Viking Four Wheel Drive Club
Club Regulations
2018 Edition
Introduction
The main aims and objectives of the V.F.W.D.C. is to have fun and enjoy our chosen form of motorsport. If you take an active interest in the club you will soon see how the competitive, social and general use of four-wheel drive vehicles provides an interesting hobby for all sorts of people.
From the hard-core competition driver through to the person who is just content to be a proud owner and belong to a club which supports their chosen marque.
Perhaps more importantly it will give you an idea of how well people can work, play and compete together in the cross country vehicle world.
The V.F.W.D.C. is primarily an off road club for people who have an keen interest in just how well 4X4’s can perform, whether driving, owning or just watching.
As always, things change over time and interest in Trials events died away, so the V.F.W.D.C. has changed to become mainly focussed on Challenge events. The membership is no longer based in a small area around Leicestershire but is spread all over the UK. For this reason, the monthly social meeting has also withered to nothing.
Demands on time and lack of support has also killed the monthly Viking Magazine, however modern technology allows us to keep members informed via the Viking 4x4 Club website and the Odyssey Batteries Winch Challenge facebook page. The facebook page is particularly successful and is well used.
Enclosed is a full set of rules and regulations that all V.F.W.D.C. events are to be run under. The committee has decided on these and it represents an important document for all members of the club.
Almost all of the rules contained within are safety related and while the club has an excellent safety record, we are sure every one will want to keep it that way.
The classes are one area that we keep an eye on and review every so often with the intention of tailoring them to the vehicles that we have competing
Please take the time to read everything contained within and implement them in your vehicle.
We must all become more safety conscious if we are to keep the clubs enviable safety record.
Throughout the year the season usually starts with running a club stand at the Donnington 4x4 Show in February. The first event of the year is in March. This is a gentle, family friendly Orienteering event. Many competitors also use this as a shakedown for the 6 round challenge series. All of our events are held on private land.
We hold 3 Orienteering events, A 6 round Challenge series and 2 two-day Challenge events, The Ragnarok and The Valhalla. With all this going on it is clear that a lot of organization is necessary so we have a hard working team of committee members. These are elected at the A.G.M. in October & November. The club year runs from January1st to December 31st.
We are always on the lookout for new sites so if you know or any suitable land please let any of the committee members know!
Shortly after you have joined you will receive your membership card. Sign it; keep it clean and safe, as you will need it to take part in any V.F.W.D.C. events.
Membership
Full membership entitles you and immediate members of your family (who live in the same household) to take part in any club event. Votes on club matters are restricted to one vote per family.
Fees: £15 per year per member. This includes all other family member living under the same roof.
Single event membership - £5 - entitles you to membership for a single event and you are not entitled to vote or receive the club magazine.
Safety at events
- Dogs will be allowed on trial sites, but must be kept on a lead and closely supervised. No dogs will be allowed in a vehicle whilst competing in Trials, Treasure Hunts, Challenge and Comp Safari events.
- Keep your children under proper control at meetings.
- Keep away from moving and competing vehicles.
- There is no smoking on sections or around vehicles especially if refuelling. This includes spectators. (3 metres from sections or vehicles).
- No persons are allowed to drive anywhereon any site unless they hold a current full drivers licence and have permission from the clerk of course. But see supplementary regulations in respect of TYRO class drivers.
- Any one who acts in an irresponsible manner may be asked to leave the event by the clerk of the course.
- All club members are to take particular care when refuelling their vehicles during trials or safaris, competitors themselves may be aware of the dangers, but members and friends who come along as spectators must not smoke anywhere near (3 metes from sections or vehicles) the pits area. There is always the danger of fire.
site etiquette
- Firstly, the insurance cover provided by the M.S.A. (paid for by part of the competitor’s entry fees) only covers damage to the site by competitors and signed on officials, free range driving could leave you open to large claims for damages from the site owners, and / or loss of the site for the club.
- Secondly the club membership fee only covers the cost of your club’s administration costs etc. it does not cover any of the cost of hiring the sites. It is unfair on the paying competitors that others are getting a days use of the site for free.
- Another point to remember is that the club only hires the sites on competition days. Club members have no right of access to any of the sites at other times, so please do not use any of them as a private playground. One illegal session on a site could well result in the club being banned from that site, and any others owned by the same company.
- Finally, never drive a section without the consent of the clerk of the course or one of the marshals.
Viking Challenge Rules
These are the general rules for Challenge events. However, each event has its own Regulations and will have Final Instructions which, though based on the general rules, may by necessity be changed or amended.
INTRODUCTION.
Viking Four Wheel Drive Club aim to organise a series of events that will encompass various disciplines of off-road club motorsport that will attract the 4x4 club competitor. These events may consist of: Trial, Winch, Gymkhana and Treasure Hunt Sections.
Eligible competitors must be able to comply with the regulations as issued by the MSA and as set out below.
- JURISDICTION
All Challenge events will be governed by the General Regulations of the MSA, (incorporating the provisions of the International Sporting Code of the FIA), these Supplementary Regulations and any written instructions that the organising club may issue for the event.
