We won a prize!

No, because I rate going fast as f*ck over trying to maintain a 30mph average. There's no way spotting numbers pinned to bushes / posts whilst trying to drive, on average, as close to 30mph as possible beats caning the f*ck out of the car trying to max it out down the pit straight before trying to get a perfect 4-wheel drift through the first bend.

You really should work on the ability to spot a piss taking comment when you see one.

The perfect 4-wheel drift on a muddy road, sliding towards the photographer is far more entertaining! I'm sure tacks days are fun, but you really should try some road rallies, especially since you are in Wales (i think). You'll be surprised.

Well when you talk so much bullshit, it's quite difficult :)

It's a lot more challenging from a driving point of view, than going around a track where you know exactly how steep the upcoming bend is going to be. The only reason for having to note down numbers pinned to bushes/posts is so there's a way of knowing people haven't cut any bits out of the route. And the "as close to 30mph average as possible" isn't neccessarily so either, and where it is, it's not because it's slow, it's because the sheer volume of right angle bends don't allow much else.

It still, with respect, sounds like boring s**te I'd not do a 40 mile round trip for, never mind over 400.

No offence, like.

It's difficult to describe what it's like. You really need to give it a try. If you enjoy driving then you'll enjoy road rallies!

There's one going on Kent way (thats where you are isnt it?) called the Powerush on 1/2 October. Uses roads around, and including, Romney Marsh, if you know it. Give it a try! I did it last year in the Volvo and it was great fun, although our brakes gave up in the 2nd half.

I enjoy driving on the open road... as I get older, I detest the congested driving, living in a major town invariably involves. But that's half the attraction of the leisurely drives we tend to take of a weekend - we go where we want, when we want - no routes or timescales tying us down.

Was down there only on Sunday... in the car, for once.

I'm afraid it'll never be as fun, as what I get up to on the roads in question, when on the bike. ;-)

I remember Matt Faulks telling me on MSN that he was entering one such event in his Saab. If thats not too fast then seriously, what the f*ck is :D

I think on the nice solid steady at or above the limit run, when I brought the vert home, with the top up, I got 43MPG. Nice and steady. And that is a petrol turbo soft top. Normally get 27-32 commuting/mixed use.

You stupid berk.

Sorry but you're coming across as clueless.

We had a route and we didn't drive it slowly. We did have to wait for a few minutes at a few check points.

If you have to decipher the clues you then have to go some to make up the time.

But, try it rather than speculate.

And you track day'd the Cinquecento? LOL.

Either way there's a certain element of prudence applied to road rallies because they're on the road. Part of the challenge is completing the course without stuffing it. There are other road users out there. If you're going to drive like an idiot then yeah, you're better off sticking to track days.

But since track days are not competitive and the only skill is in the driving, rather than the team work involved in a navigational rally and the social aspect, you're telling us that you prefer the company of just the car rather than the team.

Navigational rallies are not for everybody but you're doing the usual dismissing of something you don't understand, rather than trying it.

LOL. You meant it as a serious comment and now you're wriggling out of it! :)

Great.

I take it you want a return of 3-2-1 to the telly, too.

You're chicken, aren't you?

You're _scared_ that an underpowered Ka and delicate driver Dervy would wipe the floor with your tarmac chewing, too-fast-for-the-competition best chassis and engine in the world, ever, Alfa 75?

I really can't be arsed.

Suffice to say that deciphering 'clues' and maintaining a 30mph average sounds dull to the extreme.

Do a pre plot event then. No clues in sight, just drive like hell. I suspect you'll still try and wriggle out of it though.

Is that where you just get handed a map with the route marked out on it? Do they do the whole numbers/letters on posts thing, or just have more marshals about so you couldn't possibly have missed out bits of the route? And do you have to stop at various time checkpoints to satisfy the "not a race" criteria of the whole event?

Same as the one you did, but you pre plot the route using something simple like grid refs before you actually start driving. So all the nav does is read the maps (and note down code boards). Typically its used on Northern/Welsh events, unfortunately due to the terrain down south plot 'n' bash (ie solve as you go) is the norm, but the few pre plot events there are are very popular.

When we did it the driver noted down code boards, and the navigator (/waves/) had his eyes absolutely glued to the map.

So do you still have to stop at the various time check points?

I averaged 22mpg in the last with with my Micra, that was also with the threat of no fuel...

I can safely say that my car needs some midrange mapping haha..

Ed

Anyone who doesn't understand exactly /which/ micra you have will be shocked by that....

... although I did get a 1.0 corsa rental to average 31mpg on a run from gatwick to hull...