****The Offical Rally GB Thread****
Discussion
onemorelap said:
Our 2016 experience.
I grew up with the Lombard through the 80’s then on to the Network Q. I was never die hard in terms of following it round the country sleeping in a van and I hadn’t been to the event since the McRae and Burns days. However, having followed the TV coverage in the interim (and admittedly becoming jaded by it) I was bought an all access pass for this year's event with the added bonus that I could take my son with me as it was half term.
Wednesday was travel over to Deeside, pick the ticket up and have a wander round the service park. Hardly any crowds and the access to the teams and cars was excellent. Blown away by Hyundai’s set up!!
Thursday night was the ceremonial start over at Colwyn Bay. Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much but it was good fun and set the scene for the event. Again not huge crowds but there was a good atmosphere. Manageable crowds meant my son went off to the autograph sessions and came back gobsmacked that he had managed to meet all the drivers, get their autographs and get armfuls of memorabilia. His comment that “I would never be able to do this at the F1” was very telling. There is no doubt WRC has gained a new fan (as has Hayden Padden) at F1’s expense.
The best bit of the ceremonial start was actually the national guys, you could relate to their efforts, the cars were spread over a good era and the background stories were great (entries being paid for as 50th birthday presents, cars finished hours before the event etc). There was no way this group could recapture the whole spirit of the old days but there was certainly an essence of it.
We spent Friday / Sat / Sun on Dyfnant 1 / 2, Aberhirnant and Alwen 1 / 2 respectively and had a great time. I agree WRC cars may look a bit tame on the TV but in the flesh they appear as dramatic as anything I have seen in the forest. The drivers can still do things with a car that I wouldn’t have a hope in hell of replicating, the crowd and the volunteers were great and the enthusiasm and knowledge for the sport from all was spot on.
After all that, came away happy but knackered with my son already asking if we are going back for 2017. Didn’t take long to say yes knowing that the 2017 cars will have an extra 100hp or so.
But but but but Group BI grew up with the Lombard through the 80’s then on to the Network Q. I was never die hard in terms of following it round the country sleeping in a van and I hadn’t been to the event since the McRae and Burns days. However, having followed the TV coverage in the interim (and admittedly becoming jaded by it) I was bought an all access pass for this year's event with the added bonus that I could take my son with me as it was half term.
Wednesday was travel over to Deeside, pick the ticket up and have a wander round the service park. Hardly any crowds and the access to the teams and cars was excellent. Blown away by Hyundai’s set up!!
Thursday night was the ceremonial start over at Colwyn Bay. Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much but it was good fun and set the scene for the event. Again not huge crowds but there was a good atmosphere. Manageable crowds meant my son went off to the autograph sessions and came back gobsmacked that he had managed to meet all the drivers, get their autographs and get armfuls of memorabilia. His comment that “I would never be able to do this at the F1” was very telling. There is no doubt WRC has gained a new fan (as has Hayden Padden) at F1’s expense.
The best bit of the ceremonial start was actually the national guys, you could relate to their efforts, the cars were spread over a good era and the background stories were great (entries being paid for as 50th birthday presents, cars finished hours before the event etc). There was no way this group could recapture the whole spirit of the old days but there was certainly an essence of it.
We spent Friday / Sat / Sun on Dyfnant 1 / 2, Aberhirnant and Alwen 1 / 2 respectively and had a great time. I agree WRC cars may look a bit tame on the TV but in the flesh they appear as dramatic as anything I have seen in the forest. The drivers can still do things with a car that I wouldn’t have a hope in hell of replicating, the crowd and the volunteers were great and the enthusiasm and knowledge for the sport from all was spot on.
After all that, came away happy but knackered with my son already asking if we are going back for 2017. Didn’t take long to say yes knowing that the 2017 cars will have an extra 100hp or so.
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