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Co-Driver Q's

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 12:05 pm
by linc44
My girlfriend has decided she wants to co-drive with me (instead of double driving on her own) and this puts us in a strange situation that I was hoping you all might be able to help us with.

After reading through the Rally America rulebook, it looks like I can update my STI to RA specs and get a logbook fairly easily. Going this route requires us to both get RA licenses, which would be a Novice license. However, a Novice license restricts me to driving only Open Light, B-Spec, and Group 2 cars so it looks like I cannot drive my STI.

The SCCNH hillclimb site has a link to Rally Car Hillclimb Rules (http://www.sccnh.org/SCCNH%20Rally%20Ca ... 0Rules.pdf) that also requires us to have a competition license, so the Novice license would be a deal-breaker for us using my STI for future hillclimb events (as driver and co-driver that is). However, the above SCCNH rally car hillclimb rules only use NA and Turbo class for NEHA events.

Question #1: Do the restrictions of an RA Novice license apply to the NEHA rally classes since Open Light, B-Spec, and Group 2 do not exist? We do not plan to ever enter any stage rallies, only NEHA events. Admittedly though, none of those three RA classes allows a driver with Novice license to compete in a turbocharged car…

Question #2: I can apply for an unrestricted license based on “significant previous automobile experience”, but has anyone here ever done this before? I have driven in 8 NEHA events (including Mt. Washington) over four years, but I have no idea what the criteria for "significant" experience might be.

Question #3: Does RA still recognize the NEHA events? Just wondering if the RA-NEHA agreement still exists since no NEHA event has been posted on the RA Eastern Region schedule since Mt. Philo in 2012.

I have also read through all the NEHA rules and the only rule that speaks to the number of people in a competing car is “one entry per car, per driver” which would appear to still be true if she was co-driving.

Question #4: If she uses the same safety equipment that I am required to as a driver, is there a rule that I am missing that prohibits her from driving with me as a hillclimb-class car? I understand that nobody does this and it would most likely be frowned upon, but I ask the question simply because it saves us from the rally license issue discussed above, as well as having to make changes to the STI. I don’t mean to sound like I’m trying to skirt the rules at all, just looking for you guys’/gals’ input.

The last option would be to sell/trade the STI and get a 2WD rally car. This is obviously not what I would like to do, but if it comes down to being able to participate with her vs not supporting my crazy habit, I’ll take the former any day! The things we do for women haha…

If you’ve made it this far, well, you must be really bored at work! All kidding aside, I appreciate any comments and insight that you may have. See you at the hill soon!

-Lincoln

Re: Co-Driver Q's

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 12:41 pm
by sdwarf36
If you have a passenger seat with belts-and she has a helmet, all she would have to do sign the waiver and se can ride on the fam run. There's twice a weekend with little to no cash outlay.

Re: Co-Driver Q's

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:10 pm
by sachilles
Next option.
You can get your NASA rallysport license. It allows you to run a turbo car from day one. Would also allow you to run empire state performance rally(a tarmac event in ny).
Your car's log book and your licensing are different matters.
You can still get your car a rally america log book.
Keep in mind to be rally legal you need a bunch of little things that add up to decent money(triangles and other in car safety stuff).

Re: Co-Driver Q's

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:21 pm
by 3rdgendennis
sachilles wrote:Next option.
You can get your NASA rallysport license. It allows you to run a turbo car from day one. Would also allow you to run empire state performance rally(a tarmac event in ny).
I second this. Nasa License is also cheaper than RA. Get the car logbooked and get all the safety gear for 2 drivers, and you should be good to go for hillclimbing in the rally class.

Re: Co-Driver Q's

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:34 pm
by walterclark
linc44 wrote: Question #1: Do the restrictions of an RA Novice license apply to the NEHA rally classes since Open Light, B-Spec, and Group 2 do not exist? We do not plan to ever enter any stage rallies, only NEHA events. Admittedly though, none of those three RA classes allows a driver with Novice license to compete in a turbocharged car…
The RA Novice license is not valid for any turbocharged car running under RA rules. A NEHA event chair may permit a Novice licensed driver/co-driver to run a turbo car because they are not aware of this restriction, but assuming RA is still awarding regional C1 points for these events, the result would not be recognized or points awarded by RA.
linc44 wrote: Question #2: I can apply for an unrestricted license based on “significant previous automobile experience”, but has anyone here ever done this before? I have driven in 8 NEHA events (including Mt. Washington) over four years, but I have no idea what the criteria for "significant" experience might be.
Probably not, based on what little I have seen. You may be awarded some credits toward your 18 coefficients. The short path as mentioned is going the NASA Rally Sport license route. You can have the car logbooked with them as well.
linc44 wrote: Question #3: Does RA still recognize the NEHA events? Just wondering if the RA-NEHA agreement still exists since no NEHA event has been posted on the RA Eastern Region schedule since Mt. Philo in 2012.
You would have to contact RA for that info. We have not had much turnout in the rally classes and the ones who do run are often just "practicing" for an upcoming rally. I think rally teams get bored easily...
linc44 wrote: I have also read through all the NEHA rules and the only rule that speaks to the number of people in a competing car is “one entry per car, per driver” which would appear to still be true if she was co-driving.

Question #4: If she uses the same safety equipment that I am required to as a driver, is there a rule that I am missing that prohibits her from driving with me as a hillclimb-class car? I understand that nobody does this and it would most likely be frowned upon, but I ask the question simply because it saves us from the rally license issue discussed above, as well as having to make changes to the STI. I don’t mean to sound like I’m trying to skirt the rules at all, just looking for you guys’/gals’ input.
By our definition, there are only 2 types of participants in NEHA hillclimbs and they are the only ones permitted on the hill during an event. Drivers and Workers. No passengers, co-drivers, riders, spectators, etc. A special set of rules was written, maintained by SCCNH, and kept separate from the NEHA rules, permitting rally teams to participate in parallel with our hillclimbs and that includes a "co-driver" in the rally car. Those rules do not apply to hillclimb cars.

Re: Co-Driver Q's

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:39 am
by linc44
Thank you all for the quick responses! Much appreciated