The Fifteenth Land’s End to John O’Groats Reliability & Touring Trial
5th to 8th December 2009
“LE JOG is probably the most exhilarating and tough event of this type in Europe testing all kind of skills from driving to map reading to personal discipline. A true challenge for car and crew. A definite MUST for all “Petrol Heads” worldwide wanting to experience true Rallying.”
Tomas de Vargas Machuca
“Nothing you read or hear does justice to the experience of LE JOG. The conditions were unbelievable this year. We drowned out in Bury Ford in
Somerset and skidded on ice in
Wales, and that was just the first day! The weather was treacherous but just added to the sense of achievement. LE JOG is all about conquering the challenges and surviving against the odds. The high of making it to the end lasts for a long time. Silver medal? That’ll do nicely!!!!!” Dominic Anghileri
“Planned to perfection, the route of the 2008 LE JOG was incredible. Although the tough conditions, incessant nature and night driving of the rally weren’t conducive to sight-seeing, we experienced some of the most spectacular driving roads in
Britain – even if they were covered in ice, snow and floodwater…! But then again, without the challenge, it just wouldn’t be LE JOG!” Tom Anghileri
Quotes from just a few of the finishers on the 2008 LE JOG which yet again lived up to its well deserved reputation as one of the most demanding and challenging events in Europe. In 2007 Hans-Jorg Gotzl
from the German Motor Klassik magazine reinforced a statement he made several years before that LE JOG is “still the toughest event of its kind in
Europe”. Hans-Jorg and his co-driver Christian returned in 2008 in another ex-works Opel and once again told the organisers that LE JOG’s reputation is well deserved.
The aim is to drive from one end of
Great Britain to the other using as many minor and remote roads as the route will allow, and complete the journey of approximately 1500 miles in just three and a half days. The route will take you through some of the most stunning and incredible scenery in the
UK and along roads you would be most unlikely to find on your own. As was shown in 2008, the weather in early December can be totally unpredictable and over the years crews have experienced everything from torrential rain, glorious sunshine, sub-zero temperatures and blizzards – sometimes on the same event!
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. 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, of which only a handful are awarded each year.
LE JOG aims to allow crews to experience the heydays of British Rallying with long navigation and regularity sections, driving and manoeuvrability tests on private land by day and night and the occasional section of smooth forest driving. Two weeks before the event all crews are issued with a set of General Route Instructions which allow them to pre-plot main controls, rest halts and link sections etc. Apart from the occasional map handout, the additional information needed to plot and navigate the route is issued at the start of each leg. Crews are also supplied with certain maps and/or map books. 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 by a team of experienced mechanics who set up mobile workshops at the main rest halts and overnight stops. Recovery and “sweeper” crews follow the event to provide assistance. 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.
The LE JOG Touring Trial is a non-competitive run travelling on good quality roads and through some wonderful parts of the country, calling at many of the same controls as the Reliability Trial, but with no time penalties or tests.
Whilst it is 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. Competitors who complete the Tour receive finishers’ medals and are eligible for concourse and spirit of the rally awards.
The provisional route for 2009 has overnight halts in the
Cheshire 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. As usual your entry fee includes the welcome dinner at
Land’s End on Friday evening, the prize giving dinner in Wick on Tuesday evening, and accommodation on Saturday and Sunday nights. The event is run according to HERO Standard Regulations (v3 2008) as amended in the ASRs and bulletins for the event.
The Marque Team Trophy (won in 2008 by a team of Citroens) is regarded by many as the main award on LE JOG. So if you and a couple of friends can put together a team of three cars of the same make and model, we will only charge you for two full entry fees.
However, all three entry forms must be submitted together and the fees must be paid in full by 30th June.
For rarer cars, three of the same make will be allowed.
LE JOG has been described as an adrenalin rush from start to finish, with great camaraderie, outstanding value per mile of competition compared with other similar events, on-event mechanics that will work all night if necessary to keep you on the move, and a sociable event with an awards dinner complete with Piper. To quote a competitor on the 2007 event “LE JOG is a proper rally”. Soon after the 2008 event, crews were already asking to reserve entries for 2009, and so to guarantee a place in 2009 please submit your completed application as soon as possible. As always, generous discounts apply to early entrants.
