RAC Rally 2013
Discussion
23 to 25 November, starts in Pickering with stages in the woods on Friday night then Gale Rigg and Duncombe Park on Saturda before heading tp to Croft and then on to Keilder and Scotland for the remainder of the event.
Reason for posting is that there's a press day at Croft on Wednesday 24 October which is open to Spectators if anyone's interested.
http://e2.ma/message/axfne/eko8rd
has details.
Reason for posting is that there's a press day at Croft on Wednesday 24 October which is open to Spectators if anyone's interested.
http://e2.ma/message/axfne/eko8rd
has details.
RAC Rally 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Or will it snow again this year?
Dalby Woodyard in the snow - Roger Albert Clark Rally 2010 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Watching the Great Orme stage of the Cambrian Rally on Saturday has whetted the appetite of the missus and me. I reckon we'll head out for one day - perhaps taking the Rallye to a rally. Any tips on best stages and spectating spots for a first-timer? Last time I went a special stage was the RAC at Oulton Park in about 1989 so I'm well out of date!
I've been to obvious places on the Yorkshire stages before but not the others, so I'm looking for tips too 
Duncombe was more interesting than I expected last year, it's a proper stage just on a smaller scale. Dalby Woodyard is a little dull although you might see cars pass twice on each run if they route the stages that way.
Also calling Benjj!!! Looks what's just entered:
Frederic Donat Thibault De Wazieres France Citroen SM Bandama
Jean-Jacques Julien Benoit Juif France Citroen DS ID 19
Duncombe was more interesting than I expected last year, it's a proper stage just on a smaller scale. Dalby Woodyard is a little dull although you might see cars pass twice on each run if they route the stages that way.
Also calling Benjj!!! Looks what's just entered:
Frederic Donat Thibault De Wazieres France Citroen SM Bandama
Jean-Jacques Julien Benoit Juif France Citroen DS ID 19
Looking at the stages, the best 'value' looks to be by heading to Duncombe Park on Saturday, they are running the SS 4 times - its only short but you'll see lots of action, it was good last year and they've promised to improve it this time, and its day time.
Dalby on Friday night will be good too in the Dark, as long as your prepared for a bit of hiking/tramping through the forest and its a bit steep at £20 a car - take some mates! Rallying in the Dark is something to behold though, and theres some sections (IE the woodyard posted above) designed so that spectators can get a good view of each car as it passes, and for more than a token flash-past.
There is also a service park in Dalby in the Dark which is good to wander round, I have a mate who crews for one of the teams so we'll be hiding under his tent if it pisses it down while he rolls around in the mud on the floor
ETA - saw thos citroens earlier - the SM is gonna be Its got a really good reputation this event I think, so seems to be attracting some really oddball/rarer stuff aswell as the plethora of Escorts.
Dalby on Friday night will be good too in the Dark, as long as your prepared for a bit of hiking/tramping through the forest and its a bit steep at £20 a car - take some mates! Rallying in the Dark is something to behold though, and theres some sections (IE the woodyard posted above) designed so that spectators can get a good view of each car as it passes, and for more than a token flash-past.
There is also a service park in Dalby in the Dark which is good to wander round, I have a mate who crews for one of the teams so we'll be hiding under his tent if it pisses it down while he rolls around in the mud on the floor
ETA - saw thos citroens earlier - the SM is gonna be
Its got a really good reputation this event I think, so seems to be attracting some really oddball/rarer stuff aswell as the plethora of Escorts. I'm still debating going to Dalby on the Friday night, it's a bit of a round trip from Wakefield if I'm going back that way again on the Saturday. Also Hamsterley will be in the dark on Saturday evening I think?
But then ... all this nice stuff can be quite fragile, maybe I need to go and see the SM rally on Stage 1 before something happens to it?
But then ... all this nice stuff can be quite fragile, maybe I need to go and see the SM rally on Stage 1 before something happens to it?
moribund said:
RAC Rally 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Or will it snow again this year?
Dalby Woodyard in the snow - Roger Albert Clark Rally 2010 by giveitfish, on Flickr
doing a bit of servicing this year so don't know how much i'll see but it'll still be great fun
duncombe park is good as Snotters said - but to be honest I think all the stages are fab for this Rally, Dalby is a bit steep but worth the trip - Im thinking of going up to that - maybe a car share thing meeting locally is in order - I am confident I can get 5 in the shooting break to keep costs down
My tips would be Dalby somewhere on Friday night. My favourite spot has always been the woodyard because if you get the right crowd there, the atmosphere can be fabulous. It's also sheltered do relatively warm (OK I know it will still be freezing) and the best thing is that the wind gets stopped so you can hear the engines coming for miles through the trees with the spots lighting up the sky as the cars wind their way through Bell's and the drop off into the yard. s
t, I wish I could be there! Really miss being out watching the RAC. Say hello to the marshals for me if you go. Apparently it's the Rotating Ferrets Motor Club who have been assigned Woodyard duties. Be nice to them.
