How Do I Do It ??????????????
A typical rally starts with registration at about 7:30 AM where the entry fee is paid and the driver’s license and navigator’s indemnity are checked. The car is then scrutineered for general roadworthy and the presence of the extinguisher, medical board and warning triangle, and any competition numbers, stickers etc.
On completion of scrutineering the route schedule is usually issued and the navigator’s job starts with the marking out and highlighting to personal taste. The first car usually starts at 09:01 and then at one minute intervals as per the competitors number, i.e. car number 32 starts at 09:32 and so on.
The job of the navigator is to follow the route schedule and keep the team on time and arrive at the controls along the route on time using the calculator and stop watch (this is far easier said than done). The driver has to follow the instructions of the navigator for speed, when to turn, to stop at marshals, and also to watch for points along the route, which indicate speed changes.

The Next Step
The plans for the future are to hold a training rally in the early part of each year so that organisers, marshals, and competitors can get exposure to regularity rallying. The long-term aim is that each region of South Africa will hold a number of local one-day events with a single two-day event during the year when competitors from the other regions would also compete. The other regions would operate in a similar way, which would offer a total of three possible two-day away events for the year.

To finish, if you are interested in finding out more and getting involved please e-mail Roger Manton giving us your details and we will put you on the Classic Regularity Association of SA’s e-mail address list for further information.

Notes for people wanting to starting competing
in Classic Regularity Rallying
by Roger Manton

WHAT ONE NEEDS:
2 X Stop watches set to a master clock – This is normally SA standard time but remember that the Route Sheet is in Rally Time i.e. Zero from the start.
2 x Clipboards - 1 for the Route Sheet and 1 for the Score Sheet.
Red pen – to write calculated times in on the Route Schedule.
Calculator and/or Rally Tables.
4 x Highlighters.
Electronic Odometer – to get your distance

ROUTE SCHEDULE PREPARATION:
1. You should receive your Route Schedule at least 30 minutes prior to your start time but only after you have completed your scrutineering. Your start time is your competition number in minutes past the hour. i.e. if your competition number is 13 and the Rally start is at 09h00 then your start time is 09h13.
2. Upon receiving your Route Schedule check the following (this is your responsibility):-
i) Check that ALL the pages are there AND legible
ii) Check that ALL the pages are for the same and correct Speed Group
iii) Check the Notice Board for any changes, make them to your Route Schedule and sign the sheet to confirm that you have received the changes.
3. Read the Route Schedule from bottom left to top then bottom right to top. Each instruction is numbered so follow the numbers.
4. Using highlighters develop your own coding system:
i) Mark all turns in say green – nosy drivers can see! Remember it is most important that you don’t miss any turns. Rule No. 1 STAY ON THE ROUTE – from dot to arrow.
ii) STCs mark in orange and check no’s consecutively so that you don’t miss any.
iii) S.O.S. & E.O.S. say pink. These normally end with an E.T.D. so pass through as fast as is safe and wait at E.O.S.
iv) E.T.D. in yellow as here you must wait for the time to come up.
5. Fill in speeds in the missing blocks, unless there is an unknown speed to be calculated. This is especially important as one turns a page and there is a speed change – write old speed at bottom of page as this is the speed you should be doing until you arrive at the next instruction. Use kms as this is what the route was measured in and the miles are only a calculated figure. If you are a first timer and your car is only in miles then use miles. Some people use km for the distance and miles for the speed.
6. Look for instructions that follow each other closely and ring them to draw your attention to them.
7. Geographics e.g. kilometre stones – see which side of the road they are and be careful as these are often given as one turns a corner or crosses an intersection. If no time or distance is given then use the first one you come to but make sure that it is exactly the same as the instruction.
8. Convert times on the Route Schedule from rally time to SA Standard time – i.e. add YOUR start time to the organiser’s rally time.
9. Speed, time and distance – as long as 2 are given you can calculate the third. Calculate what is given on the Route Schedule and write in the time in red. You can sometimes calculate backwards as well. Remember how speed works – it is from the current block to the next block.

CONTROLS:
1. There are 4 types of Controls:
i) SECRET – at a marshal board you STOP and hand your score sheet to the marshal for him/her to fill in your time of arrival and sign – it is the competitors responsibility to check that the correct time has been entered and that it is signed – no signature = no score (maximum penalty) and mistakes cannot be rectified afterwards. If the marshal’s clock differs just make your own note – don’t waste time arguing as the lead car checks all the clocks before and the sweep car checks them after and if consistently out then the scorer adjusts the times accordingly. Remember one can lose up to 30 seconds at a Control which you must make up.
ii) HIDDEN – the marshal records your time as you pass by you do not have to stop – remember no board no stop. You can run up to 5 seconds early without being penalised.
iii) PASSAGE – no scoring here, it is just a check that the correct route is being followed.
iv) STC – the competitor must fill in the time in SA Standard time, NOT rally time, on the STC Score Sheet in pen. It must be filled in before reaching the next marshal otherwise maximum penalty is received.
2. Scoring – one point for every second early or late at a control. Remember for a Hidden control this only starts after 5 seconds early but straight away if late.
HINTS:
1. The other competitor is not necessarily correct even if he/she is ‘experienced’! Trust yourself.
2. Give your driver the next 2 or 3 instructions ahead in case you miss one.
3. Never give up – others will have made worse mistakes!