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Getting Started
The first step to take, for whatever branch of Motorsport your interest lies, is to join a local Car Club. There may be more than one Car Club in your area so it is often a good idea to contact each club either by email or telephone to ascertain whether they are active in the particular type of motorsport you are interested in. A comprehensive list of UK Clubs and Associations is included within this site. Once you have joined your Car Club you will find that most Members are more than happy to give advice and pass on to you the benefit of their experience in Motorsport.
Initially it would be a good idea to take part in a few events as a Rally Marshal, and again your Car Club will be able to point you in the right direction with regard to Events in your area. As a Marshal you will not only gain access to events that are not always accessible to the general public but you will also be able to view the cars “up close and personal” in the Service area. In this way, you will be able to form an idea as to what type of events you would like to become involved in, exactly what type of car is best suited to those events and what equipment you will need to take part.
The next decision to make is whether you want to Drive a Rally Car or to Co-drive a Rally Car. Two very different roles but each equally as important as the other. A Driver cannot compete without a Co-driver and obviously a Co-driver cannot compete with a Driver. There are many successful boyfriend/girlfriend and husband/wife partnerships in Rallying and the advantages of this type of partnership is that, hopefully, you already have a certain rapport with your Partner. The disadvantage is that you will be supporting the costs of your rallying out of “one pot”.
However if you do not have a ready made partnership your Car Club will probably have drivers looking for co-drivers and vice versa. Normally a Driver bears the brunt of the costs of his/her rallying although Co-drivers normally “contribute” for the privilege of sitting beside you. There are no set Rules as to how much a Co-driver would contribute, sometimes it is half the Entry Fee plus their own expenses, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Competitors need a Competition Licence for most forms of Motor Sport organised under a permit issued by the MSA.
If you have never held a Competition Licence before and wish to drive on a Stage Rally you will need a special Competition Licence in addition to your normal Driving Licence. The minimum age to drive on a Stage Rally is 17. You will need to apply to the MSA for a “Go Rallying Pack” which contains the required application form. You are then required to complete an approved course at a School registered with the British Association of Rally Schools (BARS). Silverstone Rally School is one of those Schools. A founder member and have been established coming up to 25 years.
Co-Drivers have to be a minimum age of 16 for Stage Rallies or 12 for Road Rallies. Again Co-Drivers will need to apply to the MSA for an appropriate Competition Licence.
Rules and Regulations
All Motorsport in the UK is governed by the MSA (Motor Sports Association). All the Rules and Technical Specifications are included in a publication called The MSA Competitors’ Yearbook (commonly known as the Blue Book). A new edition is produced every year and your local Car Club is bound to have a copy available for you to look at.
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