There is an overlap area of similarity between these two types of events, and this was designed to help clubs who may wish to take advantage of the Motorsport UK Insurance, which is only available with a Touring Assembly.
Definitions of these types can be found below – Generally, a Touring Assembly is an event which is more about the route, and a Social Run is more about where you are going. If you organise one of these events as a Motorsport UK Club you should make sure the event is advertised/defined correctly as either a Touring Assembly or Social Run to avoid confusion.
Social Run – Definition
A non-competitive run for likeminded participants where there is no other purpose than the camaraderie of motoring in company to a predetermined point and which is not within the jurisdiction of the Motorsport UK.
Social Runs were created to help the one make/marque car clubs, who organise these types of activities, and already have their own insurance cover. They are social gatherings that involve driving to a location rather than a motoring event.
Social Runs do not require a permit or exemption and are not covered by Motorsport UK insurance policies.
A route may be included, but the activity is more about where you are going or finishing. As an example: a trip to a Motor Museum, meeting up at Clubhouse about 9am leaving 9.30 expect to arrive at museum 12.30 for lunch, everybody welcome. You can suggest a route for entrants to follow but there is no: timing/ awards /penalties/treasure hunt problem solving/competition / requirement to visit controls. There is no requirement to contact the Route Liaison Officer (RLO) as it is not a Motorsport UK permitted event, but it maybe wise to notify them for information, especially you are using narrow single track roads to avoid clash with other events etc.
There is no limit on the number of vehicles, as it is no different than any other use of the public highway and organisers are not required to notify Motorsport UK of these events. We would recommend notifying the Police Authority out of courtesy especially if the event may affect local traffic.
Touring Assembly – Definition
An activity organised with the primary object of assembling tourists at a point determined beforehand.
In a Touring Assembly:
(a) a prescribed route may have to be followed.
(b) pre-arranged points may be provided for in the event’s itinerary,
(c) no limits of speed may be laid down,
(d) no requirement to visit prearranged points, other than a requirement to report at a final point not later than a specified time, are permitted
(e) no awards of any description, other than those in relation to activities arranged at the finishing point may be made or given.
Where any or all of the above points become a mandatory part of the itinerary the Event will be subject to the requirements of Route Authorisation (Motor Vehicles (Competitions and Trials) Regulations).
The Regulations for the event must be clearly endorsed ‘Touring Assembly’, and before publication the consent in writing of Motorsport UK and its approval of the regulations for the Touring Assembly have first been obtained, by issue of a Certificate of Exemption, and where the route runs through the territory of an ASN other than Motorsport UK, that R.1.3 of these Regulations has been complied with.
The programme of a Touring Assembly may include additional events (other than speed) provided that they are held only at the place of final assembly.
No prize money may be allocated in respect of Touring Assemblies.
Touring Assemblies must comply with Motorsport UK Regulations D5 and require a Certificate of Exemption (permit), which includes the Insurance cover to protect the club, officials and Motorsports UK. Clubs can apply online for a Touring Assembly Permit, club secretaries will have the login details, please apply a minimum of four weeks before the event after you have contacted the RLO. If members of the public are invited to the event this must be noted on the application.
Organisers will also have to consult the Motorsport UK Route Liaison Officer within good time, who checks for clashes with other events and ensures that the route does not infringe on any recorded map sensitive areas. If required, the RLO may request you contact the Police Authority. Contacting the Police is a courtesy, different areas have different requirements which the RLOs can advise on. There is no limit to the number of vehicles on Touring Assemblies, subject to RLO approval.
Once a Permit has been issued the Motorsport UK Public Liability insurance will be in place during the event to protect the club and landowners and Motorsport UK Officials, but please remember that on the public highway an individual’s RTA insurance is active, not the Motorsport UK policy. Details of Insurance cover can be found in Appendix 2 of the Motorsport UK Yearbook. Motorsport UK Regulations also require drivers, passengers and officials to be signed-on. This is for insurance purposes. The signing-on forms can be obtained from the Motorsport UK Resource Centre.
Note – The ‘Exemption’ part of the Certificate of Exemption is the exemption from the Motorsport UK judicial process, this indicates that there is no right of appeal to the Motor Sports Council, which means if a protest was made by a driver at the event, the driver cannot appeal to the MSC, the buck would stop with the Clerk (in the case of a Touring Assembly).
The term ‘12 cars’ originates from the Motor Vehicles Competitions and Trials Regulations, 12 cars is only related to competitive events and has nothing to do with non competitive Social Runs or Touring Assemblies.
Summary
If your club’s touring events are already adequately covered by insurance they can be organised as Social Runs, however if the club are not protected we would recommend you apply for a Certificate of Exemption and run events as Touring Assemblies as this will be covered by Motorsport UK Insurance Policies.
