The 2017 Rallying thread
Discussion
There are not really ANY places you can watch club rallying anymore.
Other than circuit venues like Donington and Cadwell when there are single venue events there.
Airfields are a no-no now.
One of the biggest errors the MSA has ever made is panicking after the Jim Clark incident a few years ago and basically banning spectators from most British single stage venues and making access even more difficult for even forest events. Instead of thinking pro-actively on what they could do or coming up with a solution like a season pass or a way for dedicated fans to access local rallies, they just made it impossible and pointless to attend.
Yes there were problems, obvious ones. But just banning people or making it worthless to attend is surely the blunt stick approach.
Most single venues now are non spectator to the point where if you do turn up you are likely to be asked to leave or stay in the service area only.
Yes, someone is bound to point out the marshals thing, and fair enough. But the whole point of speccying at a single venue was the access, the fact you could move between locations and find better or worse places to watch.
PLUS, you could sometimes assist with safety, warn crews of incidents and even help a crew stay in the event. More than a few marshals I have seen doing over the years I am afraid to say.
That is all gone and the MSA should be utterly ashamed of themselves for totally abandoning single venue and some stage rallying and basically making those events non spectator.
There are better ways but they couldn't care less.
Other than circuit venues like Donington and Cadwell when there are single venue events there.
Airfields are a no-no now.
One of the biggest errors the MSA has ever made is panicking after the Jim Clark incident a few years ago and basically banning spectators from most British single stage venues and making access even more difficult for even forest events. Instead of thinking pro-actively on what they could do or coming up with a solution like a season pass or a way for dedicated fans to access local rallies, they just made it impossible and pointless to attend.
Yes there were problems, obvious ones. But just banning people or making it worthless to attend is surely the blunt stick approach.
Most single venues now are non spectator to the point where if you do turn up you are likely to be asked to leave or stay in the service area only.
Yes, someone is bound to point out the marshals thing, and fair enough. But the whole point of speccying at a single venue was the access, the fact you could move between locations and find better or worse places to watch.
PLUS, you could sometimes assist with safety, warn crews of incidents and even help a crew stay in the event. More than a few marshals I have seen doing over the years I am afraid to say.
That is all gone and the MSA should be utterly ashamed of themselves for totally abandoning single venue and some stage rallying and basically making those events non spectator.
There are better ways but they couldn't care less.
chunder27 said:
There are not really ANY places you can watch club rallying anymore.
Other than circuit venues like Donington and Cadwell when there are single venue events there.
Airfields are a no-no now.
One of the biggest errors the MSA has ever made is panicking after the Jim Clark incident a few years ago and basically banning spectators from most British single stage venues and making access even more difficult for even forest events. Instead of thinking pro-actively on what they could do or coming up with a solution like a season pass or a way for dedicated fans to access local rallies, they just made it impossible and pointless to attend.
Yes there were problems, obvious ones. But just banning people or making it worthless to attend is surely the blunt stick approach.
Most single venues now are non spectator to the point where if you do turn up you are likely to be asked to leave or stay in the service area only.
Yes, someone is bound to point out the marshals thing, and fair enough. But the whole point of speccying at a single venue was the access, the fact you could move between locations and find better or worse places to watch.
PLUS, you could sometimes assist with safety, warn crews of incidents and even help a crew stay in the event. More than a few marshals I have seen doing over the years I am afraid to say.
That is all gone and the MSA should be utterly ashamed of themselves for totally abandoning single venue and some stage rallying and basically making those events non spectator.
There are better ways but they couldn't care less.
Chunder you talk b0ll0cks. Every rally I have been to this year has been open to spectators. Not only open, but on most Catering and toilets have been laid on. Other than circuit venues like Donington and Cadwell when there are single venue events there.
Airfields are a no-no now.
One of the biggest errors the MSA has ever made is panicking after the Jim Clark incident a few years ago and basically banning spectators from most British single stage venues and making access even more difficult for even forest events. Instead of thinking pro-actively on what they could do or coming up with a solution like a season pass or a way for dedicated fans to access local rallies, they just made it impossible and pointless to attend.
Yes there were problems, obvious ones. But just banning people or making it worthless to attend is surely the blunt stick approach.
Most single venues now are non spectator to the point where if you do turn up you are likely to be asked to leave or stay in the service area only.
Yes, someone is bound to point out the marshals thing, and fair enough. But the whole point of speccying at a single venue was the access, the fact you could move between locations and find better or worse places to watch.
PLUS, you could sometimes assist with safety, warn crews of incidents and even help a crew stay in the event. More than a few marshals I have seen doing over the years I am afraid to say.
That is all gone and the MSA should be utterly ashamed of themselves for totally abandoning single venue and some stage rallying and basically making those events non spectator.
There are better ways but they couldn't care less.
Believe me it was not panic after the Jim Clark Rally incidents. There was, and still is a genuine threat to the continuation of rallying in this country.
Often the no spectator rule at a venue is nothing to do with the MSA but a condition set out by the landowners/agents.
I did shakedown this morning, very busy, couldn't get in the normal spectator car park and was turned around and sent in with the media.
I'm not doing any stages but if you are get there mega super early and expect big crowds!
Also the stage was stopped for a while due to spectators causing issues, I saw some utter idiots!
Currently waiting for SS1 to start!
I'm not doing any stages but if you are get there mega super early and expect big crowds!
Also the stage was stopped for a while due to spectators causing issues, I saw some utter idiots!
Currently waiting for SS1 to start!
Allyc85 said:
Meeke isn’t a happy boy! Apparently Citroen didn’t have the budget to hire Welsh forests to test in! What a shambles!
No, I don't blame him. I did chuckle when I saw photos/ videos of the Citroen RallyGB test( in France) ; it was mainly dry & dusty; just what you'd expect in late October in North Wales........BOBTEE said:
I did shakedown this morning, very busy, couldn't get in the normal spectator car park and was turned around and sent in with the media.
I'm not doing any stages but if you are get there mega super early and expect big crowds!
Also the stage was stopped for a while due to spectators causing issues, I saw some utter idiots!
I'm looking forward to going, and I'm setting off in about an hour, and heading for Hafren. However, I'm a little apprehensive - they're expecting mega crowds; and that isn't always a good thing. It tends to bring out the idiots and halfwits. I've already seen photos of said idiots in a ditch trying to take photos......I'm not doing any stages but if you are get there mega super early and expect big crowds!
Also the stage was stopped for a while due to spectators causing issues, I saw some utter idiots!
ArnageWRC said:
Allyc85 said:
Meeke isn’t a happy boy! Apparently Citroen didn’t have the budget to hire Welsh forests to test in! What a shambles!
No, I don't blame him. I did chuckle when I saw photos/ videos of the Citroen RallyGB test( in France) ; it was mainly dry & dusty; just what you'd expect in late October in North Wales........
ArnageWRC said:
I'm looking forward to going, and I'm setting off in about an hour, and heading for Hafren. However, I'm a little apprehensive - they're expecting mega crowds; and that isn't always a good thing. It tends to bring out the idiots and halfwits. I've already seen photos of said idiots in a ditch trying to take photos......
This guy?https://twitter.com/OpensTightens/status/923616067...
There was a guy earlier with his phone attached to a stick, I genuinely thought it was gonna get smashed by a car! I actually felt sorry for the crews he's was being such a knob!
SS1 was about as Mickey Mouse as expected, not popular with the drivers apparently... the drone flying was good to watch!
SS1 was about as Mickey Mouse as expected, not popular with the drivers apparently... the drone flying was good to watch!
Skoda aren't exactly helping the spectator issue @0:12 with this video https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=147039...
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