Rally Recovery – How do I get started?
Before you commit yourself to spending money on a vehicle and equipment you need to know if you are going to like rally recovery.
If you already involved in rallying, either as a marshal, radio crew or even an event organiser the first thing I would suggest is to talk to an existing unit if there is one situated one your stage or give us a call. On the whole we are only too willing to discuss what we do although sometimes, if we are busy, our minds will be on the job in hand.
On the other hand we have seen many marshals, radio cars and event officials taking on the role of recovery without the proper equipment and making a right mess of it. And everyone’s an ‘expert’!
A 4WD and a ‘Halfords’ tow rope do not a
recovery unit make.
A period of crewing for a unit, or shadowing if all the seats are taken, is essential to get out and see things from our perspective. You may well be surprised at the skills required to do the job properly.
Assuming you still want to go ahead then step one is to find a mentor unit Team Leader who will need to countersign your licence application. All AMRO units are on this site but there are a number of independent units and details of these can be obtained from the MSA or John Blackwell [see contacts page]
Your next step is to
apply for a trainee MSA licence for yourself and your crewmembers. I would
suggest you keep this number to a minimum to start with to determine the level
of commitment as we have had cases where a unit has registered numerous
trainees who drop out after just a couple of events. You will be issued with an
event record card and can obtain your event and training signatures on it. The
back of your licence IS NOT the place to get your recovery signatures.
I’ve put together a few
FAQ’s from interested people that may help you.
No.
Provided you meet the 4WD requirement, Rally Recovery units are owner–operated
private vehicles, although the rules allow for commercial garages, and in many
cases double for the family car in between events. Obviously, the task, terrain and equipment to be carried
determine which type of vehicle is needed but I would think a Land Rover 90 or
the like is as small as you could safely go.
The modern 4WD crew cab Nissan’s, Mitsubishi’s etc are becoming
increasingly popular. Look at the
pictures in the ‘gallery’ to get an idea. Your budget will set your limit but
remember that any vehicle you use is going to work for a living!
Once you are sure you want to go ahead then you are going to need a winch. I wouldn’t fit one of lower rating than 8000lb as some of the casualties we are likely to encounter are exceptionally heavy when you add the weight of the car, the lack of wheels and the slope and type of the terrain you may be pulling up.
Under-body
protection for your vehicle is not essential.
No.
As a trainee you will not be going out on stage unsupervised [except for perhaps
the straight tow ins] so during your trainee period you will be able to observe
your mentor unit and other existing units kit and build up your own.
An
MSA emergency frequency radio will be one of your biggest outlays so unless you
already own one or are a member of a motor club that has a supply make sure you
are ready to go forward before purchasing as they can be in the region of £300.
No.
However, you need one main mentor who will guide you through your training
period and help you towards your assessment but it is possible that at times
you may not both be able to attend the same events.
Once
you are known on the circuit then it is possible that you can build a rapport
with other Team Leaders and attend a variety of events. To a point this is
advisable, as you will be able to experience other ways of working and other
types of kit.
Events
will not book you a trainee without the presence of an experience unit.
No.
There are two levels of unit, Light [without suspended tow] & Heavy [with
suspended tow facility]. The choice is yours depending on your commitment and
the size of your wallet.
You
will see I have worded it as ‘suspended tow facility’ as there are several
alternatives.
a. car
trailer – cumbersome on stage,
awkward to turn and
park
and can be difficult to load a badly damaged car. On the plus side once a car
is on board it is secure and it matters not if it is 2 or 4 WD.
b. Spec-Lift - the ideal
method but expensive and needs a vehicle big enough to fit it to. Ex-garage
units are readily available but don’t forget the 4WD requirement.
c. Towable Crane - Harvey
Frost made the original and nearly all the units you will meet use this type or
a derivative. A lot of the ones in use today have been extended or had wide
axles fitted.
Be extremely careful of home made alterations as loading weights and strains can be excessive.
Any car, but more importantly 4WD competitive cars, can bring their own
problems and it is very important that you understand the suspended tow part of
the discipline and the principals involved before just hooking up.
As part of your trainee period there is a requirement to attend two MSA
recognised rally recovery training days. Here you can be instructed on methods
of work you may not have experienced on events, types of equipment you may not
have come across and be given the opportunity to practice your existing skills.
In addition to this there is a requirement to attend a basic marshals
training day. Here you will be given the opportunity to experience hands-on
fire fighting, basic First-Aid and radio operations. Unless you are already au-fait with rally set ups and running
then you can see where we fit into the whole picture. As a member of the
marshal’s register you may well have attended the latter type of day and this
is acceptable.
The simple answer is that the car your are recovering will be but your
vehicle may not.
The are two elements to this very contentious problem.
a The
standard MSA insurance provided third party insurance which means that the
competitor could claim [and has done so several times] against the recovery
unit for any damage caused. Provided your are LICENCED and carrying out your
work correctly then you should be OK. As the car is likely to be damaged when
it crashes then the level of later inflicted damage is debatable but a lot are
unmarked and do not want a careless, over-enthusiastic operator wrecking their
pride and joy.
B CHECK YOUR POLICY. Nearly all private policies have disclaimers
covering any form of motorsport, whether competing or just marshalling so you
may be on your own once you enter stage. One policy I know stops when you load
your equipment, others assume [wrongly] that the MSA will pick up the tab.
COMPETITION
CAR have developed a policy which is very well worth considering if you go the
whole way to setting up a unit. This does cover your vehicle on and off the
road and during the event when you will be working and covers all of your
equipment.
No. However, it is highly recommended, for your own safety, that you
have some first aid knowledge and the HSE at Work [10+ persons] type of course
and certificate is ideal.
There will be times when your unit is working alone with some extremely
dangerous kit in hazardous conditions and will need this knowledge. Other times
you may be the first on scene of an accident.
We work closely with Rally Rescue Units and you may well find yourself
helping with rescue activities under the direction of a doctor or Rescue crew
member.
This
is negotiable and depends on event organisers. Generally, trainee units, when
shadowing, do not figure in an events finances.
You are never going to get rich or make a living at rally recovery so treat it as a hobby.
Most
event organisers [but certainly not all] are realistic in their outlook and
realise the cost of running a unit and are willing to pay reasonable expenses
but this can vary considerably.
Yes. There are three levels of membership but
anyone who holds a recovery licence will be expected to join as a full [or
family] member.
Still interested? Want to
know more?
Pick up the phone and
ring me or speak to a Unit Team Leader on your next event. Hopefully I’ll get
to see you out there in the mud soon.
John Blackwell