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Autotesting
The Objective:
The objective is simply to drive a car around a series of short tests that are all about precision manoeuvres with both forward and reverse travel, against the clock. At the end of the day the fastest driver wins. Club events are usually run on grass but the top championships are all on tarmac. Tarmac events require a lot more experience and skill, also the cars tend to be more specialised.
Evening Autotests:
During the summer months the club runs a series of evening Autotests at Headcorn airfield. These are an ideal way to start in motor sport as they teach car control. The minimum of outlay is required in respect of both time and money as events generally run for 2 hours and you can compete in a standard roadgoing car. In recent years rules have changed to allow young drivers from the age of 14 to compete in a separate class where special conditions apply such as, having to be accompanied by a parent.
The Kent Driver:
Each year the Maidstone & Mid Kent Motor Club runs the Kent Driver tarmac Autotest, that is a round of the MSA British, BTRDA National and other regional championships, and attracts the top drivers in the sport from all over the country.
During its twenty four year history, it has become a first class event and is consistently voted one of the best rounds in the Championships.
The Kent Driver was first held in 1984 at West Malling Air Station. This was followed by six consecutive events at the Chatham Historic Dockyard, which proved to be very popular and successful, even attracting television coverage one year. The event then left the Dockyard, on amicable terms, as they really needed us to run in the winter to attract more visitors, but our Championship commitments would not permit this. So in 1991 it moved to HND International Transport in Strood, where we enjoyed considerable support from the Company until 2000, when business expansion meant the premises would no longer be available for the event that year. In 2001 the event moved to the MOD Lodge Hill Training Area. The landowner gave us considerable support in providing several excellent test sites, such as The Trees and The Parade Ground, which provided a number of challenges to drivers and had excellent spectator viewing. The sale of this site for residential development necessitated a move to our current venue at Sittingbourne Stadium.
Since 1987 the main organising team for the event has been Ann and Dave Cook, both long standing club members and experienced Autotesters.
Competition:
The events are split into classes for different types of car e.g. minis; hatchbacks; saloons; sports cars and specials. The classes are fixed in the interest of providing close competition with cars of similar ability - a small mini will always out-manoeuvre a large saloon. All cars are scrutinised at the start of each event to ensure they comply with mandatory rules set by the MSA covering safety and permitted modifications. At National level the cars are highly tuned and specifically built for the sport, comprising special suspension and transmissions to cope with the demands. At grass roots level cars are generally standard production cars, e.g. Vauxhall Nova and Ford Mondeo. Speeds are not high as drivers only use first and reverse gears but the top drivers can still reach 30 - 40mph in either direction.
Tests and Sample Diagram:
A typical “tarmac” event will consist of four or five different tests or “layouts” each run two or three times. The tests are designed specifically to make the most of the available area and a set of test diagrams are produced which show the mandatory route and direction of travel for each layout. The tests are laid out with cones or other markers as well as utilising available roadways, buildings, kerbs etc to make them more interesting. Before the competition starts drivers are allowed to “walk” the tests to familiarise themselves with the exact route they have to follow as well as deciding where and how they intend to carry out turns and changes of direction. Practice runs are not allowed.
For our clubs’ grass Autotests we will generally have six tests that are of a much simpler nature to those used for the National status tarmac events. The tests are marked with poles and in the same way as tarmac Autotests with a set of test diagrams being provided.
Each competitor is allowed two attempts at each test and the fastest time on each test counts towards the overall result.
Timing and Penalties:
Only one car at a time is permitted on a test. As the car crosses the start line the stopwatch is started. It is then up to the driver, by using swift gear changes, tight turns with the handbrake and accurately positioning the car ready for the next manoeuvre, to complete the course in the shortest possible time. At National level each test takes approximately 60 seconds to complete and is timed to a tenth of a second (the competition is that close). If a driver touches a marker, or fails to stop astride a required line with both leading wheels, a time penalty is added to his score. As the driver crosses the finish line of the test the watch is stopped. If he fails to “stop astride” the finish line and “overshoots” a penalty is applied.
Championships:
As well as club events and regional championships there are two major National championships:
The British Trial and Rally Drivers Association (BTRDA) National Championship sponsored by Demon Tweeks, comprising 16 rounds all over England, Wales and Scotland. The Motor Sports Association (MSA) British Autotest Championship comprising 7 rounds and including events in Northern Ireland. Both of these championships attract the very best drivers from the mainland, Northern and Southern Ireland where the sport is very big and often generates television coverage.
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