Road Racing Return
Discussion
This has been printed in the Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9687721/M...
Here in the Channel Isles we have Hillclimbs and Sprints on the public roads with no problems, about time they should return to the home of motorsport.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9687721/M...
Here in the Channel Isles we have Hillclimbs and Sprints on the public roads with no problems, about time they should return to the home of motorsport.
Absolutely about time !!!
I used live in Jersey and Bouley Bay hill climb, Five mile road sprint and the Jersey rally were fantastic spectacles !!
I often 'drive moderatetly' around My local country roads thinking how good this would be as a rally stage !!!!.............
..........Don't we all ????
Lets hope this law is changed sooner rather than later....when we can't afford the fuel !!
I used live in Jersey and Bouley Bay hill climb, Five mile road sprint and the Jersey rally were fantastic spectacles !!
I often 'drive moderatetly' around My local country roads thinking how good this would be as a rally stage !!!!.............
..........Don't we all ????
Lets hope this law is changed sooner rather than later....when we can't afford the fuel !!
We've had closed roads here in Ireland since 1922, yes it's a great thing to have but don't think that will be the end of the struggle.
- You will need to convince locals living on the roads that it's a good idea to deny them access to their property for some hours. Funny enough the main oposition could come from "foriginers" who have bought in the area as have some Dutch/English/Germans here.
- Insurance will go up for events as there will be more Joe Public out watching.
- Greater need for Marshalls, and more of them.
- Costs will go up due to damage to walls, houses etc.
- The Greens will fight you tooth and nail.
But it will be worth it. Closed Road Rallying , and Hillclimbs/Sprints/Races on actual real live public roads will bring a new wave of interest to the sport. The number of Spectators will bring Millions of Pounds in spending to an area, and the number of competitors will rise.
The ratio between race/rally competitors in Ireland is 15% Race, 80% Rally and 5% other.
- You will need to convince locals living on the roads that it's a good idea to deny them access to their property for some hours. Funny enough the main oposition could come from "foriginers" who have bought in the area as have some Dutch/English/Germans here.
- Insurance will go up for events as there will be more Joe Public out watching.
- Greater need for Marshalls, and more of them.
- Costs will go up due to damage to walls, houses etc.
- The Greens will fight you tooth and nail.
But it will be worth it. Closed Road Rallying , and Hillclimbs/Sprints/Races on actual real live public roads will bring a new wave of interest to the sport. The number of Spectators will bring Millions of Pounds in spending to an area, and the number of competitors will rise.
The ratio between race/rally competitors in Ireland is 15% Race, 80% Rally and 5% other.
It could easily be a double edged sword could this, as pointed out already, costs will rise (and it's expensive already!!), more Marshals will be needed. In addition other problems which could/will occur
Existing venues will suffer, it's already difficult to find places for single venue stage Rallys, as land gets built on. Whilst a closed road event would be much better to compete in, it would inevitably be far more expensive and entries are already dropping mainly due to costs and regulations.
The impetus to keep the forests for rallying will be lost and the FC could start closing the door, the changes in the way forest land is being managed might not help here, I can hear the Greenys now saying 'we've let them have closed roads, lets keep them out of OUR forests now'
It's not at all inconceivable that closed road motor sport could kill off road rallying, it could be a sacrificial lamb to keep the greenies and the nimby's happy.
I'd love to see a 'Jim Clark Rally' type event around the Yorkshire Dales or the NYM, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't want it at the expense of the RAC or grass roots motor sport.
Ireland is a fantastic example of how it can work, but unfortunately the English are not the Irish and there won't be the level of the support over here. The Welsh would probably get away with it mind...
MSA need to be careful what they wish for.....
Existing venues will suffer, it's already difficult to find places for single venue stage Rallys, as land gets built on. Whilst a closed road event would be much better to compete in, it would inevitably be far more expensive and entries are already dropping mainly due to costs and regulations.
The impetus to keep the forests for rallying will be lost and the FC could start closing the door, the changes in the way forest land is being managed might not help here, I can hear the Greenys now saying 'we've let them have closed roads, lets keep them out of OUR forests now'
It's not at all inconceivable that closed road motor sport could kill off road rallying, it could be a sacrificial lamb to keep the greenies and the nimby's happy.
I'd love to see a 'Jim Clark Rally' type event around the Yorkshire Dales or the NYM, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't want it at the expense of the RAC or grass roots motor sport.
Ireland is a fantastic example of how it can work, but unfortunately the English are not the Irish and there won't be the level of the support over here. The Welsh would probably get away with it mind...
MSA need to be careful what they wish for.....
The government may pass the law, but they will probably allow for objections to be considered and so the NIMBYs will kill-off each event.
Closing roads on a regular basis is normal here in France, cycle races, markets as well as motor races and they are always well supported by the local community.
Closing roads on a regular basis is normal here in France, cycle races, markets as well as motor races and they are always well supported by the local community.
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