Rally spectating - newbie
Discussion
Hello all,
Thinking of going to the dukeries rally this coming weekend. I've been to circuits and hillclimbs before but nothing like this. I'm guessing spectating at a rally is a lot different due to not being a fixed course etc, as well as the obvious safety concerns.
The site has some info but feels a bit vague. Really looking forward to it but at the same time I have no idea what it'll be like for spectators, can anyone impart wisdom as to what spectator access is generally like (cycling a good idea?), what to expect, and any tips for photography/not taking a flying scooby to the face?
cheers!
Thinking of going to the dukeries rally this coming weekend. I've been to circuits and hillclimbs before but nothing like this. I'm guessing spectating at a rally is a lot different due to not being a fixed course etc, as well as the obvious safety concerns.
The site has some info but feels a bit vague. Really looking forward to it but at the same time I have no idea what it'll be like for spectators, can anyone impart wisdom as to what spectator access is generally like (cycling a good idea?), what to expect, and any tips for photography/not taking a flying scooby to the face?
cheers!
Look at where others are standing, and go with them. However keen for a good pic, think about where a car could go off - outside a bend, after a Yomp, etc. Ask another spectator or marshal, they will know the good places. If a marshal asks you to move, do so, they will have a good reason - they have seen them come off, maybe exactly where you are standing!
Access - park where parking is approved, or will not block the public road, walk in, unless you are a keen, skilled, strong off-road rider. You should not use the track the cars will use, so will need to use foot paths at best, or just go straight across the forest. Ride there and ride in by all means, but stash the bike; don't take it with you to course-side, as if you are hampered by a bike, you won't be able to get out of the way!
Finally, don't rush to help a car out of the ditch. Volunteer if you like, but let marshals organise it, in particular to warn the next car. A place that takes one car off-course will take another. A few weeks ago, six spectators were pushing a car back onto the track, when the next car shunted it right over them, sending them to hospital with severe lower limb injuries.
"Motorsport is Dangerous"!
John
PS For your first trip, don't take photographs! It will occupy your mind too much when you really do have to be aware, and beware!
Access - park where parking is approved, or will not block the public road, walk in, unless you are a keen, skilled, strong off-road rider. You should not use the track the cars will use, so will need to use foot paths at best, or just go straight across the forest. Ride there and ride in by all means, but stash the bike; don't take it with you to course-side, as if you are hampered by a bike, you won't be able to get out of the way!
Finally, don't rush to help a car out of the ditch. Volunteer if you like, but let marshals organise it, in particular to warn the next car. A place that takes one car off-course will take another. A few weeks ago, six spectators were pushing a car back onto the track, when the next car shunted it right over them, sending them to hospital with severe lower limb injuries.
"Motorsport is Dangerous"!
John
PS For your first trip, don't take photographs! It will occupy your mind too much when you really do have to be aware, and beware!
tapkaJohnD said:
Look at where others are standing, and go with them.
Do NOT do this.How do you know that they are standing in a safe area ?
Use your eyes to determine which way the cars are travelling.
The direction arrows or course cars will show that.
Most proper rallies have designated spectator areas anyway nowadays.
As previous poster said DO NOT stand on outside of a corner,at LEAST one car will
visit that area during the day.
Nothing wrong with taking pics but keep your wits about you at all times.
Not sure about the other stages, but Sherwood Pines is very spectator friendly. Plenty of parking, food and loos available etc.
Comments above all good except I think you'll be fine taking photos. Just keep your wits about you, and think through the risks yourself. I've seen plenty of people stand in stupid places on rallies (me included) so don't blindly stand where everyone else does.
My suggestion would be don't spend the whole rally at the same spot. There are plenty of paths at Sherwood Pines so with some care its easy to view the action on different corners.
Most of all, have fun! I think rallying is brilliant to see at first hand.
Comments above all good except I think you'll be fine taking photos. Just keep your wits about you, and think through the risks yourself. I've seen plenty of people stand in stupid places on rallies (me included) so don't blindly stand where everyone else does.
My suggestion would be don't spend the whole rally at the same spot. There are plenty of paths at Sherwood Pines so with some care its easy to view the action on different corners.
Most of all, have fun! I think rallying is brilliant to see at first hand.
Other tips -
- try and get to the stage at least 30-60mins before first car to give you time to get in position. The course is often a 10-20 minute walk from the car park
- car parks on most events are actually verges on narrow forest access roads, although I think you have proper car parks on the Dukeries
- its possible to cross the course at marked places in main spectator areas. Elsewhere anything goes, you can walk all over, on the course, wherever you like.
- there will be at least one safety car through the course before the first competitor is due so keep your wits about you if walking on the course. The "zero" car will come through at near race speed, hopefully with a siren sounding to warn you but not always.
- marshalls will blow a whistle to let you know a car is coming, but generally only in main spectator areas and they won't give you much warning
- race cars will come through at intevals between 1 to 2 minutes, but can bunch up over the length of the stage so sometimes there is a big gap and then 2 or 3 cars arrive together
- there will be a gap between events such as moderns and historics, so there will be a bit of waiting around
- try and get to the stage at least 30-60mins before first car to give you time to get in position. The course is often a 10-20 minute walk from the car park
- car parks on most events are actually verges on narrow forest access roads, although I think you have proper car parks on the Dukeries
- its possible to cross the course at marked places in main spectator areas. Elsewhere anything goes, you can walk all over, on the course, wherever you like.
- there will be at least one safety car through the course before the first competitor is due so keep your wits about you if walking on the course. The "zero" car will come through at near race speed, hopefully with a siren sounding to warn you but not always.
