RE: Five things I learned from going to Wales Rally GB
Discussion
Nice article Dan, your enthusiasm and interest really shone across. I'm really happy you took your 6 year old as it's good to see the younger generation still being interested in Rallying.
We went for the first time this year (a mate and I) as complete newbies and only did the Saturday but it was well worth it! In fact it was such a good event that next year we may even camp/campervan it and do the full event as opposed to just the day!
I will say that between the different runs (we were at Dyfi for WRC, and then Nationals) it is a long wait - we saw so many people leave our corner after the WRC leaders went through presumably to watch them at the next stage (or two stages later).
We also did Colwyn bay and I wouldn't reccomend it as it wasn't that well thought out and could have done with some more amusements/stalls etc. it also would have been nice to have a few cars on the promenade to view/walk round.
Regarding your little one going - I spoke to my mate about taking my son when he's older - the waiting in the woods for the 2 hours before the first car would have done his head in I imagine. At least now I know what to expect for the future rallies and can plan in the next few years aslong as it stays in Wales... I am wondering about Germany however.
We went for the first time this year (a mate and I) as complete newbies and only did the Saturday but it was well worth it! In fact it was such a good event that next year we may even camp/campervan it and do the full event as opposed to just the day!
I will say that between the different runs (we were at Dyfi for WRC, and then Nationals) it is a long wait - we saw so many people leave our corner after the WRC leaders went through presumably to watch them at the next stage (or two stages later).
We also did Colwyn bay and I wouldn't reccomend it as it wasn't that well thought out and could have done with some more amusements/stalls etc. it also would have been nice to have a few cars on the promenade to view/walk round.
Regarding your little one going - I spoke to my mate about taking my son when he's older - the waiting in the woods for the 2 hours before the first car would have done his head in I imagine. At least now I know what to expect for the future rallies and can plan in the next few years aslong as it stays in Wales... I am wondering about Germany however.
I realise this is another comment on "the good old days" but from 1978 to 1985 I followed every Lombard RAC rally from start to finish, usually seeing four stages and a service point each day. Compressing the whole thing into part of Wales means the crowds are denser and no chance to make it worth going again.
The reason given for moving from the 5 day, 16 hour format was that the cars were too tiring to drive. But to my mind this means the cars are wrong, not the rally. Get back to production based cars like the Escort, 131, Manta, Sunbeam or Quattro, or even exotica one could actually buy like a Stratos (why oh why didn't I buy the one I was offered for £6600 in 1979 - it would be worth a fortune now !) and maybe the rallies could then get back to being real rallies.
In any case the Dakar drivers seem to manage huge mileages for day after day.
The reason given for moving from the 5 day, 16 hour format was that the cars were too tiring to drive. But to my mind this means the cars are wrong, not the rally. Get back to production based cars like the Escort, 131, Manta, Sunbeam or Quattro, or even exotica one could actually buy like a Stratos (why oh why didn't I buy the one I was offered for £6600 in 1979 - it would be worth a fortune now !) and maybe the rallies could then get back to being real rallies.
In any case the Dakar drivers seem to manage huge mileages for day after day.
MikeDB1 said:
I realise this is another comment on "the good old days" but from 1978 to 1985 I followed every Lombard RAC rally from start to finish, usually seeing four stages and a service point each day. Compressing the whole thing into part of Wales means the crowds are denser and no chance to make it worth going again.
The reason given for moving from the 5 day, 16 hour format was that the cars were too tiring to drive. But to my mind this means the cars are wrong, not the rally. Get back to production based cars like the Escort, 131, Manta, Sunbeam or Quattro, or even exotica one could actually buy like a Stratos (why oh why didn't I buy the one I was offered for £6600 in 1979 - it would be worth a fortune now !) and maybe the rallies could then get back to being real rallies.
In any case the Dakar drivers seem to manage huge mileages for day after day.
The rallyfan in me sort of agrees, but the realist doesn't. I too lament the old events, and dislike the modern sprint type events of barely 200 miles over 2 and a bit days; but that is what the FiA, the teams, the Promoter wants..... Their thinking is that modern audiences can't tolerate endurance style events and they have no place in 21st century motorsport......The reason given for moving from the 5 day, 16 hour format was that the cars were too tiring to drive. But to my mind this means the cars are wrong, not the rally. Get back to production based cars like the Escort, 131, Manta, Sunbeam or Quattro, or even exotica one could actually buy like a Stratos (why oh why didn't I buy the one I was offered for £6600 in 1979 - it would be worth a fortune now !) and maybe the rallies could then get back to being real rallies.
In any case the Dakar drivers seem to manage huge mileages for day after day.
.....but nobody has told the people who run Sportscars races/ series; 24, 12, 6 Hour races are still popular. In fact, this weekend will see the 1st round of the IMSA series - the Rolex 24 at Daytona.....while the WRC runs a watered down Monte-Carlo Rally.
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