17-12-2019, 11:04 AM
Some further thoughts.
First, if you have not much nav rally experience then get in as many practise miles in the dark as you can. Borrow previous route books or get an experienced pal to make some up for you. Measham regs indicate only plotting by grid refs, so the navvy's happy hours of preparation sat at the kitchen table marking spot heights and northing and easting numbers etc are not necessary.
A Romer is vital, still available from Don Barrow on his website. Some crews use a Potti, they must be younger and slimmer than some of us as there is not much room in a Seven cabin, particularly when the crew's volume is significantly increased by layers of thermal underwear. Test miles will let you judge the use of a headtorch, for some of us the reflection on the screen in the few moments when the navvy looks up to see where we are dazzles the driver so much that he also can't see where we are. I found a music stand light is small, clips on the glove compartment or under the dash, and gives much focussed light with no glare.
As much discussed on the forum, LEDs transform Seven lighting. What they do best is greatly reduce lights' requirements, the third brush can be adjusted for between 4 and 5 amps and provide all lighting. The dynamo is happy, the battery is happy and the driver nearly stops worrying about elecrtics, leaving plenty of time for other anxiety.
The regs this year very clearly indicate that only two front lights are acceptable. Maybe this is because of the range of clubs invited, and Historic Rally boys must not dazzle innocent drivers with a full gallery of Cibie or Hella spots on their car. One vital additional light is a good reversing light. Perhaps some of the rally masters on the forum have never needed a reversing light, but us humble souls who all too easily wrong slot in the dark desperately need to see where we are going in stern gear.
Whilst LEDs reduce power consumption I am still fitting an additional battery for the Measham. My previous night nav in the Ruby was the Oulton Park Rally, starting in daylight and finishing about midnight. The Measham is through long hours of darkness. A Ruby allows putting another battery in the box on the scuttle, rather safer idea than having a spare one behind the driver's seat. Still looking for battery locating strap, discussed on the forum but none yet unearthed. I am happier about the petrol can suitably carried outside on the luggage rack rather than sitting on the back seat.
Starting your nav rally career with the Measham. This will either be total aversion therapy and we'll never hear from you again, or your life will be transformed and you will regularly sweep away the plates, jugs and other symbols of victory in this arcane but basically very sociable and friendly branch of motor sport. Could hardly be a better year to start if you live in Wales or the West Midlands. Measham in Feb, Rali Eyri in April, MGCC Cotswold in in May and Ian Grace's Cotswold in June, Welsh Scatter/Gwasgarog Gwymraeg and the Cheshire Night Nav both in October. The date of the Batho will no doubt be sorted in due course.
Sir Herbert stared the competition career of his Baby within weeks of production beginning. Whilst he probably did not imagine nav rallying I'm sure he would be very proud of Sevens still being so active and in the hands of some forumists, winning classes and events.
One last thought. Whether I am driving or navvying, the crew always shake hands just before setting off, and again after finishing. This is part of the understanding that anything said when the red mist descends during the event is not to be taken personally or repeated afterwards!
First, if you have not much nav rally experience then get in as many practise miles in the dark as you can. Borrow previous route books or get an experienced pal to make some up for you. Measham regs indicate only plotting by grid refs, so the navvy's happy hours of preparation sat at the kitchen table marking spot heights and northing and easting numbers etc are not necessary.
A Romer is vital, still available from Don Barrow on his website. Some crews use a Potti, they must be younger and slimmer than some of us as there is not much room in a Seven cabin, particularly when the crew's volume is significantly increased by layers of thermal underwear. Test miles will let you judge the use of a headtorch, for some of us the reflection on the screen in the few moments when the navvy looks up to see where we are dazzles the driver so much that he also can't see where we are. I found a music stand light is small, clips on the glove compartment or under the dash, and gives much focussed light with no glare.
As much discussed on the forum, LEDs transform Seven lighting. What they do best is greatly reduce lights' requirements, the third brush can be adjusted for between 4 and 5 amps and provide all lighting. The dynamo is happy, the battery is happy and the driver nearly stops worrying about elecrtics, leaving plenty of time for other anxiety.
The regs this year very clearly indicate that only two front lights are acceptable. Maybe this is because of the range of clubs invited, and Historic Rally boys must not dazzle innocent drivers with a full gallery of Cibie or Hella spots on their car. One vital additional light is a good reversing light. Perhaps some of the rally masters on the forum have never needed a reversing light, but us humble souls who all too easily wrong slot in the dark desperately need to see where we are going in stern gear.
Whilst LEDs reduce power consumption I am still fitting an additional battery for the Measham. My previous night nav in the Ruby was the Oulton Park Rally, starting in daylight and finishing about midnight. The Measham is through long hours of darkness. A Ruby allows putting another battery in the box on the scuttle, rather safer idea than having a spare one behind the driver's seat. Still looking for battery locating strap, discussed on the forum but none yet unearthed. I am happier about the petrol can suitably carried outside on the luggage rack rather than sitting on the back seat.
Starting your nav rally career with the Measham. This will either be total aversion therapy and we'll never hear from you again, or your life will be transformed and you will regularly sweep away the plates, jugs and other symbols of victory in this arcane but basically very sociable and friendly branch of motor sport. Could hardly be a better year to start if you live in Wales or the West Midlands. Measham in Feb, Rali Eyri in April, MGCC Cotswold in in May and Ian Grace's Cotswold in June, Welsh Scatter/Gwasgarog Gwymraeg and the Cheshire Night Nav both in October. The date of the Batho will no doubt be sorted in due course.
Sir Herbert stared the competition career of his Baby within weeks of production beginning. Whilst he probably did not imagine nav rallying I'm sure he would be very proud of Sevens still being so active and in the hands of some forumists, winning classes and events.
One last thought. Whether I am driving or navvying, the crew always shake hands just before setting off, and again after finishing. This is part of the understanding that anything said when the red mist descends during the event is not to be taken personally or repeated afterwards!