Skoda Rally Blog

To get your International Rally licence, apart from all the other hoops you have to jump through, you have to have a medical. This isn’t a really in-depth thing (unless you’re over 45), but it does involve getting a form signed by your doctor. I booked mine a couple of weeks ago (been mega-busy at work so not had the time until then), and took it yesterday.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I have anything happen that is potentially a deal-breaker, I get nervous. I’ve always been like it, so on the way to the Doctor’s I was a little worried. Not really badly, but you know how it is – I had a couple of old issues that I thought might be a problem, plus my eyesight isn’t bad (I don’t wear glasses, or need them, but I know I’m a tiny bit short-sighted in one eye, although this is allowable). Plus I’d not asked how much it was going to be – Paul had paid ?70 for his medical, and my Doctor can sometimes be a little, er, abrupt.

So I was pleasantly surprised when he seemed to be in a very good mood – he asked about what it was for, having never done one previously. I’d printed out the FIA’s guidelines for him, which he had a quick look at, and then checked my blood pressure, and eyesight. I was surprised that I came out fine on that test too. No problems anywhere, really.

But the punchline? He asked if I’d been told how much, and I said ‘no’. He looked at me and said “Twenty Quid?”. I got the cash out! Nice. A phone call to Paul was due after that bargain!

So, I’m ready to get my International Licence. Now I need to order the bits for the car – seats, extinguishers, window film and rollcage padding. That’ll be ?1000 please, Mr. Jones……