hillrally/borc

[philby]

anyone hear do either the bors or hill rally

i am considering haveing a go at one or the other

i drivce a v8 disco  am not rolsing in cash  and would go fo the clubman comp

whats the vehicle need?
any tips

which is less likely to trash my disco

who to get sponsership from

etc

[drum]

Henry will be along shortly in a Cow coloured Disco to answer your question.

I've looked at getting involved lots of times, but have never got round to it. However I'm not that far away from you, so if you need a crew man shout.

Dave

[philby]

I've looked at getting involved lots of times, but have never got round to it. However I'm not that far away from you, so if you need a crew man shout.

Dave

i am shouting
even if its just for support and input etc
cos i am no mechanic and not got a big bank ballance

[drum]

I've looked at getting involved lots of times, but have never got round to it. However I'm not that far away from you, so if you need a crew man shout.

Dave

i am shouting
even if its just for support and input etc
cos i am no mechanic and not got a big bank ballance

You're on I'm no mechanic by any means, but I can handle a hammers, and the gaffer tape. My bank balance probably won't help you. but if you give me some notice, I'm more than happy to navigate, or help in any other way. Let me know when and where  :D

As I sais earlier Henry is the man, he's given me pointers in the past, but I've never got wheels in motion. I'm sure he'll be along shortly, as he's normally very willing to offer advice etc. Mikee (redline) will also be along he races and is also very helpful.

[Eeyore]

An interesting set of questions! Which meself and Wolfie are currently facing (and still don't know all the answers for)...........

Both Hery Webster and Mikee (Mr Redline himself) are competion enabled currently and can offer huuuuuge amounts of advice and hints.

Find your local competitive off-road club and go to a few comp-safari events. Get to know some of the folk and find out what they know. It can be a good source of info on all sorts of things, including how to make best use of your vehicle (unless you want one that they all think will be hopeless........). The Disco should be a good starter - Our 'Enry can get some very respectable times out of his.

There are a few must haves for both Hillrallies and BORC, with the Hillrally having a few more (like the vehicle must be taxed, insured and MOT'd for one). It'll need a cage, proper sports seats, harnesses, electrical cutouts, fire extinguishers (handheld will do at this level) and a few other choice bits and pieces. You'll need helmets and the relevent racing liscence, too. A big tin of sweets for the marshalls is also a real plus point!  

Trashing the car is often down to a factor of how hard you're prepared to push when racing, or how bad your driving is to begin with. <ahem>. There's no reason why a well prepared car shouldn't last for years when regularly and thoroughly maintained (unless you hit a tree, hydraulic the engine etc etc). I think the key requirement is being able to read the terrain and to relate that to the positon of your right foot.

Ooo, and as for sponsership - anyone you think can contribute to your activities! I've seen sponsership from garages, shops, realted business and even pop/dance groups (no, seriously!).

You can get day entry to the BORC, which is actually really value when you consider a) the level of back-up available and b) the price of some play sites nowadays.

Hill Rallies look immense fun but need a tad more thought from the point of view of both logistics and entry fee (not cheap!). Thats stage two of The Plan!

Don't be put off by really long replies and acres of rules and regs. The BORC is probably the most accessible national motorsport series there is.

Hope some of this helps!
cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[Eeyore]

oooooh, North Yorks - didn't notice.

Driffield is on your doorstep (can't remember the date though!)

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[philby]

i keep seeing driffield mentioned  
the norc (northen off road club  ( comp safari club)) use it
as i think does borc

and i know its near me in scarborough

but why are there no real details on web

is it a full time location or mod or fc or what?

ok i know i am adding new questions to my post

[Xtremeteam]

Trashing the car is often down to a factor of how hard you're prepared to push when racing, or how bad your driving is to begin with. <ahem>. There's no reason why a well prepared car shouldn't last for years when regularly and thoroughly maintained (unless you hit a tree, hydraulic the engine etc etc). I think the key requirement is being able to read the terrain and to relate that to the positon of your right foot.

ill 2nd that....

to finish first,first you have to finish,

i purely do compsafaris with a 90 that started out as a 110 over 10 years ago & at the mo is still on its original chassis,Heavily plated but still the original chassis,2nd engine & original Gbox & t box,

ive been doing full seasons for 2 years now which consists of 4 safaris & 5 trials (i think) & so far (touch wood) have only broken 2 shafts & wrecked a wheel,... oh & also finished 8th overall in the slroc championship last year & was sitting 6th this year but recounted my scores & looks like ill be 8th again this year,last year was highest placed standard motor & finished behind 7 "bowler"s & infront of 6,
a discovery is a good motor for starting with BUT they do require more assesmenty on the suspension set up where as a "bowler" is dead easy to set up,

looking forward id like to do the clubman section of the scottish hillrally next year & i also would be looking for a crew man to navigate for me,
anyother questions just holla as myself or H "should" be able to give you a decent answer

Mike

[Henry Webster]

Trashing the car is often down to a factor of how hard you're prepared to push when racing, or how bad your driving is to begin with.

Ok, I'll third that then! :lol:   Thanks for the intro guys!

Philby, I should be able to answer most of your questions and if not I will know someone who can! :D

I compete in the Hillrally championship.  I did 7 years as a navigator and am now driving.  I claim to have been involved with the sport pretty much all my life, because my dad used to compete!

I am also involved in organising the events as the Media and PR person for both the MSA British Off Road Championship and the National Hillrally Championship.

