Ron Slott's Road Rally Navigation Guide
So who is Ron Slott? Ron is an ancient 'know it all' Rally Navigator, who has learned his craft from a life in the Left Hand seat, being bounced and buffetted along leafy country lanes in the dead of night, for the past 30 odd years.
Ron is very keen to impart some of his accumulated knowledge to help some enthusiastic novices improve their performances and actually start to enjoy their Rallying. To this end, he is running this 'online' navigation course, in 'easy to swallow' increments, with instruction followed by realistic exercises on your own OS185 map. After each exercise, there is a link to a check sheet which will enable students to guage their own performance.
Ron stresses that the course will start with the most basic of basics, but stick with it and you will be surprised at how quickly it all comes together. Every couple of weeks he will move on to another different method of Road Rally Navigation, so keep in tune and watch this space!
Ron is very keen to impart some of his accumulated knowledge to help some enthusiastic novices improve their performances and actually start to enjoy their Rallying. To this end, he is running this 'online' navigation course, in 'easy to swallow' increments, with instruction followed by realistic exercises on your own OS185 map. After each exercise, there is a link to a check sheet which will enable students to guage their own performance.
Ron stresses that the course will start with the most basic of basics, but stick with it and you will be surprised at how quickly it all comes together. Every couple of weeks he will move on to another different method of Road Rally Navigation, so keep in tune and watch this space!
Over to Ron:
Right then! To partake of this course, you will be required to equip yourselves with a small range of vital kit. This also applies to taking part in an actual Rally, and the equipment specified here will also be vital 'on the road'. So, no excuses, go and get it:
The first thing you need of course is a map. OS185 edition D3 is the one required for this course. Now some Navigators may want to risk using a different edition (Usually cos they got the wrong one already and don't want to shell out for another). It may (and often does) work out. However, tip no 1, these map editions are listed in event regs because there are changes between the different issues. If we look for example at Nashes Green, near to Herriard (in grid square 6745) there is a difference at a 'T' junction, where the later edition shows all three roads to be 'Yellow', whilst the earlier edition shows the same junction as two 'Yellows' and one 'White'. Obviously, this could have a SERIOUS effect on the navigation, so always check the map edition, which should be specified in the event regs (The edition number is printed on the legend panel on the right side of the map. In a blue box at the very bottom of the page).
The second 'vital' piece of equipment is a 'ROAMER'. This 'tool' is used to precisely plot map references. Accuracy is important as it is often used to define a particular intended route. Illustrated above are a 'Basic Roamer' and a 'Don Barrow' item, 'Basic' and 'Don Barrow' being the manufacturers. Roamers are available from a few other companies too (see a list of addresses and contacts at the foot of this page). I prefer my 'Don Barrow' Roamer, whilst other experienced top class Navigators like my old mate 'Glynn Hayward', prefer the Basic unit. Choice is personal!
Also crucial (of course) is a sharp pencil, a sharpener and an eraser. I like a softer pencil rather than a hard one, as it produces a 'darker' line, which is easier to see under artificial light in the middle of the night.
Right then! To partake of this course, you will be required to equip yourselves with a small range of vital kit. This also applies to taking part in an actual Rally, and the equipment specified here will also be vital 'on the road'. So, no excuses, go and get it:
The first thing you need of course is a map. OS185 edition D3 is the one required for this course. Now some Navigators may want to risk using a different edition (Usually cos they got the wrong one already and don't want to shell out for another). It may (and often does) work out. However, tip no 1, these map editions are listed in event regs because there are changes between the different issues. If we look for example at Nashes Green, near to Herriard (in grid square 6745) there is a difference at a 'T' junction, where the later edition shows all three roads to be 'Yellow', whilst the earlier edition shows the same junction as two 'Yellows' and one 'White'. Obviously, this could have a SERIOUS effect on the navigation, so always check the map edition, which should be specified in the event regs (The edition number is printed on the legend panel on the right side of the map. In a blue box at the very bottom of the page).
The second 'vital' piece of equipment is a 'ROAMER'. This 'tool' is used to precisely plot map references. Accuracy is important as it is often used to define a particular intended route. Illustrated above are a 'Basic Roamer' and a 'Don Barrow' item, 'Basic' and 'Don Barrow' being the manufacturers. Roamers are available from a few other companies too (see a list of addresses and contacts at the foot of this page). I prefer my 'Don Barrow' Roamer, whilst other experienced top class Navigators like my old mate 'Glynn Hayward', prefer the Basic unit. Choice is personal!
Also crucial (of course) is a sharp pencil, a sharpener and an eraser. I like a softer pencil rather than a hard one, as it produces a 'darker' line, which is easier to see under artificial light in the middle of the night.
Lesson one - Map References:
Before we do anything - there are a couple of basic rules which always apply. These NEVER change, and they are as follows:
1 - Never cross the route. This means that the route never uses the same bit of road more than once, or crosses anywhere where it has already been. Knowing this will often help determine which way the navigation should go when you have choices of direction.
2 - Always go via the Shortest Route (Unless specifically told not to). The navigation will dictate where you must go, but between these points you should always choose the shortest route. Now this doesn't necessarily mean using whites, but we will cover that in detail later.
So, starting with the most basic of basics, here's how to plot a 'Map Reference':
When you look at an OS map, you will notice that the whole thing is covered by a 'grid' of lines, which correspond to the numbers arranged across the top/bottom and both sides. These 'lines' are known as 'Eastings' and 'Northings' (see illustration above) and are employed to identify a precise position on a map. The lines running from top to bottom, which range 'across' the map, are Eastings, (ranging from West to East). Obviously then the lines running from side to side and (ranging from bottom to top) are Northings. Each of these lines are identified by the numbers at the edge of the map. All these lines then are referred to as 'Gridlines'. We use these 'Gridlines' to identify 'Grid Squares', which is the square above and right of the intersection of the designated grid lines.
