Meet George: Discovering Historic Rallying with HERO-ERA

For many people, a love of historic motoring starts at home. Whether it's helping in the garage, attending events or spending weekends in the passenger seat, those early experiences often spark a lifelong passion for classic cars.

That's exactly what the new HERO-ERA Young Rallyist Programme is all about – encouraging the next generation to discover the enjoyment of historic rallying and giving young enthusiasts the opportunity to get involved alongside family and friends.

George was one of the first young competitors to receive a HERO-ERA Young Rallyist Pack before taking part in one of our events, and after catching up with him and his dad, it was clear that historic rallying had already made quite an impression.

Rallying Together

Before the start, George's dad explained why they had entered the event.

"We wanted to have a go at historic rallying because we have an old car. We normally use it for hill climbs and sprints, but we fancied doing something we could do together."

It's exactly the kind of story the Young Rallyist Programme hopes to encourage – families spending time together while learning new skills and enjoying classic motoring.

When asked whether bringing younger people into the sport was important, the answer came without hesitation.

"Absolutely. Someone's got to carry on when we've finished and can't drive anymore."

With a smile, he added:

"I'm going to need someone to drive me around and show me how it's done when I'm too slow to do it myself."

A Young Rallyist Pack

Before heading out, George received one of the first HERO-ERA Young Rallyist Packs.

Inside were a selection of practical items to help him enjoy the event, including a HERO-ERA cap, navigator's bag, polo shirt, NavKit-Pro 30, pens and stickers.

His dad immediately spotted one item that would come in useful.

"That's really helpful – we need a bag to tidy up the mess in the car!"

After the event, George admitted that choosing a favourite item wasn't easy.

"All of it, especially the cap and the bag."

Better still, his dad later told us that George spent the following day organising all of his new rally equipment into his new bag and was already halfway through reading his new book.

That's exactly what the Young Rallyist Programme is designed to inspire.

The Best Part of the Rally

So what stood out most for George?

Without hesitation, his answer was:

"The special tests!"

Asked about the most memorable moment of the day, there was another clear favourite.

"Going sideways on the gravel parts of the tests."

It's easy to see why those moments leave such a lasting impression on young competitors.

Advice for Future Young Rallyists

Historic rallying can seem daunting to newcomers, but George already had some practical advice for anyone thinking about taking part.

"Read the road book carefully and highlight important things like junctions and speed changes."

It's simple advice, but exactly the sort of tip every navigator quickly learns.

Looking Ahead

When we asked George which HERO-ERA event he'd most like to tackle in the future, his answer showed just how quickly the rallying bug can take hold.

"Peking to Paris."

It's certainly an ambitious choice, but every great rallying adventure starts somewhere.

George and his dad are already hoping to return for more UK novice events next year, and everyone at HERO-ERA is looking forward to welcoming them back.

The Young Rallyist Programme exists to inspire exactly this kind of enthusiasm, helping more young people discover the enjoyment of historic rallying while creating lasting memories with family and friends.

We can't wait to see where George's rallying journey takes him next.