Moving on from bought notes

[expat]

Occasionally British competitors doing events local to me ask me for pace notes. When I can I do help, but is that a good thing? Wouldn't it be better if they made their own? It seems there is a generation of competitors in the UK who only ever use bought notes and are incapable of writing their own. Sad to see really.
How do UK crews step up from buying to making notes? It doesn't seem such a big step to me, but it seems to be a major hurdle for some.

[Rallynavigator]

There is a concern within the UK for making your own notes. In the main these are not allowed and only "subjective route notes " are permitted.
It states in the regs for the Wyedean for example and may well illustrate what I mean

No other route notes are authorised for use on this event, and if found, will be penalised in accordance with
R25.9 and R32.2(q). This does not however preclude competitors from making notations thereon to suit their
individual purposes or to transfer information provided by the organisers (i.e. logging and safety information)

With the exception of WRC on these events with the diffrence in speed I do beleive they can change the notes . I am not aware that any other format as described within the quote are allowed.

This is not to say that you have to use notes on any rally. The road book has the stages in and a few people I know use these . For me these have not got enough detail on to be used fully.

Maps are just as good if you are confident in reading these within stage.

Surely in order to make your own notes you must have the fortunate oppurtunity of a recce which doesnt come with many events.IoM, BRC , WRC , IRC OR CONTENENTAL EVENTS are the only ones I know off.
I beleive the RAC is on maps only, but I could be wrong on this.

Surely if you can read notes and understand what you are reading there is no reason as to why individuals cannot do there own notes. Is it that difficult? I cant see why.
Scott

[expat]

Agreed, there are few opportunities to make your own notes in the UK, but why are crews reluctant to make their own notes when this is allowed?

A good co-driver can get a great deal of information from a map, but maps can never be as good as notes. The road book is certainly not up to the job.

Yes, to make your own notes you need to do a full recce. On most events I do you can run through each stage twice. Sometimes only once, occasionally more.

Making good notes is difficult and takes a lot of practise. It is harder than you might think, but I don't really understand why some crews are reluctant to make the first step by trying to make their own notes when it is allowed. Making pace notes is something you can practise (at low speed) at any time on some country roads, so I don't see any reason not to have a go.

[Rallynavigator]

Making pace notes is something you can practise (at low speed) at any time on some country roads

What system do you use when making notes, numbers descriptive??

[expat]

That is up to the driver. This year my primary driver uses a numeric system, and I will also be competing with a driver who uses descriptive notes. A co-driver should ideally be able to use any system.