Saturday I would definately do the downhill left hairpin on Duncombe. It's as slippery as feck and a real pleasure to watch there, some very skillful driving needed and it's good to watch even without the spins. I reccon it would be even better if run the other way, up the hill. If you get bored, go for a walk up the hill through the trees. It's one massive curve through there and it looks a lot quicker than it really is. Nearly come a big cropper there last year. It's certainly not flat.
Croft will be worth a watch in the daylight this year as well.
t, I wish I could be there! Really miss being out watching the RAC. Say hello to the marshals for me if you go. Apparently it's the Rotating Ferrets Motor Club who have been assigned Woodyard duties. Be nice to them.Saturday I would definately do the downhill left hairpin on Duncombe. It's as slippery as feck and a real pleasure to watch there, some very skillful driving needed and it's good to watch even without the spins. I reccon it would be even better if run the other way, up the hill. If you get bored, go for a walk up the hill through the trees. It's one massive curve through there and it looks a lot quicker than it really is. Nearly come a big cropper there last year. It's certainly not flat.
Croft will be worth a watch in the daylight this year as well.
Everything that they said, plus...
If the stage at Duncombe is the same there is one area you can cut through to where the cars pass through a large clearing, across a massive concrete pad - perhaps a loading bay for forestry wagons or suchlike - they are absolutely hauling ass at this point, great to watch.
Dalby Woodyard, great too - bit of a hike to get there from the parking thats all - try not to get stuck in a ditch. Pics below are all from the same place, the cars pass in a few directions in front of you.
Croft - will be good in the daylight, you'll be able to see plenty, but mind (particularly if your off with the missus or kids) that if theres a slightest wind it will be absolutely bd freezing - much warmer in temp and atmosphere up at the woodyard, take your camping stoves, chairs etc, its brill.
_B173088 by simonholehan, on Flickr
_B173080 by simonholehan, on Flickr
_B173053 by simonholehan, on Flickr
_B173069 by simonholehan, on Flickr
If the stage at Duncombe is the same there is one area you can cut through to where the cars pass through a large clearing, across a massive concrete pad - perhaps a loading bay for forestry wagons or suchlike - they are absolutely hauling ass at this point, great to watch.
Dalby Woodyard, great too - bit of a hike to get there from the parking thats all - try not to get stuck in a ditch. Pics below are all from the same place, the cars pass in a few directions in front of you.
Croft - will be good in the daylight, you'll be able to see plenty, but mind (particularly if your off with the missus or kids) that if theres a slightest wind it will be absolutely b
d freezing - much warmer in temp and atmosphere up at the woodyard, take your camping stoves, chairs etc, its brill. _B173088 by simonholehan, on Flickr
_B173080 by simonholehan, on Flickr
_B173053 by simonholehan, on Flickr
_B173069 by simonholehan, on Flickr
TXWRX said:
I'm stood over with the people on the right hand side of that snow picture, what a night that was and i remember your picture, still think its a great photo
doing a bit of servicing this year so don't know how much i'll see but it'll still be great fun
Thanks! It was an amazing evening. Very very glad I'd had winter tyres fitted the weekend before.doing a bit of servicing this year so don't know how much i'll see but it'll still be great fun
Who're you servicing for? Hope it goes well.
I'm thinking of going up too, want to say hello to Frederick (the chap with the SM - he's a proper Citroen racing nut with a top workshop near Paris).
If I do I'll go up in the Range Rover. If people do want to carpool etc I can take 4 (inc me) in comfort and its big enough to sleep in and room to take up cooking kit etc.
If I do I'll go up in the Range Rover. If people do want to carpool etc I can take 4 (inc me) in comfort and its big enough to sleep in and room to take up cooking kit etc.
The concrete areas referred to in Duncombe Park were actually built for military training in WW 2; as you enter the Park the area on LH side near river is where tanks were washed etc. I fish the river which flows through the Park and we regularly find practice mortar shells; most have gone off but some have not. We then call the bomb squad who kindly blow them up for us.So if aMK 2 Escort kicks up some shiny metal objects when sliding don't pick 'em up is my advice...
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