2021 Rallying

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by rbs

Congratulations to Ryan Champion, not just for winning but for being the first non Escort winner in the history of the event.

I watched the second Crychan stage - the final competitive stage of the event - from the double hairpin a mile or so from the finish, the last point where there are groups of spectators. It was great seeing the drivers waving, blowing the horn and flashing lights as the loony hardcore fans cheered them home in the gloom. There was a huge cheer for the Porsche - a classic example of "to finish first, first you have to finish" and a masterful drive.

The cars looked properly battered and I'm sure the crews felt the same. This is a very special event.

[Alex Langheck]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

I watched the second Crychan stage - the final competitive stage of the event - from the double hairpin a mile or so from the finish, the last point where there are groups of spectators. It was great seeing the drivers waving, blowing the horn and flashing lights as the loony hardcore fans cheered them home in the gloom. There was a huge cheer for the Porsche - a classic example of "to finish first, first you have to finish" and a masterful drive.

The cars looked properly battered and I'm sure the crews felt the same. This is a very special event.

It was very much a throwback to how events used to be won; fast, but at a pace enabling a finish.

[Anyopenroad]

Pictures from the Rallynuts Stages (aka Severn Valley Stages) from mid-November: https://bit.ly/3ooFBqH

Taken over two stages at Myherin, a really good viewing stage with a pathway on a raised bank along a lot of the gravel track. The first half of this album is from walking along a couple of miles or so of it; the second half are from a single lovely spot where I had cars coming from the left, dipping into a rutted corner to turn then scooting off into the trees. Fairly grimy weather, but then it was mid-Wales in mid-November . Enjoy!

[BertMk2]

Thanks for sharing those

Is it just me or do Skoda Fabias always make great looking rally cars?

The weather conditions look like ideal rally weather to me

[dwh43scale]

A selection from the Dukeries at Donington last weekend.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmXi8aM4

Oh, and the previous round at Cadwell is here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX9KMKT

[BertMk2]

Some of those are great - looks like the conditons were great for photography, the light in some of those is really nice and getting a rainbow in shot is always good Nice mix of cars too - good to see a 6R4 in amongst it too - do you know if that's a proper 6R4? There was one running a Millington engine a while back (so more of a 4R4).

[dwh43scale]

I think I heard on the PA that the Metro has a Nissan engine. Programme quotes as 2995 cc

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

I think I heard on the PA that the Metro has a Nissan engine. Programme quotes as 2995 cc

Interesting - presumably it's cheaper to run and easier to get parts for. The big question is - does it sound as good?

[dwh43scale]

Mmm, it sounds good, but I think it misses that bark I first heard in Dalby in 1985 ...

[SnoodyMcFlude]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

I think I heard on the PA that the Metro has a Nissan engine. Programme quotes as 2995 cc

Think most of them did out of period didn't they?

[Anyopenroad]

Pictures from Cadwell Park: https://bit.ly/3oFDxuK

Most of these are from the area around Hall Bands, where the elevation changes, trees, red leaves on the ground and light made for glorious photo opportunities. I did take more pictures aroind the circuit but they were less 'rallyish' so got left on the cutting room floor . My first time at Cadwell and very glad I went - it is beautiful!

Next up, RAC, but probably not till after Christmas as there's a lot to get through!

[Anyopenroad]

Much quicker than expected, here's a big album of pictures from the Roger Albert Clark historic rally at the end of November: https://bit.ly/31MDeG0

These were taken at one Sunday afternoon stage in Dyfnant and two stages on Monday in Crychan on overcast, grimy days in the Welsh forests. Both afternoon stages ran late, into the gloom, though it wasn't quite as dark as these pictures suggest!

These are proper rally pictures: gnarled-up gravel, filthy cars, lights on, going sideways. The second Crychan stage was the last of the whole event and I was close to the finish, so the cars were cheered home after a pretty epic few days. One broke down and was fixed by the co-driver before being push-started by spectators. I was closer to the track than usual and got regularly showered with gravel, collecting a couple of bruises as souvenirs of a great day.

This album is quite repetitive! Of the 140-odd starters, around 100 were Escorts! And I wasn't able to move around much on the stages so it's mostly one shot coming towards me and one going away, x3 stages.

My drive home in the gloom included a 30-minute drive on a single-track across a military range in fog so thick I couldn't see more than 10m. I feel like I've properly earned my rally spectator badge with this trip and I hope you enjoy the pictures!

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Much quicker than expected, here's a big album of pictures from the Roger Albert Clark historic rally at the end of November: https://bit.ly/31MDeG0

These were taken at one Sunday afternoon stage in Dyfnant and two stages on Monday in Crychan on overcast, grimy days in the Welsh forests. Both afternoon stages ran late, into the gloom, though it wasn't quite as dark as these pictures suggest!

These are proper rally pictures: gnarled-up gravel, filthy cars, lights on, going sideways. The second Crychan stage was the last of the whole event and I was close to the finish, so the cars were cheered home after a pretty epic few days. One broke down and was fixed by the co-driver before being push-started by spectators. I was closer to the track than usual and got regularly showered with gravel, collecting a couple of bruises as souvenirs of a great day.

This album is quite repetitive! Of the 140-odd starters, around 100 were Escorts! And I wasn't able to move around much on the stages so it's mostly one shot coming towards me and one going away, x3 stages.

My drive home in the gloom included a 30-minute drive on a single-track across a military range in fog so thick I couldn't see more than 10m. I feel like I've properly earned my rally spectator badge with this trip and I hope you enjoy the pictures!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

Much quicker than expected, here's a big album of pictures from the Roger Albert Clark historic rally at the end of November: https://bit.ly/31MDeG0

Nice! Thanks for sharing - in amongst the Escorts there is some variety too - although the sight of mk3 Astras in an event for 'historics' makes me feel old!

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

These are proper rally pictures: gnarled-up gravel, filthy cars, lights on, going sideways.

I feel like I've properly earned my rally spectator badge with this trip

Proper rally = dark forest, spot lights on I always admire the optimism of crews that run with the spot lights fitted all day, we tend to attach them at the last possible moment - just in case we wipe them out before we need them.

I'd say you've earned that badge - gloomy conditions, deep in the forest, long trek to and from the action. I'm assuming you were wearing a bobble hat

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

I'm assuming you were wearing a bobble hat

Ofc! I’ve stopped short of getting one of the all-in-one romper suits with reflective strips, but I have bought some warm & waterproof gloves which have fold-back tips so only the finger and thumb I need for picture-taking get frozen rather than my whole hand .

[justracing]

Some great pics there, loving the Anglebox on the first page Admire your fortitude

[Alex Langheck]

https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/s...nough/6931320/

[Alex Langheck]

Looks like Yves Matton has stepped down from his role as FiA Rally Director; hmm, so introduces the new regs, can't attract new manufacturers, and hears the new FiA President thinks they're a mistake.....

So decides to leave.....marvellous....

[Anyopenroad]

My final event and photo album of the year, the Dukeries Rally at Donington: https://bit.ly/3qEhBji

This was a pretty grimy and cold day and although Donington is generally good for pictures, the stages for this event were very cluttered with cones and offered little by way of interesting angles. The exception was the dirt section in the middle of the track, from which the first half of this album is drawn. Looking at the always-terrific photos from dw43scale above, I missed some good shots further round the circuit.

I realise I'm not selling this very well! Anyway, enjoy!

[Alex Langheck]

Nice!!

I recall going to the Dukeries when it was a forest event, and spending the day in Sherwood Pines.....it was nearly always sunny and warm, and you'd be covered in dust. And then the Forestry pulled the plug........all for one day of rallying.