Rover Sports Register Forum

I have just entered the Hero Novice trial due to take place in May with COA550, having never done this type of event before I was wondering whether there are any suggestions the membership can offer to make this event a "roaring" success. Map reading is not an issue, we have never used a sat nav in our driving career thus far and always managed to get where we wanted to go, sometimes with the odd detour.. I see that there is a basic rally essential kit that is required but I don't know if a rally timer is an idea or whether that is something acquiring further down the line.
Thank you for any suggestions, Will

Hi Willem, You could have a word with Ian Glass
Mike

Thank you Mike, I'll contact him in tomorrow.
Willem

If it is "proper" old school navigation...ply & bash, herringbones, working out averages etc, I have a Mk2 Blackwell Calculator...a sort of circular slide rule. No instructions, but a useful bit of kit. Did lots of Motoring News etc events with it.
PM me if you would like it
David

Hi David,

I have sent you a PM (let me know if it hasn't arrived, I usually crash anything electronic)

Willem

Hi David, thank you for the Blackwell Calculator, I will attempt to instruct the navigator boss on how it works. It was really nice to see your Rover this morning, and meeting you and your lovely wife.
All was well on the way back but a rear tyre exploded about 4 miles from home, ah well.
Willem

Such irony... as we were talking about tyres! I bought my new Avons (525/550.17) made in UK from Vintage tyres {01590612261} @£140 each plus new "rubber rim bands (£2.90 ea) and Tubes (~£17ea) (without VAT, but no delivery charge). Very prompt. I still am not on the road so cannot report on their performance!
I hope the training weekend is/was? a success

Well, survived the navigation weekend, good fun and quite challenging, the route following by the use of tulips, blind tulips, descriptions and time/ distance following are certainly a good way of keeping the brain cells active. The variety of competitors cars is very interesting, from 1934 Aston Martins to a 1990 Mazda MX5 and pretty much any make in between, most are kitted out with Brantz timer gear, we didn't and that shows in the results.. Trying to navigate distance on the trip meter of the tachometer and the dashboard clock does present it's own challenges, if we do any more of them we will have to buy a rally trip meter to be a bit more competitive.
As for "Mathilda", ran beautifully, never missed a beat and apart from the indicator stalk falling apart we did 468 miles in 3 days and were very pleased with her, the seats are very comfortable even after so much driving, much more so than a modern car.
Will we do another trail, probably, they are quite expensive but the support and organisation are brilliant and cheerful, the other competitors are all there for the fun of it so that makes for good vibes, would we recommend it, yes, it gives a reason to enjoy the car to it's full potential and there is technical support available if needed.
Willem