Principles

• Table Top Rallies are a most useful training aid for beginners and an enjoyable competitive event for more experienced club members.
• Table Top Rallies are generally map exercises these days - essential practice for navigators and a good chance for drivers to appreciate what the "other half" has to deal with (and to pick up skills themselves).
• Quick thinking and accurate plotting are the basis for success - as in car based rallies.

Compiling a Table Top Rally

• Instructions must be clear, just as they would be for a "real" rally.
• Make sure that the marking system is fully explained so that disputes can be avoided (e.g. if some answers are in the form of map references, how much tolerance will be permitted for the 3^rd and 6^th figures?).  Have a disputes procedure, just in case.
• The event should last no more than one hour.  Interest declines and frustration increases after this time - and you also want to get papers marked, results declared etc. in sensible time.
• Be specific as to which map, and, importantly, which revision (bottom right hand corner of an OS sheet - small print above the title) is to be used.  Stick to one map to keep costs down.
• Consider the needs of experts and beginners when compiling a table top - give the beginners more time, or a clue sheet perhaps?
• Do not make your event too hard - you wish to encourage new people to take part, to enjoy and complete the test so that they come back to the next table top - and to bring their friends too.
• Suggestions for route plotting:
• Map references
• Spot heights
• Compass bearings
• Tulip Diagrams
• Herringbones
• Grid Lines


All types of navigation that could be found on a 12-car, or navigational road rally generally your Table Top will comprise longer sections than car-based rallies.

• If you use something of your own, or that you have seen on rallies, that is fine - but don't forget to include a clue at the head of that section.

Example: see separate sheets
 

Further ideas

• Meet neighbouring clubs for inter-club Table Top Rallies - a chance to build useful bridges in an enjoyable way.
• Not so many years ago, Table Top Rallies often involved questions on rules, time keeping, stage rally techniques (tyre choice, service schedules etc). Though this is much less common these days, how about an event for crews (established drivers & navigators) which will help to prepare them for real rallies or to ease them gently over the step from single venue to multi-stage rallies.
• Include the Table Top Rallies in your club championship, or novice development programme.

A Table Top Rally (without time penalties) can be run in the club magazine - replies by post, or marked at the next club night.

Next Steps

• Some groups (Cotswold Motor Sport Group for example) run Table Top series for an established clientele, plus newcomers looking to broaden their horizons after enjoying Club events.
• There is a national championship which comprises several postal events - upon entering, you receive complex clues and have as much as a month to complete the exercise and return your answer sheet or marked map. A very satisfying diversion for real map fans!

 

 
 
 
 
 

Details from: Geoff White, 10 Wilding Drive, Kesgrave, Near Ipswich, Suffolk 1P5 7AE. Telephone (01473) 621328.

Table Top Rally

General Rules

1. OS Map 151 Edition C is to be used.
2. CRO -  coloured roads only

WUW - will use whites
MUW - may use whites
3. Roads that either do not go, or go off the map are ignored. For the purposes of this event, all gates are considered to be open!
4. Always take the shortest route consistent with the information given.
5. A master map will be available for inspection once the rally is complete. Any queries to be directed to the organiser. Any disputes will be considered by the Steward.
6. When considering map references, the tolerance allowed is within 1/2 on the third and sixth figures.

Penalties