Rally Queensland 2009

[RallyQLD]

Hi all

It is quickly approaching the time for Rally Queensland again, so I thought you all would like an update on where we are at. As I am sure you are all aware of we will be the Australian round of the Asia Pacific Championship this year. We have also been awarded the honour of being the host event for the Pirelli search for a star competition.

As per last year we are pleased to offer a reduced entry fee for PRC and Schedule R compliant rally cars so you can enter the event and get to mix with the International teams, the ARC teams and the State championship teams. We call this class the All-comers and they get to do the whole event from the ceremonial start right thru to the podium finish. The entry fee for the All-comers is $660.00 for the two days. Entrants in the All-comers do not need to place there cars in parc ferme on the Saturday night so they can repair them (or preferably party) until there hearts content.

The event is a 2 day pace-noted event of 114km competitive each day that starts with a ceremonial start on the Friday night at Nambour. The worlds media will have their eye on this event as not only is the event a round of the APRC it is also a round os the ARC and the QRC, and the organisers for it are also heavily involved with the WRC in September. We will be offering full flexi service facilities at the midday service and the evening service so teams can quite easily share facilities. Recce is on Thursday or can be arranged for the Friday on request, Friday recce will carried out in a convoy.

The organisers are alos happy to welcome the QLD Excel series competitors as they have chosen it as rounds of thier championship.

Entries are limited to 80 cars so if you are interested in making the trip to Rally QLD please let us know soon.

I will let everyone know once the supp regs are released and the entries open.

The spectator park has been totally rearranged and offers a lot more room and viewing oportunities, we expect that the cars will be in full view for up to 30 seconds as they go thru the spectator park. Tickets are $15.00 per day or $25.00 for the full weekend.

Have a great day

Regards Shaun

[RallyQLD]

Just to let everyone know entries are now open for this years event, you can download the entry forms and supp regs at Brisbane Sporting Car Club

There is also a competitors information night 23rd April 2009 at the BSCC clubrooms. This night will be well worth attending for all potential entrants, Ben Atkinson and Glen Weston will be there letting everyone know the differences between this event and a normal ARC/State round. We will be using a new style of timecard at this event as well as flexi-service.

[legend]

does it really cost $1200 to do the state championship section?

Faaaaarrrrk.

when are we going to stop this fARCe rubbish from ruining the lower levels of the sport?

[RallyQLD]

Your reply is so typical of an someone who would rather try and cause a stir then look at the whole picture and what the organisers of this event have tried to achieve. This event has oportunities for all levels of the sport from the budget conceious thru to the international competitor.

There is no other event in QLD that offers such good value for money then Rally Queensland, I doubt there is another event in Australia that can offer two full days of rallying with international media coverage and the full safety infrastructure that comes with an international event, for only $660.00 in the Allcomers catergory.

We have over 73 entries for the event at the moment without seeing what has arrived in Monday's mail, so it appears that the only farce is the one that makes you feel you know what you are talking about.

In my opinion one of the largest problems this sport is having is the muck rakers that would rather cause problems then supporting the efforts that many organisers are going to to make the sport better.

[legend]

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

Your reply is so typical of an someone who would rather try and cause a stir then look at the whole picture and what the organisers of this event have tried to achieve. This event has oportunities for all levels of the sport from the budget conceious thru to the international competitor.

There is no other event in QLD that offers such good value for money then Rally Queensland, I doubt there is another event in Australia that can offer two full days of rallying with international media coverage and the full safety infrastructure that comes with an international event, for only $660.00 in the Allcomers catergory.

We have over 73 entries for the event at the moment without seeing what has arrived in Monday's mail, so it appears that the only farce is the one that makes you feel you know what you are talking about.

In my opinion one of the largest problems this sport is having is the muck rakers that would rather cause problems then supporting the efforts that many organisers are going to to make the sport better.

1,2,3 personal attacks on me. and you've never even met me.

I don't need to be spoken to like that. Play the ball, not the man.

my opinion is that the Arc is ruining state rallying. In all states. it is my opinion that I should be able to run the state championship without having to pay $1200 to do one event. If Arcom fixed the ARC, it would no longer be that way. It's my opinion and its valid.

you've got 72 now. tear my entry up.

