As experienced rally competitors, we are well aware of the fun that can be had from competing in a full blown modern or classic rally. However, we also know that entering ones first rally is a major step into the unknown and the impression given of rallying by the occasional televised event doesn't help as it suggests that rallying is all about driving flat out on rough roads. Not what most classic car owners are happy to do.

We know that most people who just enter a rally without any knowledge at all, usually end up dispirited, lost and completely put off entering another. So when beginning to plan the first Classic Harvest Tour, we wanted to create an event that would give participants a taste of what classic rallying is like, but without them needing to go to the expense of entering a real rally and jumping straight into a competitive event. Therefore, whilst running under the rules of a touring assembly to keep the cost down, we tried to include as many aspects of a real rally as we could.

The event started with scrutineering. Not to the detail that would normally carried out at the start of a rally, but enough to give an impression of what to expect, and we found one car with a faulty brake light.

After scrutineering participant had to 'sign on' and were issued with their rally plate and road book. Some went away to read the road book carefully, whilst others spent their time chatting with their friends. Both strategies were acceptable since those who were not interested in rallying could still enjoy the event as a straightforward scenic tour.

The road book was an all tulip affair that gave a great deal of detail, so it should have been virtually impossible to get lost. However, we also include some areas where only accurate measurement would ensure the correct route was taken, even though either route would end up in the same place. Roadside controls were placed so that people could prove their route and also gain experience of visiting controls, as on a real rally. Nevertheless, if people did not want to worry about the correct route, they could still enjoy a leisurely drive through the beautiful scenery of West Berkshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

For those who were really keen, we provided a recommended time schedule based on an average speed of between 20 and 25 miles per hour, but it was up to participants to decide whether to try to keep to it or not. In fact most people tried but found it difficult to go slow enough. Stopping to wait for a moment did not seem to be on the agenda!

At the finish, everyone received a finisher's medal irrespective of what they did during the day. In fact everyone seemed to enjoy the event, whether they were interested in learning about rallying or not, and almost without exception said that they would be back next year. Whether they are now more likely to enter a rally remains to be seen, but at least we have begun to sow the seeds, so we are reasonably pleased with our efforts so far, and will be looking at ways to improve the event next year.

On the Classic Harvest Tour 2004 we tried to give an impression of the sort of navigation competitors on UK classic road rallies could be confronted with. However, whilst road rally competitors may need to plot whole sections, we did not want to loose our entrants, so the navigation was confined to defining the correct routes through a number of tricky junctions. So, if people didn't want to do the navigation, it could be ignored without going off route.

The navigational handouts

For those who did tackle the navigational handouts but were a bit baffled, here is how to solve them.

Handout 1
The herringbone, or straight line diagram, is a very common navigational form which is easily solved by looking at the diagram as a series of stylised tulips connected together. The trick with this one was that it read from right to left, but there were a number of clues to give it away: " There was no 'ball' or 'arrow'; " The handout suggested it would only work one way, and " The hints page suggested it could be read "right to left or left to right".

Handout 2
Again a common navigational method when using Ordnance Survey maps, with the correct route being defined by the side you should leave each square, North, South, East or West.

Handout 3
Here entrants were asked to consider that they arrive at each junction as if along the minute hand of a watch, and depart along the hour hand. Thus, in the first instruction 'Twenty to Two', the hands are in a straight line, and therefore straight on is the correct route. The Navigation Hints suggested that the clock face does not necessarily have to be in its normal position of 12 at the top. Thus the third instruction of 17:15 indicates any hairpin left.

Handout 4
Map references are the most common form of navigation and use values on the horizontal and vertical axis to identify a particular spot on the map. In our example, a quick scan would show that only one point need be plotted to show the correct route.

Handout 5
Uses the same method as Handout 2, except that the directions are encoded. The key is given by the word NEWS, i.e. 1 = North, 2 = East etc.

Handout 6
Uses the same method as Handout 4 however, the word 'not' indicated that the defined squares are to be avoided. Again only one square need be plotted to prove the route.

