London to Sydney - by the most overland route ever!
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Historic Reliability Trial &
4x4 Adventure Drive Sept - Dec 2004 |
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The Great Silk Road 2004 ORGANISATION The Great Silk Road Historic Reliability Trial and 4x4 Adventure Drive will run from September to December 2004. It is organised by:HERO - the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation The Great Silk Road Historic Reliability Trial will be an International Historic Regularity Rally inscribed on the Sporting Calendar of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, and run in accordance with the FIA's International Sporting Code and the Event Regulations. The Great Silk Road 4x4 Adventure Drive will comply with the requirements of the MSA for a Touring Assembly, and will be run under the Event Regulations. In signing the entry form, participants agree to be bound by the Event Regulations and by such new or amended Regulations and instructions as may from time to time be issued. The event will be organised with the full authorisation of the individual FIA-affiliated national motor sporting bodies (ASNs). It will also have the active support and involvement of many local motor sporting classic vehicle associations and other bodies along the route. IMPORTANT NOTE: this event is potentially dangerous. It passes through areas and uses roads which may be hazardous. It is expressly organised to present a challenge to participants, and to test among other things their stamina, initiative, self-reliance and resourcefulness. Participants should not enter unless they accept that there is an element of risk to themselves and their vehicle. The Organisers accept no responsibility whatsoever for any accident or injury befalling participants, and are not bound to provide rescue or assistance of any kind. All participants will be required to sign the indemnity printed on the entry form. The event is run for the shared enjoyment of all participants. Although the length and the nature of the terrain make it a demanding challenge, it is a sporting and friendly event, whose object is to provide pleasure and companionship. Participants are expected at all times to show friendship, tolerance and helpfulness towards each other, and towards officials, other road users and the public. GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE EVENT The event will be run over a period of approximately three months, including rest and transit days. Participants are expected to cover, around 32,000 km (20,000 miles), almost entirely on public roads open to normal traffic. The route will be divided into daily Legs that will be mostly of between seven and twelve hours, but some will be shorter and a few will be longer. There will be a number of shorter events running parallel to this main event. These will range from six to nine weeks in length. Regulations will be issued at a later date. OUTLINE OF THE HISTORIC RELIABILITY TRIAL The Trial is not designed as a test of outright speed, but of the reliability of the vehicle over long distances, and of the resourcefulness, stamina and skills of the crew. The object of the Trial is to complete the course without incurring any penalty marks for lateness, or for any other reason, at any of the control points along the way. Those achieving this, and meeting the Gold Standard in all the Classification Tests, will be awarded a Gold Medal. Silver or Bronze Medals will also be awarded. Classification Tests will include Regularity Sections timed to the second; Circuit Lap Consistency Tests; and Manoeuvrability and Handling Tests. There will be no outright winner. The event will be run under a handicap system. The field will be divided into Age Categories, each having its own time schedule, average speeds and route to be taken. This system means that any age or class of vehicle has a fair chance of winning a Gold Medal. The average speeds set will be in accordance with the motor sport regulations and the laws of the countries traversed. In no case will they exceed 90% of the posted legal speed limit. OUTLINE OF THE 4x4 ADVENTURE DRIVE The Adventure Drive is not designed as a trial of speed or of off-roading capability, but as an enjoyable long-distance touring event which nevertheless tests the reliability of the vehicle over great distances, and the ability of the crew to cope with a long overland journey. A Trailmaster will be appointed to supervise and advise the participants, and to provide information, guidance and suggestions for each day's run. During the event, there will be a number of optional Explorer Sections, which use rougher or more challenging roads to take participants on scenic routes off the beaten track. Medals will be awarded to participants who complete all parts of the route. Silver Medals will be awarded to crews who visit the controls at the start and finish of each day; Gold Medals to those who also complete all the Explorer Sections.
