The 2017 Rallying thread

[Allyc85]

Anyone out spectating on the Severn Valley Stages this weekend? Think I'll be out on Crychan and hoping to be early enough so I'm not stuck in those damn spectator pens!

[RyanTank]

I was suposed to be out on the Severn Valley. but forgot the outlaws need taking to the airport :rolleys:

Mini Epynt on Sunday has a decent entry list too - https://www.rallies.info/webentry/2017/miniepynt/e...
Weather is due to be good I believe so should be a good weekend of rallies.

Quite tempted to attend the Hillclimb on Epynt the following weekend, always some decent bonkers motors in attendance

[lucido grigio]

I've driven from Surrey just to watch the Severn Valley a couple of times.



This was 2010.....

[ArnageWRC]

Allyc85 said:

Anyone out spectating on the Severn Valley Stages this weekend? Think I'll be out on Crychan and hoping to be early enough so I'm not stuck in those damn spectator pens!

I was seriously tempted, but I remember 2 years ago. It's about a 3 hour drive, and I was in the same spot basically for both runs; when I'd usually explore in the afternoon further into the stage - there is a double open hairpin, with a rock face to spectate from on top of; so, 'virtually' safe. So , I don't want to have a wasted journey 'penned in' all day.
I understand why it's like this, but I have cut right back on spectating.

[Allyc85]

Were the marshals really strict then? There's a 4 hour wait between runs so would hopefully be able to sneak off at some point.

Epynt is tempting, especially with free entry!

[RyanTank]

Allyc85 said:

Were the marshals really strict then?

Depends on the marshal teams and who's doing spec safety car duties. although you "should" stay in marked speccy areas there is very little they can do to stop you roaming when its safe. If you find yourself in a spot and asked to move somewhere, do it until the safety car leaves then head back to where you were.

If its like Arnage said and a higher vantage point, then nothing should affect you standing there.

I had a stage commander from another stage demand I moved when I was on WRGB 2 years ago, as a marshal, saying where I was stood - 12ft up a vertical banking in the tree line - wasn't safe in case a car got it wrong and mounted said banking. my response of if he got it that wrong and came 12ft up the banking in the first place and then managed to still have enough momentum to shoehorn himself perfectly between the trees to hit me, then it didn't matter where I was stood and there's no way anyone should be stood on the stages, spectators or safety teams! That guy was a right dick and has been to me ever since when we've had the displeasure to meet.
I don't think he likes me as I reported his attitude and the fact I saw him physically pushing 2 young marshals to a different, less safe location, to my sector commander who also happened to be the stage commander for another stage and he passed the info along to WRGB HQ and he was stood down from duties on that years event.

Sorry to have went off on a tangent a bit, TL:DR - Some marshals are aholes, some are not. stay safe, listen to them but if you think they are wrong don't take any bks off them

[ArnageWRC]

Allyc85 said:

Were the marshals really strict then? There's a 4 hour wait between runs so would hopefully be able to sneak off at some point.
Epynt is tempting, especially with free entry!

Strict?? Probably not. However it was only 2 months after the infamous Wyedean which prompted the crackdown; so I presume there was an instruction to encourage spectators to stay in the 'pens' and not to wander off. To be fair to the marshal, he was pleasant and explained the MSA directive, and the subsequent letter from the MSA Chairman, after the Wyedean, which I knew about. He didn't strictly forbid me to wander off - but I can't remember many people actually wandering off. So I didn't bother.

[Allyc85]

Well I left Sidmouth just after 3, and by 4 I just about reached the M5, and With a predicted journey time of 6 hours (instead of 3!) I gave up! Might try and get up early tomorrow morning, but I doubt it's going to happen!

[RyanTank]

Traffic in to Wales tonight and tomorrow is going to be chaotic with the Champions League football on in Cardiff!

I'd be tempted to send you up to the old Severn crossing and up to Brecon via Chepstow lanes. or certainly getting off the M4 as soon as possible before getting to outskirts of Cardiff. loads of road closures is going to mess everyone up as it wont flag on their satnavs

[Allyc85]

So I left home at 5am and was in Llandovery by 7.30, swift progress was made! Was able to go for a wonder and found myself a decent spot. Now to cook some super noodles and sausages on the stove during the long wait. Happy days.

https://twitter.com/AlastairCummins/status/8709426...

Edited by Allyc85 on Saturday 3rd June 11:42

[RyanTank]

Allyc85 said:

So I left home at 5am and was in Llandovery by 7.30

Good effort that mate! M4 was starting to busy up on my return leg from Bristol Airport at about 7:30 am Saturday. I was tempted to drop the mrs off an head up to watch, but by the time I got home I felt the fatigue kicking in of only getting 3hrs sleep.


So Sardina is on this week-weekend, who's thinking the front runners will be?
Andreas likely to impress in the C3? He had loads of seat time in the '17 Polo, so will be fairly familiar to the new speed & grip on offer. It'll be interesting to see what he has to say about the C3, however I think it'll mostly be positive as in "give me a seat" in stead of mirroring the regular C3 drivers.

Ogier should go well as usual. Could Elfyn challenge here, he's previously gone better on tamac than gravel. the top 3 could go either way tho given how the first part of the seasons played out!

