meadowfield 2,733 #1 Posted November 17, 2013 (edited) Just back from this years rally GB in Wales. An awesome line up as usual and a return to the northern forest in Wales. Like most horse owners we have other interests, Motorsport - rallying in particular is one of my other distractions.... My local motor club was responsible for setting up the Chirk Castle stage - I was a sector official responsible for spectator safety. I've done many rallies and nothing could prepare me for the sheer numbers of spectators, 8 mile queues into parking and an hour to get into the grounds just to watch. Myself and another 100 volunteers were responsible for safety and guidance of over 10,000 volatile 'customers' (they paid 25 quid to get in and queue). We were absolutely amazed by the sheer volume of visitors, attracted by the wrc cars as well as a tour of the original group b cars! What a fantastic sight to see an s1 Quattro, 6R4, delta S4, RS200, 205 t16 and Renault 5 maxi... Hopefully I'll find some pictures and videos to post later. For now here are a few blatantly borrowed pictures of the event Yes another week of projects delayed, but this was a worthwhile distraction... Edited November 17, 2013 by meadowfield Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kai Thomsen 17 #2 Posted November 17, 2013 Never been to a WRC Rally stage..only some smaller events here in DK. But not much beats the sound of the 5 cylinder Audi S1 at full song..or the supercharger whine and exhaust note from an Delta S4 at full throtlle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,984 #3 Posted November 18, 2013 Looks a bit warmer than last weekend in Newcastleton Forest. I was marshalling there for the Roger Albert Clarke. Plenty of mk1 Escorts etc. Doing spectator control also, except we were that far into the forest, we only saw two spectators. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,733 #4 Posted November 18, 2013 wow, didn't know you were up there! we ran the Dalby stage friday night... I was up in Kershope in May on the Pirelli... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,984 #5 Posted November 18, 2013 Dalby! Did you come across a chap by the name of Ian Briggs by any chance? Possibly a stage commander. We did the flying finish in the Ae last year. As far up as you can go and in snowy conditions. Grizedale will the be the next one for us. The Malcolm Wilson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,733 #6 Posted November 18, 2013 Stage commander for Dalby was Mark Dickenson - I think... Might do grizedale, but generally do xmas stages at croft. We do Malcolm wilson every year - a few of my mates work at M sport. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,984 #7 Posted November 18, 2013 Malcolm Wilson's 8th March. If you go, let me know and what stage you will be on. Maybe get a chance to meet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,733 #8 Posted November 18, 2013 We always do Greystoke... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 761 #9 Posted November 18, 2013 Great Pics Mark, thanks. Hope you had a good time and the old Hip is ok. I used to follow WRC for about 35years, but lost interest in about 2005. Probably because of the coverage (no time to go to see a Stage) and the loss of McCrae and Burns. I still get a fix when I go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed though. they have a brilliant Forest Stage and they run all the vintage cars. Never been to a WRC Rally stage..only some smaller events here in DK. But not much beats the sound of the 5 cylinder Audi S1 at full song..or the supercharger whine and exhaust note from an Delta S4 at full throttle Here's a link (and many more)... if you like the sounds etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEx_oOZIQw Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,733 #10 Posted November 18, 2013 Great Pics Mark, thanks. Hope you had a good time and the old Hip is ok. I used to follow WRC for about 35years, but lost interest in about 2005. Probably because of the coverage (no time to go to see a Stage) and the loss of McCrae and Burns. I still get a fix when I go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed though. they have a brilliant Forest Stage and they run all the vintage cars. I gave up in 1999 after following it around the UK for 5 years and then it becoming rally south wales... Yes Burns and Mcrae were a loss, but if you follow national level then we have some good UK competitors. I under played the story above, it was a bl00dy nightmare... The police were called after lunch due to the unexpected volume of traffic and spectators (though after almost 15 years of no WRC north of Cardiff it was going to be busy). They turned up with 3 cars and 6 plods and promptly left because there weren't enough of them. Leaving myself and the team to control thousands of speccies that had paid to watch but couldn't cross the track to the viewing area. The reason they couldn't get across was the lap times were less than a minute and the footbridge was single file. Toilets and catering were a 30 minute queue back across the track - unless you storm the marshals and get the stage stopped!!! After 14 hours standing up in a stage, hip not brilliant... but then neither is the rest of me :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,984 #11 Posted November 18, 2013 Does sound a nightmare Mark. Nice of the police to leave you to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lars 526 #12 Posted November 18, 2013 Wrc is awesome,, i have been on the wrc round's we have had here in Norway.. the stages has been in my area.from 10 mins away to 1,5 hrs away.. i have also been in sweden,, but should be really fun to be in finland on Wrc. Btw we had a norwegian champion back in 2003 in WRC.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrightorchid 261 #13 Posted November 19, 2013 I wish we had this in the states. Nothing even comes close to WRC. The cars are amazing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMCIII 838 #14 Posted December 21, 2013 Loved to watch them when I was stationed in UK... If I had the weekend off, I'd find the closest WRC and head to it. Unfortunately my WRC favorites were banned... RS200... What a car... 4cyls. of nothing put pure adrenaline rush. Rally Group B cars forged the way to what WRC is today. Many were hopped up well beyond what the drivers responses could handle... Case in point of the RS200...In 1986 in Portugal, an RS200 was involved in one of the most horrific accidents in history of WRC. Killing 3 spectators and several others were injured. Later that same year a Swiss Formula 1 driver, Marc Usrer <SP? lost control and slammed into a tree at nearly 120mph... Exploding on impact and killing driver and co-driver instantly... Very unfortunate...Last time I saw an RS200 was on display in Milton Keynes. Completely dressed for WRC. Putting out, according to the owner, 550hp...You guys have all the fun when it comes to this type of racing..... We have some awesome country roads in the corn belt, would love to see a WRC take place in some of those states. Also in Montana... NO speed limit......Rambling, I know.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