Handout 7
Road rallies often indicate the map grid lines that must or must not be crossed on the correct route. In this example, we gave both, but once again, only one line need be plotted to prove the route.

Happy Rallying.
...and remember, to finish first, first you have to finish.

Terry Schraider

Well what can I say? The event was advertised in the SROC magazine, Cut and Thrust, and with our sons living in Newbury it seemed to be a good opportunity to travel up from Devon and try rallying for ourselves in a relaxed way with fellow members.

We enjoyed a good run up on the Saturday in our Series 3 ready for Sunday's early start. The instructions said meet at Cheveley service and make sure you have plenty of fuel on board. The chap at the services shop was quite excited at the time warp, as he put it, on his pumps as several entrants were also filling up.

After a briefing from Terry Schraider the cars departed at one minute intervals, we being no.18. My son David volunteered to navigate and not having done anything like this previously he had no idea what to expect. But we were determined to find our way, and have a go at the optional timing, so with the speedo at zero and stop watch started we were off round the entrance roundabout and already in front of car 17. David had his head down and gave me a continuous stream of instructions. With stop watch in hand he soon told me I was early, whilst I was watching the mileage to ensure we found the correct turnings. The weather was fine and we soon got into the swing of things. I found the driving quite relaxing as we pottered down the first 14 miles of lanes at a casual pace.

The morning saw the rare experience of four Rapiers meeting at a crossroads from different directions. It was no help following anyone else as the chances were they were lost. Check points appeared from time to time in the most unexpected places and our regular early arrival did not help in our attempts at keeping to the recommended timetable.

A steep climb up White Horse hill and a short coffee break was most welcome mid morning. Soon we were off again with more of the same routine except that additional tasks began to be thrown at us, with great glee, by the marshals at the check points. A mathematical brain was certainly required but we solved most of them.

Our lunch stop was at the splendid Littlecote House, near Hungerford where we enjoyed the buffet lunch provided, in the company of the other participants. This proved to be an ideal location with all the cars parked in front of the Tudor mansion for a photo shoot. By this time several first timers were getting stressed and no doubt there had been some raised voices and quiet moments in some cars, but all continued the challenge.

We were warned the afternoon would be more difficult and it was, with even more spanners thrown in by the marshals. We stopped for an afternoon break at Crofton beam engine, which was in steam, whilst others visited the nearby windmill before the final stretch took us through some very hilly country with amazing views until we finally found ourselves back at the Castle pub at Donnington, not to be confused with Donnington castle, where weary navigators were found downing well deserved pints.

We thoroughly enjoyed the day, but I felt it was a fraction on the long side and a little arduous for some. For me the drive was a great pleasure, but I don't think I could have hacked the navigation. It takes a lot of stamina and a good stomach. Fortunately, when at sea, David is the one passing the bacon butties round when everybody else is hanging over the rail, so he enjoyed it. He could not stop talking about next time and planned to try out the route with his brother and friends.

The lesson for us was to slow down as on a real event we would have picked up several penalties for being early. Perhaps the facts that we both drive a thousand miles at high speed each week had something to do with our hurry mode.

This was a great day and I feel sure all participants were glad of the experience and such good company. Congratulations to Terry and his team for the tremendous work they put in both before and on the day to make such a success of the Harvest Tour.

Malcolm Fletcher
Sunbeam Rapier Series III

The Harvest Tour 2004 was organised by Terry and Helen Schraider with help from other SROC members. Its aim was to give drivers and navigators a taste of UK Historic Road Rallies without the pressure of competing with stars of today and yester year. Jim Culligan you know who you are! (not THE Jim Culligan of 70's Rally fame? Ed.)

After more than twenty events together Robin Shackleton, my normal chauffeur was not available. His son was about to start University on the Monday so Robin's weekend was taken up with the transportation of George's goods and chattels to Coventry. George is about to embark on a degree course entitled "Transport Design". So, if he is his father's son watch out for 1950's influence on the 2010 Ford range. Maybe bench seats and column gear changes are ripe for revival.

