I've been watching Men & Motors too much - I want to have a go at rallying even though I'd probably be quite crap at it.

Anyone got any advice on how to get started?

Know soneone else interested (luckily a mechanic) who'll be co-pilot, but apart from buying a heap and doing it up (I own an old 309 gti as well as the scoob) I wouldnt know where to begin...

Check out the Motor Sports Association web site:

www.msauk.org

First-off, find a local motor club...you want one which gets involved in rallying (obviously!).
Next, enter some 12-car events - these are mainly navigational exercises, but are timed. This will require some skill from your navigator (so you don't get lost) and some driving skill (to catch up time when you do get lost!). This will give you experience of time controls and understanding directions!

Next progression would be to take part in a road rally. This is like a 12 car, but generally run on more difficult routes, making keeping to time more difficult.

From there, you and your navigator will have the required skills/knowledge to start special stage rallying.

In going down this route, you can gradually modify the car as you progress - standard for 12-car, roll cage for road rally, fully stripped for special stage rally........

I started rallying in 2002 after being involved in the marshalling and organising side of the sport for a couple of years.

As mentioned, decide which type of rallies you want to enter and what your budget will be. You have the navigational events that use the public roads where standardish cars are used (Road Rallies), single venue events that use old airfield and suchlike and then multi venue events that use either forestry or closed roads (Stage Rallies).

After watching TV, Im guessing that stage rallying is your intention..? Find a club local to you who is into rallying. If youre based anywhere near Mansfield, my club - Dukeries MC is good.

After building a car myself from scratch, Id recommend you dont if money is an issue. The benefits are that you know the car inside out etc but it costs a lot more than buying an already prepped car.

Start in a smaller engine class with a lower powered car - something like a 1400 Nova or similar - and you will learn to drive better as you have to drive the corners quickly rather than the straights. Also cheaper to fix when you crash it and cheaper to run.

Remember its an expensive sport..

Typical budget per Single Venue event for my 1400cc Nova...

Entry Fee = £160 - mine is paid by the codriver
Tyres - 2 Yokos @ £75each = £150
Fuel - 40 litres of Optimax = £30
On Event Damage = £100
Wear and Tear and servicing etc - £100
Towcar / Van + fuel = £60
Bits and Bobs - ie burgers for service crew = £20
Total = £620

Thats assuming you have mates to help out servicing, its a lcoal event so no accomodation and you do no major damage to the car. Put at least £1000 in a reserve fund for those major disasters too..

For multivenue forest or tarmac, double the entry fee and multiply the risk of major damage!

Scary isnt it!

Paul..

Well you've scared me Paul!

Best advise is to join and local motor club and talk to people there and make sure you want to get involved before you get your wallet out.

The governing bodies website is www.msauk.org and if you want to find a club use Paul Rees site or www.ukmotorsport.com/uk_clubs.html

Good luck it's bloody good fun.

Scared myself too..

Remember the 2 golden rules of rallying..

1. Never ever add up the cost of rallying.
2. Never let SWMBO realise how much rallying costs...

Paul.. :-)

I just have the ideal starter car for you.
It's a Daihatsu Avantzato....660cc Turbo, 2 or 4wd, loads of wheels & tyres (enough for a years rallying)spares etc.
It's an ideal 1400cc BTRDA championship car, runs in B9 class.
Extreemly reliable, all I've had to do is basic service parts, oil, filter, pads etc.
See my profile for pics etc.

Jon.

P.S....not trying to hyjack thread ..honest.

never add up the cost of rallying;

"Typical budget per Single Venue event for my 1400cc Nova...

Entry Fee = £160 - mine is paid by the codriver
Tyres - 2 Yokos @ £75each = £150
Fuel - 40 litres of Optimax = £30
On Event Damage = £100
Wear and Tear and servicing etc - £100
Towcar / Van + fuel = £60
Bits and Bobs - ie burgers for service crew = £20
Total = £620



Sligo stages Ireland in July in a 1400cc Corsa...........

Entry Fee = £400
Tyres - 8 Yokos @ £95each = £760
Fuel - 90 litres of Optimax = £80
On Event Damage insurance = £300
Wear and Tear and servicing etc - £600 ( repair gearbox)
Towcar / Van + fuel = £300
Bits and Bobs - ie guinness for service crew = £420
Ferry costs - £550
Total....£3,410.00 .......MY GOD I HAVE NEVER ADDED THIS UP B4!!!


But the best thing is we enjoy every moment and would probably do it again next year.

I hope I didnt scare anyone off to much with my thoughts - I love it and think its entirely worth it but its best to realise its an expensive sport now, before yu rack up the credit card bills and debt mountain!


Bloody hell Opel Corsa.. Doing the Barbados Rally Carnival didnt cost that much more and included 2 weeks of sun, drinking, half naked women etc...

My breakdown for that was: (first time Ive broken it down)

Entry Fee including 2 return flights, 2 weeks twin room in 3* hotel, hire van for recce / service and getting the car to Barbados = £1800
Additional costs - getting the car to Portsmouth etc = £200
Fuel for recce / service and rallycar - £200
Tyres - 13 @ £75 each = £1050 (brought back 4 unused though)
Wear and Tear - £500
Food @ £40/day and Alcohol @ £20/day = £840
Service crew bits and bobs (local crew) = £200

Total = £4790 but had £800 back in sponsorship and other stuff so maximum of £4000 cost basically for the whole trip. Already sent my entry off for next year!

Paul..

hey Paul how do you get an entry form and will a 1400cc 8valve car be allowed to compete?

now you got me thinking.

Paul didn't compete he just sort of drove around as a mobile chicane! :p

Sorry Paul couldn't resist.

you could always hire a rally car! and crew get a sponsor to pay half of it! www.maxspeedmotorsport.co.uk sponsors have the advantage of writing money off tax loss etc lots of peaple get £100 hhere and ther and of they go arrive and drive.

Try www.barbadosrallycarnival.com

Would have thought most entries are close to full or full by now but put an entry in anyways..

Im running a 1400 8v in the Nova :-) Though plans are for it to be a Corsa for next season!

As for Procos comments, thanks mate but at least I finished!

Paul..

will probably start out doing the road rallies just for the navigation experience.

i assume i'll be able to use the sccob for that and the insurance won't bothered?

thanks for all the info.

Road rallies wont be covered by your normal car insurance if they discover you were competing so you will need to take out third party event insurance (usually through the event) to cover yourself on the actual event. Just remember not to claim on your main insurance if theres any inkling of it being used in competition.

Paul..

messiah, why not go to a rally school for a day to see if you are up to it. I went to Chris Birkbeck's place over near Middlesbrough a few years ago. I don't know what cars they have now but it used to be Astras. I think it cost abot £200.

For what it sounds like, you want don't bother with night events or 12 car rallies.

You will need a licence from the RAC. (I think they are introducing a new system whereby you have to go to a rally school 1st - not sure as I've held an MSA licence for years, and years...

You will need to join a car club.

Try single venue (airfield type) events 1st - less chance to damage the car and not tooooo expensive.

You can, as mentioend hire a car - anything is available, from about Pds 500-700/day (plus insurance - probably the same price!!) for a Pug or Mk II 1600 Escort to Pds 10,000/day for a full on WRC motor (but they won't let you rent one of those!)

Trouble is, it's addictive. Once you have tried it's difficult to stop!

Good luck!