So how does it work? Like this. Take Grid square 6341. First split the number into two parts at the centre, giving you 63 and 41. Now here is another tip. The 'Easting' is always quoted first, and the 'Northing' is always second. A good way to remember this is by memorising the old Navigators saying 'You go in the door before you go upstairs - 'IN before UP'. OK so now we can see that 63 is an Easting, and first. Look at the numbers along the top of the map until you find 'Easting' 63 and follow it down the map. Then look at the side and find 'Northing' number 41. Follow both of these until they cross or 'intersect. From that intersection, the square to the top and right is the square '6341'. Check it yourself on your 185 map and you should see that the square 6341 contains the village of 'Bradley'.
Exercise:
Plot the following grid squares:
5940 5337 5354 5154 4739 6722 5529 3655 4354 3749
Check your answers by 'clicking this link'. (No cheating mind).
Before we do anything - there are a couple of basic rules which always apply. These NEVER change, and they are as follows:
1 - Never cross the route. This means that the route never uses the same bit of road more than once, or crosses anywhere where it has already been. Knowing this will often help determine which way the navigation should go when you have choices of direction.
2 - Always go via the Shortest Route (Unless specifically told not to). The navigation will dictate where you must go, but between these points you should always choose the shortest route. Now this doesn't necessarily mean using whites, but we will cover that in detail later.
So, starting with the most basic of basics, here's how to plot a 'Map Reference':
When you look at an OS map, you will notice that the whole thing is covered by a 'grid' of lines, which correspond to the numbers arranged across the top/bottom and both sides. These 'lines' are known as 'Eastings' and 'Northings' (see illustration above) and are employed to identify a precise position on a map. The lines running from top to bottom, which range 'across' the map, are Eastings, (ranging from West to East). Obviously then the lines running from side to side and (ranging from bottom to top) are Northings. Each of these lines are identified by the numbers at the edge of the map. All these lines then are referred to as 'Gridlines'. We use these 'Gridlines' to identify 'Grid Squares', which is the square above and right of the intersection of the designated grid lines.
So how does it work? Like this. Take Grid square 6341. First split the number into two parts at the centre, giving you 63 and 41. Now here is another tip. The 'Easting' is always quoted first, and the 'Northing' is always second. A good way to remember this is by memorising the old Navigators saying 'You go in the door before you go upstairs - 'IN before UP'. OK so now we can see that 63 is an Easting, and first. Look at the numbers along the top of the map until you find 'Easting' 63 and follow it down the map. Then look at the side and find 'Northing' number 41. Follow both of these until they cross or 'intersect. From that intersection, the square to the top and right is the square '6341'. Check it yourself on your 185 map and you should see that the square 6341 contains the village of 'Bradley'.
Exercise:
Plot the following grid squares:
5940 5337 5354 5154 4739 6722 5529 3655 4354 3749
Check your answers by 'clicking this link'. (No cheating mind).
So now you can plot a grid square. Unfortunately defining a route by grid squares alone is not precise enough. This is where the 'Roamer' comes in. Look at your roamer, particularly the top right hand corner. There you will find two sides of a square, which happen to be the same size as a grid square on your map. These 'corner squares are divided into increments of 10s and halves. A typical map reference given in Rallying is 6 figures ie: 603434 As before when plotting grid squares, divide the reference at the centre, giving 603 and 434. The first two numbers of each of these gives you the grid square (as before), but you are left with 3 and a 4. Place your Roamer's point at the intersection of 60 and 43. Then slide the roamer to the right until the 'Easting' grid line 60 lines up with the '3' mark on the roamer. Then slide the roamer up until the 'Northing' grid line 43 lines up with the 4 on the roamer, and the point of the roamer now indicates the precise position of the reference. Plot 603434 with your roamer and you should locate the junction adjacent to 'Flockmore Cottage' near Axford.
Exercise:
Plot the following '6 figure' map references:
651266 656274 651272 652291 657292 667296 681304 688305
Then, starting from the layby at 651266, plot the route to the layby at 688305 by passing through the remaining references in order. Don't forget 'Don't cross the route' and 'Shortest route'. Check your route by 'clicking this link'.
If you are having difficulty with any of this instruction, please feel free to e.mail me with your questions at ronaldoslottorio@gmail.com I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Well that's all for now. Back in a couple of weeks when we can play with some 'TULIPS'. Tune in and Watch this space!
Adobe PDF viewer free download - https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
Link to down load this page in PDF
LINK TO NAV 2 - 'TULIPS'
Useful Links:
Don Barrow Rally Navigation http://www.donbarrow.co.uk
The Basic Roamer Company http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk
Note: Before buying any equipment, check around your Motor Club Buddies first. You never know what is up for sale, or even available from the Club itself.
Exercise:
Plot the following '6 figure' map references:
651266 656274 651272 652291 657292 667296 681304 688305
Then, starting from the layby at 651266, plot the route to the layby at 688305 by passing through the remaining references in order. Don't forget 'Don't cross the route' and 'Shortest route'. Check your route by 'clicking this link'.
If you are having difficulty with any of this instruction, please feel free to e.mail me with your questions at ronaldoslottorio@gmail.com I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Well that's all for now. Back in a couple of weeks when we can play with some 'TULIPS'. Tune in and Watch this space!
Adobe PDF viewer free download - https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
Link to down load this page in PDF
LINK TO NAV 2 - 'TULIPS'
Useful Links:
Don Barrow Rally Navigation http://www.donbarrow.co.uk
The Basic Roamer Company http://www.thebasicroamer.co.uk
Note: Before buying any equipment, check around your Motor Club Buddies first. You never know what is up for sale, or even available from the Club itself.
