Beginners Information

A 12-car rally is a type of car rally, run by motor clubs as a simple and strictly amateur form of the sport.
The rallies are run on weekday evenings (usually a Friday) starting 7.30 to 8.00 and lasting about 2 hours during the winter months. Usually about 50 – 60 miles long they allow you to learn all the intricacies of rally navigation and timing in a low cost and friendly environment. In general they will be run using “plot’n’bash” (i.e. navigate on the move) with up to 8 or 9 time controls. As the events are suitable for novices, plenty of information allowing you to recover the route if you become lost is usually provided.
12-car rallies are run to Navigational Rally rules, which are based on navigational skills rather than speed. In the United Kingdom, the rules for 12-cars are governed by the Motor Sports Association (MSA) and are principally as follows:

• Maximum of 12 competing vehicles per event (hence the name)
• Competition is by crews of two (driver and navigator)
• Only standard road cars permitted, not fully prepared cars (this is at the discretion of the organising club, but is widely upheld)
• Maximum 30 mph average speed only
• No timing to the second permitted, only to the previous minute
• Police will be informed of the event, though route information does not need to be submitted and approved
• Route authorisation must be granted from the MSA’s local representative.

The tools needed by the navigator are relatively few but a little preparation goes a long way.
Maps: You will need to obtain the correct Ordnance Survey Landranger Maps for the event (identified by the edition number, version and date of issue) All our events are set on Map Sheets 185, 186, 196 or 197. The maps are reasonably priced from www dash4it.co.uk phone 0845 6346266.
Nowadays it is ILLEGAL (under MSA regulations) to add information to your maps, other than that given to you by the organisers. You can only highlight information already on it. Some events will check your maps prior to and during the event, to ensure that you are complying with this regulation.
Romer: A romer is your basic means of putting some parts of the route on the map. Its main function is to allow you to plot map references accurately. You can usually buy these at camping and outdoor leisure pursuit centres, or from specialised dealers like Demon Tweeks, Basic Equipment or Rally Navigation Services.
Map board: In order to rest your map on! A sturdy piece of cardboard is recommended as it will fold up in case of an accident but a largish clipboard or piece of hardboard will do.
Clip Board: You will please every marshal enroute if your time cards are firmly attached to a clipboard. It makes writing times and signatures so much easier.
Pencils etc.: A selection of soft pencils (2B or softer), rubber, sharpener, pens etc.
Watches: One watch/stopwatch will suffice but two is ideal, usually one set to time of day (normally BBC time), one for use as a stopwatch. Digital ones are more accurate and easier to use