[gslrallysport]

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

Your reply is so typical of an someone who would rather try and cause a stir then look at the whole picture and what the organisers of this event have tried to achieve. This event has oportunities for all levels of the sport from the budget conceious thru to the international competitor.

There is no other event in QLD that offers such good value for money then Rally Queensland, I doubt there is another event in Australia that can offer two full days of rallying with international media coverage and the full safety infrastructure that comes with an international event, for only $660.00 in the Allcomers catergory.

We have over 73 entries for the event at the moment without seeing what has arrived in Monday's mail, so it appears that the only farce is the one that makes you feel you know what you are talking about.

In my opinion one of the largest problems this sport is having is the muck rakers that would rather cause problems then supporting the efforts that many organisers are going to to make the sport better.

+1

$660 for the All Comers is a bargain, and $1200 is for TWO rounds of the QRC is no different to 2 x $600 per round...

[Fletch]

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

with international media coverage

I doubt that any of the all comers will have any media coverage. Its rare that a top level state competitor gets any national coverage when they do an ARC round, let alone a punter in his datsun in an APRC Round.

[scully]

.oops

[RallyQLD]

ARCcom have nothing to do with the QRC, the QRC at rally QLD is TWO rounds of the championship.

The ARC exists for those who want to compete at a national level, the QRC is for state level and Clubman for those of us that do not take it as serious or do not have the funds to compete at a higher level.

Comments like your first post do offend the organisers of these events that have put all of their time and energy into the sport, as I said try being part of the solution, we are always open to well thought of constructive ideas. If you had any idea just how thin the line is for these big events running or not running you would think twice about your statement.

Without the ARC at RallyQLD the event would not exist, therefore the QRC and Allcomers would not have an event to go to.

As you say you are entitled to your opinion, well so is everyone else the ARC has flaws but it also has a lot of unpaid people putting a lot of time and money into fixing it as best as possible. Their job is made a lot harder because our sport is divided and people in our sport take pride in stirring up problems, how do you expect them to atract major sposorship for the series if some of the peole at the root level of the sport devote their energy into bagging the people at the national level.

PLEASE think about this-

If the ARC can get corporate backing they can give more money to the events, if the events get more money they can reduce the entry fees. If the ARC has corporate sponsorship they get more media coverage, if the events get more media coverage they can get more sponsorship, if the events get sponsorship they can afford to give cheaper entry fees. If the events get sporsorship they can pay for more media coverage, if we get more media coverage you get you car on TV, if you get on TV you can get more sponsorship, think about it. If the events have more money they can buy more equipment, if they can buy more equipment then it can be used by all levels of the sport.

This is why I get upset at people who take shots at us, if you take offence sorry but I to am passionate about this sport and this event. I have spent the last 20 years working on ARC events as a volunteer and the last 10 on Rally QLD and am priviledge to call the organisers of this event my friends and I see how it upsets them when they get constant attacks from a small protion of the rally community so it is something very close to my heart.

[legend]

Originally Posted by gslrallysport

+1

$660 for the All Comers is a bargain, and $1200 is for TWO rounds of the QRC is no different to 2 x $600 per round...

different people have different perceptions of a bargain. in my view it 220K's and 400Ks of transport. its 3 days off work.

my idea of a bargain (in a state round) is drive up friday, compete saturday, drive home sunday. maximum $500, 150k's and 150ks transport.

that's what state round should be in my opinion. I'm not having a go at your rally. its no doubt brilliant. It just doesn't suit me, and does not represent good value for my money.

[RallyQLD]

Fletch - you are correct that the international media will not take a lot of interest in our Datto's but you never know. My wife recently found pictures of our Datsun 1600 in action on a German website at a clubman rally. I can't speak German so have no idea why it was there or what the story was about but somehow our cars pictures ended up on the other side of the world.

I wish it was because of my talent in driving but unfortunately I will end up on funniest home videos before I will ever get on WRC tv.

[legend]

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

the QRC at rally QLD is TWO rounds of the championship.

state rounds should be 4 weeks apart in my opinion.

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

How do you expect them to atract major sposorship for the series if some of the peole at the root level of the sport devote their energy into bagging the people at the national level.

I don't. it doesn't need a major sponsor. Its needs events people want to enter. We will only get that when we tell the TV to take a hike.

