To undertake and promote the operation of a Rover Owners' Club, at which,
all Land Rover enthusiasts new and old can find a welcome.
To further promote a "family" atmosphere and to encourage
family participation in the Club's activities.
To promote and hold, either alone or jointly with another club or
association, regular motor sport competitions held according to the rules of
both the A.R.C. and M.S.A.
To promote and hold, either alone or jointly with other groups, regular
events that involve driving unsurfaced rights of way, more commonly known as
"Green Lanes". Furthermore
to keep accurate records of the use of these rights of way and to help in
preserving their status.
To promote and attend any and all local displays, car rallies, country
shows, carnivals and cavalcades in order to allow members to show and demonstrate their vehicles in the
public domain and attract new members.
To foster awareness, skills and knowledge of matters relating to the use
of Land Rover products and any associated equipment in the off road situation.
To represent the Club and it's members within national bodies such as the
A.R.C., the M.S.A., G.L.A.S.S. and L.A.R.A.
To foster the need for sensible use of the environment, by promoting the
Drivers Countryside Code of Conduct.
To afford members benefits and privileges as can be arranged from time to time.
Firstly I would like to extend a warm welcome from the East Northants
Land Rover Owners Club Limited to current and new members alike.
Further in this publication, others will go into great detail of who we
are and how, why, where and when things happen, but I would like to take a few
lines to explain the basic mechanics of our Club now we have gone Limited.
On the 25th of September 2000, E.N.L.R.O.C. became a
Company Limited by Guarantee but not having Share Capital.
Many of our existing members will be well aware of the reasons behind
this, but for any newcomers I will briefly explain the
reasons why. As a Limited
Company we now have much better protection, both as individual member's and as a
group against any liabilities we may face in the future.
As a motor Club our risks fall into two distinct categories: Firstly
those risks arising from normal trading with other Club members and secondly
others which fall outside our control, usually involving some catastrophic
happening. However, whatever
happens from now on, in the event of a claim the maximum liability is £5.00 per
member, which on balance is a good idea I think you'll agree.
A full copy of the Company's Memorandum and Articles of
Association are printed elsewhere in this publication as are the Club
Rules and by-laws regulate. Please
read them, as these are the published Aims, methods of operation and other rules
by which our club now operates. Should
anyone have any queries or points
that require clarification please contact me and I will endeavour to satisfy
your enquiry promptly.
Please note: Any changes to the published Memorandum and Articles of
Association must be proposed by and seconded by two full members of the Club and voted on at the A.G.M.
Any changes to the Memorandum and Articles of Association
cannot conflict with current statute law. Any such changes must be
registered with Companies House that involves special forms and of course, a fee
of £15.00. So think about any
changes carefully before proposing them.
Similarly any changes to the
Club's Rules and by-laws regulate must be similarly proposed and voted on at the
A.G.M. However these changes do not
need to be notified to Companies house.
It is now a legal requirement that all adult members of the Club of
whatever category, applies for membership in their own right and signed in their
own handwriting. This forms the
membership register, which we are obliged to keep under the rules of the
Companies Act. We must also be able
to show when people joined the Club and when, if they so choose, they leave.
With this in mind the renewal forms and the new membership forms now make
provision for the second adult family member to register in their own right on
the reverse side of the forms. Please
note that no applications will be processed if the forms are incorrect or
incomplete as this would be breaking the law!
Should anyone require any assistance please do not hesitate to ask.
Now that second adult family members are enrolling in their own right and
using their own name, a second membership card will automatically be issued to
them. This will also help to
alleviate problems that have been experienced by some family members whilst
signing on at other A.R.C. Club events. Any cards, which are lost, stolen or
defaced, will be replaced at a cost to be determined by the Club Committee
annually.
Any queries please ask, it's no trouble….Honest.
Secondly, I would like to take this opportunity to dispel the
theory that this Club is only
a competitive club. It is true that
we have an active number of members whose interests lie in the competitive
events that we and others jointly run every year.
It is equally true to say that these people have tended to
dominate our magazine "Enyroadup" over recent years. But, and
these are undisputed facts, there are actually more members with an interest in
driving public rights of way on a regular basis and even more whose interests
lie in other non-competitive
areas.
It is easy to see why the misconception has arisen, furthermore, it is
not the fault of those active competitive members that it has. They have
enthusiastically pursued their interests, but more importantly, they have
reported their activities regularly in our Magazine to help ensure their
continued success. It is my belief
that if other elements within our club were to do the same, their interests
would be as well served and as enthusiastically followed as those of the
competitive membership. So I am
appealing to all those Club member's out there who do not want to compete in any
way to come forward and push your interests,
but above all tell the rest of us via the Club magazine what it is that you're
doing, have already done and are planning to do.
There are probably people out there right now who are doing a restoration
of some kind, or building a hybrid perhaps?
Others may be planning expeditions.
Perhaps you have a problem with your vehicle, which you are struggling to
cure. Whatever it is that interests you as an individual will undoubtedly
interest several other Club members. If you genuinely feel that your area of
interest is currently under publicised, under-utilised or even worse not served
at all, then please do something
about it, tell us.
It is our job as a Committee to serve the interests of all our members.
But it is not a job that we can do alone!.
Help us to help you by helping yourselves.
Every year the Committee stands down at the A.G.M. and is re-elected by
the membership. This is an ideal
time to get more involved with how your Club is run.
