Special Stage rallies are held either on private roads and tracks or on closed public roads.They are run to an average speed which is set according to whether the roads used are tarmac or gravel (See below). They are not tests of outright speed and no advantage is gained by exceeding the set average speed.
Special Stage Rallies are run under regulations set out in Section K of the MOTOR Sports Association Year Book (The Blue Book)
WHO ORGANISES SPECIAL STAGE RALLIES?
Special Stage Rallies are organised by Motor Clubs which are recognized by the MSA as registered to organize competitions. In the ASEMC the following Clubs organise Special Stage Rallies:
Bexley Light Car Club
Bognor Regis Motor Club
Southern Car Club
Sutton & Cheam Motor Club
West Essex Car ClubHOW DO I START?
Before taking part in a Special Stage Rally you need a Special Stage Competition Licence issued by the MSA. Before you apply for a licence for the first time you must obtain a Novice Stage Rally ‘Go Rallying Pack’ from the MSA and then complete an approved course at a school registered with the British Association of Rally Schools (BARS)
WHAT CAR DO I NEED?
Any car, from under1000cc to 3500cc or over, can be used for rallying, as cars are divided into classes according to engine capacity so you will always be competing against crews in similar cars. However, before your car will be allowed to start a rally it must be prepared so that it complies with the MSA’s Technical Regulations, set out in the Blue Book. These include, but are not limited to, safety features such as fireproofing and rollcages, seats and safety belts. Once it has been prepared the car must be examined by a Scrutineer, a technical expert appointed by the MSA for this purpose. If the car complies with the regulations the scrutineer will issue the car with a Rally Car Log Book. This must be produced at any event the car is entered in, when a scrutineer will also carry out a visual inspection of the car for safety purposes.
WHAT ELSE WILL I NEED?
Other essential equipment, for both driver and co-driver, includes approved crash helmets and fireproof overalls. Specifications for these are also to be found in the Blue Book.
The car will also need a current MOT Certificate and, for Multi-venue events (see below), it must be taxed and insured for use on the public highway.TYPES OF STAGE RALLY
TARMAC
Tarmac Stage Rallies are held on sealed surfaces. The most common type of venue is a disused airfield, but other venues include vehicle test tracks, military training areas and, occasionally, closed public roads.
Tarmac events can be either MULTI-USE, when the whole event is held within one venue, such as an airfield, or MULTI-VENUE, when stages are held at different venues joined together by Road Sections on the public highway. In the latter case the road sections do not form part of the competitive part of the event.
The ASEMC co-promotes (with the ACSMC) the Bigger Bites Rally 2005 Tarmac Rally Championship, which consists of 14 rounds held at venues between Weston-super-Mare in the west to Oakington (near Cambridge ) in the eastGRAVEL
Gravel, or loose surface, rallies are usually held on Forestry Commission tracks but can also use farm tracks. They are invariably Multi-venue rallies, so cars must be taxed and insured.
As there are only a few suitable forest venues in the south of the country the gravel rallies are combined with two multi-venue tarmac rallies to make up the nine round Bigger Bites Rally 2005 Multi-Venue Championship.