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

PLEASE think about this-

If the ARC can get corporate backing they can give more money to the events, if the events get more money they can reduce the entry fees. If the ARC has corporate sponsorship they get more media coverage, if the events get more media coverage they can get more sponsorship, if the events get sponsorship they can afford to give cheaper entry fees. If the events get sporsorship they can pay for more media coverage, if we get more media coverage you get you car on TV, if you get on TV you can get more sponsorship, think about it. If the events have more money they can buy more equipment, if they can buy more equipment then it can be used by all levels of the sport.

I have thought about that. that's what's ruining the sport. Arcom have been trying this formula for 14 years now. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is to try the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

This is why I get upset at people who take shots at us,

No-one's taking a shot at you. I'm taking a shot at the format of the ARC and the insistance of Arcom to enforce it on the rally competitors, all bar about 16 of whom are not interested in competing in it.

[gslrallysport]

Originally Posted by legend

I have thought about that. that's what's ruining the sport. Arcom have been trying this formula for 14 years now.

No it's not. The problem with rallying is that the clubman and professional aspects of the sport get rolled into one, and each end compromises the other when not separated properly.

You can't for one second say what Shaun has said isn't correct, because he's quoted exactly the fundamental aspects of running a professional sport. That's exactly what the V8's do, and they get a share of TV rights, not have to pay a share of TV rights...

Just because Arcom hasn't been able to do it, doesn't mean the model isn't right. The top end needs to be the top end. If you can't afford to play there, then that's your problem, and shouldn't be at the discredit of the sport.

How many state circuit racers do you think jump on internet forums and bitch about the fact they can't play in the V8 Super cars??? Rallying just blurs the line because we're all able to play on the same road and same event, but that's what I beleive is detrimental to the sport when not managed (and accepted) properly, NOT the fact that organisers are trying to bring money, sponsors, spectators and media to the sport...

[scully]

Originally Posted by RallyQLD

Fletch - you are correct that the international media will not take a lot of interest in our Datto's but you never know. My wife recently found pictures of our Datsun 1600 in action on a German website at a clubman rally. I can't speak German so have no idea why it was there or what the story was about but somehow our cars pictures ended up on the other side of the world.

I wish it was because of my talent in driving but unfortunately I will end up on funniest home videos before I will ever get on WRC tv.

He, he. There's a bit of subtle irony. I wonder how much the event organisers of said clubman round paid the international media to get those photos out there. And how much the entry fee was.

[RallyQLD]

Thanks Greg I am glad someone else sees what I am trying to get at. Maybe some think we pay the international media to be there, that is totally incorrect the internationals apply to be at the event.

Legend-

In regards to the ARC TV coverage the teams themselves subsidise the producers, for the show that airs on TV. The clubman/state competitors do not pay for the media at all, in fact the Allcomers barely cover the costs of having them at the event. Hence why the state competitors get minimal coverage, I am sure that if you pay for the media you want them to cover your car not someone elses. The TV coverage helps all events down to the smallest clubman rounds right thru to the WRC as without it how do we get spectators interested in the sport, and without spectators where do our next generation of competitors come from?

The reason for the Allcomers is two fold

1-The main reason is to give clubman competitors the APRC/ARC experience and chance to drive against some of the best in the world on the same roads at the same time. Which hopefully in turn will inspire some to step up to QRC/ARC level next year.

2-Sorry to say but the other reason is to make up the numbers, this again is for two reasons 1-to give our spectators more value for money at the spectator points. 2-to allow us more chance of attracting event sponsorhip by having a larger field and therefore more economic impact on the regin the rally is in.

You see there is a lot more then you and I in this world and our actions or inactions have effects on everyone, the one thing I will be able to say after this event is we did our best and that we will learn from it and improve the event next year. Whether you choose to compete or not is your decision, I have tried to demonstrate to you that the issues are a lot more complex then you might have first thought. If you choose to not to compete then come over to the dark side and help out at the event. Maybe if you actually see what we have to work with you might have some constructive ideas on what we can do to improve the event for all next year. If you do choose to compete then come and introduce yourself to me, I will happily have a cuppa and a chat or a beer if it is after the days is finished. I am easy to find I am driving the "00" vehicle.