Joined: Sep 2018 Posts: 126 Threads: 37
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Location: cambridgeshire
Thinking of taking part in the Measham Rally 1st/2nd Feb.
Both driver and navigator inexperienced in this event.
Looking for tips and advice off those who have done it before.
What are we letting ourselves in for?
Do we need and specialist navigational equipment?
Any advise appreciated
Many thanks
Paul
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,435 Threads: 59
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No specialist navigational equipment beyond stopwatch, roamer, pencils and head torch. Pay special attention to the regs and read them many times. Decent lights, battery and charging. Average speed charts, working odometer. Warm clothes, wet weather stuff if you're open.
It is enormous fun, specifically because the challenge isn't beating the twisted mind of the route setter. It's following a 200 mile route, at night in a prewar car and staying on time The sense of satisfaction is immense to just finish.
I have finished a few times but never got to the engravers.
Catching fire at 1.30am on top of the North Yorks Moors in the snow was a bit grim. Waiting 3.5 hours for a breakdown truck was effing cold.
Charles
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Location: Southern Cotswolds
Car type: '33 RP, '36 RTC Special, '39 Cambridge Special, '34 Wolseley Hornet Special, '50 Citroen Traction Avant
Hi Charles,
Thanks for the information, I am also contemplating entering with my son, could you please elaborate on the subjects of
Roamer
Average Speed Chart
I note from looking at some of the past photos, crews have head torches, maps, which look divided on the grid squares by felt tip highlights, what about a small map table for ones knees.
I read that the preliminaries are about plotting the shortest route between each of the map reference. Our odometer is not terribly accurate, it does work but is it crucial to the process? Are the regs issued before the rally or on the night?
Any further help would be appreciated both in preparation and encouragement.
Thanks Jack
Joined: Sep 2018 Posts: 126 Threads: 37
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Location: cambridgeshire
Regs available to print from VSCC
Thanks for information Charles.
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,794 Threads: 532
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Location: Peak District, Derbyshire
Car type: 1929 Chummy, 1930 Chummy, 1930 Ulster Replica, 1934 Ruby
16-12-2019, 09:15 PM
(This post was last modified: 16-12-2019, 09:16 PM by Tony Griffiths.)
Doing it in a 7, I presume? When I last took part 50% of winning, probably more, was a fearless navigator who knew his stuff. If a complete novice, to sort out the car and equipment, do a couple of 50-mile practice runs starting at 1 am along narrow country roads at a 30 mph average.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,927 Threads: 160
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Location: Sherwood Forest
Car type: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
As that 'fearless navigator who knows his stuff', I would say the most important factor is, indeed, the navigation. It doesn't matter how fast the driver is, or how well you as a team keep to time, if you're driving on the wrong road you're not going to do very well! So make sure the navigator is familiar with the methods of route instruction and is comfortable reading a map whilst being bounced around in the cockpit (it's no good if you are stopping every five minutes because the navigator is feeling ill), make sure the instructions to the driver are simple ('cos he's simple!) and concise, and don't panic if (and when) things go wrong.
If the navigator can keep a steady stream of comments describing the route (corners, gradients, bridges, not just the junctions) then an accurate odometer is of no real concern; timing will sort itself out as you get more confident and experienced. True, to do really well you will need all aspects slotting in to place, but as a novice just concentrate on finding, and keeping to, the correct route.
An A4-sized board to support the map is useful, but make sure it's not too rigid; thick cardboard is better than hardboard, and avoid metal as it will hurt if things go wrong! I used to use an old aircraft dash-lamp clipped to the board for illumination, but a lamp strapped to the head sounds a good idea as long as you don't keep turning towards the driver and dazzling him! Even better, if you can find one and can get used to using it, is a potie - an illuminated magnifying glass in a shrouded holder https://www.nickygrist.com/don-barrow-po...o2EALw_wcB but you will need to provide a power supply either from the car or perhaps a pocket battery.
But for a first attempt, keep it simple, and don't spend a fortune on equipment only to find you didn't enjoy the experience!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 901 Threads: 106
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Location: Melton Mowbray.
I endorse all that Charles says. Go for it Paul and OJ.
We were stopped by the police at 3.00 am, curious as why there were all these " old cars " chasing around in the middle of the night. Asking what year our car was, I cheekily returned the question to be told " 2018 "... with a grin!
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Location: Cheshire
Car type: Race Ulster, 1926 Special, 1927 Chummy, 1930 Box
I found with an Austin 7 it’s far more important to get the route right than the average speed. If you just drive briskly the speed will not be too far wrong anyway.
Alan Fairless
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Location: Sherwood Forest
Car type: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Oh yes, Jack, you mentioned maps and highlighting features; if the Measham is still navigation by map references only, then it can help to highlight every tenth grid line so that you don't need to keep referring across to the edge of the map to plot the references. On daylight rallies I also used to highlight spot heights, as they were very often used in instructions and can often be difficult to identify when plotting, but I suspect that's not necessary for the Measham.
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16-12-2019, 10:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 16-12-2019, 10:49 PM by Charles P.)
A roamer is a simple device for plotting easily onto maps. Buy one and attach it to a loop of string around your neck so that you don't misplace it.
https://www.donbarrow.co.uk/1%2750,000_r...omers.html
An average speed chart helps you keep to time. As an example the regs may say travel at 18mph between time control one and time control 2. The average speed chart is calibrated to your speedo/odometer and tells you how many minutes/seconds should have elaspsed to cover increments of miles, allowing you to keep at the required average. You simply can't do the maths in your head on the hoof! It requires you to zero the odometer on leaving a time control and reset your stop watch. If you don't have an odometer you need to note the mileage reading.
To make one you need to do a measured loop in your modern. About 5-10 miles is good. Note the mileage, assuming that your modern has an accurate speedometer. Then do exactly the same loop in your old car and note the mileage. From this you know how inaccurate your old car speedo actually is. It's then a simple matter of Excel to work out charts showing the elapsed time for 0.5 mile distances . Print and laminate the chart showing 0.5 miles to 10 in the top row and elapsed time in the row below. Repeat for average speeds of 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 miles per hour. Check what the regs say; they usually warn you.
I humbly disagree with Mike about the need for a poti. With modern led headlamps and a cheap magnifying glass you can live without one. Poti's are something else bulky in between the navigators feet!
Does that make sense?
If you message me with your email I'll send you a scan of a very useful guide
Best wishes
Charles
BTW I did once lose middle of the three OS maps halfway round a Measham.
We guessed the route from an AA road atlas and worked out where we probably needed to renter the final map.
We weren't last!
Charles
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