| What is a rally ? |
| A rally is competitive event over closed forest and shire roads designed to test the skill and teamwork of the driver and Codriver and the reliability and mechanical condition of the competing vehicle. |
| What does a Codriver do ? |
| The Co-Driver or Navigator (sometimes called ballast) gives the driver directions from a road book provided by the event organizers. The road book contains directions with intermediate and cumulative distances for major changes of direction and hazards.
The driver will drive by the seat of their pants to the conditions and the Co-driver will call the directions to enable the correct course to be followed. Some hazards and road features, such as an extremely tight corner or large trees near the road, which out of character with the general terrain covered are also included in the road book. The road book is provided as a guide only and the team should always drive to the conditions
Before the start of the rally the Co-Driver will often go thru the Road Book and mark all calls that are less than 200 metres apart. They will also highlight any hazards or cautions in the road book. A sample section of a road book is included here. During the rally the Co-driver will use the odometer (Terratrip) to count down the distance to the next call usually starting at 300m. eg 300m Turn right, 200, 100m Turn Right, OK
The second function of the Co-Driver is to ensure the team is on time. This is done by ensuring that the team arrive at all the check in points or “controls” at the correct time. If you “book in” late or early you will have additional penalty time added to the competitive times from the competitive special stages. The crew carry a “Road Card” which has all the departure and arrival times for each control recorded as the team progress over the course. A sample Road Card can be found in the Series Documetation Forum.
Each Crew carry a Road Card which is filled in by the control officials. At the start of each stage you will be given a Provisional Start Time. The cars line up in order, when it is your turn to start the Start Official will fill in your Actual Start Time and ensure that you have your helmets fastened, seat belts done up and then count down 1 minute, 30 seconds, 20,10 5, 4,3,2,1 GO.
A few guidelines regarding start times are below.
The Actual Start Time may be later than the Provisional Start time as sometimes there are delays.
The Actual Start Time should never be earlier than the Provisional time
The Actual Start Time should also be at least 2 minutes after the car in front.
At the Flying Finish the Control Official will fill in the Flying Finish Time and (sometimes) calculate the Actual Time Taken. You can often check out the times of the cars in front on the control officials timesheet.
On the way to the start of the next Stage you can calculate the due arrival time by adding the Allowed Time to the Actual Start Time. You can write your arrival time in the Reserved for Crew box.
At the next Start Control you should park outside the Control Area (There is usually a line of cars waiting) and the CoDriver walks in to the Control Table and waits (With all the other CoDrivers) until the clock shows the Arrival Time. The CoDriver then places the Road Card on the table or hands it to the control official who fills in the Arrival Time and the Provisional Start Time for the next Stage. The Provisional Start Time should be 3 minutes after the Arrival Time. One minute before the Arrival Time the Driver may bring the car into the control area. You may be penalised if your car enters the control area earlier than 1 minute before your Arrival time or you place your road card on the control table prior to your arrival time.
There are a few subtle variations on this process for Liaison stages and Booking into/out of Service. Areas. If you are a newbie & not sure, you can ask the Officials or other CoDrivers who will be happy to help you get used to control procedures. |
| What does the Service Crew do? |
| The Service Crew meet the competing team at designated Service Points during the rally. During a service break the Service Crew fill the car with fuel, check the tyres, clean the windows, and make any running repairs to the competing vehicle. During "service the competing crew should drink plenty of fluids and eat a snack to keep them going.
You should also make a contingency plan in case you have problems during the event so the crew know what to do if you don't show up at a service point. Your service crew should usually contact the Rally HQ to determine what to do next. |
| How much does it cost to build an Excel Series car? |
| It will generally cost about $8,000-10,000 to acquire & build an Excel Series Car. The amount of money required will vary depending on how much of the construction work has to be outsourced to professionals and whether equipment such as Terratrip, intercom, seats, harnesses etc are purchased new or second hand. |
| How much does it cost to run in an event? |
| Typical costs for an event are:
Entry fee $330
Fuel $70 plus getting there & back
Tyres $270 usually two new tyres per event.
Accommodation $200 (depends the size of you crew and whether you stay in Caravans or Motels) |
| What to take to an event? |
| You will need to take (at least) the following:
Helmet, suitable clothing (cover neck, wrist ankle) and footwear.