[Allyc85]

I was very pleased with progress, so easy at that time of morning with the cruise control set to a certain speed

It was a nice if uneventful days rallying, always a pleasure watching someone like Nick Eliot pulling off big Scandinavian flicks!

On Sunday I watched a couple stages on the Mini Epynt stages, which wasn't free as advertised in Motorsport News! Weather was pretty grim so I didn't bother going far, watching at the start of ss2 and by the German village on ss4. Was unpleasantly surprised to meet a Mk2 Escort warming it's tyres on a blind corner, on the run up the hill from Piccadilly! No need for it at that particular spot!

As for Mikkelsen, he normally crashes out in Sardinia so I'm expecting the same this year really. Paddon ran Ogier close when I went a couple years ago, and showed some great speed in Portugal so could be a dark horse. A couple of my friends are going to the rally, lucky bds!

Edited by Allyc85 on Monday 5th June 20:38

[daidark]

Allyc85 said:

I was very pleased with progress, so easy at that time of morning with the cruise control set to a certain speed

It was a nice if uneventful days rallying, always a pleasure watching someone like Nick Eliot pulling off big Scandinavian flicks!

On Sunday I watched a couple stages on the Mini Epynt stages, which wasn't free as advertised in Motorsport News! Weather was pretty grim so I didn't bother going far, watching at the start of ss2 and by the German village on ss4. Was unpleasantly surprised to meet a Mk2 Escort warming it's tyres on a blind corner, on the run up the hill from Piccadilly! No need for it at that particular spot!

As for Mikkelsen, he normally crashes out in Sardinia so I'm expecting the same this year really. Paddon ran Ogier close when I went a couple years ago, and showed some great speed in Portugal so could be a dark horse. A couple of my friends are going to the rally, lucky bds!

Edited by Allyc85 on Monday 5th June 20:38

Any news on the chap in the orange darrian who had a bad off up epynt on sunday ? I can't find any videos or any thing on the net it was ss8 I was near the jumps and the passed us fine then they cancel the stage we where trying to listen to the marchals radio over heard one say co driver had a punctured lung?

[lucido grigio]

Mull rally canned due to insurance problems.

[Allyc85]

daidark said:

Any news on the chap in the orange darrian who had a bad off up epynt on sunday ? I can't find any videos or any thing on the net it was ss8 I was near the jumps and the passed us fine then they cancel the stage we where trying to listen to the marchals radio over heard one say co driver had a punctured lung?

I had a PM from the co-driver on BRF, he was trapped in the car and was actually fine. It was the driver who was taken away for a precautionary x-ray, no news on him other than that.

Also the air ambulance, was for a lady who collapsed in the service area. Again no further news.

[daidark]

Allyc85 said:

I had a PM from the co-driver on BRF, he was trapped in the car and was actually fine. It was the driver who was taken away for a precautionary x-ray, no news on him other than that.

Also the air ambulance, was for a lady who collapsed in the service area. Again no further news.

Good good never a good idea to ear wig a marchals radio sounds a bit more like it thanks for the reply never a nice sight to see the stage being canceld I will say he they seemed to be doing well they was pretty quick every where I seen them.

Wrc this weekend be nice to see meeke have a good week also mikelson I fancy him to finish in the top 4 I can't believe no one has had him sooner may be its a warning to chris look who be hear next year if you don't pull your finger out? I'll go for neville for the win.

[confucuis]

Rally Italy on now, Breen out with an oil leak from the gearbox after a hard landing.

I think Meeke has crashed out again....

ETA: I think it's just funny now...

https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/190...

Edited by confucuis on Friday 9th June 11:24

Edited by confucuis on Friday 9th June 11:35

[2fast748]

confucuis said:

I think Meeke has crashed out again....

Has anybody else given up being a Meeke fan? I hoped he'd be the next big thing in rallying but he obviously has not learned from his many lessons.

[confucuis]

2fast748 said:

confucuis said:

I think Meeke has crashed out again....

Has anybody else given up being a Meeke fan? I hoped he'd be the next big thing in rallying but he obviously has not learned from his many lessons.

Andreas and Breen to lead the team forward!

[Jerry Can]

2fast748 said:

confucuis said:

I think Meeke has crashed out again....

Has anybody else given up being a Meeke fan? I hoped he'd be the next big thing in rallying but he obviously has not learned from his many lessons.

Very nearly. He is bloody fast but there is something wrong. A possible arrogance or dismissiveness that see's him crash out on around the 3rd, 4th, or 5th stage of day 1 whilst contesting the lead.

There has to be a change. It isn't Paul Nagle's fault but Kris needs a change in the cockpit,new personnel might be the catalyst to calm him down. I can't see him finishing his contract at this rate -very disappointing. I'd say he is a careless driver soon to be a car less one. Much as my interest in WRC has been reignited by him, Yves needs to stand him down for a rally and Kris needs to work out how badly he wants it.


Actually thinking about it, it's probably a change in his support crew/gravel note crew. I think for one or two events he needs to lay down the cash and hire Juha and Nicky or Carlos and Luis to do the recce, gravel notes and general support and advice. Assuming he can keep his ego in check.

Edited by Jerry Can on Friday 9th June 12:13

Edited by Jerry Can on Friday 9th June 12:14

Edited by Jerry Can on Friday 9th June 12:15