Don't be frightened to stand up and make your views known, get involved
and change your Club for the better.
Every Club or organisation needs a regular influx of new blood in order
to survive and ours is no exception. New
people bring fresh ideas and stop us from literally stagnating.
Actions speak louder than words, is it not better to put your ideas
into action rather than do nothing and change nothing and be left out? One apt definition of action from the Concise Oxford
dictionary is "A process of action, exertion of energy or influence"
So what is a Club exactly? The
same dictionary defines a club as " Coming together for joint action",
after what I've already said it's rather apt don't you think.
So next time you are sitting with a group of fellow members in a corner
of the pub discussing new ideas, or criticising some of the old ones, stop and
consider this. Don' ask, "what can
my Club do for me?". Ask,
"what can I do for my
Club?" Then do it! And don't
forget to tell the rest of us.
It occurred to me that it might be a nice idea to put together a brief
history of the East Northants Land Rover Owners Club from when it started to the
present day
E.N.L.R.O.C. was formed about 11 years ago by our Club President and my
trialling partner, Ken Sharman and his friend Stuart Abbott.
They both had a serious interest in Land Rovers and decided to form a
club. They held their first meeting
at the Star and Garter pub in Chelveston, which is situated between Rushden and
Kimbolton on the East Side of Northamptonshire, hence, the name of the Club.
After the first meeting an Article appeared in the local evening paper in
an attempt to publicise the Club and to drum up more members.
Having read the article and being the proud owner of a one-ten Land Rover
myself, I decided to go along to the next meeting.
At that meeting there were about a dozen people sitting around drinking
and talking about, yes you've guessed it, Land-Rovers, not much change there in
the last eleven or so years! Ken
introduced himself and Stuart to those people who were not at the first meeting
and explained what he had in mind. He
also asked for volunteers and ideas to help the Club get off the ground, by this
time he had persuaded Dave Vaughan to become Club Secretary and things were
beginning to take shape.
Although the Star and Garter was a friendly and welcoming pub,
unfortunately it was too small if more than twenty people wanted to gather in
one room. A new venue had to be found, which resulted in the next few meetings
being held a few miles farther east at the "Manchester Arms" in
Tilbrooke, but after a while this also proved to be unsuitable. E.N.L.R.O.C. was
on the move once again, this time to the "Nags Head" in Wolaston.
While all this was going on we were also searching for sites to hold
trials on, something we have been doing ever since. Our first "Off Road Day" was held on a motorbike
trial site at Brake Hill Farm, between Brigstock and Grafton Underwood. A
pretty tame site to what we are used to now, but it gave us the chance to get to
know each other, and also, for a lot of us, who had not done much off-road
driving to get to know our vehicles and their capabilities.
Things were progressing very well, with more events organised; a
Committee was formed to run the ever-growing Club's affairs.
If we wanted to trial our vehicles it was decided that it would be an
advantage to join the Association of Rover Club's (A.R.C.), and also the Royal
Automobile Club Motor Sports Association (now known simply as the M.S.A.) whose
role is to regulate all types of Motor Sport in the U.K.
We applied to join both organisations and after submitting the necessary
paperwork were duly accepted; E.N.L.R.O.C. was entering the big time.
The Club by now had it's first newsletter called "The Car and
Starter" derived from the "Star and Garter" Although it was typed
and photocopied in A4 format, nothing like the magazine we know today, it was
still used much as the present day magazine is to inform and entertain Club
members. The magazine as we now know it, with it's colour covers and centrefold
was started and developed by Ian Cox, continued and improved by Martin Duddy and
today, a couple of editors later, we have a magazine to be proud of.
As time progressed membership steadily increased, more "Off
Road" events took place, including weekend trialling at neighbouring Clubs
and E.N.L.R.O.C. developed into the Club we have today.
A Club which, although not by any means one of the largest in the A.R.C.,
has still made its voice heard whenever
necessary and when it had a view to express.
Yet another change of venue was forced upon us when the "Nags
Head" was closed for refurbishment. This resulted in us moving to our
present "home" The Red Lion, Brafield on the Green. Without doubt our
best venue to date with its improved facilities such as the "Off Road
Course" at the rear and the
extra conference room. We hope it will continue to be so.
The next major milestone in the Club's history was the decision to become
a Limited Company. The subject had been discussed at various times in the past
but no final decision was made. However,
considering the apparent ease at which people and organisations will sue each
other at the slightest provocation and as the result of an E.N.L.R.O.C. member's
vote, the Club set about the task of incorporation.
After many weeks hard work in preparation, on the 25th of
September 2000, E.N.L.R.O.C. became Limited.
We are now better protected as a Club and as individual members from any
claims, which may be lodged against us in the future.
In real terms as members, things will be very much as they have always
been, except you may all sleep a little better knowing you have the protection
that the Limited status now offers.
Although all the Committee and several members of the Club have been
involved in getting it all "Sorted", to coin a well used phrase, I
think a lot of the thanks must go to our present Club Secretary, Gary Culpan who
seems to have it all under control, because without him or someone equally
enthusiastic about it we would not have got it done.
So what of the future? If I could predict this I could be very wealthy
but like most others can only guess. It
does seem to me that our present Government is not altogether in favour of
recreational vehicles in the countryside with the introduction of its
Countryside and Rights of way Bill. We'll just have to keep a keen eye on all
developments and be prepared to make our voice heard whenever and wherever
necessary.
