Anyone going to The Rally Show at Chatsworth?
Discussion
I went today. Not much cop. The cars were doing a short ish circuit albeit a few were going for it. The Bowler was awesome. The Aston as a bit silly, couldnt get any power down. Not very well organised and not much going on beyond the cars going round. would have been a rip off for say 4 x adults. I just went with my 2 young sons and so only I paid. The burgers were rubbish too (and they were some fancy looking name etc).
Even the commentator apologised for the event!
Even the commentator apologised for the event!
We were pretty underwhelmed. Spent much of our time around the paddock and club stands, in the end.
The biggest problem was the circuit - too narrow for some of the machines, and too tree-lined for anyone shy of real professionals in corporate cars to feel happy showboating (which after all is what these events are really about). (2 major smashes (Scooby and older 911) into trees I think pretty much proves that point)
That and there wasn't enough variety of entrants. The 'History...' bit was interesting, but very Goodwood FoS, while the rallies were almost single-marque events.
Glad we only paid £15 each, to be honest...still not going back!
The biggest problem was the circuit - too narrow for some of the machines, and too tree-lined for anyone shy of real professionals in corporate cars to feel happy showboating (which after all is what these events are really about). (2 major smashes (Scooby and older 911) into trees I think pretty much proves that point)
That and there wasn't enough variety of entrants. The 'History...' bit was interesting, but very Goodwood FoS, while the rallies were almost single-marque events.
Glad we only paid £15 each, to be honest...still not going back!
miserable sods.
I went and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a good selection of cars to suit most tastes and we watched from the inner field part where there was a water splash and then a jump with most cars getting airbourne. Food was ok, usual over priced stuff but fine, plenty of facilities, no queing, straight in and out with temp traffic lights letting you out. I thought it was very well organised and there was plenty to do for most people...oh yeah...and it didn't snow!
Steve perez bought 14 cars to the event and birdy bought his BSB superbike team for a run out.
All in all a good day out with plenty of action, it honestly didn't stop all day.
For those of you who didn't enjoy it...what exactly did you want to see done differently?
I went and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a good selection of cars to suit most tastes and we watched from the inner field part where there was a water splash and then a jump with most cars getting airbourne. Food was ok, usual over priced stuff but fine, plenty of facilities, no queing, straight in and out with temp traffic lights letting you out. I thought it was very well organised and there was plenty to do for most people...oh yeah...and it didn't snow!
Steve perez bought 14 cars to the event and birdy bought his BSB superbike team for a run out.
All in all a good day out with plenty of action, it honestly didn't stop all day.
For those of you who didn't enjoy it...what exactly did you want to see done differently?
zeb said:
For those of you who didn't enjoy it...what exactly did you want to see done differently?
- A circuit with viewing points not blocked by trees or by grey-green hay-bales every 3 yards. Might also have encouraged some show-boating from the drivers if there weren't big hard unyielding trees all the way around the circuit. Oh, and that portable concrete wall up by the hairpin...whoever put that there should be shot...what a f'n dangerous place for it!!!- The 'highlights' you mention (water splash and yump) actually visible to the punters, not just the photographers - both were blocked by trees (ooh, what a surprise) from all the best angles, and were also shaded by trees so the light in that area was particularly poor.
- Greater variety of entry into the rallies...sorry, but got a little bored after the 6th or 7th Escort MkII and the 5th or 6th Evo and Scooby.
- Better commentators might have been useful too...one chap in particular sounded very self-serving!
I didn't say I didn't enjoy it, just that I felt it was pretty mediocre and a wasted opportunity. I've done Goodwood and Castle Combe before, and would go back to either of them. I wouldn't go back to this.
Went on Saturday and had a good time.
A good variety of cars with the majority of entrants "having a go". Comparing the respective speeds and handling traits of the Mark 1 Escorts with the 06 WRC was worth the admittance.
Was anticipating seeing the likes of the Group B club or the slowly sideways crowd. Slightly suprised that these weren't in attendance?
Only real criticism was that the timetable appeared to a bit "samey" with some repetition throughout each of the days.
However we knew about this before going so didn't arrive until approx mid day and left that night thinking we had had good value for money.
Although the stage was short the cars re-appeared quickly and the running order was pretty much none stop for the afternoon.