- AUTHORISATION
An MSA permit must be applied for and be in place before an event can take place.
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- ELIGIBILITY
All our National B challenge events are open to:
a)All fully elected members of the organising club,
b)Members of the following clubs:
Midland Offroad Club Buxton & District Land Rover Club
Mid-Wales Four Wheel Drive Club Mid-West Off Road Club
Stafford & Shropshire LRC WXT
AWDC
All competitors must produce a club membership card and alldrivers must produce a valid MSA Competition Licence ((P) 24.2. & 24.2.1), and full valid DVLA driving licence in order to start the competition. Winch personnel must be at least 15 years old.
- PROGRAM
Pre booked competitors will scrutineer from 07:45 hours and until 09:30 hours.
All competitors must sign on and be scrutineered at each event.
Competitors not signed on by 09:30 hours may be excluded.
Drivers Briefing, to which all competitors MUST attend, will be at 09:45.
The Event will start at 10:00 hours.
Event finishing times (and other useful information) will be posted to all competitors in the form of final Instructions and announced at the drivers briefing.
- COMPETITION
The object of the event is to visit various punches, the location of which will be indicated on the day. Each punch will be identified by a number to verify it is the desired objective. The punch will be attached to a fixed point on the objective by a cable and its location marked with a coloured board.
The control card which is attached (and removed) by the Scrutineer to a consistent point on all vehicles, must be marked with the pin punch in the correct box on the control card as proof that the objective has been visited. LHD vehicles will have punch cards attached on the same side as RHD vehicles.
The vehicle must negotiate close enough to the point to collect the punch mark without detaching either the pin punch and or the control card. Each punch will carry a predetermined score; the total of these scores will be used to determine a winner.
There may also be special tasks, which may be timed to the nearest second. These will also count towards the final scores.
The event will be for individual vehicles, each of which must carry one driver and one co-driver (herein referred to as a Team) providing they are accommodated in securely fixed seats and wearing approved (of at least) three point seatbelts or harnesses.
- CLASSES
The Championship Events will consist of three classes as follows:-
Class 1. Limited Modifications.
Vehicles do not need to be taxed for road use and may be equipped with one front winch which must have a minimum rating of twice the vehicle weight. Traction aids (locking/limited-slip/torque-bias etc) may only be used if original factory fitment.Hydraulic steering is allowed but if fitted, vehicles must carry suitable spares. Vehicles must comply with:
P58.2. – P58.2.6. & P58.4. – P58.5.5.(Challenge Special)
Class 2. Modified.
Vehicles do not need to be taxed for road use and may be equipped with one of the following: Two winches, specification as class one, (or one that is movable and is capable of multiple direction pulls), or one front fixed winch and one traction aid. Hydraulic steering is allowed but if fitted, vehicles must carry suitable spares. Vehicles must comply with:
P58.2. – P58.2.6. & P58.4. – P58.5.5.(Challenge Special)
Class 3. Unlimited Modifications.
Vehicles do not need to be taxed for road use and may be equipped with any combination of winch, specification as class two, AND diff locks. Portal axles are allowed. Hydraulic steering is allowed but if fitted, vehicles must carry suitable spares. Vehicles must comply with:
P58.2. – P58.2.6. & P58.4. – P58.5.5.(Challenge Special)
- TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
All vehicles must comply with the current MSA technical regulations and must have four wheels, all driven, and pass scrutineering before starting the event.
The maximum vehicle width shall be 2100mm (82 ½ inches).
The maximum tyre diameter shall be 940mm (37 inches) – Classes 1, 2 & 3.
(Note – some events have a class for vehicles with tyres over 37 inch – see event regs)
Portal axles are allowed. Four wheel steering and/or duplicate drive wheels are not allowed.
All competitors must comply with P55.1.9. – The use of winch sails and gloves is compulsory.
Crash helmets are to be used if a solid roof is not fitted. The helmet must comply with K10.1.
Competitors in ALL classes must use a ground sheet when working/repairing vehicles and carry a small spill kit complying with J5.20.13. (P57.5.3.)
Personal Protective Equipment is highly recommended.
The use of wire (metal) winch cable is prohibited. ONLY synthetic rope is allowed on any fitted winch on the competition vehicle.
- EVENT AWARDS
Event Awards will be presented as per the regs for each individual event.
- ENTRIES (For single day challenge events)
The entry list opens on publication of these Supplementary Regulations and closes finally 7 days before each appropriate event.
Entries will be accepted on a first come basis.
The entry fee is £50 per event for Classes 1, 2 & 3 if paid in advance
If payment is not received in advance, the fee is £60 on the day of the event
The entry fee is reduced to £45 if competitors pay up front for all rounds in advance of the 1st event. (No Post Dated Cheques)
All entries must be made on the official entry form and accompanied by the appropriate pre-paid fee either by cheque or via Pay Pal: (Pay as a Friend)
The Entries Secretary, to whom all postal entries must be sent, is:-
Mrs. Marilyn Elliott. 166 Thornborough Road, Coalville, Leicestershire. LE67 3TJ
The maximum entry for the meeting, (excluding reserves) is 35. The minimum is 15 and should this figure not be reached, the organisers have the right to cancel the event.