I hope the Club gives members what they expect and will continue to do so
for many years to come. I have no
doubt that things will change in the future, hopefully always for the better,
but if you feel that you would like to get more involved in
shaping these changes come forward and speak to any Committee member.
I would like to think this brief history of the Club will prove
interesting to at least a few of you, especially some of our newer members who
may not realise what a fine upstanding body of people E.N.L.R.O.C. is made of!
Some of the bodies may not be quite so fine and upstanding at the end of the
night when the covers go on the beer pumps.
Finally I would like to extend a warm welcome to all new
members. It is worth
remembering that as a group of enthusiasts our main aim should be to foster a
good-natured, friendly, atmosphere in which we can all enjoy the one thing that
unites us, our Land Rovers.
Once every month the Club meets at the Red Lion Public House at Brafield
on the Green. This, for those of
you who are not already familiar with the venue, is situated on the A428 Bedford
Road approximately three miles from Northampton. Club Night is always the Second Wednesday of every month.
On certain Club Nights we will organise some sort of event i.e. a visit
from a supplier, a photo competition, An Auto Jumble, or a video.
Other Club Nights we just get together and socialise.
Caravanning and Camping weekends are normally arranged to coincide with
the main Bank Holidays, but on request may be organised at other times if there
is sufficient demand. The Club
normally travels to another Club's venue for these weekends and it gives us all
a chance to socialise, whilst experiencing other venues that we would not
normally visit and make new friends into the bargain.
Annually a group of members always visit the A.R.C. International rally,
which is usually hosted by one of the larger Clubs within the A.R.C.
The venue is different every year as is the host club. There is something
here for everyone, competitions for those of you who like to compete, concourse
awards for those of you who prefer to show your vehicles, children's events,
even a dog show, so don't be put off attending just because you don't like
competition. There is always a good social side to this event with a beer tent,
usually some form of live entertainment and even a church service on the Sunday.
Camping and caravanning can be pre booked, anyone interested please contact me.
The Club will also usually sponsor teams in another two annual inter club
events. Firstly the Peak and
Dukeries Club inter club
challenge at Eckington and secondly the Majors
Memorial Trophy at Eastnor castle. Once
again these are two very good events both for competitors and spectators alike
and we always have a good social gathering to compliment these events to which
all Club members are welcome.
At least once a year we try to arrange a family fun day or
weekend. Fun is the main
objective. As a family Club, we try
wherever possible to encourage family participation in the Club's activities.
Other annual events include a bonfire and fireworks display in November
and every December Club night, we hold our annual Christmas Dinner and prize
giving ceremony.
Another popular annual event is the visit to Billing for the Land Rover
show. Without doubt there is something here for everyone, arena demonstrations,
static displays, club stands, beer tents and probably the largest auto jumble
since Old Sodbury. Every year the
Club organises it's own camping area within the Aquadrome and it has always
proved to be a very enjoyable weekend. Anyone
who wants to attend will also benefit from the discount that our club can offer
visitors to this event.
If anyone has any queries, or would like to discuss an idea for any
social gatherings, or would like any more information on anything listed here,
please feel free to contact me. I
am very sociable, you can talk directly to me at Club night or, if you'd
prefer, you may ring me at home. Please
try to bear in mind though that we do put a lot of effort into organising these
events and your support will be appreciated.
So come along, support your Club and get involved!
ENLROC runs two levels of competitive events,
RTV’s (Road Taxed Vehicle trials) and CCVT’s (Cross Country Vehicle
Trials. The events are run broadly
to ARC regulations and are intended to test the drivers ability to drive through
sections laid out over difficult terrain, without stopping or touching the
marker canes. RTV’s are
“intended” to be non-damaging and are open to road legal Land Rovers, they
are very competitive with many vehicles “tweaked” in any way possible to
give an advantage. CCV trials are run over severe terrain and are only for
specially prepared and ARC Log Booked vehicles with Roll Cages.
If you are new to trials and would like to experience
it first hand, then you might like to ask one of the drivers if you can be a
passenger in an event. You may also
be able to persuade an experienced trials driver to sit in with you during your
first trial. In both cases, have a word with the secretary of the meeting.
Spectators are always welcome at our meetings and if
you want to help out with the marshalling or in any other way, then that would
always be appreciated.
Whilst being competitive, the main point of our trials
is to have fun and in as safe a way as possible. I do hope you will join in and
enjoy your off-roading as much as I have.
Please respect the site we
are using and the approaches to it. If
it is farmland then please bear in mind that the farmer has to earn a living
from it whilst we are only there for
recreation. Never drive on areas where crops are growing.
·
Drivers must be full or family members of ENLROC or another pre-invited club,
and must hold a full driving licence.
·
Passengers must be full or family members of ENLROC or another pre-invited club.
One passenger only is allowed and must be at least 14 years old or 16 in a soft
topped vehicle without roll cage.
·
Cost is £15 per driver.
·
Times for Day trials - scrutineering and signing on 9.00 to 10.00. Event
starts at 10.30. For night trials
see magazine.
·
Safety is a high priority. Any driver who behaves in an unsafe manner may be
asked to leave the site. In particular, standing on moving vehicles is expressly
forbidden.
·
Two people setting out a trial we be entitled to half price entry to a
subsequent trial
Vehicles (Other than Class N) must comply with “ARC
Vehicle Regulations” as detailed in the current ARC handbook.
