What makes a "Good Rally"?

[Spac]

You often hear people saying "I wouldn't bother going there, it'sa crup event" or "I love that event, it's awesome", but we never really talk about WHy an event is good or bad, unless something is really good or really bad...

What sort of stuff would stop you going to an event?
What would encourage you to turn up, even if you knew the rest of the event was going to be imprefect?
Are your expectations from a state round different to that of a clb-only event?


The poll is included because people seem to like clicking on stuff, but I'm really more interested in comments, 'cause polls only tell part of the story (even when you can click on multiple options like this one).

[smee]

You have not put in.

Stages that test driver and co-driver skill's but also test a cars durability.

Any dummy can mash their foot to the firewall ala Bega shire stages, but technically challenging stages with close calls and varing corners like Canberra (Tidbinbilla, Champagnes, Pierces Creek) and the roughness and changability like Kowen.

Where you can't read the treeline and have to run on what you can see and are warned about.

And no pacenotes would not be welcome jme, and chase cars are not allowed.

Central service, with 20 minutes max and then a regroup to bunch up the field if needed.

[mattj]

I picked feels like an adventure, i feel what makes a good event is the sence of accomplishment, when u venture out onto the bush and go to all manner of different places (fast scenic travelling ), where every stage brings a new challenge, i like re-run stages but i rather going all over the country side getting to the end of a stage and saying "wow that was so different to the last stage!", instead of being like "wow the road was so much more chewed up this time to the last pass". thats just what i reckon

[Spac]

Smee, the idea is that if you like rough stages, you don't click on the "good smooth roads" option.

There are no right and wrong answers here* - it's about what the competitors enjoy.


*Well, not until Kagan responds anyhow... /

edit: Thank you Fro for fixing poll, merging thread, etc.

[Spac]

And "it's the vibe of the thing" is a really crap poll option, because I'm trying to dissect the vibe and work out what contributes to a good (or bad) vibe...

[Swill]

I disagree, Vibes are an all important part of it. I think good vibes come with good times and no sheep stations. i.e. FNS, The Alpine, Minidulla. Not that other rally's have a bad vibe, just the more pressure people feel, like trying to do well in a whole series, have to beat Spac in a Gemini etc can lessen the vibe. Wasn't worth a new thread

[Spac]

The new thread was to make the poll mutliple choice, as opposed to single choice.

OK, so what makes "the vibe"?
Minidulla was good (I think) because it was cheap, on good roads and bull**** free. In order of importance, that list should probably be reversed.
You may think that there were other factors too...

Would you have gone if it had been the same event but on the north coast?
What if it was a state round like that? Would it still be a good event, or would we all be bitching about how it was just an oversized rallysprint?
Etc.

[fro]

Yeah, I kinda agree with YRALLY, but I seperate it into two parts, Attitude and Atmosphere. They are linked, but seperate items.

Attitude comes from all involved at the event, from the organisers (ala FNS/Minidulla) making a point of making sure that no-one takes themselves too seriously, to the Officials on the ground and their attitude towards the event, to the competitors.

Atmosphere comes from the attitude and camardarie, but also comes from factors like the event venue bringing people together, people being able to see some action and discuss it while it's happening (ala FNS), the road selection can figure into it, as can a lot of other factors.

Atmosphere also comes from having enough people there. I think things like Bega are good because there is a lot of people competing. But that doesn't gel with my feelings about FNS, which is great, but has a relatively small amount of people at the event...

I think Attitude makes a bigger difference in whats a good rally or not than how long it is, or whether the entry fee is $100 or $500.

[Spac]

So is it reasonable to simplify it to:
Attitude comes from the event organisers, atmosphere mostly comes from the competitors?

[Kagan]

My vote is for lots of glitz and glam, and lots of prizemoney!!!!

There you go Spac!!!!!


Actually mine is good roads (to me that doesn't have to mean 4 lane roads in the middle of the forrest, but a mix of fast sections, technical sections, the wider flowing sections etc, but rough as guts I am not all that interested in).

Also not a fan of repeated stages, they get all chopped up, and I prefer having to work it out as you go, rather than remember it.

[rowdytoot]

grrrr, I just posted in the old one and it got closed... lost the lot

anyway since I'm being paid to write this, I'll retype- in no particular order

1) central service is a good thing - no need to worry about people carting stuff across the country- and you can turn up with just driver and nav if you wish.

2)good roads- not too rough, smooth is nice- varied is better- fast, open, tight, twisty, all in a coupla stages if possible.

3) no ****ing erosion humps.

4) no BS- it's a vibe thing- knowing that it's not a game of tiny sheep stations, relaxed organisation, but still run really smoothly- miniD, and FNS have this

5) people- people you like to talk crup with before, during and after is a good thing,

6) availibility of beer near accomodation

Rowds

[Jme]

Competing in class N1/2/3 (whatever) when there are 1 or 2 competitors in a rally/series doesn't interest me at all- regardless of all other factors. So "competition" would have to be the determining factor in what I consider to be a good rally. But it has to be "fair" competition within reason, or I get the ****s- (ARC against WRC tyre shod factory cars that have practised the first stage during shakedown / locals with "massive" knowledge of stages) Even if it's me with the knowledge or beside the driver with knowledge (read Peter Roberts at Wauchope in a few months) that takes away from my event satisfaction. I like the contest. I like rallies where any one of a dozen crews can win, ya know its going to be hard fought, and the boys (girls) are playing for some "prestige" in the victory. Not too many rallies like that around anymore.

[Boris]

Being that this all personal taste, in no particular order:

Long stages, give a bloke/shiela a chance to get a feel for the road before the end time control.

Not a big fan of repeated stages, as I have a memory like a sieve.

Less stress, especially at scrut.

Close to home / cheap entry fee's, all equal more rallies for the year.

I am also a fan of the more technical road sections, not the big highways.

Boris

My opinion probably doesn't mean much on this forum any more, I am relocating the tribe further north. Will soon be located at Raymond Terrace, and checking the northern scene.

[fro]

Originally Posted by Spac

So is it reasonable to simplify it to:
Attitude comes from the event organisers, atmosphere mostly comes from the competitors?

I wouldn't say that was it. Attitude comes from individuals, Atmosphere comes from groups...

[Mike Cherry]

Originally Posted by Boris

Being that this all personal taste, in no particular order:

Long stages, give a bloke/shiela a chance to get a feel for the road before the end time control.

Not a big fan of repeated stages, as I have a memory like a sieve.

Less stress, especially at scrut.

Close to home / cheap entry fee's, all equal more rallies for the year.

I am also a fan of the more technical road sections, not the big highways.

Boris

My opinion probably doesn't mean much on this forum any more, I am relocating the tribe further north. Will soon be located at Raymond Terrace, and checking the northern scene.

Repeated stages should OK then!

C'mon up!