Granite City Rally - Sat 16th April

[cc_Sledge]

This Saturday see's the 3rd round of the SRC take place with the Granite City Rally. This year, 6 stages all to the South of Aberdeen.

More information can be found here:

http://www.granitecityrally.co.uk/Where%20to%20wat...

Hopefully another dry and sunny weekend with a slight breeze!

Chris

[mazdajason]

Hopefully being the key word there!
Im going to stage 1 and 4 so that gives me plenty of time to get in between the stages and maybe even back to the Thistle Hotel for the end but il see on saturday about that.

[standfree93]

Think I'll be going along to this.
Will try to be up at the Altens Thistle hotel for just before 8am to catch the start of it.

[matthewg]

standfree93 said:

Think I'll be going along to this.
Will try to be up at the Altens Thistle hotel for just before 8am to catch the start of it.

Is it worth going to this stage?

or straight to first rally stage?

thanks

Edited by matthewg on Wednesday 13th April 21:17

[matthewg]

creationracing said:

Good luck min, have you ever managed 3 finishes in a row? )

For those unable to work a map, you can bash the OS map references for the car parks in the Chris's link above into this website or similar and it'll convert to GPS coordinates to plug into your Garmin:

http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/latlong-grid...

Enjoy all!

Can you recommend all spectator stages or an experience version of viewing the rallying?

I think only half are spectator stages, the one at the back of banchory was a nightmare last yr
(the one right next to Banchory)

[matthewg]

creationracing said:

2 and 6 are non-spectator, advice would be don't try your luck!

Be sure to plan your route, know where you're going. Don't, like many people, drive to the general location expecting to find signposts telling you where to go. You'll need a map, try buying the rally program from Scrutineering tonight. Scrutineering's worth a visit if you just want a look at the cars up close as service is non-spectator.

If you're only fussed about seeing the fast cars, time your arrival for before car 1's due time, not car 101. The up to 2000CC 2WDs are running at the head of the field, however you will then be walking into a live stage with loads of the smaller cars, the drivers of whom are usually more daft and pushing harder than those of the bigger cars, so this would only apply if there's a mid-stage spectator access point. There won't be any refreshments on sale anywhere so take something as you'll be on your feet for a while. Don't get stty at the marshals if they don't know what time the cars are coming or where the best spectator spots are, as they probably won't have a radio or have been into the stage.

Lots of youtube in car of the stages being used today so if you're going to be really picky about picking a speccying spot you can try to identify one from there. I personally, from the inside of the car, enjoy Drumtochty and Fetteresso from the ones on offer.

Or, my usual advice which I give all the time, if you've got a spare day to go speccying, why not go marshalling instead? Learn a bit about the sport , help the event and still get to see the cars out there. Plus you'll maybe get a lift there and back. I know www.sdmc.co.uk are screaming for bodies although I think they're doing SS3 which won't leave to time to see a stage before or after, maybe try to find a club who's running the first or last stage so you can do a bit of speccying and marshalling!

And lastly, take a camera, as some of us can't make it and will want some piccies! Have fun!

Already got the program and the map from 5 mile garage.

Thanks for you're advice. I would love to go marshalling but I missed marshalling training. If someone knows otherwise, let me know.

My friend is a bit of a photographer so will be using his photos for you chaps if he can make it!!!

[standfree93]

matthewg said:

Is it worth going to this stage?

or straight to first rally stage?

thanks

Edited by matthewg on Wednesday 13th April 21:17

Really not sure.
I've never been to the Granite City Rally before.
I was just thinking that would be the easiest place to get to, and to get some pictures.

[matthewg]

creationracing said:

No need for marshalling training fella, if you're a new bod they'll put you with someone experienced to show you the ropes.

I would do it if I didn't think id miss anything / restricted.

Who should I speak to?

Cheers

[cc_Sledge]

Looks like im going to get a bit of a shakedown tomorrow so that should be good! Giving the sponsors a wee run out aswell so happy days!

Cant wait for this now, hope the wetaher stays kind!

[mazdajason]

creationracing said:

Good luck min, have you ever managed 3 finishes in a row? )

For those unable to work a map, you can bash the OS map references for the car parks in the Chris's link above into this website or similar and it'll convert to GPS coordinates to plug into your Garmin:

http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/latlong-grid...

Enjoy all!

Im too retarded to use this, just cant get it to work.
Can someone bash in MR 45/688948 for me please?
It's the start of SS4

Cheers

[CO2000]

Any more info on exactly where the Durris Car park is ? On google maps its the Forrest on the left, 1/3rd of the way down the slug road coming from the Banchory end.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cairn+mon+earn+map...fficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

Hopefully good enough to find it.

Surely can't get lost this year..........

[matthewg]

CO2000 said:

Any more info on exactly where the Durris Car park is ? On google maps its the Forrest on the left, 1/3rd of the way down the slug road coming from the Banchory end.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cairn+mon+earn+map...fficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

Hopefully good enough to find it.

Surely can't get lost this year..........

Great day so far...shame about all the neds giving the marshalls (that are doing a crackin job) hassle and attituide

[standfree93]

Just home.
Headed out to SS1 at Fetteresso.
Here's a few selected photos from today, I took around 150 in all!

[Ian974]

Headed to stages 2 and 5, had an excellent day,fun driving between stages too! Smacked off my reg plate going into the stage 2 car park though and couldnt get parked at durris but got there in the end!

[mazdajason]

I went to Thistle Hotel for the 4wds leaving then off for breakfast and then to SS4 and back to Thistle Hotel! Was a very good day and congrats to all the guys that took part and expecially all the marshalls and organising guys. Have a few beers tonight!

[CO2000]

matthewg said:

CO2000 said:

Any more info on exactly where the Durris Car park is ? On google maps its the Forrest on the left, 1/3rd of the way down the slug road coming from the Banchory end.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cairn+mon+earn+map...fficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

Hopefully good enough to find it.

Surely can't get lost this year..........

Great day so far...shame about all the neds giving the marshalls (that are doing a crackin job) hassle and attituide

Hey my Wife was quite polite

Managed fine in the end, couldn't really go wrong off the Slug road even without a map.

Just went across the junction at Durris from the car park (well side of the road, the Wife did actually moan about this bit)

First few cars were immense as was the first 3 MK2's & nothing beats the sound of a 6R4/DAM !!!

[MGZRod]

Ian974 said:

Headed to stages 2 and 5, had an excellent day,fun driving between stages too! Smacked off my reg plate going into the stage 2 car park though and couldnt get parked at durris but got there in the end!

Running over a butterfly could snap your plate off...

[sjabrown]

It didn't happen this year for me - test day was going fine till the plugs fouled up for some reason then once fixed we think the oil pressure relief valve got stuck as no oil pressure!