Essentially, any standard Land Rover will be eligible, with attention to
a few simple areas:
·
An additional return spring must be fitted to each carburettor / injector
pump / plenum chamber throttle spindle or lever to ensure that the throttle
shuts down should the linkage break. (This rule is currently under review)
·
Suitable front and rear recovery points must be fitted. These may be a
tow ball, ring, pin or NATO hook and must be held in place by high tensile bolts
passing through a spreader plate. Lashing points and Range Rover or Discovery
standard recovery points are not acceptable.
·
A suitable towrope is required. The 4.5 metre long x 24mm diameter
Polypropylene rope stocked by the club shop is ideal and is the maximum length
allowed on the road. Kinetic ropes,
Cables, Chains and Nylon strops are not allowed.
·
Everything in the vehicle must be removed or secured during competition.
Make sure the battery is secure and the fuel tank properly sealed.
·
Seat belts must be used and be correctly adjusted.
·
Class N Vehicles must comply with the above regulations but may have
non-standard springs, differentials, engines or bumpers.
Please note that these vehicles will not be eligible for ARC
events run by other clubs and will not be scoring in the standard class in
ENLROC events. They will compete
only within their own class
Additionally, for CCV trials, vehicles must be log booked by two ARC
Scrutineers, have an approved roll cage and carry an approved fire extinguisher.
Report to the Scrutineer of the Meeting to have your vehicle checked
over. If it is a CCV vehicle you may be asked to produce your Logbook so have it
ready. If all is OK you will be given a signed checklist. Proceed with this and
£12 to the secretary of the meeting and sign on for the event.
You may be asked to produce your Club Card so have it to hand.
We are not authorised to inspect MOT Certificates or Driving Licences but
you will be signing to say that they are in order when you sign on for the
event. If you have a passenger ensure that they are signed on. You will be given
a competition number to stick to your windscreen top right.
At 10.30 the Clerk of the Course will call the drivers together and
explain any special rules he wishes to apply to the event and then take you off
to the first section where you should line up in number order.
After walking the section to establish the route and the best plan of
attack, drivers will attempt to negotiate the route in competition number
sequence, the first driver drops to the back of the group for the next section
and so on.
Each section will consist of a start gate and 10 (or 12) gates marked by
pairs of canes numbered in descending order, the left cane is red and the
numbered white is on the right. The
section start gate will be set wide and is not intended as an obstacle, the
starting position is with a front hub in line with the canes.
There is no reason to touch this gate, if you do you will be deemed to
have failed to start the section and will be scored the maximum 10 (or 12)
points. (The separate start gates
and the coloured canes are not part of ARC rules, some clubs use neither)
Do not drive a section if you are not satisfied that the Clerk of the
Course has the marshals positioned correctly to observe your progress.
Align your vehicle at the start gate with the front hubs in line with the
two canes. Proceed only when asked to do so by the start marshal.
Penalties equivalent to the gate number, are given for touching either
cane of a gate and that includes the number flag, mud stuck to the side of your
tyre touching a cane counts just the same.
If you fail to maintain forward motion, however momentarily, you will be
scored the number of the gate you are approaching. To clear a gate all you need
is the leading hub through and you will score the next point down, (it is
sometimes prudent to stop with a “hub through” rather than keep going and
hit the cane) if you do this, then wait for a marshal to verify that your hub is
through before moving off. Turning
the steering wheel to get the hub through after you have stopped is not allowed.
If you do this you will be scored the previous gate even if you had stopped with
a hub through and then turned the wheel.
Leaving the driven line (the most direct driveable route through the
section), will be treated the same as stopping. Where a loop is designed into a
section the maximum extent of it will be marked by crossed canes, this area will
be kept clear of spectators and vehicles. Crossed
canes are also used as boundary markers to keep you away from hazardous areas
for instance. You are not allowed to touch crossed canes nor is any part of the
vehicle allowed to go beyond an imaginary line depicted by the crossed canes, do
either and you will collect the score of the gate you are approaching.
Vehicles with a wheelbase over 95 inches are entitled to one reverse
shunt per section only for the purpose of aiding a turn in the section, it must
be preceded by a clearly audible shout of “Shunt” before the vehicle comes
to a halt, during the reverse at least one wheel must stay within the driven
line, hit a cane in this manoeuvre and you will score it. If a driver stops with
a “hub through” having declared a “shunt”, then the score is not given
until the shunt is completed. You can only stop or shunt, you can
not do both.
After driving each section park well away from the course and then verify
your score with the points marshal before starting the next section. If you do
not then you must accept the score you were given.
If your vehicle breaks down in a trial you will be allowed to continue in
a borrowed vehicle but your scores will be the maximum points per remaining
section.
Spectators are very welcome but please park up and do not move your
vehicle. The site fees, permit and
insurance for a trial are paid by, and only cover, the drivers entered in the
event. Unofficial off roading is not permitted. Remember the “Motor Sport Can
Be Dangerous” sign at the site entrance.
Keep off the section whilst a vehicle is on course and take special care
of children. Dogs must be kept on
leads.
