2023 British and Irish Rallying

[BertMk2]

I had a day spectating at Brands Hatch for the MGJ Stages on Saturday - a very smoothly run event so well done to Chelmsford MC. A few images from the day:

[justracing]

Some sharp images there, I was there too. As you say a smoothly run event. This series really attracts an increasing number of exotic vehicles, some very expensive cars competing nowadays but it's good to see a strong contingent of Escorts and the Newtons are always great to watch

[tbtstt]

Nice shots Bert! Was there for a few hours, but had to shoot off before it got dark (which was a shame, as I'd like to have seen the cars running then).

Nice mix of machinery entered. I have really taken to the R5/Rally2 cars, so pleased to see a few of those in action. Few lovely looking Escorts, plus the Ferrari was pretty cool. The Chevette was my car of the day though, looked so good in that dark grey.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Nice shots Bert! Was there for a few hours, but had to shoot off before it got dark (which was a shame, as I'd like to have seen the cars running then).

Nice mix of machinery entered. I have really taken to the R5/Rally2 cars, so pleased to see a few of those in action. Few lovely looking Escorts, plus the Ferrari was pretty cool. The Chevette was my car of the day though, looked so good in that dark grey.

I agree about the R5 cars - they've grown on me and there was a pretty good variety of them at Brands (Fiesta, C3, Fabia, 208, Polo, i20, Mirage). There were also a good variety of Evos - probably more than I've seen out in a while, contrasting with the relative lack of Imprezas.

The Ferrari wasn't quite so good looking by the end of the day, it had lost the bib spoiler so was looking a bit awkward! That Chevette is a good looking car and it sounds good as well. My favourite cars were probably the 'Ace' 106 (very tidy looking little car) and the Fabia R5 (I do like a rally Skoda ).

[dwh43scale]

Morning action - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjApsLE

Afternoon action -
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAp9vh

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Morning action - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjApsLE

Afternoon action -
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAp9vh

Nice - it looks like we were following each other around for some of the day! You managed a much better picture of the Spitfire than I got - they're a regular sight now at Brands aren't they?

[dwh43scale]

Thanks - yes, the Spitfire is a regular and wonderful sight.
Shame we don't seem to get a regular 747 at Donington these days although there is an occasional Mustang (Rolls Royce Heritage)

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Nice - it looks like we were following each other around for some of the day! You managed a much better picture of the Spitfire than I got - they're a regular sight now at Brands aren't they?

Think it is the Biggin based Spitfire(s) that overfly Brands and there is one that operates out of Headcorn as well: everyone* has one in the South East!


(* but not me)

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by tbtstt

Think it is the Biggin based Spitfire(s) that overfly Brands and there is one that operates out of Headcorn as well: everyone* has one in the South East!


(* but not me)

We get them over the house quite a lot The Biggin ones sometimes route this way down to Capel-Le-Ferne and we get the Headcorn ones over the house if they're taking off in this direction There's also someone with a Spitfire (assume Biggin based) that regularly does aerobatics near home - the engine note gives it away, they sound very different when they're actually giving it some rather than just cruising

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

We get them over the house quite a lot The Biggin ones sometimes route this way down to Capel-Le-Ferne and we get the Headcorn ones over the house if they're taking off in this direction There's also someone with a Spitfire (assume Biggin based) that regularly does aerobatics near home - the engine note gives it away, they sound very different when they're actually giving it some rather than just cruising

The company at Biggin have a pretty serious setup there now. I know they operate two seat Spits and have several privately owned singles in their hangar.

I used to work in the next hangar along from where they are based but, annoyingly, they weren't there then (though maybe that was a good thing in terms of my productivity at work)

[dwh43scale]

Morning gallery from Snetterton Stages now on Flickr - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjArLAd

Afternoon, plus report on Pistonclick (spectator snappers site - https://www.pistonclick.com) to follow

[BertMk2]

Some nice shots there - really good captures on the slow shutter speeds, particularly like the Escort with the locked rear wheel

[dwh43scale]

Thanks - got down to 1/30 - less keepers that slow though !

[dwh43scale]

And the afternoon - hard to beat a Mk2 Escort at speed - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjArUmU