North Humberside Forest Rally 29 March 2008

[Greensleeves]

This is the next even in the Yorkshire Forests and the last before the summer break.

This year's start is in Whitby as opposed to the traditional Hull start so we'll be alright for some Cod'n Urks before the start.

Who's going and where're you gonna be?

[Vette_1978]

Greensleeves said:

Who's going and where're you gonna be?

I'm planning on being up there, not sure of location yet, just searching for some decent route plans to work it out. Is this something you can help out with?

ETA
I've seen on the Forestry website it's Langdale, but thats a mighty big place so could do with a few pointers.

Edited by Vette_1978 on Sunday 16th March 20:19

[Greensleeves]

I'm not privvy to any special info as yet and although I beleive Langdale is one of the stages, it's not a designated spectator stage so I reccommend keeping away unless you know the resident friendly access routes. I think the main speccy stage is Cropton and the start and finish are in Whitby.

You could always marshal! They're crying out for extra bodies on this event.

[Vette_1978]

What is it with these rallies where the route is kept a secret? That last one I was at with Scott and Jason was just laughable, the directions were awful, loads of people were wandering lost and even one of the rally entrants stopped at the car park entrance looking confused.

I've had a look on the forestry website and it mentioned Langdale only, thats all I could find and it mentioned nothing about it not being a spectator area. I'm certainly not going to drive to Whitby from Sheffield on the off chance I find a stage to watch.

Maybe I'll just go to Croft for the weekend and watch my mate raicng his bike instead?

[jagdpanther]

Vette_1978 said:

What is it with these rallies where the route is kept a secret? That last one I was at with Scott and Jason was just laughable, the directions were awful, loads of people were wandering lost and even one of the rally entrants stopped at the car park entrance looking confused.

I've had a look on the forestry website and it mentioned Langdale only, thats all I could find and it mentioned nothing about it not being a spectator area. I'm certainly not going to drive to Whitby from Sheffield on the off chance I find a stage to watch.

Maybe I'll just go to Croft for the weekend and watch my mate raicng his bike instead?

The planned directions for the Riponian were laughable with pretty much half of the spectators saying "fk it, lets go to the next stage" very much in the same spirit as us!

[Greensleeves]

Vette_1978 said:

What is it with these rallies where the route is kept a secret? That last one I was at with Scott and Jason was just laughable, the directions were awful, loads of people were wandering lost and even one of the rally entrants stopped at the car park entrance looking confused.

I've had a look on the forestry website and it mentioned Langdale only, thats all I could find and it mentioned nothing about it not being a spectator area. I'm certainly not going to drive to Whitby from Sheffield on the off chance I find a stage to watch.

Maybe I'll just go to Croft for the weekend and watch my mate raicng his bike instead?

You need to understand this from an organisers point of view. There are a minority of people wanting rallying in the forests these days, including the government and all the greenie do gooders who just want mountain bikers and hikers in there, then there's the issues of insurance and damage claims. For example, if the organisers said, "oh there's a rally on in XXX forest" and you went to watch there, they now have a responsibility to provide certain safety measures, welfare facilities and a safe, conducted route of passage to the place where you are expected to spectate. If you think of all the potential trip hazards (bearing in mind people sue over loose paving slabs these days) there are in a forest, there could be a thousand claims if the PG Bloomer type blood sucking, ambulance chasing claims lawyers got wind of it. (If you're a claims lawyer and I know it, I will hit you with my car, no matter where you are spectating!!!)

Then there's the NIMBYs who buy a nice remote cottage to retire from the hussle and bussle of city life, then moan about cockerils being too loud, cows being smelly and then worst of all, rally cars passing. Rallying is only just surviving at the minute as to most people out there, it's more offensive than the plague.

There WILL be spectator info available from the rally, usually on the event's own web site. This WILL take you to Cropton or wherever else they decide is safe and manageable but if you do want to go anywhere else to watch, I'm afraid you'll have to work it out for yourself, or team up with an experienced spectator who knows the ropes.

[wildoliver]

I think Emma and I might be up for this, we both know langdale pretty well, is there a meet up first and then a drive down?

[jagdpanther]

wildoliver said:

I think Emma and I might be up for this, we both know langdale pretty well, is there a meet up first and then a drive down?

Looks like Langdale is off the designated spectator area

[Greensleeves]

jagdpanther said:

wildoliver said:

I think Emma and I might be up for this, we both know langdale pretty well, is there a meet up first and then a drive down?

Looks like Langdale is off the designated spectator area

But if you know a resident / PR / safe way in to the forest and you are willing to risk tripping over a nasty stick and accept responsibility for your actions, then it's fair game! And a bloody good stage.

Ever thought about marshalling Scott? Ask for the bit over Fylingdales which is absolutely superb!!!

[jagdpanther]

Greensleeves said:

jagdpanther said:

wildoliver said:

I think Emma and I might be up for this, we both know langdale pretty well, is there a meet up first and then a drive down?

Looks like Langdale is off the designated spectator area

But if you know a resident / PR / safe way in to the forest and you are willing to risk tripping over a nasty stick and accept responsibility for your actions, then it's fair game! And a bloody good stage.

Ever thought about marshalling Scott? Ask for the bit over Fylingdales which is absolutely superb!!!

funnily enough, your the second person to ask me that

I have thought about it I cant deny

[Greensleeves]

A quote from the Clerk of Course posted on the British Rally Forum with a link to the speccy info and his comments about the lack of spectator info. I hope you understand.

www.britishrally.co.uk if you want to have a look at the whole thread

Spectator information is now posted on the event website at http://www.NorthHumbersideForestRally.org.uk/

Howard has explained some of the constraints under which events operate in publishing spectator information.


Many of you will be aware of the other stages we are using. Can I ask, as I do every year, that you do not discuss the other stages on any public forum.

We are publishing all the spectator information we can publish.


In the forests we are using, if we are not using a track as part of the Special Stage route there is a good reason for that, and, in general, that is also a good reason why it should not be used by spectators.

Our PR operation has revealed today an issue on the access road to the spectator point at Spiers House Caravan Site in Cropton forest - there is construction work happening at Spiers House Caravan Site, and lorry loads of chalk are being brought in throughout the weekend. The request is not to obstruct the passage of these lorries along the road from Blackpark Lodge to Spiers House.

Obstructing this road will jeopardise future use of the one spectator point remaining to us. Please behave sensibly.