Without
the officials, there would be no off road competition and offers of help are
always appreciated. The Clerk of the Course has overall responsibility on the
day and the chief steward of the meeting can only adjudicate upon any decisions
he/she makes. The stewards are responsible primarily for adjudicating any
disagreements and also have an overview for safety at the event. Marshals are
responsible mainly for scoring, the secretary of the meeting for administration
and the scrutineer(s) for eligibility, safety and checking the mechanical state
of the vehicles entered. Vehicle recovery is under the supervision of the Clerk
of the Course or one person appointed by him who may request the help of
others.
The
Clerk of the Course has overall responsibility for all aspects of setting out
and running a trial. The aim is to set out 8 - 10 sections for a full day’s
event. If the site or the terrain does not allow that many sections, then it is
always possible to reverse some or all of them.
The
object is to test the drivers’ ability to negotiate tough terrain and it is
generally a battle of wits between you and the drivers. On the day, the contest
is not between the competitors; it is between them and you. It is up to you to
give them a run for their money.
The
separate section start gates used by ENLROC are there to indicate where the
vehicle starts and are not part of the section, they should not be set narrow
nor as an obstacle.
The
sections may be as complicated as you can make them but should not be so tight
that only the vehicles with “improved” steering can make the turns. Give
consideration to LWB vehicles and remember the one shunt rule. By all means set
the twists and turns in such a way that anyone not following the correct line
will be caught out, but the course must be driveable and it is recommended that
the canes are generally at least 3 metres (10 feet) apart.
Avoid
placing canes where there can be any ambiguity regarding whether a vehicle
touched them or not, well away from loose stones and branches for instance. Two
consecutive marker canes should not be placed so close together that it is hard
for a marshal to tell which one was hit first.
The
type of event will determine the severity of the course and if possible each
section should increase in difficulty as it goes. If a driver goes home with a
clean sheet then it has been too easy.
RTVs
should be non-damaging. The harder we can make these events the better but they
must remain safe, as most of the vehicles offer little protection to the
drivers.
CCV
trials are for those drivers who are there to relieve some stress - nothing gets
in their way and their vehicles are built to take it.
When you are setting out for these boys (and girls) choose a route that
looks impossible and then make it a bit harder. The next day you can stand and
watch them prove you wrong. Unlike the RTV Trial, you don’t need to have
driven the sections. As a word of
warning — these drivers get very moody if the course is too tight, they prefer
to be caught out by rivers, mountains or trees rather than a tight turn or
narrow gate.
The
Clerk of the Course is God on the day and must assert himself.
He is not there to negotiate points with drivers or marshals and must
both understand and enforce the rules even-handedly.
It is his duty to ensure that his marshals are fully conversant with the
rules in this handbook and be fully aware of any special rules he wants to add
for the day. He must remind his
marshals of the importance of their role and that it is their duty to keep a
keen eye on the progress of every vehicle.
The Clerk of the Course must tell his marshals where he wants them
positioned on each section and tell them which gates they are responsible for
scoring. Under no circumstances
when a vehicle is negotiating a section should more than one marshal be at a
particular point, they should be positioned to fully observe all the gates and
communicate the scores to the Points Marshal. It is better to have a few keen
marshals who know what they are doing than lots of them in yellow jackets
standing around chatting.
The
marshals at a trial hold a very responsible position and have a duty to the
drivers to ensure fair play and they are also the eyes and ears of the Clerk of
the Course and the Points Marshal. If the drivers and spectators have to tell
you that someone
hit a cane then you are failing in your duty.
The Clerk of the Course has the power to overrule a marshal only if he
witnessed the incident and not because a driver has lobbied him. The marshals
should enjoy the full backing of the CoC and if they carry out their task
diligently then they will have. The CoC has every right to remove a marshal who
is failing in his duties.
The
Safety Officer should arrange for a fire extinguisher to be placed at each
section start gate and should have his vehicle nearby should an incident occur.
He also has the power to change a section should he deem it unsafe.
The
Start Marshal is responsible for keeping the vehicles in competition number
order and ensuring that the drivers are in their vehicles and positioned ready
to be called to the start gate. At the start gate the marshal must check that
the vehicle is positioned with a leading hub in line with the canes, check that
the driver and their passenger are wearing correctly adjusted seat bells, check
that they are not smoking, check that the course is clear and the marshals are
ready before telling the driver to go.
The
marshals along time route must closely observe the competitors progress and
shout any scores or instructions clearly for both the driver and the other
marshals to hear. The marshal has
the right to stop a vehicle in the section should there be a safety issue and he
must stop a vehicle that has got stuck to prevent chewing up the section.
The
Points Marshal should be positioned near the end of the section and only score
the points that were shouted by a marshal or personally observed. Do not rely on
the driver to tell you what he scored. The driver having left the section is
advised to confirm his score with you and
should there be any discrepancy it must be sorted out there and then with the
marshals and the Clerk of the Course. After you have moved on to the next
section it is too late to argue and the scores will stand.
Should
a vehicle be involved in an accident or roll over firstly shout to everyone to
extinguish cigarettes then secure the vehicle, help the safety officer in any
way he requires to check for injuries and remove the occupants.
Only when the occupants
are removed should the vehicle be righted and this is to be done under the
supervision of the Clerk of the Course or one person appointed by him.
At
the end of the trial the marshals should ensure that all the equipment and canes
are collected and returned to the equipment trailer whilst the Clerk of the
Course, the Points Marshal and the Secretary of the Meeting add up the points
and organise the prize giving.