Without a driver I was forced into the easy seat of the H120 giving an opportunity for Rebekah, my daughter, to experience the world that I creep off into for a few weekends each year. She has always looked upon "old cars" as objects that sit in the garage with two legs sticking out from under them for much of the time, so it would be a great for her to exercise her young brain as a navigator and see the car in a different light.

The supplementary regulations were the shortest I have ever come across. However regulation 3 stated "the event is open to four wheel road cars" which precluded Robert Grounds bringing his bubble car. He arrived in an MX5 which I thought was not allowed as it was manufactured after "31st December 1983".

Terry said its number plate, LOL 1, scraped in under "later vehicles may be accepted at the discretion of the organisers, if in the spirit of the event". (Robin, please remind me to get YWK 1 attached to the Audi.)

On arriving at the start there was a varied entry of cars including Barbara Morris in her immaculate Volvo 1800E. The last time I saw Barbara she and her car were stuck in a ditch in Donegal on the 2004 Emerald Isle Rally. A touch of exuberance on a gravel strewn bend had put Rodney (the car not the navigator) off the grey stuff and into the green. I am sure she was hoping for a less eventful day.

There was a good turn out of Rapiers ranging from an H120 all the way from Cornwall to Ken Bunyan and Tony Beale from just down the road. The rest of the field was made up of MG's, Escorts, an Austin A40 and numerous other marques.

The route took us from Newbury services up onto the Lambourn Downs for spectacular views of the Vale of the White Horse before turning south towards Hungerford and a great lunch at Littlecote House. After refreshments we followed the River Kennet towards Marlborough and then through the Savernake Forrest to the North Downs. On into Hampshire before heading east back towards Newbury and the finish. The 125 mile route took us down some wonderful lanes and into areas that I had not visited even though I lived in the area 20 years ago. Rebekah got to grips with the Tulip navigation very quickly as the road book was well set out and concise. Although not actually required, she also managed a very good attempt at some timing with me looking over her shoulder. How Derek Skinner manages to drive, navigate and do the timing when he is out with his wife Rose will never cease to amaze me.

Just as Rebekah was becoming confident with the navigators tasks Terry upped the game with route instructions passed in through the window. They covered routes through complex junctions and taxed her brain a little. However it did give the feel of a HRCR Road Rally Championship event which was the purpose of day. Terry also threw in a few tricks. The erroneous code board that tantalisingly beckons you off route just beyond where the road book instructs you to turn left. Followed almost immediately by a well sited control. The code board on the long way round a triangular junction when the road book did not state LWR. The tulip that had neither a ball nor an arrow. Finally, surely a deliberate mistake, a control at a set of green gates that the Retrotrip insisted were the wrong ones. Rebekah loved them, I secretly smiled. No doubt there were others that we did not spot but that's the fun of the day. We made errors but always enjoyed getting back on route and time.

The day ended in The Castle, a pleasant pub, for the "if only" stories and presentation of finishers awards. Rebekah went back to Oxford with tales of regularities and passage controls to tell her fellow nurses. Would we do it again? - of course. Lesson learnt by a novice navigator - its all in the road book. Lesson learnt by a novice chauffer - let the navigator get on with it.

The Harvest Tour was a great event that could be enjoyed on a number of levels. A pleasant drive with a light lunch. An introduction to tulips and other navigational methods. A non-competitive rally with an opportunity to try out timing skills. A competitive event (against yourselves) with all the tricks and turns found in an HRCR event. You could choose. I hope that the format remains the same next year so that people can use their gained experience. The addition of a test or two would add to the feel of a rally and be fun for the chauffer.

Next year my new navigator and I may attempt a couple of events, this one included, so Robin you had better be on your toes when we go back to our traditional roles. The car can now go back in the garage so that my legs have something to stick out from under.

Ralph Lodge
First time driver of Sunbeam Rapier H120 NMP 444L
ably navigated by Rebekah Kinchin