Rallye Sunseeker 2009

Rallye Sunseeker 2009

Author
Discussion

rswheelnut

244 posts

185 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
Matt - i'm not entirely sure if i'll go down yet but are you aiming to be at a specific point? If so maybe i'll look out for you. Perhaps send me a text

I left my car at home today so i'd either have to walk home first or maybe just walk or get a bus straight down holdenhurst road into town and watch the first half hour or so...?

Edited by rswheelnut on Friday 27th February 16:22

haggy

1,955 posts

216 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
What time does it start tonight?

minimatt1967

Original Poster:

17,134 posts

208 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
minimatt1967 said:
Commentary starts at 18.15hrs in the gardens The actual stage begins at 19.00hrs Cars leave at 1 minute intervals all cars go through the gardens twice Trust me if you want a good view get there early!

ara2312

182 posts

224 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
Did anyone catch much of the evenings action? Not a great start to the event, the stage was cancelled due to a serious crash about 1/2 way along the seafront, hope the chap is ok but I can't find anymore news on it.

LukeBird

17,170 posts

211 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
ara2312 said:
Did anyone catch much of the evenings action? Not a great start to the event, the stage was cancelled due to a serious crash about 1/2 way along the seafront, hope the chap is ok but I can't find anymore news on it.
Rather glad I didn't pop down then! frown
Hope anyone involved is ok...!
I'll be down there tomorrow evening to try and grab some pictures! smile

MarkwG

4,886 posts

191 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
I was there until just gone 8 - saw the orange Disco catch a lamp post: they were OK, once it was towed off, they restarted the rally, so maybe not the one you heard about? He hit just below the Pavilion, didn't get as far as the seafront. We headed off just as the Skoda went, I think he blew something big within about 100 yds, big bang & sparks, indicators on & pulled off, game over I think. My nipper was getting a bit punchy by then, so time for home. It was just starting to drizzle a bit.

ETA: Bournemouth Echo site is talking about something after 9pm, at the Boscombe end. No details in the article, but a mention in the comments.

Edited by MarkwG on Friday 27th February 22:09

minimatt1967

Original Poster:

17,134 posts

208 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
That was on the second run it would appear as the top 18 received nominal times, hope everyone involved is OK!

minimatt1967

Original Poster:

17,134 posts

208 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
LukeBird said:
ara2312 said:
Did anyone catch much of the evenings action? Not a great start to the event, the stage was cancelled due to a serious crash about 1/2 way along the seafront, hope the chap is ok but I can't find anymore news on it.
Rather glad I didn't pop down then! frown
Hope anyone involved is ok...!
I'll be down there tomorrow evening to try and grab some pictures! smile
Luke are you on earlies tomorrow? Might be worth nipping down to bear cross roundabout for some pics as they leave service maybe? about 8.20?

LukeBird

17,170 posts

211 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
minimatt1967 said:
LukeBird said:
ara2312 said:
Did anyone catch much of the evenings action? Not a great start to the event, the stage was cancelled due to a serious crash about 1/2 way along the seafront, hope the chap is ok but I can't find anymore news on it.
Rather glad I didn't pop down then! frown
Hope anyone involved is ok...!
I'll be down there tomorrow evening to try and grab some pictures! smile
Luke are you on earlies tomorrow? Might be worth nipping down to bear cross roundabout for some pics as they leave service maybe? about 8.20?
I am yeah.
Unfortunately I have to be at Swanwick at 7am, so I'll be long gone by that time! frown
I'm going to head down tomorrow evening though! Weather and all that dependant!

minimatt1967

Original Poster:

17,134 posts

208 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
bugger!

Chris49

1,121 posts

203 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
Was at the start line and there were some lovely machines heading out! Suddenly I'm looking at 205's/discos and scouting potential co drivers! Any offers?!!!!

