigating for my Dad, 1300 Escort Sport)
grahamdance said:
Stage rallying is more expensive, although you could quite easily prepare a car thats competitive in all three discaplines - I'm planning on switching seats later this year, building a 1400 16v Corsa Sport, sorry Nic but the Corolla will have to go
How utterly unfair.
Are you going to use it on the stages as well Graham? If you're ever stuck for a co-driver....
http://www.craven-motor-club.co.uk/
Start by joining a club - contact with rally drivers/crews is the best intro to the sport.
Bryan
You know more about this.....
Start by joining a club - contact with rally drivers/crews is the best intro to the sport.
Bryan
You know more about this.....
Please please please find and go along to your motor club and see a few events before you commit any pound notes.
Rallying is a great but diverse sport and it's easy to have you fingers burnt and lose money.
Where are you based and what do you really want to do in rallying, as I mentioned it's very diverse sport.
Rallying is a great but diverse sport and it's easy to have you fingers burnt and lose money.
Where are you based and what do you really want to do in rallying, as I mentioned it's very diverse sport.
Just bumping this to see if Mark got any further into the sport?
I went out on the VK at weekend and had great fun you see
Look here I am:
http://www.mandh-photography.co.uk/events/VK2008/0...
I went out on the VK at weekend and had great fun you see
Look here I am:
http://www.mandh-photography.co.uk/events/VK2008/0...
Agree with most things said on here so far. I started competing three years back now, after being passively interested for 30 years or more. It's been one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I chose Historic Road Rallying mainly because I already had a suitable car (1968 Alfa GTV). It's similar format to Enduro in fact lots of Enduro events have a Historic rally tacked on and some of the Historic rallies have modern classes.
I could stretch to say Historics might be cheaper than Enduro, the events generally are only one day, or one night, a car can be picked up on Ebay for a grand or so, minimum preparation is required, it cost me about £100.00 to get mine into shape to begin with, though as you get more serious (and you will!) costs do start to mount up. This is motor sport after all.
You need to be able to do your own maintenance or costs really will climb.
The other important element in all road rallying and this can't be stressed enough is the navigator. It's an old adage but very true;
Good driver, crap navigator... crap result.
Crap driver, good navigator... Good result.
Good driver, good navigator, and some luck, excellent result.
I chose Historic Road Rallying mainly because I already had a suitable car (1968 Alfa GTV). It's similar format to Enduro in fact lots of Enduro events have a Historic rally tacked on and some of the Historic rallies have modern classes.
I could stretch to say Historics might be cheaper than Enduro, the events generally are only one day, or one night, a car can be picked up on Ebay for a grand or so, minimum preparation is required, it cost me about £100.00 to get mine into shape to begin with, though as you get more serious (and you will!) costs do start to mount up. This is motor sport after all.
You need to be able to do your own maintenance or costs really will climb.
The other important element in all road rallying and this can't be stressed enough is the navigator. It's an old adage but very true;
Good driver, crap navigator... crap result.
Crap driver, good navigator... Good result.
Good driver, good navigator, and some luck, excellent result.
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