We run annual league tables for drivers and officials as well as
individual awards at each competitive event on the following basis:-
At least six RTV trials with trophy’s for 1st, 2nd
and 3rd overall, 1st LWB and 1st Class N
At least six CCV trials with trophies for 1st, 2nd
and 3rd overall and 1st leaf sprung vehicle.
All participating ENLROC members are automatically entered into the
annual championship leagues, with trophies awarded at the Christmas bash for:-
RTV 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall, 1st
LWB ,
1st Ladies and 1st Class N
CCV 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall, 1st
leaf sprung and 1st Ladies.
Officials 1st overall.
Drivers scores are calculated as follows:- 20 points for 1st place down
to one point for 20th and all other finishers. Each driver’s best
six scores are counted for RTV and CCV events.
In the event of a tie, respective drivers points will be recalculated by
reference to the number of finishers in each event. First position will be given
points equal to the number of finishers, down to one point for last place.
An event class will consist of a minimum of three drivers.
Drivers can also officiate, scoring points in both drivers and officials
league but to be eligible in any of the drivers championships they must help to
set out, scrutineer, be safety officer or secretary
of a meeting should they be required to do so.
|
|
1st
Time |
2nd
Time |
Subsequent
Times |
|
Clerk of the Course |
10 |
5 |
2 |
|
For setting out trial |
10 |
5 |
2 |
|
Steward |
8 |
4 |
1 |
|
Secretary |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
Safety Officer |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
Chief Scrutineer |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
Assistant Scrutineer |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Marshal |
4 |
2 |
1 |
Any member officiating in more than one capacity at the same event will
receive the points of the highest scoring position.
Please note the Mike Pask Memorial Trial (a combined RTV and CCV event)
and inter club challenge events do not count towards the annual championship
leagues.
Two members setting out a trial will be entitled to half price
entry at a
subsequent trial
Before leaving the site make sure your lights and number plates are clean
and do all you can to remove dirt that may otherwise be deposited on the road.
If you leave a mess then you may be invited to leave the club. We can not
afford to loose the sites we use, they are very hard to find.
Who are Scrutineers and what are their powers and duties?
At our level of competition, the Club need only appoint the scrutineer;
he or she does not need to be an M.S.A. appointee.
Their main duties are twofold: to check the vehicles eligibility for the
event, that it fulfils the requirements of the A.R.C. and the M.S.A. regulations
and secondly; to ensure that the vehicle is in a safe and sound condition to
enter an event. The Scrutineers duties also include making a report to the Clerk
of the Course concerning the vehicles that have entered the event. Should anyone be injured following an accident during an
event whilst a vehicle is competing, there may well be a judicial enquiry, such
as a Coroners court, the Scrutineer would be called to give evidence at that
enquiry.
So when the Scrutineer is giving your vehicle the once over and "Nit
Picking" all these minor faults, remember it is his or her duty to do so.
He or she is not there to enter into debate as to the roadworthiness of
any vehicle, their decision can only be overturned by lodging a protest to the
Secretary of the meeting, who may refer the complaint to the A.R.C.
Scrutineering Committee. If the
Steward(s) are present at the event they can overrule the Scrutineers decision
on a properly registered protest.
So what are the safety and eligibility checks mentioned earlier?
Well the safety checks are usually any item on the vehicle, which if it
failed during the event could cause a vehicle to become unsafe for it's
occupants and others at the event. The
eligibility checks are to ensure compliance with the regulations defined in the
Green Book.
These are the main areas
that the Scrutineer will be looking at. This
is not an exhaustive list, so don't be misled into thinking if it's not on the
list I don't have to worry about it.
The Vehicle Chassis: All sections must be
sound and any repairs to a very high standard.
The Vehicle Brakes: Foot brakes if the pedal
reaches the floor it's failed. The handbrake must hold the vehicle in second
gear low box when pulling away at low revs. All brake pipes and unions,
including the flexible hoses must be sound and free of any corrosion
The Vehicle Steering: Check the steering on
your vehicle regularly. Steering
problems account for the second highest number of failures after brakes.
Things to check for are, excessive free play, the steering wheel should
not move more than 3" / 80mm at the rim before the wheels start to turn.
Worn ball joints, Check for free play in the steering box and in the case
of vehicles with power steering, check for fluid leaks too.
The Vehicle Suspension:
All the components of the
suspension must be in good working order. The
Scrutineer will check all the springs, Shock Absorbers, Suspension Bushes,
Spring Hanger Mounts, U Bolts and Shackle Pins and Bushes.
These must all be serviceable, with no leaks, breaks, cracks or any signs
of major wear.
Engine Throttle return
Spring: A spring must be fitted
to the final linkage at the throttle. This
spring is not the one Land Rover fitted at the factory, it is an extra one that
should be fitted to the Carburettor(s) to each butterfly spindle, the control
lever on a diesel engine, or the throttle control lever on a petrol injection
engine. The reason is simple.
If the linkage falls apart then the engine will come down to idle speed
rather than race on and cause loss of control, basically it's for your safety.
This rule applies to all engines regardless of type.
Engine and Gearbox
Mountings: Broken or perished Engine
or Gearbox mountings should be replaced.
Vehicle Exhaust: All vehicles must have a
serviceable exhaust system fitted. Noise
levels must be within current D.O.T. regulations.
Broken exhausts can cause fumes to be drawn into the cab of the vehicle,
which in turn can, in certain
circumstances, cause the occupants to ingest Carbon monoxide, which is
poisonous. It is therefore in your
own interest to ensure that your vehicles exhaust is always in tip top
condition.
