Art of rally controller
Often they are conducted entirely on sealed roads, but some are held on mixed surfaces. Touring Road Events tend to be a little bit more expensive to enter and usually last for one or two days, and are often slanted towards Classic cars, but almost any vehicle can usually enter.
ART OF RALLY CONTROLLER DRIVER
No special modifications are required to your car, but the navigation can be quite hard, so competing with a more experienced driver or navigator is recommended to start with. Khanacross events are low cost motorsport events that even standard road cars can compete in. One of the first jobs you will be given is as a road closure official, where you are positioned to stop members of the general public entering the rallying route, but you may want to move on to a time control official, as a set-up official, a radio operator or a stage commander – the list of interesting jobs goes on and on. Being part of the action at your own private vantage point is a real buzz – just like being a track marshal at a Formula 1 or Supercar race.įor insurance purposes, all officials are required to sign on with the organisers to ensure that they are covered by CAMS’ insurance while on the job. Some clubs often help out at major rallies like rounds of the State, Australian or World Rally Championship, where officials at these events get to see the best possible action in Australia.
Working for a factory team in the WRC could be your goal, and may well be within your reach. Once you have joined a car club, spectated at a few events and before you decide to become a rally competitor, it’s wise to offer to become an official on your club’s next event.īy being an official on a time control or road closure (or in any other capacity, for that matter), you’ll quickly get to know how rallies are run and what’s required to compete in them.Ĭar clubs are always on the lookout for willing helpers, and by offering to be an official, you usually get to see the action at the best possible locations (and without the expense of competing!).
Rally driving may not be for you, but being a member of a service crew could be your entry into the sport. Of course not all car clubs are the same – some are involved in circuit racing only, others with historic motorsport, there are one-make car clubs and there are others involved purely in rallying, so you need to choose one which suits your needs and specialises in rallies. Then it’s just a matter of contacting the car club secretary for details of when the club meets and what its program is. You can find car clubs in your area of your state HERE. Membership of a typical Australian car club can cost from $60 to $150 per year, depending on the particular club you choose. There are hundreds of car clubs right around Australia, many of whom are involved in organising car rallies or whose members compete in rallies. If you like what you see after you’ve been spectating, then you have to choose whether you want to be a competitor (a driver or a navigator/co-driver) or an official, and our advice would be, no matter what you decide, get involved and to join a car club that conducts rallies.