I am trying to find out the locations of the various stages of this years Wales Rally but so far there isn't any info on the website and I haven't been able to find out anywhere else.
I have been offered the use of a holiday home in Llanidloes which I think may be fairly close, but wondered if anyone here could advise me further.
Also if anyone could let me know about the practicalities of spectating etc- I have a 4yr old boy who loves going to Brands Hatch with me, but never having gone to this type of motor sport event I don't know how suitable it would be.
Many thanks.
|
I dont know about the stages, and dont know the location of the cottage so cant really help there much. yet!
But as for spectating, its not as organised as a racing circuit (excepting special circuits etc), as a lot of it is in forests and generally involves a lot of walking to get to good vantage points. Wouldnt realy suggest it as ideal for a 4 year old but is certainly exciting.
Perhaps try a few local, less famous events 1st to watch and see what you/he thinks?
Not sure what part of country you are but most parts have some rallies (of most levels) that can be spectated at. local car clubs are a good source of info for such.
Can sort out more info if it helps
|
|
|
I have visited several welsh rally forest stages in north and central areas, over the years (not during the rally). I have even driven one. :-)
I imagine spectating them would involve a lot of walking up muddy hills and a lot of waiting around in the middle of nowhere, probably in the rain, waiting for the cars to pass, then another long walk back to your parked car. I am a rally fan but a forest stage would not be anywhere I would want to take my 4-yo. (I spectated my first international rally when I was 16, marshalled on a national at 19).
Special spectator stages are altogether different eg at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium
|
i'm a motor racing nut and immensely enjoy watching the WRC on the t.v....but...having once attended the Welsh Rally and in circumstances of relative comfort...(part of a Corporate set up, so watched from a Discovery parked in the middle of a special stage in parkland, with access to loo and food etc)... i won't be going back
because...when it's dark all you get is blinding headlights, a deep roar and a missile whizzing past...and that's it. The thought of having that in the freezing cold, wet and miserable, now way out until the end, no loo and a moaning 4 year old....wouldn't be for me.
|
A completely emasculated event.
I know that the demands of TV and the vast resources major teams drag around mean the old day and night journey across Britain is no longer practical, but why is the UK's biggest rallying event confined to the bottom corner of Wales?
Broing back all those fabulous Midlands and Northern stages!
|
|
|
There's some hardened rally fans here ;o0
There's usually a mile or so to walk from the carpark to the stage and then on to a vantage point that suits / excites you. Wellingtons and woolly hats were the attire when the "RAC" was a real rally in November in the mid 80s when I first started spectating. Sunday to Thursday and 1500 road miles covered when it was trully rally GB.
I wished someone had taken me at the age of 4 so I could have seen the pre 4WD era in the flesh, by the time your son is in his teens rallying in the UK forests could be finished.
Travel light, wear wellington boots and a few layers of clothing that you can remove as you walk to the stage and replace when needed. A flask, a few sandwiches and a packet of crisps will keep your son amused while waiting for the first car to arrive.
Circuit racing is dull and boring in comparrison, the pops and bangs from the cars echoing through the forrest, the smell of hot engines, oil, brakes, the speed that the cars flash by only inches away. The route used to be issued to spectators 6 weeks in advance.
Take him and try it, but leave the hair dryer at home there's no where to plug it in ;o)
|
|
@Dox, I'm wildly guessing you've never looked after a 4yo! ;-)
|
Thanks for the advice guys. Need to think about this a bit more. One of the big plusses about Brands Hatch is that with it being only about 15 minutes from home is we can leave easily if it gets too much hassle.
Cheers.
|
So much more fun when it was MK1 and 2 Escorts - I remember a TV Programme of the era
"Round Britiain Sideways" - Roger Clark in a Red MK2 Escort - stunning stuff. Then it went all 4 wheel drive.....:-(
Edited by Pugugly on 12/03/2008 at 17:13
|
No loos?
And that's a problem in a forest?
Are you a man or a girl???
;)
|
No loos? >> And that's a problem in a forest?>> Are you a man or a girl???
fair comment, but after many years of shift work things.. er.. are not what they could be and sometimes you have to run for it.
and I might well be a girly wimp...but at my age i'm too used to the comforts in life to go in a wild wet Welsh forest worrying about the storm damage..... and knowing my luck i'd be on some highlights programme a year later having not noticed a camera
........:-)
|
Pugugly
I remember a certain Mr Vatanen in a black Escort. At approx the same time I used to road rally a black RS2000 (droop snoop) version....and the only similarity being the colour black!
|
Stop it! I'm getting all nostalgic :-(
|
"Stop it! I'm getting all nostalgic :-("
When I wor a lad livin' up near t'Moors i' Narth Yarkshire, me an t'mates used tay gan oop un scan a few stages. grand sport it wor. Then we'd gan t't'Falcon Inn un watch t'mechanics fixin' them Minis an' such int middle o't'neet, 'ave a cuppla bevvies 'n gan back hoam along t'special stage. Tell thee what lad, mi mates Mini ud gan faster 'n that ovverreated 'opkeeirk bloak's fancy pants Mini Cooaper.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 13/03/2008 at 01:14
|
|
|
|