Vehicle Tyres: A great degree of
flexibility is present here but some tyres, such as the "V" tread
tractor or "Dumper" style tyres are prohibited.
So are open-block tread and any agricultural or implement tyres.
In R.T.V. trials only road legal tyres will be permitted.
Always check your tyre pressures as the Scrutineer can and often will to
ensure the minimum inflation pressure of 22 lb's is adhered to.
If you have any doubts as to the eligibility of your tyres contact the
Scrutineer before the event.
Vehicle Battery: The vehicle battery must
be secured in the vehicle in such a way that should the vehicle roll, the
battery will stay in its rightful place. If
it is anywhere but under the bonnet it must have a cover that will trap any
spilt acid if the vehicle overturns. Where
the battery is normally mounted under the seat (as in a 90) then you need take
no other action unless you choose to. However
it is strongly recommended that a rubber cover of some sort be placed over the
top of the battery in order to prevent sparks from being generated in the event
of something metallic coming into contact with it.
Vehicle Seat Belts.
:
A minimum of a Lap-Belt only is required in non timed events such as
R.T.V. and C.C.V., but a three point fixing with two shoulder and one lap strap
is mandatory in Competitive Safari events.
The Scrutineer will check to ensure that the belt is serviceable and it
is secured to the vehicle in an adequate manner. Once again if you have any doubts regarding your seat belts
check with the Scrutineer before the event.
Vehicle Recovery Points: All vehicles must be
fitted with a suitable front and rear recovery point.
Sooner or later they will be used. It
is strongly recommended that some form of positive locking device is used e.g.,
A Nato Hook or a Pintle Hook. A
50mm ball is sufficient, but we recommend that you affix it with the ball tip
facing rearwards (When fitted to the front) as this stops the rope from coming
off whilst pulling at the more extreme angles.
Another mandatory requirement is to fit a spreader plate behind the
bumper and rear cross member. This
will spread the load that is imposed upon the towing point and makes it a lot
less likely to fail under load. For
90's, 110's, Range Rovers and Discovery's you may use the Jate Ring recovery
method on your vehicles. One other important point to note: ALWAYS USE HIGH TENSILE NUTS AND BOLTS WHEN FITTING TOWING EQUIPMENT!
So we have covered the major points that the Scrutineer will look for.
As a general rule please also ensure that your vehicle is clean! No one
likes crawling around under a dirty vehicle.
Please be prompt, if your vehicle fails Scrutineering it is usually
possible to repair minor faults in time to be re-tested, however if you are
late, you will run out of time and consequently will not be allowed to enter the
event. Check your vehicle before leaving home and whilst your doing
that, take the grease gun with you and grease the prop shafts, steering linkages
etc, it all helps the vehicle.
Note that unless otherwise
stated Scrutineering times are 9.00am to 10.00am, please be prompt it is unfair
on other entrants to have to hang around for latecomers.
Driving unsurfaced rights of way is a popular pastime with many Land
Rover owners and our Club members are no exception. Unsurfaced vehicular rights
of way are often referred to as "Green Lanes", but there are three
main official definitions of a vehicular "Right of Way" which you will
come across. Those definitions are; (1) Byways Open To All Traffic (BOATS), (2)
All "Unclassified Roads" (or UCRs), and (3) Roads Used As Public Paths
(RUPPs). Many of these will have
vehicular rights, some however, will not.
You may also find some routes have been closed by Traffic Restriction Orders (TROs)
- the Highway Authority of the County Council puts these in place and these
signs must be obeyed. Byways have the same legal status as sealed roads, so
vehicles must be road legal, otherwise a prosecution could result.
Use only vehicular rights of way - as I have already said that not
all By-ways have vehicular rights. If
you are unsure contact me, or alternatively check the County Council definitive
maps. These are kept at County hall
and can be inspected by anyone, even little old ladies!
Many rights of way are shown on Ordnance Survey Maps.
The best ones to use are the Landranger series.
If you would like your maps marked up
correctly please contact me.
Do not assume that Ordnance Survey maps always give the correct
information on rights of way. Many
maps contain out of date detail, or have serious omissions, especially as
regards by-ways. Furthermore OS
maps do not show which roads are public UCRs and which are private access roads.
Do not assume
that every minor road is a public one. Some highways shown on maps or on signs as
"bridleways" or "Footpaths" have actually got vehicular
rights of way, but unless you have evidence of this you must not drive on any
footpath or bridleway without the landowners permission.
All by-ways are subject to the same rules and laws as surfaced roads.
There is no public right to drive off the road on common land, moorland,
sand dunes, or beaches.
Many people use these routes as footpaths and look upon vehicular traffic
with distaste. Like you, they have
every right to use them. Try not to give them ammunition to use against us,
always be polite especially if you are involved in any confrontation.
Explain that you have a legal right to drive that particular route,
however if the argument continues to develop, we find it useful if you get out
your camera and ask for their name and address.
This will usually calm down the proceedings and encourage them to leave
you alone. Little old ladies seem
to be the worst offenders, so try and dodge their handbags!
Respect the life of the countryside.
Be courteous to all other users, and take great care when passing
pedestrians and horses. Be prepared
to stop if required. Always fasten
gates and take extra care when you're near any livestock. Remember that wildlife also faces many threats and By-ways
can often be a valuable natural habitat to them.
