How to get your classic car ready for a rally

If you’ve got a classic car, you’ve probably at least considered (or maybe participated in) a rally. Classic car tour rallies can be loads of fun: motoring along routes specially selected by professional rally organizers (with mechanics available when you need them), luxury accommodations, and sublime cuisine – all in the company of other car enthusiasts just like you.

Whether you decide to take on a North American tour like the California Mille or the Going to the Sun Rally, or are bold enough to ride in an international tour, you need to prepare yourself and your car for the trip. Here are a few things to consider:

You’ll be expected to be fairly self-sufficient, so make sure you understand what you’re getting yourself and your car into. That means, you’ll need to know what to do when you get to the end of each day, how to get help if you need it, and what routes to follow. All of this information should be readily available ahead of time, so you’ll just need to do a bit of homework.

Decide what you’ll do and what your co-driver will do. Will you each drive part of the time? Or will one of you drive the whole time and the other navigate the whole time? Making sure both of you are happy can make a big difference in your tour’s success.

You or your mechanic should be sure to check your car’s:

• Engine health – Does it leak, smoke, stumble or cough? Try to address these symptoms, as they could be an indication of a serious problem.
• Brakes – If you haven’t looked at the brake pads, rotors, drums, lines or cables for a while, now is the time. If any of these components look tired, it’s time to change them. Fresh brake fluid also helps.
• Electrical system – No spark, no fun! Check the output of your alternator/generator. Make sure all wiring is in good order and your battery is fresh.
• Tires – Make sure the air pressure is where it should be and look for signs of dry rot.
• Speedometer and odometer – You’ll likely be given a route book that has directions down to the tenth of a mile. You can get by with an inaccurate speedometer, but your co-driver will have to be on top on your location.

If you’re used to taking your car out for short Sunday drives only, you’ll want to make sure it’s ready for a much longer and perhaps grueling adventure. After all, putting 1,000 hard miles on a car over three or four consecutive days will make your car behave differently than it would for short stints. You may want to take it for a longer test drive at least a few weeks before the main event, to make sure you can make adjustments and repairs if needed.

If you can carry a few spare parts, do so. Things like a water or fuel pump, generator, some fan belts, hoses, a quart of oil and an oil filter may be useful. Your mechanic can also advise you on common parts on your unique model that could fail. By bringing unique spares, the rally mechanics will be better able to address any problems that may arise.

Many auto policies apply stringent mileage limitations or require you to report your odometer readings annually. The right classic car policy will not limit your ability to drive your car for hobby purposes, nor will it restrict you from using a hotel parking lot for the duration of the rally. Furthermore, verify that your insurance company provides you with towing coverage in the event of a breakdown.