ELIGIBLE VEHICLES
The Historic Reliability Trial is open to cars with three or more wheels, pick-ups and light utility and military-style vehicles made before 31st December 1976. These competing vehicles must in general conform to the FIA Historic Regularity Rally regulations and must be of authentic period specification. The Adventure Drive is open to any 4x4 vehicle which complies with the Event Regulations. The Organisers also reserve the right to allow other kinds of vehicle to take part, at their discretion, including motorcycles. Vehicles must be of good clean appearance and in proper and safe running condition. MSA UK Scrutineers will inspect all cars for compliance with these Regulations and for general appearance and safety. Vehicles found not to be eligible, or to be in unsuitable or unsafe condition, will not be allowed to start. We do not recommend using vehicles which are not capable of sustained running speeds as follows:
CREW, ENTRIES, INSURANCE, HOTELS The event is open to crews of two or more people, subject to the seating capacity of the vehicle. At least two members of the crew must be nominated as drivers, and be licensed and insured to drive the vehicle in each country the event passes through. Entries must be made by the first driver of the vehicle, who will be deemed responsible for ensuring that it complies with the Regulations. He or she must travel in the vehicle throughout. All crew members must be members of HERO - The Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation. Membership cards must be produced at Signing On. The membership subscription will be included in the entry fee. Competitors are responsible for ensuring that there are no restrictions on their entering any of the territories traversed by the event; and for securing all necessary visas, permits, vehicle carnets, immunisation and medical certificates, etc. The onus is on competitors to ensure that their vehicle complies with the legal requirements in each country. The Organisers will provide help and advice, and take steps to facilitate frontier crossings, but they cannot guarantee any competitor's right to enter or drive in any of the countries visited, especially if he or she does not have the correct paperwork. Entries must be submitted on the official form. All crew members must sign the indemnity printed on that form. It is not possible at this stage to set the final entry fee, as a number of major cost elements (in particular, fees for entering/crossing certain countries, and transportation from Indonesia to Australia) are not yet known. It is hoped that the entry fee for each part of the event will be approximately as follows, for a vehicle and a crew of two people sharing a room:
There may be a lower fee for 4x4 Adventure Drive crews. Priority will be given to crews entering the whole event. The entry fee includes
Accommodation is in hotels of international standard where these are available. Elsewhere, the best available hotels are used; however, competitors should be aware that these sometimes fall below European or North American standards. On occasions, some or all competitors may be required to camp using their own tents and sleeping bags; meals will then be available. A supplement will be payable for single hotel room occupancy where this option is available. In some places, limited hotel space may make this impossible. The entry fee does not include charter of a heavy-lift aircraft. If this becomes necessary, the Organisers reserve the right to charge a supplement to cover the extra cost. In the case of other unforeseen contingencies, the Organisers further reserve the right to increase the entry fee by up to 7.5%. By the fact of applying to enter the event, competitors undertake to pay such supplements. The closing date for entries is 30 June 2004, although the Organisers reserve the right to accept late entries. The first named driver on the entry form undertakes to pay the full amount of the entry fee in accordance with the Regulations and in default the other signatories shall be jointly and severally liable. The entry fee may be paid in instalments, due as follows:
Entry forms must be accompanied by the full sum due at that date. Discounts are available for those paying the full entry fee well in advance, as follows: full fee received before 30.09.2002, 12.5% discount; before 31.12.2002, 10% discount; before 30.06.2003, 7.5% discount; before 30.09.2003, 5% discount; before 30.12.2003, 2.5% discount.If an entrant whose payments are up to date withdraws his entry, he or she shall receive a partial refund of fees paid and/or due as outlined in the full Regulations when published. Entries which are fully paid up may by the written agreement of the Event Director be transferred to another person (whether or not they are in the same crew), who must have signed an entry form. Entrants who fall behind with payments may be deemed to forfeit their entry and the fees paid up to that point. The entry becomes the property of the Organisers, to dispose of as they see fit. MISCELLANEOUS The separately issued route outline and timetable shows each day’s run in broad terms. This is provisional and is subject to change. A detailed Road Book will be produced, which along with the provided Map Book will contain sufficient information to follow the correct route. Competitors may only use fuel, oil, tyres, wheels, tools and components which are carried in their own vehicle; or which are supplied to them by other participants in either the Reliability Trial or the 4x4 Adventure Drive, by official sweeper vehicles, or by members of the public with whom they have no connection; or which are purchased from commercial suppliers' premises en route. All other organised assistance of any kind is strictly prohibited, and outside the spirit of the event. The event covers long distances in remote areas. Although it is planned that sweeper vehicles with skilled mechanics, medically trained personnel and emergency equipment will follow the competitors, they may be delayed (for example, by demands on their services) and/or may have to omit some parts of the route. The Organisers do not warrant or make any firm undertaking to provide emergency medical or breakdown assistance. The onus is on competitors to extricate themselves from any difficulties in which they find themselves. To qualify as a Finisher, all crew members and the vehicle must (i) report at the Start and Finish Controls; (ii) report at the restart Main Controls along the route; and (iii) not incur a penalty of exclusion. INTERPRETATION AND ADJUDICATION "Organisers" means the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO) Ltd, or its successors to whom responsibility for the organisation of the event may be wholly assigned. "Regulations" means these Regulations as at herein, and as supplemented, varied or modified from time to time. Save where provided otherwise, the signatories to the entry form shall be jointly and severally liable under the Regulations. All communications shall be given to the first named driver or otherwise as determined by the Organisers. Any communication signed by the first named driver shall be binding on all the signatories. The validity, construction and interpretation of the Regulations, the Entry Form and other documents issued to competitors shall be governed by English law, and the Courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction. All parties shall however use their best endeavours to settle any dispute amicably and without resort to law. All sums of money are expressed in pounds sterling. The Town House - Leigh - Worcestershire - WR6 5LA - England |