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Auto testing used to be
known as ‘Driving tests’ but when the “L” test was introduced some years
ago the name was changed to Auto testing.
Auto testing can be competed in a pretty much standard road car by motor club members. It is only at national events that a competition licence is needed, and this only has to be a clubman licence available from the MSA for only £10.
The aim of the test is to complete a course laid out on the test site in as quicker time as possible. The competitor must complete many of these tests at an event were all the times for each test will be added together and the person with the fastest time of day (FTD) is the winner, however there can be up to 7 different classes of witch there will be a winner for each. Classes are determined by car type i.e. Mini’s with small or large engines, front or rear wheel drive saloons or cars over a certain length.
If a test is done incorrectly this is known as (WD) wrong direction or (WO) wash out, the time given to a competitor in this case is usually based on the quickest time in there class plus 30 seconds. Penalties are also given for not crossing a line correctly or for touching markers (cones).
Richard Davis.
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The diagram on the left is typically one of the simplest tests, you should pull up behind the line (S) and the marshal will say, “Start in your own time” when your front wheels cross the line the marshal will start the watch. In the case of this test you will proceed forwards crossing line “A” you will then ‘stop astride’ line “B” and reverse (this is always shown dotted) back to line “A” where you will stop astride again. You will then set off forward again, crossing line “B” and going around cone “C” clockwise up to line “D” where you will stop astride again. Then you should reverse to line “E” and stop astride and then forwards to the finish “F”, when the car comes to rest the marshal will stop the clock. If any cones are touched then a penalty will be added to your time of 5 of 10 seconds, also if you do not cross the ‘stop astride’ lines with 2 wheels or if you over shoot and cross with more than 2 wheels again a penalty will be added, this also applies to the finish line. Some more complex test will call for a free turn / Handbrake turn / Change of direction, this will be shown on the diagram by “FT” or the route line may just change from solid to a broken line. |
| Here are two movies which you can
download showing some of the HMC autotestcars completing on the
autotest shown in the diagram above.
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Below are a selection of other pictures from the Boxing Day Autotest showing other HMC competitors
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This last photo shown the effect of driving a mini through a puddle at high speed, as you can see the results are quite simple --> IT STOPS.....the only thing left to do is get out and push |
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