The National Rally is here again, and this year the event will be taking place over the weekend of the 3rd & 4th of July 2004. The format is going to be pretty much the same as that which was introduced for the first time last year, with a central finishing zone and a number of outer start zones. The finish will again be at Uttoxeter Racecourse and there'll be the choice of doing a daytime half-rally or the full rally all through the night.

Following feedback from last year's event, the designs of the inner and outer zones have been altered, with a three-hour changeover period across the zone boundaries and progressive opening and closing of the controls. This should hopefully simplify route planning and give more choice to the riders. There'll be six award categories from Medal to Platinum and if you're going for the top award you'll also need to take part in the special test that will be held on June 20th at the MIRA test facility near Hinckley.

For anyone who's not familiar with the National Rally, it's officially described as a "Navigational Scatter Rally", which means it has numerous controls but no specific route. Riders can start anywhere within a single outer zone, and then it's up to you to work out the route that you want to take. This will depend on how competitive you want to be and what award you want to go for. Around two weeks before the start, all entrants will receive a route/control matrix map and then it's down to you to work out your start point and the controls that you're going through to get to the finish.

Once again the Rally will be supporting Mencap, and everyone is encouraged to obtain sponsorship to help this excellent charity.

Motorbikestoday will be having another crack at the Rally this year, but as we need a new challenge (as if staying awake all through the night wasn't enough!) there's a very good chance that we may attempt the Platinum award, as well as choosing some very inappropriate vehicles for the run. On the other hand . . . ?

If you want to come along and take part as well, then you can get entry forms and regulations by calling the ACU on 01788-566409, or they can be downloaded from the National Rally website at www.national-rally.co.uk.It'll cost £22 for each rider, £7 for a passenger and £6 for a team entry.

Try it - it's a real challenge, both in the planning and the execution, and you'll be doing it all for a very good cause.

See you at Uttoxeter!

DH