Tarmac rallying is the biz - Brindabella Motor Sport Club

MikeW · 20-07-2006, 01:30 PM

We lost (or are losing) the WRC, the NSW ARC, RoC, Rally Tas but what is popping up?

- Dutton Rally 4 round championship
- More hill climb type of events and this:

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home...d=183&Itemid=2

Tarmac rallying is the place to be. It's easier to get into, has more competitors, more spectators, more coverage, more financial suppoer etc etc. This Sunshine Classic event is boasting that there will be 6 hours of coverage (from a 5 day event mind you). I don't think the ARC got 6 hours of coverage in total last year.

I think it's time to firm up that suspension and buy some slick tyres......

Bogan · 20-07-2006, 01:32 PM

I thought tar rallying and gravel rallying were mutually exclusive, as tar is supposed to be for sports cars and gravel for touring cars?

T.

tamsey · 20-07-2006, 01:39 PM

Theres different regulations for the two and tar rallies go thru a seperate panel too.

Cost more aswell.

Mark · 20-07-2006, 02:00 PM

Yeah, I saw that on the Rallysportmag web site. Talking about talking up an event before it has even run.

On my week off last week, I went out on Monday afternoon and checked out the dodgiest, winding roads in the ACT: Corin Dam Road, Honeysuckle Creek (Apollo Road), Orroral (spelling?) Road and attempted the Booroomba Road (Private Property) with the idea of finding two roads of 8km for a tarmac rallysprint. The road upto the Honeysuckle Creek old Tracking Station was the ducks guts (9.5km long, 400m climb in height over that distance, decent armco), 3 or 4 residents.
However, the rules courtesy from Paul Tams, who got them from Marc Kelly said you need to be a C1 to run anything on tarmac if more than 10km of the rally is on tarmac so that's us fugged and that idea canned...
Makes it completely unaccessible to the club-level competitor....

"Daddy owns a Horse/Porsche?)..."

Mark

Matt Dyne · 20-07-2006, 02:12 PM

Can the C2's do it with a C1 watching?

Like Adrian did for his observation during ROC?

M

Mike Cherry · 20-07-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogan

I thought tar rallying and gravel rallying were mutually exclusive, as tar is supposed to be for sports cars and gravel for touring cars?

T.

No no no.....Tar for Chaps & Ladies, Gravel for Blokes & Chics.

rowdytoot · 20-07-2006, 02:19 PM

I don't think we should be looking at the Dutton as a 'rally' it's a 4 round chaps motorkhana championship really.... ;p

Rowds

mattj · 20-07-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW

Tarmac rallying is the place to be. It's easier to get into..

Really isnt it more expensive to get into? entry fee wise and stuff like that?

TKM · 20-07-2006, 02:34 PM

Tarmac rallying is crap. Poor little rich boys that have nothing else to spend their money on. And if any of those dirty rally guys try to beat them, they find a way to penalise them out of contention. Channel 10 was showing Targa Tassie on the weekend, the commentator kept referring to the WRX's as rice burners. What a wanker!!

Glen · 20-07-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattj

Really isnt it more expensive to get into? entry fee wise and stuff like that?

Entry fees tend to be higher but the running costs for crews is significantly lower if you can keep your car out of the scenery.

TMR's tarmac car costs about 1/3 of what's needed to run the gravel car. The big savings are less tyres and less broken stuff under the cars from flying rocks, grids, washouts, creek crossings etc.

Spac · 20-07-2006, 02:38 PM

Tarmac rallying is a very different demographic - one with a lot more money and a lot less depth of talent/competitiveness.

Regardless, I wonder what would happen to gravel rallying in this country if CAMS and GAZcom gave us the freedom they've given the tarmac boys?

Mike Cherry · 20-07-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Regardless, I wonder what would happen to gravel rallying in this country if CAMS and GAZcom gave us the freedom they've given the tarmac boys?

[/QUOTE]

It would flourish.

Dirty Sanchez · 20-07-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKM

Tarmac rallying is crap. Poor little rich boys that have nothing else to spend their money on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spac

Tarmac rallying is a very different demographic - one with a lot more money and a lot less depth of talent/competitiveness.

I think you guys need to get a grip. I did Dutton Rally a few years ago in a car I bought for $2k then spent another $2k preparing it and had a blast. The whole reason I joined the BMSC was so I could get my CAMS licence to do the Dutton.

In terms of talent, when was the last time you entered a rally and competed with people like Jim and Steven Richards? There are some seriously talented drivers in these events and the spectrum ranges right down to people like me. I have no talent, I know it but I drive because I enjoy it. Complaining that there isn't enough depth of talent doesn't exactly encourage newbies to get into gravel rallying when they know there will be people bagging them becuase they lack talent.

There is a long, sad history of poeple on this site bagging tarmac rallies. Meanwhile tarmac rallies go from strenght to strenght while gravel rallies struggle to even get enough officials to run events.

Bogan · 20-07-2006, 04:02 PM

Well said Jamie.

I honestly believe that while there may be a certain element of "chaps" in tarmac rallying, there are also people with no talent (and some of those with too much money) in gravel rallying, drifting, circuit racing and tiddly winks.

We love to bag tar rallying because they've allegedly spoiled gravel rallying for us, but we're not doing ourselves any favours by our attitude are we?

I'd love to do Targa Tassie if they'd take the Lancer.

T.

Spac · 20-07-2006, 04:12 PM

Have you ever stopped to think WHY there's the amnimosity from gravelists toward the tarmac guys?

Is it because our controlling body prostitutes itself and us in order to appease the tarmac guys?
Is it because they spend outrageous amounts of money (by our standards) for a romp in the countryside, and our controlling body then thinks we should be happy to pay similarly?
Is it because they've got a clear history of being far more dangerous, and yet we shoulder their increased and increasing insurance risk?
Is it because they compete in a series of speed events (on licenced race tracks...) and motokhanas and then consider themselves to understand what we do?

I'm yet to hear any newbie get bagged for a lack of speed or talent in gravel rallying. The thing is, that most new gravel rallyists start off in relatively low budget cars and progress from there - not cars that are worth as much as an ARC contender.