12 Car Rallies

 

More properly called 12 car navigational rallies to give them their full title, these are road events using O.S. maps with a fixed route and time schedule that all competitors must aim to follow. They are of a "Plot & Bash" nature meaning that you get your route instructions at the start of each section and then the navigation bit comes in. The route is usually given in some cryptic or time consuming way so you generally have to push on a bit (UNDERSTATEMENT!) to stay within the time schedule. All vehicles must be scrutineered before signing on to the same standard for autotests plus no advertising of sponsors.

Along the route there will generally be code boards these you will write down in your road book to prove that you took the right route but these codeboards, unlike those on scatter events will be very obvious and you certainly wont need to stop and get out of the car or even slow down - indeed you wont be given any indication as to where they are - you either see them and record them if you are on the right route or you don't if you are not! These events are limited by RAC rules to a maximum of 12 cars and must be run on a weekday evening.

Normal car insurance wont cover you and most clubs operate the NES scheme. Once you have completed a proposal form and been accepted by the insurers (Bowring) they will issue you with a letter confirming cover and you then exhibit this at any event running the scheme, pay the premium according to the type of event (typical costs are 12 Cars £7.50, road rallies £12.50) and you have 3rd party cover for the duration of the event. Standard road cars with no more than 4 forward facing lights are needed, indeed modified cars are discouraged to try to keep a low profile.