Entry fees may be refunded in full to a competitor withdrawing the entry at least 10 days prior to the event in writing.
- OFFICIALS
Chairman Duncan Smith
Treasurer &Entries SecretaryMarilyn Elliott
SecretaryPip Evans
Membership SecretaryBrian Elliott
Chief ScrutineerAndrew Witham
- EVENT RESULTS
Provisional event results will be published in accordance with D26.1.2. Any protests or appeals must be lodged in accordance with C5 & C6.
- ROAD BOOK/TIME CARD
Competitors will be issued with instructions which will detail the scoring system and which ‘punches’ classes are allowed to collect.
- EVENT SCORING AND PENALTIES
The individual scores to determine a winner at each event will be announced at that event’s drivers briefing, however points will be made available for punches depending on their severity, typically:
Punches 1 to 15 = 200 points each.
Punches 16 to 50 = 100 points each.
Penalties will be deducted from a team’s score during the event typically:
1500 points crossing or breaking yellow tape and/or wilful damage to a tree through bad driving or winching practices. Competitors may also be excluded from the event for tree damage at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course.
1000 points for touching yellow taped stakes.
200 points for breaking a red/white tape and/or touching red/white taped stakes.
Special Sections.
These may be short timed sections, with or without tasks. At the start of these sections, the team will be allocated a set of points which will be deducted from for time taken and/or penalties as communicated at the drivers briefing.
Marking and penalties will be applied as per these instructions, or any other instructions issued by the organisers.
- MODIFICATION OF GR’s
All other general regulations of the MSA apply as written, except for the following, which are modified:
a)ALL MARSHALS WILL BE DEEMED AS JUDGES OF FACT. Marshals must ‘sign-on’ and attend the marshals briefing at each event where further instructions will be issued by the Chief Marshal/Safety Officer.
- ODYSSEY BATTERIES WINCH CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Odyssey Batteries Winch Challenge Championship will comply with W.1.1.and:
Consist of six rounds, with the best five scores to count.
Both drivers and Co-Drivers will score points separately.
Drivers and Co-drivers will score points (for the class entered) that count towards the LRS Championship as follows:
1st in Class30 points
2nd in Class28 points
3rd in Class26 points
4th in Class24 points
5th in Class23 points
6th in Class22 points etc......
The championship scores from each event will be accumulated to determine the Driver and Co-driver (Championship) winners within each class. In the event of a draw, the competitor with the greatest number of 1st places (or 2nd & 3rd places if there is still a draw) will take precedence.
- Results
Provisional results will be published in accordance with D26.1.2. Any protests or appeals must be lodged in accordance with C5 & C6. Event Trophies will be awarded as per the regs for each event.
You will find below the original rules for Trials events but Challenge event rules have been added where appropriate. (May in places appear confusing)
Drivers championship – Trials (Note – We don’t currently run Trials events, but the rules still apply should we decide to run one)
- The club runs championships for Tyro, Showroom, RTV and CCV events on a yearly basis (Jan 1st – Dec 31st).
- For each event within the year, points are awarded as follows:
- 1st place4 points
2nd place3 points
3rd place2 points
Starting1 point - Laying out an event (Clerk of course)4 points*
- Points are also given for marshalling2 points
Laying out but not attending the event2 points - *Please note four points are to be awarded for the first two instances and two points for every subsequent event. Members must have laid out at least one event to be eligible to win a championship.
V.F.W.D.C. events
The following will apply to all V.F.W.D.C. Trials events unless otherwise stated.
- Every event will be held under the general competition regulations of the M.S.A. Ltd. and all fully elected members of any pre-invited club covered by the event permit.
- All competitors must hold a current drivers license. (Apart from TYRO).
- All competitors and passengers must show a current membership card at time of signing on.
- Seat belts must be worn during all events.
- Minimum tyre pressures are as follows:
Challenge Events10 psi
TYRO22 psi
Showroom22 psi
RTV22 psi
CCV22 psi
- Maximum Tyre outside diameter must not exceed 37 inches (Some events allow bigger diameter tyres – as per event regs)
- All trial sections will consist of 10 gates with optional start gates if the Clerk of Course wants them.
- Scrutineering will be from 8.30 am —9.30 am on the day of the event.
- Signingon will be from 8.30 am – 9.30 am on the day of the event, anyone not signed on by 9.30 am will have to pay £5.00 extra or be excluded from the event.
- Entry fees for Showroom, RTV and CCV are £20.00. The second driver of a double driven FAMILY MEMBERSHIP entry will be subject to an entry fee of £5. Tyro entry fee is £5. (See Challenge section for Challenge fees)
- SingleEvent Club Membership £5
Vehicle Trials
All competing vehicles must comply with V.F.W.D.C. scrutineering regulations as printed.