I left just after the crash, everyone at the start just cut their engines, hope the driver and co are ok.

y2blade

56,189 posts

217 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
i have just got back from the sunseeker....missed the crash. what happened? we were at the other end so didnt see it


haggy

1,955 posts

216 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
The crash happened infront of me, well below. To be honest it really does not look good....basically he took out one of those big blue lamp posts along the sea front and snapped it clean in half. It was about 50 yards away from where it should of been. Took fire brigade/paramedics awhile to get the co-driver out, and an hour maybe two to get the driver out. Also they put a green cover all round him to take him to the ambulance and were in no rush to take the driver away, thats as much as i saw frown

ara2312

182 posts

224 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
Looks like the driver is ok but took an hour to cut him out. A subaru went off nearer to boscombe end. More details are on the echo site but I can't copy the link. Tomorrows have been confirmed as stages running as planned

y2blade

56,189 posts

217 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
oh st frown

my thoughts are with them

sans souci

98 posts

240 months

Friday 27th February 2009
quotequote all
Bournemouth Evening Echo

Breaking news - Serious crash cancels night rally stage

10:50pm Friday 27th February 2009



THE Rallye Sunseeker stage in Bournemouth was cancelled after a serious crash on the seafront.

Around 10,000 people were sent home after a Subaru Impreza WRC knocked over a lampost then hit a wall.

The number 20 car was driven by Geoff Underhill from Peterborough and he suffered minor ankle injuries and needed cutting out from the car from the back door.

He was attached to a drip and was wearing a neck support, though it is understood this was a precaution.

Two fire-engines and four ambulances were sent to the scene and police are still taking measurements.

The 71 cars were running two special night stages from the lower gardens along the promenade to Boscombe pier.

Dorset Police said the injuries were not serious and Race director Rick Smith said the 12 remaining stages would go ahead as planned tomorrow, Saturday.

The accident happened around 8pm and emergency crews did not get Mr Underhill out until 9.25am.

Chief safety officer Neil Roden said the long delay was because the car's strength makes them tough to cut through.

Spectators said co-driver Adrian Grinsted from Partridge Green managed to walk away with help from rescuers.

He was taken to hospital and treated for shock.

Spectators heard two loud bangs as the car hit the lampost, sending it around 20ft, then hit a wall, tearing off part of the bumper, and leaving both lying on the ground.

The accident happened just after a chicane.

A crowd gathered to watch the rescue mission from near the East Cliff Hotel on the overcliff.

Part of the cars bonnet had visibly been pushed back.

The WRC cars engine blocks are fixed lower and closed to the driver than in normal cars to put the centre of gravity in the middle of the car.

Fifty cars had completed the first of two runs on the course.

A Land Rover earlier had a minor crash into a fence in the lower gardens near The Pavilion but no-one was injured.


minimatt1967

Original Poster:

17,134 posts

208 months

Saturday 28th February 2009
quotequote all
Hope everybody involved is OK, it is in many ways a testimony to the strength of the car!!! Now all we have to hope is the Health and Safety brigade don't try to poke their noses in and ban the stage next year.

Anyway on a different note here's a video of a friend of mine who was competing in his little Skoda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxOTi9hUzYw

ETA- The WRC Skoda blew its diff apparently.

Edited by minimatt1967 on Saturday 28th February 07:28

MarkwG

4,886 posts

191 months

Saturday 28th February 2009
quotequote all
^The WRC Skoda blew its diff apparently.^

Ah, figures: from our angle lots of sparks from beneath, lost drive pretty much immediately. Shame, it sounded awesome - the Hyundias sounded pretty good as well, but missed them runnning. Sounds like the Scooby team will be OK, as said, testament to the strength of the cars.

Si_M

29 posts

219 months

Saturday 28th February 2009
quotequote all
Did anyone manage to get out into the forest today?
Had a fantastic few hours at the Ringwood stages, great spectator event, even though the tracks did get pretty cut up early on. Favs from the day had to be those mighty metro's!