All in all pretty good for an event in it's infancy and not a bad setting to boot (I tried to convince my young lad that the house had been built for use as a temporary pits and paddock but he was having none of it!!)
A good variety of cars with the majority of entrants "having a go". Comparing the respective speeds and handling traits of the Mark 1 Escorts with the 06 WRC was worth the admittance.
Was anticipating seeing the likes of the Group B club or the slowly sideways crowd. Slightly suprised that these weren't in attendance?
Only real criticism was that the timetable appeared to a bit "samey" with some repetition throughout each of the days.
However we knew about this before going so didn't arrive until approx mid day and left that night thinking we had had good value for money.
Although the stage was short the cars re-appeared quickly and the running order was pretty much none stop for the afternoon.
All in all pretty good for an event in it's infancy and not a bad setting to boot (I tried to convince my young lad that the house had been built for use as a temporary pits and paddock but he was having none of it!!)
havoc said:
zeb said:
For those of you who didn't enjoy it...what exactly did you want to see done differently?
- A circuit with viewing points not blocked by trees or by grey-green hay-bales every 3 yards. Might also have encouraged some show-boating from the drivers if there weren't big hard unyielding trees all the way around the circuit. Oh, and that portable concrete wall up by the hairpin...whoever put that there should be shot...what a f'n dangerous place for it!!!- The 'highlights' you mention (water splash and yump) actually visible to the punters, not just the photographers - both were blocked by trees (ooh, what a surprise) from all the best angles, and were also shaded by trees so the light in that area was particularly poor.
- Greater variety of entry into the rallies...sorry, but got a little bored after the 6th or 7th Escort MkII and the 5th or 6th Evo and Scooby.
- Better commentators might have been useful too...one chap in particular sounded very self-serving!
I didn't say I didn't enjoy it, just that I felt it was pretty mediocre and a wasted opportunity. I've done Goodwood and Castle Combe before, and would go back to either of them. I wouldn't go back to this.
Dont know about you but i never seen an aston being rallied, 4 lancia stratos, bowler wildcat thingy apart from on top gear,without being up to my ankles in mud freezing my ar$e off in some unpronouncable forest in wales.
I think people thought goodwood deserved a chance when that first started and i think this does too
At Goodwood the rally stage stuff is never that popular. Most people stay away from that bit.
My opinions:-
- Why didnt they do more to celebrate the life of Colin M ?
- Why werent the bigger co's represented eg not much sign of Prodrive
- Safety - am suprised that the cars coming through the trees and jumping at the end didnt go off into the barriers and the crowd. One or two were struggling for control !
- Other events - eg Bowlers on the grass with passenger rides (a la Goodwood), drive your own rally car, karting for kids etc....
- Better food
- Less than £20 per adult
- Grand stand to watch the cars
- Get car manufacturers there eg Subaru, Citroen.....
- Food marquees
etc etc etc
My opinions:-
- Why didnt they do more to celebrate the life of Colin M ?
- Why werent the bigger co's represented eg not much sign of Prodrive
- Safety - am suprised that the cars coming through the trees and jumping at the end didnt go off into the barriers and the crowd. One or two were struggling for control !
- Other events - eg Bowlers on the grass with passenger rides (a la Goodwood), drive your own rally car, karting for kids etc....
- Better food
- Less than £20 per adult
- Grand stand to watch the cars
- Get car manufacturers there eg Subaru, Citroen.....
- Food marquees
etc etc etc
zeb said:
Dont know about you but i never seen an aston being rallied, 4 lancia stratos, bowler wildcat thingy apart from on top gear,without being up to my ankles in mud freezing my ar$e off in some unpronouncable forest in wales.
Try Castle Combe...they've been doing all that for years, albeit on tarmac.As for 'rallied in anger'...2/3 of the entrants were NOT going for it, as I said before, due to the large quantity of trees.
If this had been around a better circuit / stage, then I think it could have been more interesting and enjoyable. Sadly, I think the location acts against it...I'll be going back to Combe next year...
Havoc,like you say,castle coombe have been at it years.this was chatsworth first year and i felt it was a damn good turn out for its first year.the bloke who organised it had worked the the MSA in the past so wasnt a novice,imagine how hard it would be to try and persuede companies to attend when there is very little financial benefit
Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff