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I spent an evening reading about navigational rallies (I know, I lead such an exciting life..). The navigational side of it looks especially complicated…

Does anyone here take part in these using their cars?

We used to do 12 car rallies and night trials into the 90s. Not in a mini as we didn't have one at that point, but good fun in a sierra 4 x 4 which was good for covering the ground.

Night trails were a "treasure hunt", at night obvs, with navigational type clues to the location of a postcard sized board with a code on it to show that you'd found it. The more you found over the 6 hours the more points you got. With no set route, there was little PR'ing to be done, though we did do that around some locations.

We were searching for the said board one night in Bucks when plod turned up. Us flashing big torches around seemed to have attracted attention. The BIB later went away satisfied that we weren't up to no good. It was only later I realised we were round the back of Chequers, and in the wrong place anyway !

There were also table top rallies, with much more complex navigation and you had say a week or two to plot the event at home, and then send the map in for marking.

I guess most of these events, and the clubs that used to organise them, have gone.

Are we talking daylight Historic rallies? or night time road rallies? both very different things...the daytime Historic stuff is generally quite hard work for the navigator using multiple versions of map based items (grid lines, spot heights , tulips etc etc) to define the route, plus regularity timing which changes speed at various points.
Night road rallies in the main bar a few are now pre plot 6 figure map reference format and generally somewhat easier, timing being by BBC times with set average speeds of 30mph.

The ones that I read of local to me (Chelmsford Motor Club) seemed to be night time rallies.

Fascinating subject and something that I'm keen to learn more about.

Way back in the late 1960s in my late teens I spent many Saturday nights navigating my friends with some success on Navigational Road Rallies organised by local motor clubs, including Chelmsford Motor Club etc. Great fun using the roads around Essex and Suffolk using 1" OS maps which I could read at night in those days without a magnifier. Many years later in 2005 & 2006 I competed on CMC's Endurance road rallies in the Mini I had used on the 2004 Lombard Revival Rally.
I also took part in the HRCR Road Rally Championships in 2005/6/7 which are still great fun and include navigation, tests and regularity sections. The HRCR run navigational training days which are non competitive and great fun. The next one will be near Stratford on Avon early next year. Check out the HRCR website for further details and perhaps venture up the M40 to the museum for the HRCR Open day in January. (Free but not sure about museum entry on the day).
ps on one night rally we finished at Cafe near Colchester for breakfast. My friend said I could drive home and before we left the car park he was asleep in the passenger seat !!!

The MCR Northumberland Borders Rally is part navigational road rally. Special tests in the afternoon and a 100 mile rally at night using gridlines, spot heights, herringbones and other tricks to blow your mind in the middle of the night!. And its all minis!

https://www.northumberlandbordersrally.co.uk

6604KF wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 9:20 pm The MCR Northumberland Borders Rally is part navigational road rally. Special tests in the afternoon and a 100 mile rally at night using gridlines, spot heights, herringbones and other tricks to blow your mind in the middle of the night!. And its all minis!

https://www.northumberlandbordersrally.co.uk

Is this an event one can watch as a spectator?

30 years ago maybe;
"Night road rallies in the main bar a few are now pre plot 6 figure map reference format and generally somewhat easier, timing being by BBC times with set average speeds of 30mph."

The navigation since the 90s is hard and you have to drive hard to keep to the clock, no doodling around like you're on a regularity. Not so much a spectator sport and best to be a marshall to get involved. Organisers are often grateful for marshalls.

Niall and co. Borders Rally is the one to attend.

NZmember wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 3:03 am 30 years ago maybe;
"Night road rallies in the main bar a few are now pre plot 6 figure map reference format and generally somewhat easier, timing being by BBC times with set average speeds of 30mph."

The navigation since the 90s is hard and you have to drive hard to keep to the clock, no doodling around like you're on a regularity. Not so much a spectator sport and best to be a marshall to get involved. Organisers are often grateful for marshalls.

Niall and co. Borders Rally is the one to attend.

That’s completely inaccurate…I know this as I’m Clerk of the course on a Welsh event. We regularly see 60-90 cars, hundreds of spectators and fully allow 1 1/2 hrs for pre plot instructions. Very very close to 80’s style events….oh and I also do live commentary for road rally radio. ( yes several events are covered live on the radio)

Compete in the Borders then.

gs.davies wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 11:59 pm

6604KF wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 9:20 pm The MCR Northumberland Borders Rally is part navigational road rally. Special tests in the afternoon and a 100 mile rally at night using gridlines, spot heights, herringbones and other tricks to blow your mind in the middle of the night!. And its all minis!

https://www.northumberlandbordersrally.co.uk

Is this an event one can watch as a spectator?

Best way to watch is by marshalling, help is always needed. Cookie on here is the organiser.

Not sure what is in the south, but a lot of classic stuff has morphed into Targa rallies now

NZmember wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 6:58 am Compete in the Borders then.

What an odd attitude to someone offering the poster advice, the chap asked a question and my reply gave a flavour of the different types of event in the UK (where I specifically wrote 'bar a few'). Instead of being delighted to hear that 80's style events do indeed still exist and flourish you put a comment like that. As for where i've competed well most parts of the UK, acted as Chief Marshal for many events including Rally the Globes generations rally and indeed have been cofc twice in last 12 months on interclub events.

I think navigational rallies are mainly PnB, road rallies, especially in Wales, pre plot. That said, some events, including HRCR ones, seem to give out some of the route instructions to plot beforehand.

Welcome any interest anyone has in doing the MCR “Borders” rally, either as a competitor or marshal. PnB event, as the roads don’t really lend themselves to pre-plot, but different levels of nav.

Cheers,

Niall.