Warm jacket in case you go off or break down.
Fuel for the car, spare parts and tools.
Food and drinks to keep you going during the event.
Credit card or extra cash for un-foreseen expenses. |
| What happens at Documentation? |
| At documentation the officials need to check that the information you provided on your entry form is correct. You will need to present the following:
CAMS log book for your car.
Car registration papers.
CTP Green slip.
Driver’s & CoDrivers CAMS license
Drivers Road License (Co-Drivers also if they might drive the car)
Drivers & CoDrivers Car Club membership |
| What happens at Scrutineering? |
| At scrutineering the car will be checked for safety & to ensure it is road worthy.
The following will usually be checked:
Operation of all lights, horn, windscreen washers and wipers.
Operation of additional driving lights (they need to work in conjunction with the headlight high beam.
(You will need to present your vehicle fitted with all lights that may be used during the event. Even if the event starts in daylight.)
Battery is firmly held in place and marked with a blue triangle
Bonnet has two independent methods of being secured.
Safety equipment- first aid kit contents, fire extinguisher condition and expiry date, reflective triangles.
Seat belts are in date and are not frayed.
Seats are securely attached
Helmets are in good condition with no chips or cracks
Brake pedal has good feel
Exhaust system is within noise limits and does not leak
The amount of play at the wheels
The car is well presented & has no unpainted panels
In addition Excel Series cars may be spot checked for compliance with Series regulations.
Items which may be checked are ECU's diffs, engine seals, |
| What happens at the Drivers Briefing? |
| At the drivers briefing the Clerk of the course will;
Introduce himself/herself
Introduce other key officials such as the Stewards and Competitors Relation Office to the competitors.
Talk about the event in general
Notify changes to the Road Book,
Mention there may be a police presence
Ask that competitors observing the speed limits on transports
Identify any quiet zones
What to do if you stop in a stage or come across an accident.
A member of each crew must sign to establish that they attended the briefing |
| Registering for the ERS? |
| To register for the Excel Rally Series, you will need to complete the NSW Series Registration Form and send it to CAMS at least 7 days prior to the first event you wish to enter and score series points.
The form is located in the documetation forum |
| Why Hyundai Excel? |
| 2005 saw the introduction of a new one make Excel Rally Series in NSW. The aim of the series is to provide competitive rallying with a control specification where a driver can learn the variables of preparation, car setup and showcase their ability.
With Motor industry trends towards Front Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive cars, it was desirable to select an inexpensive FWD car which shipped in large quantities, had few variations in models and performance. With over 300,000 Excel X3 models shipped over 7 years there is a plentiful supply of used cars and parts.
The Excel has also found mass appeal with the younger audience who relate to ‘hot hatch’ style cars and we hope to attract new competitors away from doof-doof show cars, illegal street racing and events such as ‘drifting’ into rallying
It has also become apparent that the existing one make series based on the Holden Gemini is approaching its use by date. It has becoming increasingly difficult (and expensive) to find spare parts such as Gear box synchros, standard engine blocks and rust free body panels.
The Excel, being Front wheel drive, will help competitors learn the less sideways driving style required when stepping up into a 4WD rally car. The Excel can also be easily upgraded to the new inlet and exhaust freedoms introduced for F16 PRC cars. |
| Why a one make series at all? |
| Rallying at the top level can be extremely expensive. In some cases it is the competitor with the most disposable cash that rises to the top. The Excel Rally Series provides a level playing field where a driver can show case ability rather than the size of his bank balance. A genuinely talented driver will naturally rise to the top of the class. A great “One Make” example is the “Corolla Cup” series of the late ‘80s which unearthed the talents of Simon Evans. |
| Where can i get an Excel to build into a rally car? |
| A cheap Excel can be purchased from the damaged vehicle auctions. Check out the auction web sites such as http://www.fowles.com.au .
Alternatively 'The Trading Post' can sometimes have a bargain.
The cars to aim for are the recovered stolen vehicles. Typically they sell for between $1400 and $3000 depending the damage. |
| What do Tyres cost? |
| The Excel Rally Series has no control Dunlop tyre. Tyres can be purchased from any number of suppliers who often attent series events. Gary's Motorsport Tyres attend all NSW Excel rounds. You can probably count on two new tyres per event or you can buy second hand ones from the serious guys. |
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