Rally - what is it? The meaning of the word "rally"

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Rally is a kind of car racing. They pass on the tracks, which can be both open and closed. Cars for competitions are selected special or modified.

Meaning in different dictionaries

What is a rally? If we consider Ozhegov's dictionary, then this is the name of auto or motorcycle races that take place on special machines. In the encyclopedic dictionary, the meaning is more detailed: these are sports competitions in which cars or motorcycles specially prepared for races are used. They are carried out with the exact observance of a given schedule along a specific route.

What is a rally? Additional competitions

But not only racing is understood by the word "rally". The meaning of the word is much broader. This concept can be described as complex competitions in motor sports. At the same time, pilots must strictly adhere to the set schedule, moving along the specified route, which runs both on ordinary roads and on special sections.

Additional competitions included races on highways, hippodromes, mountain roads, etc. There is even a separate direction - figured driving. Cars are used most often passenger cars, havingdesign changes.

Modern rally (we already understand the meaning of the word) is an even broader concept. Standard is auto racing in a circle (ring), the size of which is from 1000 to 2000 kilometers; additional competitions can be held on tracks with a length of 20 to 40 km. With long races, up to three days, the rally can even be around the clock. During the rest, special closed parks are organized for pilots, where there is a strict regime for car maintenance, entry and exit.

Racing Rules

Here there are restrictions that pilots must comply with. Rallies are races that take place on ordinary roads. In this case, the rider passes through the control points, where they are marked by observers. The maximum speed is possible only on special sections (called DOP or SU), which overlap for the rally. On the rest of the route, pilots are required to comply with all traffic rules, but at the same time, strict time is allocated to complete the entire route.

Rally before the war

The term was first used in 1907. The first races were held in Monte Carlo. Until 1912, the term did not exist, only this year the word "rally" was used for the first time. This happened at a car race on the route between Rouen and Paris. They aroused great public interest. Prizes were awarded based on the reports of observers who then sat in each car.

It was these races that became the beginning for competitions between cities, and not only in France. They were "caught"and in other European countries. There were certain rules that exist to this day:

• start pilots separate;
• checkpoints;
• travel notes;
• driving on regular gravel roads, no matter the weather.

Post-war rally

During the First and Second World Wars, there were no competitions. Only after the war, racing began to revive. 1950 is considered the "golden age" of the sport. The races had their own names, depending on the country in which the rally was held: "Monte Carlo", "Lisbon", "Tulip", "Sweden", "Thousand Lakes" (now "Finland"), "Acropolis" and many others. The European big championship had from 10 to 12 stages, which the riders had to overcome.

Start of races in European countries

Italy has been hosting races, then not called rallies, since 1895. One of the most serious passed only in 1897. The route stretched from Lake Maggiore to Stresa with a subsequent return to the exit point. After that, the race took on a traditional character.

England "joined" the rally in 1900, when a 15-day race between the major cities of the country was organized. 70 cars took part. They could be seen closer at stops and while the pilots were resting.

In Germany, racing began in 1905. On the track there were, in addition to high-speed sections, uphill climbs. Only cars of a certain class were allowed. Since 1906, rallying has been a separate sport.

Rally today

Special short sections were invented, mostly on gravel roads. They are located away from normal traffic and residential buildings. They keep a separate time account. The Liege Rally was considered the hardest and most uncompromising, but in 1964 the track became so difficult that it was no longer possible to ride on it.

Now rallies (races) have become a separate international sport. The nature of the events has not changed much. Due to rising costs, the distances, the number of night rides and the number of stages have been reduced.

What kinds of rallies exist

They are divided into two main ones. The first pass along special routes and are called "combat". Racing has taken on a professional direction since the 1960s. They are held in areas closed to the rest of the movement. Such a route can be laid through mountain passes, forest paths, snow, ice and deserts.

Second - on public roads. R3K - "Rally of the third category". These races appeared before the special tracks. They are held on ordinary roads, and the emphasis is on the accuracy of navigation and schedules, the reliability of the car, and not on speed. The trails here are long and difficult. Such competitions are considered amateur.

There is also a separate, third type - P2K - "rally of the second category", otherwise - a motor rally. Their principle lies in the regularity of movement. High-speed sections of roads are excluded, as well as many other elements and rules of the competition. Such a rally is a team movement wheremutual assistance and strict discipline. It is also called tourist.

Rallycross - what is it?

This is a race that takes place on a circular dirt track. Such a rally (race) is quite a spectacular action, since spectators can observe almost the entire track in its entirety. At the same time, the races are not held for a while, the pilots compete with each other. Often there are touches of cars. Additional difficulties in racing are small potholes and any road bumps, jumps, climbs and descents (often steep).

Autocross is arranged on simple cars or buggies are used (single-seat cars with external wheels and frames). The second ones are specially adapted for the competition.

Rallycross is a racing event in all countries. But, for example, in the USA they are considered a separate sport, more like a slalom, where single races mainly take place. Moreover, they pass along a flat track, covered with asph alt and marked with small special cones.

In Russia, autocross is now taking place on converted UAZs. This rally, the photo of which can be seen in our article, holds the final stage, according to an established tradition, on the last October Sunday. The route for this is selected special, next to Ulyanovsk. And the autocross "Silver Boat" takes place at the CEC circuit in Tolyatti.