Doom and Gloom and whinging

[Paul]

Originally Posted by MichaelF

Personally I thought the whole Kowen spectator point at this year's RoC was very well done. From the bridge and other man made stuff to the water splash, fast and slow corners in the forest and a couple of "straights".

With a bit more work it could be made into a world class one stop spectator shop. But alas that won't be happening for a WRC round and maybe not for another RoC.

Hold that thought!

It was done just for that reason, yet there have been a few critic's of that same specatator point. Well ya can't please them all.

[MichaelF]

Originally Posted by Paul

Hold that thought!

It was done just for that reason, yet there have been a few critic's of that same specatator point. Well ya can't please them all.

Sure there were a few issues. Slow buses, could have been more variety in the food/facilities and the bloody heat didn't help. But all of these could be fixed.

There is just so much inherent potential to make it very spectator friendly for people who would normally not consider driving out in the bush and walking through blackberry to see each car for a few seconds.

Alas it seems catch 22 now. Poor crowds = no Govt funding = no main sponsor = no event = no crowds. Build it and they won't necessarily come ...

[Kagan]

That speecy point was great, I think a little more attractions for the crowds when there weren't cars going around (didn't bother me but could help keep people out there for longer) and certaninly more/better food places, but that is something that would have come with time and experience. It certainly got my vote as within a short walk you could see a tunnel, a flyover, a long wide shicanne the cars would get nice and sideways on, a couple of tight litle twisty corners, a jump (pretty ordinary admittedly), and a watersplash. Couldn't really ask for much more, and people didn't even have to get there cars dirty. I didn't see the busses as a problem, they were ging every 20 mins or so and they weren't full, seemed fine to me.

It certainly gets my vote!!!!

[Mathew Boorman]

Yep specy was really good this time. Given how bad it was in previous years, it would take a while to get people back who have been burned before.

[Spac]

A few random points:

1. There's a whole heap of hostility from non-ARC competitors toward the ARC. I've sure been guilty of it, but it's stupid.
At worst, the ARC should be merely irrelevant to non-ARC hopefuls.
But that's not how a lot of us feel - we feel resentful and bitter, because there are many decisions made regarding the ARC that flow down to state/club level and f$%k us up the asre.
THIS is why the cheap RoC 'national' event has been poorly supported.

2. Spectators are usually people who already have a genuine interest in the sport.
Generally speaking, people who are going to become competitors are there (spectating) because they're interested and already intend to get involved when they've got the time/money/planets aligned.
I think the number of spectators who turn up "for something to do on a Saturday arvo", and then decide to start competing is tiny.

3. Current competitors are the sport's bread and butter. ANYTHING that pi5ses them off to the point that they stay at home, is Bad, no matter how noble your goals are.
ARCom and CAMS seems to be intent on killing the goose that's laying the bronze eggs... They've been flogging it to death in an attempt to get it to lay golden eggs, when they'd be far better off making sure it was happy and healthy and laying lots of bronze eggs (sorry for the tortured metaphor).

4. Forums and egroups only work for some people. Yeah, they're generally more negative than some people would like, but at least this way stuff is discussed openly and honestly. I've been to lots of club meetings and been told plenty of 'dodgy interpretations of the truth' and outright lies - stuff that would never be allowed to stand in a more public environment.

5. I'm actually feeling really positive that the reign of Gaz may be about to end. Yes, there's a lot of "not ideal" things happening now, and I'm NOT happy that we might lose RoC (etc), but if it gets rid of GAZcom, then it's a means to an end, and I honestly believe that (in the longer term) the sport will be better for it.
For me, the tunnel is darker than it's ever been, but I can see a pale glow off in the distance, and I'm honestly thinking that it's a glimpse of sunlight.
Maybe my optimism is misplaced, but I AM optimisitic for the first time in ages!

[Kagan]

For me, the tunnel is darker than it's ever been, but I can see a pale glow off in the distance, and I'm honestly thinking that it's a glimpse of sunlight.

Lets just hope its not one of those glowing green exit signs!!!!

[Mike Cherry]

Spac, I think thats an excellent summation.

[Ausrally]

I agree a good summation. but we need to make sure that we are happy with the administration and not want them to jump ff a ship.

Now Garry is on the WRC he claims he will "represent our interests". and what could they be exactly?

What to get a around of the WRC that no locals either can compete in or can win? Ensure we have rules to suit a couple for car builders?

We have had 15 years of pandering to world rules. Enough is enough. The sum total of all of this "aligning with world rules" is Chris in the WRC (paid for by his Dad and others) and two events now on shakey ground.

I for one feel its time for us to build our own identity with our own rules to suit our own condiitiions at what ever level that is.

We are about to embark down the S2000 way. Is that really right fo us? I am not sure but how does it help us across the board? might be for Toyota but what about everyone else?

They might be noisy and the they migh be new but they wont be cheap and they won drag the speccy out.

We only just got spectators out when we had a WRC car here. We can't seem to drag em out in healthy enough numbers in Perth when the whole World circus turms out. The Guvmt there no longer seeing the benefits.

Hey we have a big issue here - and we want leaders who know how to fix it rather than just getting us all to standardise on overseas rules all of the time.

How great it has been to see only a handful being able to compete in Rally Australia, due to rules and availablilty of positions.

If we hosted the soccer final between Spain and Africa would we all support it and should we do so financially? could we expect the media to take an interest. It was only jsut a small news item on the radio today when Italy won. If we had been in the final, God help us with the coverage. Its only natural.

Thats what we have done with the WRC in Perth. supported it with little real local opportunity, used up officals and their money all to help the WRC circus.

I am not sad its potentially gone. It might free up some resouces for other locally funded and supported events. Its not like it had 100,000 specators who ten all suppoeted the local businesses!

For those of yopu old enough the 1979 Repco trial it was sensational. For 1 year after it bugger all rallies had runners as all the sponsorship and money available had been used.

The WRC has sucked us and the ROC to some extent. ROV had cheap entry and still plenty didn't front.

Garry we have a problem mate! and as our "man" at the WRC its time to take it up with them or move over and let someone who will.