12 days of StreetCar: Navigators 

The key to the co-driver role is very much being able to work as a team, no matter the level at which you are taking part. From reading pace notes, to studying the stages and really knowing your driver, navigation is an art form in itself.  

Getting started in navigating is perhaps the easiest way to get involved in StreetCar, read on to see where it could take you… 

Ilkley & District Motor Club host a diverse calendar of events, and are notorious for producing some great navigators. With the help of StreetCar, Ilkley have been able to provide an accessible entry point into motorsport and hand newcomers the platform to learn the basic skills of navigating. 

Iain Tullie, was “born into the motor club” and started competing in navigational scatters in his standard Peugeot 306. He would always take on the role of navigator and learned his trade from grassroots motorsport.  

When asked about his thoughts on getting started, Iain commented, “experience and success at grassroots level will give the right people a brilliant head start if they seek to progress into professional co-driving and navigating” 

Andy Pullan, who has now moved onto Senior Competition Manager at HERO ERA, a new StreetCar club, began his motorsport career in the back of a Hillman Imp while his parents were keen members of Ilkley and District. Competing both behind and next to the steering shell, his career has seen him move on to competing around Europe.  

Andy added, “A good navigator is someone who knows the rules well, keeps calm under pressure and has good attention to detail. They can multi-task well, are confident in their role and make quick decisions on the go. They give confidence to the driver but also look for efficiencies in how they can improve and what they can learn from others.”  

His top tips for anyone wanting to start out in navigating are:  

• Have a go, experience counts for a lot – everyone started out once, what is the worst that can happen?  

• Try different events and drivers, there might be a certain style of event you enjoy the most. And you will learn something new from every different driver you sit with, for better or worse! We all have our own “unique” way of approaching problems.  

• Make sure you enjoy it, we’re here to have fun after all!  

If you are considering giving navigation a go, then why not get in touch with your local StreetCar Club and try out a range of disciplines in your ordinary road car.