Le Jog 2010

The Sixteenth

Land’s End to John O’Groats

Reliability & Touring Trial

4th – 7th December 2010

Still considered by crews as one of the most demanding and challenging events in Europe and a definite to be ticked on your “must do” events list, the 2010 HERO Land’s End to John O’Groats Reliability Trial and Classic Car Tour is open to cars built before 1984. As to be expected in December conditions are always tough, but no-one crosses the finish line without a smile on their face.

There are the usual driving tests throughout the event plus the ‘back to basics’ navigation with crews plotting at rest halts and switching maps part way through a regularity. All of which helps competitors on Le Jog to re-live rallying as it used to be. Crews compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals plus a variety of special awards, including the much sought after Marque Team Trophy.

The entry fee on the 2010 Le Jog has again been held at the 2008 level and includes two nights’ on-event accommodation, welcome and prize giving dinners, HERO Assist on-event mechanics and finishers’  awards.

LEJOG has been described by past competitors as probably the most exhilarating, tough and demanding event of its kind in Europe, earning the accolade from the German Magazine Motor Klassik of “still the  toughest event in Europe”. As a past competitor remarked, “LE JOG is a proper rally”. The 2009 event lived up to expectations with only two gold medals awarded. Winning a gold medal is every competitor’s dream, but passing the chequered flag at the finish means as much to most competitors as achieving one of those elusive golds. As always the aim of the event is to allow crews to experience the glory days of British rallying with long navigation and regularity sections, driving tests on private land by day & night, and the occasional section of smooth forest. You will drive from one end of the UK to the other using as many minor roads as we can find.

The journey of approximately 1,500 miles will be completed in just three and a half days with the route taking you through some of the most incredible scenery in the UK. The weather in early December is always unpredictable and over the years crews have experienced everything from torrential rain, glorious sunshine, sub-zero temperatures and blizzards – often on the same day! The challenge to crews and cars is meant to be a tough one, but no specialist car preparation is required – just a well prepared car is all you need.

Two weeks before the event you will be issued with a set of General Route Instructions to allow the main controls, rest halts and link sections to be plotted. Apart from the occasional map handout, additional information needed to plot and navigate the route is issued at the start of each leg. Navigation is straightforward and no trickery is involved. LE JOG always attracts novice crews, and assistance is provided by way of a LE JOG training day held five or six weeks before the event, when various topics are covered including car and crew preparation, map reading and regularities.

On-event mechanical assistance is also provided through HERO Assist by a team of experienced mechanics. One of the characteristics of LE JOG is that crews forced to pull out due to mechanical problems have the opportunity to rejoin the event on a later leg. HERO can even help if you don’t have a suitable car through HERO Arrive & Drive.

The Touring Trial runs alongside the main event and is a noncompetitive event travelling on good quality roads through some wonderful parts of the country. Whilst a gentler event, the Tour is still quite demanding; guaranteed to test the stamina and reliability of both car and crew and always attracts enthusiastic entrants. Calling at the same main controls as the Reliability Trial, but with no time penalties or tests, competitors who complete the Tour receive finishers’ medals and are eligible for the concourse and spirit of the rally awards.

The provisional route for 2010 has overnight halts in the Telford and Newcastle areas. You can expect the usual tough night route through Wales and plenty of mileage in the north and Scotland before breakfast on Tuesday prepares you for the final sting in the tail.

The entry fee of £2,250 for the Reliability Trial and £1,085 for the Classic Tour – held for the second year at 2008 prices includes the welcome dinner at Land’s End on Friday evening, the prize giving dinner in Wick on Tuesday evening, generous awards and accommodation on Saturday and Sunday nights.

A qualifying round in the HERO Cup, LE JOG has been described as an adrenalin rush from start to finish, with great camaraderie, outstanding value per mile of competition and a sociable event with an awards dinner complete with Piper.

See the DVD of the 2009 event