As you can see from my avatar, I compete in a pretty standard (Super production class) 3.9 Discovery so can hopefully give you some pointers. I also do it on a pretty limited budget, but still have alot of fun! :D

Have you been to see an event yet?  That would be the first thing to do in my opinion.  The Northern Off Road Club, as you mentioned is probably a good place to start.  Unfortunately we are now in the short closed season so I don't suppose there is much happening until the spring now.  

In terms of which event and cars and such like.  Comp safaris like the BORC and NORC/AWDC events are probably the best place to start and require less in the way of back-up as Eeyore points out.  Hillrallies are more expensive and therefore you have more to lose if you have a silly little problem.

The other advantage of a comp safari is that you can take it very much at your pace and build up speed slowly as you learn the track and the terrain.

In terms of the car, you will need as a core requirement: Roll cage, Harnesses, Master cut off switch, and a fire extinguisher.

The specific regulations for these are set out in the MSA's Blue Book and replicated in the event regulations (PM me and I'll send you a set.)

You may not  need special competition seats, but I would thoroughly recommend them.  You will also want to consider uprating the suspension and investing in some decent mud tyres (again check the regs for what you are allowed to use.)

What level of preparation does the car have at the moment?

For you, you will need - club card or MSA licence, depending on the events you want to enter and an MSA approved helmet.  Oh and a driving licence!

Sponsorship is not easy to come by, but by no means impossible.  You just need to treat each case as a business deal.  The sponsor needs to get worth out of sponsoring you!

What was that Eeyore said about long posts?  I think I'll stop now, but am quite happy to answer any further questions you might have or expand on any of this.  Just ask.  And welcome by the way...

H

[Henry Webster]

a discovery is a good motor for starting with BUT they do require more assesmenty on the suspension set up where as a "bowler" is dead easy to set up,

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that Mikee, mine uses standard Tdi springs and double long travel shocks (Procomp ES9000) so is pretty straightforward really.  And it works pretty well - we got three top ten stage times on the Hillrally in October - thats beating a number of Wildcats!:shock:
 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  
H

[Xtremeteam]

forgot to add about the sponcership,

My 90 advertises where i work BUT im NOT sponcered because AFAIK it then opens up a different route ie (profesional),he helps me out with stuff & also lets me use the ramps etc but i dont recive any sort of ££ for having his name on my motor

[Henry Webster]

My 90 advertises where i work BUT im NOT sponcered because AFAIK it then opens up a different route ie (profesional),he helps me out with stuff & also lets me use the ramps etc but i dont recive any sort of ££ for having his name on my motor

I think that this is usually the case, but there is nothing stopping you getting some ££ if you can.  In reality it is often just discount and favours etc...

I am going on the search for some proper sponsorship for next year (or the year after) - wish me luck...

[johnniep]

hi all,
just a little q, i dont know if anyof you will know, but how many events between the awdc and borc are down in the westcountry, im in cornwall but i am finishing a rangerover bobtail and i am looking to do trials and mayb some comp safaris, ive had experiances with it but in a chenith buggy many years ago, so i was wandering if there are many more this way?!?!?
cheers
johnniep

[philby]

thankyou all for your help so far

Henry you asked about the current state f my disco

it if a mk1 3.9 v8 lpg /petrol
5 door
m reg
the only things that make in non factory spec are the fron spotlights,c-trax mt tyers and all the plastic has gone from front bumper and front recovery/hilift points

everything else is standard



as you havesaid the norc is out of season  and so i cantgo to one of there events yet  and as itswinter and soit would be a good time to begin getting the disco sorted

so there you have it  a total novice and no mechanic  but can learn


ti clarify the above  i am not a total novice off road  i have driven a suzuki sj ,jimny then my disco off road for about 3 years now

i have been doing trials with the north east 4x4 club
have been to langdale many times
and did the macmillian 4x4 challange in 05 and if i get my butt in gera and cheque sent ill do it again in 06

so where do people recomend i go next?

[Eeyore]

Now then Philby,

As a question, is this Disco your only car, cos' if you're gonna race it and you've gotta drive it to work of a Monday, I would suggest buying an additional motor*!

Whilst you might not intend to grenade a CV or a diff, its always a risk. So bare that mind!  

It all went Horribley Wrong for me when I went marshaling for a year - I met loads of drivers and other marshalls. Now, marshalling gave me the oppotunity to drive stages on both the BORC and the Hillrallies. So now I have a better appectiation of stages at higher MPH that green laning would permit.

Wolfie (off line at the mo) pretty much trashed his engine bay at the Hillrally in Wales just in setting out  :shock: . But he was giving it some welly. Rumour has it, parts of his fan cowling were found in Dunstable!  :shock:.

My advice? Come marshalling and drive stages at low comparative speeds (15 mph etc), then work out what you feel you'd want to do to the car to drive the same stage at sixty (and a cage starts seeming a really cool idea!). You'll be amazed how much trouble that can get you into!

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

*just brought into a 110 for this very porpoise!

[philby]

fortunatly the disco is not the family car any more

it is now my toy

[Henry Webster]

That's good to hear Phil.

Whilst its possible to use your only car, and people do, there is alot to be said for not relying on it getting you to work on Monday morning after an event!

I haven't forgotten you or this thread, just been a bit busy.  Will reply in more detail, when I get a mo!

H