Take extra care in spring and early summer.
Keep to the defined track, and deviate only to pass immovable
obstructions. Report any
obstructions, including low branches and very soft ground, to the Highway
Authority. If the correct route is not obvious on the ground ask local users, or
check the details held at highway authorities and local record offices.
Travel at a quiet and unobtrusive pace, in small groups.
Remember that other users also seek to escape the bustle and rush of
everyday life.
Never venture out on your own. It
is irresponsible. If you cannot
find a group of people to accompany you give me a ring.
I can usually find someone, somewhere who is in the same predicament and
put you in touch with each other. Club members do not want to have to come out
and rescue you miles from anywhere in the dead of night because you went out
alone and ill prepared. Oh yes, it has happened before!
Pay particular attention to the four "Ws"
Weather: Try not to travel on
By-ways when they risk becoming damaged beyond a point of natural recovery when
the weather does eventually improve. If
it's raining cats and dogs a lane will soon become a bog. If it does not recover naturally it will be closed for
repairs, possibly for several months and then we have one less lane to use for
our recreation.
Weight: Do not use roads, which may
be seriously damaged by the wheel pressure of your vehicle. It is worth noting
that Land Rovers are sometimes too heavy for routes in a poor state of repair.
We do not support the use of Heavy vehicles on By-ways.
Width: Do not use roads that are
too narrow for your vehicle. Avoid
damage to trees, hedges and boundaries.
Winches: Use winches only when other
methods have failed. When using
winches you must avoid damage to trees, walls, hedges and minimise the damage to
the road surface.
Ensure that you and your vehicle are fully road legal and that you are
carrying some basic recovery equipment on board. It is not an uncommon practise
among club member's to only use their own equipment when recovering their own
vehicle. Newcomers to our sport may
not yet have a full range of recovery equipment, but a towrope of suitable
quality (available from the Club Shop) is a must.
A strong recovery point on both the front and the rear is also essential.
Another invaluable piece of equipment is a C.B.
Make sure it is a good quality rig.
Poor quality ones are a pain in the backside both for you and your other
group members.
On most of the Club organised outings we will all carry flasks and a
packed lunch of some sort. We
usually stop for lunch along one of the routes that we are driving on the day
and shops etc are rarely encountered. In
some areas fuel is not always
easily obtained on a Sunday, so bring plenty along with you.
Organised Club outings are usually on Sundays. Anyone who wishes to book a trip or has any queries they
would like answered please do not hesitate to contact me. Vehicle numbers have
to be limited so as not to damage the lane beyond repair and a large group of
vehicles would attract unwelcome attention.
If you do fancy a trip out but you have missed the Club run, give me a
ring as I'm out somewhere most weekends.
I'm also a representative for GLASS (Green lane Association) so I can
deal with any enquiries regarding other areas of the country and general green
lane topics.
As a member of E.N.L.R.O.C. you obviously have an interest in Land Rovers
and will have joined the Club for a number of different reasons.
One of those reasons may well have been the shows that we attend every
year, then again it may not.
The shows that the Club attends play a very important part in publicising
the Club to non-members. They are
our showpiece, our shop window if you like, the way in which people find out who
and what we are and what we do.
We hear many people giving reasons for not attending shows such as "
Who wants to look at my old wreck" or "I can't talk to people"
some people even find these things boring.
Well if you are one of these people here are some good reasons to change
your minds and attend.
1)
It's a free day out for you and your family (you could save up to £15.00)
2)
You can show off your pride and joy (It doesn't have to be in showroom
condition)
3)
You get to meet lots of different people
4)
At one show in particular you get to demonstrate just how good your Land
Rover really is (and show up all that foreign junk)
5)
The entry fee that you have saved can be spent on your pride and joy or
beer.
6)
You give something back to your club without expending too much effort.
7)
There is usually one person who approaches us at every show wanting to
sell various Land Rover parts. (you may find that illusive part you've been
searching for)
8)
You are not expected to spend all day on the show stand. (A couple of
hours is all we ask)
9)
You will make your Club show co-ordinator deliriously happy.
Be assured that your mud splattered, well-worn, dented vehicle will be of
interest to someone.
It will not be long before people are asking you " Where can I buy
one", or "How do I go about joining". All you have to do is respond to their enquiries in an
enthusiastic manner or point them in my direction if they wish to join there and
then.
Any organisation requires a regular influx of new blood in order to
survive. Not only do newcomers make
up for membership losses, in most organisations about 5% pa, more importantly
they bring fresh enthusiasm and new ideas which allows us to progress and
develop the Club rather than stagnate and stand still.
So next time your show co-ordinator asks for some willing volunteers for
a show remember you have the opportunity to put something back into the Club and
save on the entry fee at the same time. It
isn't hard work, in fact it can be a very enjoyable, worthwhile and beneficial
experience.
So go on make a day of it,
bring the family, enjoy the show and contribute at the same time.
Using your Land Rover off road, be it at a trial or greenlaning, will
always involve an element of risk. Here
are some basic safety pointers to make our hobby as safe as we can:
Safety at trials:
·
Ensure that you have a sound understanding of the safety rules within the
ARC green handbook
·
Ensure that your vehicle is mechanically safe, this will be checked at
scrutineering
·
Listen to the instructions of any official and marshal at events
·
Ask for advice from officials or marshals if you are unsure of procedures
before the event
· &nb