Sachsen Classic 2012 - rally course: & # 34; None of this is really difficult & # 34;

H arald Koepke, organizational manager of the Sachsen Classic, and Christian Geistdörfer, two-time rally world champion and experienced classic car rally driver, first explained the theory of a regularity rally to the more than 100 participants before the teams were allowed to climb into their classics to try out what they had learned in practice.

Keep calm and reduce stress

Christian Geistdörfer advises the novice right at the beginning n: 'Always stay calm, reduce stress and just keep swimming', because only then can you keep a calm head. It is completely inappropriate to act rashly in a regularity rally. Extensive preparation and good team play are therefore important. 'It starts with communication,' says Geistdörfer. It must be clear from the start that the front passenger makes the announcements and the driver obeys. Only if the tasks are clearly assigned does it run smoothly.

The secret of counting

So that it runs smoothly, counting has to be right and the time is right. After all, a regularity rally like the Sachsen Classic is all about hundredths. For every hundredth of a deviation there is a penalty point on the account. 'Some can count from 15 to zero well, some can't. But counting up or down, it doesn't matter, the main thing is that the driver and front passenger do the same,' emphasizes Geistdörfer.

The very simple physics

Koepke and Geistdörfer explain how to read the road book, what the different signs and symbols mean, what the difference between a WP' short 'and a WP' double (short-short) 'is what kind of controls there are and how a boarding pass should be handled. After the tools of the regularity rally have been clarified, the two timing methods used at the Sachsen Classic are discussed.

On the one hand, there is the hose measurement, in which the measurement is triggered by driving over a pressure hose. On the other hand, the light barrier measurement. The difference lies in the detail: the measurement is triggered earlier with the light barrier. Depending on the vehicle, through fenders, headlight housings, bumpers or radiator grills. 'When testing the hose, the trigger point is much further back. But be careful: it is also around six to eight centimeters in front of theWheel hub center because the tire has a larger contact area. So please keep that in mind, 'advises Geistdörfer.

Harald Koepke still remembers the physical basics:' The faster you get into the special stage, the smaller the deviation afterwards - that's very simple physics. '

'It's really not difficult'

'Even if it sounds different, that's all not really difficult ', Koepke reassures the newcomers,' it is like everything in life: Practice makes perfect, and you can try everything out on our four practice WPs and you will notice that it is fun and always runs better. '

Before the novices were allowed to practice on the Sachsenring, Christian Geistdörfer gave them one more piece of advice:' If they zero out, that is to say, when they land with a deviation of 0.0 seconds, they stop training . Preserve the impression for the first stage tomorrow. '