Wyedean Forest Rally 9/2/13

[mat777]

I was there with the Uni of Bristol motorsport society to spectate and it was my first time at a rally. Being used to being roped off 20ft from the track with circuit racing, I was in awe at how close we were allowed to get to the cars and how much we were allowed to take our lives into our own hands, standing inches away from 100mph cars on the apex of corners (or quickly learning why few sane people stand on the outside of the bends after receiving a good gravel shower!) , and walking across the track inbetween them to change between the infinite variety of vantage points. I think I'm hooked on rally spectating now

(shame I'm about 15 years too late to be able to see the WRC in its prime )


Anyway, here's some footage from the day - with a bonus picture at the end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep6BsnTn8Qo

Enjoy!

[drakart]

Always try and have a tree between you and the cars if you are going to stand somewhere "risky". Never be more than a little hop away from being covered by it's "safety". Don't make a habit of standing on the outside of corners though, as you will be caught out at some point.

Great rally, shame about the huge amount of retirements though.

[mat777]

drakart said:

Always try and have a tree between you and the cars if you are going to stand somewhere "risky". Never be more than a little hop away from being covered by it's "safety". Don't make a habit of standing on the outside of corners though, as you will be caught out at some point.

Great rally, shame about the huge amount of retirements though.

Yeah I was trying to be semi safe - that outside corner I did a lot of filming at had the small orange-leaved tree to stand behind, but the blue Escort so monumentally overcooked it I thought he was going to hit the tree!

I agree about the retirements - I was rather annoyed not to catch the first run of 6R4 that was competing, and I didnt see it again for the rest of the day

[robg2]

Some good footage there - well done with the camera!

[Ranger 6]

If you'd taken the time to talk to the Marshals you would've learnt an awful lot more. We had maps, safety plans etc and will always help newbies.

I did think you guys looked so keen and would be ideal to take the step to marshalling - what's your local club? You're on the doorstep to rally country there and with a mix of club regional and national rallies I'm sure you'd be kept busy and entertained for a while!

For tarmac Epynt is a mecca - very fast and highly entertaining.

BTW - you haven't missed the best of the WRC

[mat777]

Ranger 6 said:

If you'd taken the time to talk to the Marshals you would've learnt an awful lot more. We had maps, safety plans etc and will always help newbies.

I did think you guys looked so keen and would be ideal to take the step to marshalling - what's your local club? You're on the doorstep to rally country there and with a mix of club regional and national rallies I'm sure you'd be kept busy and entertained for a while!

For tarmac Epynt is a mecca - very fast and highly entertaining.

BTW - you haven't missed the best of the WRC

Which Marshal were you then?

[velocemitch]

That's always been the good thing about Rallying, it's so accesable. It was even better in days gone by when you could be face to face with World class drivers and watch them compete against local heros on national events.

Getting involved isn't difficult either, marshalling or even competing at club level can be done on very modest budgets.

[Ranger 6]

mat777 said:

Which Marshal were you then?

J19 - you were with the chap who kept putting his gopro in various random places and having laughed at the various pictures on the photoshop thread I thought I recognised you

[mat777]

Ranger 6 said:

mat777 said:

Which Marshal were you then?

J19 - you were with the chap who kept putting his gopro in various random places and having laughed at the various pictures on the photoshop thread I thought I recognised you

Yup - there were 2 guys in our group who had the GoPros, I was the guy with the iphone, wearing the blue camo trousers. Was J19 the corner with a Marshal's Disco 4 and BMW X3/5 parked up?
You should have said hello and mentioned you knew me from PH!

[Skylinecrazy]

Who won?

Paul Bird won up in Blackpool.

[Ranger 6]

mat777 said:

Yup - there were 2 guys in our group who had the GoPros, I was the guy with the iphone, wearing the blue camo trousers. Was J19 the corner with a Marshal's Disco 4 and BMW X3/5 parked up?
You should have said hello and mentioned you knew me from PH!

Yes, that was the one - I was on the radio, so had to keep an ear on what was happening - not completely sure it was you and I'm always careful about approaching random blokes in the woods....

[Ranger 6]

Skylinecrazy said:

Who won?

Paul Bird won up in Blackpool.

Connor McCloskey in the main event - Julian Wilkes in the 1400s (again!) - Theo Bengry in the Histerics

[Blayney]

Ranger 6 said:

For tarmac Epynt is a mecca - very fast and highly entertaining.

Very good advice. Love it on Epynt.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Wyedean again this weekend though.

[mat777]

Blayney said:

Ranger 6 said:

For tarmac Epynt is a mecca - very fast and highly entertaining.

Very good advice. Love it on Epynt.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Wyedean again this weekend though.

Sounds brilliant!

Just looked - its a fair way from Bristol though and we are always limited by the extremities of when we can pick up and drop off the minibuses we inevitably have to hire (there's a lack of car owners/drivers whose cars are brought to uni in the society this year)

[NismoGT]

Great vid. I last went to the Epynt in the mid 90's. Best rally i ever went to.

I only ever get to see the Woodpecker stages now as they are on my doorstep.