Navigation Rallies

What is a Navigation Rally

Navigational Rallies are driving and navigating events. The goal is to complete the route defined in the instructions at the average speed detailed for the various parts of the route, usually between 19 and 29 miles per hour. A Navigational Rally is not a race and any Pre-war car of any capacity has the chance of overall or class awards.

Navigation Rallies take place on the public highway at low speed. The Crew is made up of a Driver and a Navigator who together must follow a fixed route of between 70 and 200 miles, whilst collecting ‘Codes’ which are displayed on boards at the side of the road and checking into a number of controls at specific times. Typically the Driver is responsible for driving the car and maintaining a fixed Average Speed, whilst the Navigator is responsible for plotting the route onto the map and making sure the correct route is followed. The aim of the event is to always be in the right place at the right time along the route.

Competitor Instructions

Competitors may choose whether to enter the Trophy, Clubman or Champagne class and whether to follow the fast or slow average speed schedule.  Awards are presented in each class, but only Trophy Class entrants are eligible for the main event trophies and to receive points towards the Club’s annual aggregate rally trophies.  Most rallies also have invitation classes for post-war and non-VSCC eligible cars.  The invitation class criteria vary by event.

The classes will have different route instructions and time allowances to plot the route before setting out.  The route instructions will use a variety of methods, such as grid references and map features, to define the correct route in a clear and unambiguous way.

If a competitor is early or late at a time control or fails to enter one of the codes on their timecard they receive penalties.  The winning crews are those with the fewest penalties at the end of the event.

Where are our Rallies?

Each year we hold 3 - 5 Rallies, which generally rotate their locations around the UK.

A typical season will see events held in most corners of the country, for example a season could consist of visits to Berkshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire and Wales. All of the events are daytime rallies with the exception of one overnight rally, which is always known as ‘The Measham Rally’ regardless of the event’s location, most recently based near Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

The events always consist of rural roads designed to provide new competitors with an enjoyable vintage motoring experience and those who are slightly more experienced with an interesting and technical navigation route.

Why enter a VSCC Rally?

A Navigation Rally is an excellent introduction to both Pre-war motoring and competition. You can take part in the most standard of cars with no disadvantage against a more motorsport prepared vehicle and have no more risk of damaging your car that you would driving to the shops on a sunny afternoon!

Some thoughts from Club Members:

‘Fantastic day out! This was our first rally and we enjoyed it very much indeed. Navigator Ian and his son Ben in the back were wonderful. We had a bit of pre rally coaching and encouragement from a couple of experts which was a great help. A big thank you to the organisers and particularly the marshals. We will look forward to the next time.' Alan Salem

‘The Measham was one of the main reasons I joined the VSCC, competing in Stephen Harvey's first event in the late eighties. These sort of events provide the cheapest form of motorsport going, I think. Excellent Rally, thanks to everybody.' William Twelvetrees

‘Andrew and I had a great day. The vicar waved us off after lunch and things improved in the afternoon. The route was great, the catering was truly vintage and thoroughly enjoyed, and the organisation just right.' Dick Patten

How do I enter?

As with all VSCC events, there are three ways you can enter:

• Online  (click here) 
• Download a PDF entry form and send it back by either post, email or fax (details at the bottom of the page)
• Send a SAE to the Club office for an entry form (address at the bottom of the page)

Drivers are required to hold a full driving licence. The minimum age for navigators is twelve. The driver, navigator and any other passenger in the car who is over 16 will need to hold an RS Clubmans licence from Motorsport UK. These are free and can be applied for online.

If an event is over subscribed we select the final entries in line with the Clubs selection criteria (click here)

To try your hand at Navigation Rallies, we also occasionally publish Table Top Rallies on our Member's Noticeboard but a selection can also be found below:

Rally 2
Rally 2 Route Instructions
Rally 2 Map
Rally 2 Correct Map

Rally 7
Rally 7 Route Instructions
Rally 7 Map
Rally 7 Answers
Rally 7 Correct Map

Rally 23
Rally 23- Route Instructions 
Rally 23- Map 
Rally 23 - Answers 
Rally 23- Correct Route 

Technical Requirements

If you would like to enter in the Trophy or Clubman class you will require an Eligibility Document (click here).

However, if you are entering the Champagne Class (open to all pre-war cars) or an invitation class there is no requirement for an Eligibility Document to be lodged with the Club. Little is required In terms of specialist equipment for your car. A working speedometer with an odometer is very useful but tripmeters, GPS and other modern aids are prohibited.

The car will have to be road-legal and with valid insurance covering the event. Your car will be checked before you start for general safety and compliance to the Road Traffic Act.

We recommend that you carry a fire extinguisher (not BCF or dry powder) and a small spill kit, but these are not mandatory requirements in order to take part.

To see the Technical and Safety Requirements (Click here)

History

The first rally held by the VSCC was called the Winterslow Rally, in 1937, making this one of the most important motorsport disciplines we offer. The Club had a short break during the war, and chose rallying as the most suitable discipline to recommence the Club's activities post-war, aptly choosing the name The Opening Rally.

The original structure of rallies was very different from the format we have today, with a rally being a more generic term for a gathering of likeminded people with a motoring interest. Over time this evolved to include more competitive driving elements, and even a timed Driving Test (link to Driving Tests page), used to decide the winner in the event of a tie-break. During the 1950’s and 60’s rallying underwent a further evolution and became more like the rallies we have today in the VSCC, which have gone from strength to strength ever since.

We are currently experiencing a resurgence in the popularity of VSCC Rallying, so why not get involved in one of the longest standing motor sport disciplines within the VSCC and join us as a competitor or marshal?

The Start of The Measham Rally

Marshalling

Marshalling on a VSCC rally is a great fun day out. Volunteers are allocated into groups, given a check sheet and a rally clock and dispatched into the countryside to await the arrival of the competitors at one of the Time Controls. There are also a handful of administrative duties, including signing on and results team.

If you would like to find out more and get involved in marshalling on VSCC events please (click here)

Navigators

Your navigator will require some navigational equipment such as an Ordnance Survey map (these can be purchased online or from a book store), pens, pencils, rubber, ruler and a roamer.

A roamer is a small piece of plastic used to help you plot the grid references and can be purchased online from http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk/ or http://www.donbarrow.co.uk/

The Club also publishes a very useful guide to navigation rallying and timing called Finding Your Way, written by Dick Patten and Robert Ellis. This is available for download  on the documnets page 

Click here to find the document Finding Your Way - A Guide to Rally Navigation & Timing