RAC Rally or whatever its now called

[Nordic]

I have just read the 2 stages of the rally have been cancelled because of ice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/7766817.stm

Is ice really that unexpected in Wales in December?

I can recall sleeping in a car in deepest wales when it was so bloody cold that ice had formed on the inside when we woke up and the tracks looked like a luge coarse,  i really dont recall the stages being called off then.

God forbid but I am sure it has even SNOWED sometimes. I am sure the likes Blomquist and the many others who I have no chance of spelling, would have managed somehow.

As Andy Z would say f**k um

[mike(liverpool boys)]

Just the typical reaction to a bit of cold weather i'd say.

The place went mental a couple of days ago because a little snow was forecast 

[Andy Zarse]

I have just read the 2 stages of the rally have been cancelled because of ice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/7766817.stm

Is ice really that unexpected in Wales in December?

I can recall sleeping in a car in deepest wales when it was so bloody cold that ice had formed on the inside when we woke up and the tracks looked like a luge coarse, and i really dont recall the stages being called off then.

God forbid but I am sure it has even SNOWED sometimes. I am sure the likes Blomquist and the many others who I have no chance of spelling, would have managed somehow.

As Andy Z would say f**k um

Precisely. Completely pathetic attitude, the event, not to mention the whole WRC is a shadow of it's former self. It used to be a four day event with no pace notes taking in North and South Wales, Scotland the Midlands, Cumbria, Lancs, Yorks, Keilder, you name it. The crews used to reckon on three hours kip per night, provideing everything was running like clockwork, which it rarely did. They used to cancel Langholm and Grisedale if there was NO ICE! I followed it/marshalled on it right round the country from 1983 through to 1989. I stopped because GpA was nowhere near as good as GpB to watch, and you could see it getting ridiculously soft as an event. It will always be The Lombard to me.

[Jules G]

The last time I marshalled on the RAC Rally was up in Keilder forest back in 93, crashed the company car due to the ice and heavy snow on the stage.......Ah those were the days. The event is far too sterile now, and as Andy says a rather pathetic attitude.


Those were the days...........

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dEZv7khq4mM&feature=related

[Martini...LB]

I thought that is what it was all supposed to be about... slippy, slidey, sideways, Scandinavian flick etc.

Frikkin pussies

>Martini...

[mgmark]

I wonder whether it is because they didn't bring "ice" tyres because they weren't expecting frost or ice in UK in December.....

But how bloody stupid - it's hardly like the Monte, Swedish and, for that matter, the RAC have never been run in snow or ice!!!

MG Mark

 

[rdj-pics]

I have to say Wales Rally GB is joke, I think the blame for this one can be laid at the door of the dear old FIA. The problems is that the team's had to tell them what tyres they where going to use back in September and they are not allowed to change them in anyway.

[Rhino]

Ahh the good old RAC. Serviced on the 82 rally for my Dad who drove a Chevette HS. Started on Sunday, finished on Thursday and went round England, Scotland and Wales. God knows how the drivers did it i was knackered just sitting in a van.

[Canada Phil]

All this reminds me of 1979 Canadian Winter Rally. I was Service crew.
Minus 40 degrees ( does not matter at that temp which scale you use)
Happily changing tyres and checking oil. Brought our own tyres.
I remeber having to add alcohol to the fuel in the truck to stop the fuel lines freezing though.
 Canada Phil

[Kev_mk3]

today if its not sugar coated or wrapped in andrex they wont do it there all bloody girls! i remember when i was little sodding off into the forests and finding the stage and watching them fly past. Also going up to chatsworth in the snow and then down to donnington park etc

i remember a megane flipping after hitting a tree stump at chatsworth so guess what i found

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4eiR62XGLro

[Lorry]

...i remember a megane flipping after hitting a tree stump at chatsworth

Robbie Kerr wasn't it.

An old friend of mind used to go forest hopping up north to follow the RAC but gave up in the end because it always f**king snowed.

I see it was snowing at Chatsworth, and Robbie Head has just trashed the Megane

[mike(liverpool boys)]

I remember watching good old Gwindaff Evans flip his escort maxi on probably the same stump 

The last time the RAC was in scotland it had a service area and stage in my village,cant remember the year but i was still at primary school and missed a few days 

[mgmark]

Well, despite all the bo**ocks about weather and tyres etc, nice to see Rossi is still in, lying in 15th place overall.  Not bad for a novice......

MG Mark

[Chris24]

I was out watching in Resolfen yesterday and agree it is a shadow of its former self. But i still enjoyed my day out watching. But the top 4 cars are on a different planet to the rest of the field. Loeb, Latvala Sordo and Hirvonen are in a different league.

Sadly the crowd are mainly of the chav element these days on this event and i was disgusted to see the amount of litter and cans they left behind in the stages. I collected up a bag full of rubbish on the remote section we were watching on but if I had picked up everything, I would be there till next week !  Sadly this is the culture we live in today, happy to carry full beer cans and crisp packets to the stage with them but not carry the empties home with them.

The organisers have really got the place battened down now but if you are persistant enough and do your research before setting off, there are still places to park for free and walk in up footpaths and tracks. May be a 3 K walk but still saved us £40 so worth it.

Regarding the cancelation of Hafren on Friday, it was something they had to do. I spoke to a spectator that was in there and he said the stage was covered in sheet ice and you couldn't even walk on the stage let alone drive on it. If it had run, someone or many would have had a major accident in there and the rescue vehicles couldn't have got through the stage to attend to them.

In those circustances, cancelation is the only option really. But the tyre issue does need sorting out with the FIA, because the spec tyres for this event were just unsuitable for the weather conditions.

Picture of Rossi attached.

PS. The proper RAC rally took place  4 weeks ago. The Roger Albert Clark Rally. A 4 day event with 31 stages open for 2 wheel drive cars only, featuring mainly Mk1 and Mk 2 Escorts, Porsche 911's, Lotus Cortina's, Saab,s Lancia Stratos and Fulvia, Opel Ascona 400, Mini's etc.

Stages in Yorkshire,Scotland and Kielder.

[Martini...LB]

Rossi now up to 11th position!

>Martini...