REVIEW OF THE ROAD RALLY HANDBOOK BY BILL JONESI

       It's been over fourteen years since a book on time & distance rallying
  has been published. Now a new one is available, THE ROAD RALLY HANDBOOK, by
  Clint Goss, and it is quite good. The book is broken down into progressive
  sections; from getting started, running competitive in Novice class,
  equipment needed for Stock, Limited, & Unlimited equipment classes as well
  as stratigies for running each. There are also sections on car preparation,
  rally driving, main road rules and traps you may encounter on various
  events.

       For those just beginning to run rallyes there is plenty of advise as
  to; who should drive (the one weaker in math, who shouldn't be the
  navigator), what to do before the rallye (besides the last minute pit stop,
  of course), what to do on the odometer check, how to do basis calculations,
  what to do at checkpoints, rallye etiquette, and of course what is a good
  score (not getting lost is the thing to work on first).

       For those with more experience, Clint Goss spends over half the book
  detailing each level of equipment available for each of the classes that
  might be available to run. In Stock class he discusses how to get the most
  out of your stock speedometer/odometer and what to do with the clock. Also
  what calculations you will need to do based on which calculation aids you
  are allowed (calculator, programable calculator, sliderule, tables, etc) are
  addressed. Moving up to Limited equipment (odo class) he charts out (feature
  by feature) all the additional toys that are (or were) available (known as
  B-boxes). From there it is a short step to Unlimited equipment (computer)
  class, and a equally thorough chart of all commercial A-boxes is provided.
  There is an additional chapter devoted to the Speedometer only class for
  those interested in running The Great American Race events.

       On the subject of equipment this is the best and most thorough rallye
  book ever written. However the author is an East coast class B navigator,
  and as such his book omits an entire class of special built clocks designed
  for monte carlo and pan-am style rallyes more popular here in California.
  The author mentions the Curta, a wonderful mechanical calculator and goes
  into detail on the 'Minutes per mile rate system' for calculating on it.
  Surprisingly missing is the 'Corrected hour system' which is quicker and
  easier to use and hence more competitive.

       The last section of the book is devoted to an overview of the different
  types of traps you might encounter on national and local rallyes.
  Unfortunately this is much to superficial taking less than 10% of the book,
  when errors on rallyes are about 90% traps and 10% proper equipment or use
  of that equipment. Stronger emphasis on traps is my only real criticism of
  and otherwise excellent book. Clint Goss finishes up with a very helpful
  appendix on who to contact for rallye equipment and events and also a
  listing of previous books on rallying. The handbook is a "must have" for
  anyone who considered their hobby to be Time & Distance rallyes.

       THE ROAD RALLY HANDBOOK, by Clint Goss, Publisher Rally America, 6
  Fieldcrest Rd, Westport, CT 06880. 368 Pages, softbound 1993  $34.95 is
  available locally through T AND D RALLYE PERFORMANCE, STU HELFER 7604 ERROL
  DR. EL CERRITO, CA 94530 (510) 527-8787.