- marshalls will blow a whistle to let you know a car is coming, but generally only in main spectator areas and they won't give you much warning
- race cars will come through at intevals between 1 to 2 minutes, but can bunch up over the length of the stage so sometimes there is a big gap and then 2 or 3 cars arrive together
- there will be a gap between events such as moderns and historics, so there will be a bit of waiting around
Edited by moribund on Monday 4th June 19:52
For photos the main difference to circuit racing is that you need a much shorter lens! And you might need to take care with flying gravel or dust. Dukeries can be very dusty if dry.
I have some photos on Flickr and you're welcome to look at the exif info it that's a help, although I'm sure an expert will be along soon :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/sets/72157...
I have some photos on Flickr and you're welcome to look at the exif info it that's a help, although I'm sure an expert will be along soon :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/sets/72157...
In general, rally cars go out & down, not in & up if you want to stand at a corner.
Or you could watch & learn from this guy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqf_OwPaF3k
Or you could watch & learn from this guy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqf_OwPaF3k
As a general rule of thumb, where the cars are going fastest and outside of turns/bends/kinks are the more dangerous spots.
On a flat out jump the cars will be doing over 100mph. Before the take off site is usually safer than after the take off point. After the take off point, for at least 300m and at least 30m each side of the road could be the landing/crash site. Be extra careful if there are a sequence of jumps.
Probably best to avoid jumps unless you go with someone more experienced. Remember what happened in Cavan last week.
Look at the approach, will the drivers have trouble stopping, is it very fast, slippery, off camber, over a crest...etc Big braking points can be tricky. It's not unknown for cars to lose it before the corner.
They can turn the wrong way at a junction.
Watch the sweepers after the safety course cars have passed, are they having difficultly with the location, may need to adjust position. After the first few competition cars pass, think again, is where you are standing safe. Always be switched on to what's happening.
Usually when the cars are going slower, its safer. So the inside of an exit is usually safer, as the car has done it's braking, made it around the corner and just watch out for drivers putting the power down too early. There are excepts to every rule, make sure where you are standing isn't the outside of the previous corner.
If it doesn't feel safe move somewhere safer.
Might help to go marshalling a few to times to understand the sport better.
On a flat out jump the cars will be doing over 100mph. Before the take off site is usually safer than after the take off point. After the take off point, for at least 300m and at least 30m each side of the road could be the landing/crash site. Be extra careful if there are a sequence of jumps.
Probably best to avoid jumps unless you go with someone more experienced. Remember what happened in Cavan last week.
Look at the approach, will the drivers have trouble stopping, is it very fast, slippery, off camber, over a crest...etc Big braking points can be tricky. It's not unknown for cars to lose it before the corner.
They can turn the wrong way at a junction.
Watch the sweepers after the safety course cars have passed, are they having difficultly with the location, may need to adjust position. After the first few competition cars pass, think again, is where you are standing safe. Always be switched on to what's happening.
Usually when the cars are going slower, its safer. So the inside of an exit is usually safer, as the car has done it's braking, made it around the corner and just watch out for drivers putting the power down too early. There are excepts to every rule, make sure where you are standing isn't the outside of the previous corner.
If it doesn't feel safe move somewhere safer.
Might help to go marshalling a few to times to understand the sport better.
Edited by TWRv12 on Monday 4th June 23:50
Keep on the move; and don't assume that because everybody is telling you not to stand on the outside of bends that the inside is safer- lots of cars can get it wrong and end up on the inside as they go off.Absolutely agree about not taking pictures- if you want pics look on t'interweb and you will find thousands of rally pics- what live rallying is about is savouring the whole experience. Noise, smell (especially if any Saabs...) and sight.
Thanks everyone, sadly force majeure took care of my plans to go there but I'll hopefully be going to one later in the year.
moribund said:
For photos the main difference to circuit racing is that you need a much shorter lens! And you might need to take care with flying gravel or dust. Dukeries can be very dusty if dry.
I have some photos on Flickr and you're welcome to look at the exif info it that's a help, although I'm sure an expert will be along soon :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/sets/72157...
Great pics! I actually use a fix lens bridge digital. But indeed, I used my brother's eos at a hillclimb once and it was a pain changing lenses all the time because I was so close to the cars.I have some photos on Flickr and you're welcome to look at the exif info it that's a help, although I'm sure an expert will be along soon :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/sets/72157...
If you were planning to go to the Dukeries you are probably in the Midlands. Therefore why not try the Rally of the Midlands. It is on June 22nd and June 23rd this year. It is based at Mallory Park and has a stage in Hinckley Town Centre on the Friday night followed by a full day of stages on the Saturday. It cost £10 per person last year to get access to all the stages. They do run at MIRA which the public have no access but there are also stages this year at Mallory and Merevale Hall (Atherstone). The rally is a round of the National Tarmac championship so the first few cars are full blown WRC cars but there are the usual mix of mk2's, nova's, etc. Was a good days spectating last year and I'm already planning this years day out.
Get yourself to manby showground for 8am on saturday and sign on as a marshal 
The opposite Lock rally is running on saturday and we always need extra marshalls and if you tell them at signing on they should put you on a corner with either an experienced crew of marshals or with a radio crew (and they will all have done it in the past)
Or give Ted a ring on 01422 255919 (chief marshal) and talk to him.
If you are interested in going to rallies/motorsport events more regularly I would go and join your local msa recognised club
http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle.a...
The opposite Lock rally is running on saturday and we always need extra marshalls and if you tell them at signing on they should put you on a corner with either an experienced crew of marshals or with a radio crew (and they will all have done it in the past)
Or give Ted a ring on 01422 255919 (chief marshal) and talk to him.
If you are interested in going to rallies/motorsport events more regularly I would go and join your local msa recognised club
http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle.a...
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