Repco Rally Aus Chatter

[DaveTrees]

Originally Posted by Matt Dyne

[*]Classic Outback Trial. We ran them through our stage. They absolutely looked like they enjoyed themselves so good for them. I was surprised that more people weren't competing in it.

I suspect that the relatively low numbers in the COT are at least partly due to cost factors for some people, given that there was also the Repco Re-Run this year plus it's an Alpine year .... lots of potential crossover between markets for the 3 events.

[wagonist]

Originally Posted by Rallyray

Finally home...

Time for a snooze and then to craft up some words of improvement for the rally organisers...

It will be a long email...

Maybe it would be an idea to post up a thread (or something) and everyone collectively put up their ideas & collectively sign it.

Would save doubling up on the correspondance, which will make it easier to read (& then take notice)

[MATNESmotorsports]

Originally Posted by Matt Dyne

Sweep 1 - spent each of their 4 times in my control, arguing, swearing at my officials, and then showering us with rocks as they departed.

i would have radio'd HQ and said "if sweep abuses one more person we are out of here". and if he does continue pack up and go.

i almost did it years ago at the NATCAP when 000 abused us .......the flying finish board blew over it was a 30 minute walk to fix it so we ask HQ to get 000 to fix it.....because it wasn't his job to do that stuff. he then screamed at us to do his time card and abused us as he left. he did appologise the next time past

but that is only once something like that has happend, most have big smiles and all are friendly

MATT
*

[Graham Wallis]

Originally Posted by DaveTrees

I suspect that the relatively low numbers in the COT are at least partly due to cost factors for some people, given that there was also the Repco Re-Run this year plus it's an Alpine year .... lots of potential crossover between markets for the 3 events.

AS organiser of the Repco Rerun I also lost entries to the 50th anniversary of the Mini in the UK and believe it or not the 6 hour relay at Philip Island.
Both COT and the Repco got around 40 entries, each event would have got 50-60 without the date clash.

The Repco Rerun went over extremely well and COT seems to have been well received, there is definitely a need for a long distance event every two or three years.

Graham

[MSP]

One suggestion I would have would be to use someone else for ticketing. I purchased a four day super pass originally. Then spoke with a gentleman who was told me that he was adding another grand stand which would be available in two or three days.

Within five minutes of receiving the link from RRA, I followed the link and purchased another ticket for a three day Makinen stand. I recommend in my rally guide on several forums that this was the best option (clearly the best value for money).

I selected the option to pick up tickets at the venue. On calling Tickettek, the voice recording suggested I email. An email was sent asking for the location of the venue. A reply was received suggesting that I should call. Of course the phone was never answered, and another email came through suggesting I pick up at the venue? But what venue? Murwillumbah, Kingscliff?

On arriving thursday evening I was asked for the printouts, which I did not have. I informed them that I had the two tickets to pick up, to which they replied nothing in this name. I then asked if they could check with the numbers on my credit card, to which they told me I must have used another card.

Meanwhile the ticket line was growing, and the cars started to run around the street circuit. After some time they found my tickets, which were two four day passes. I suggested that I did not need or book two tickets! I booked one four day pass and one Makinen stand.

After hearing the sound of antilag fill the air I decided not to argue and left with one ticket. The only reason I had booked the ticket was for the name, something to keep as a memory of the event. It was a back up plan so that I could photograph cars from the stands if I could not see over the crowd.

Each night I would wait for the WRC cars to finish and sneak onto a stand once the spectators thinned out.

Funny thing is, I didn't attend a single spectator point all weekend (bar the Murwillumbah Special Stage). I didn't expect to either, and bought the ticket to show my support for the event. Pretty lame on tickteks behalf and I was not the only one to be stuffed around by them.

Other than that, officials did a great job of running the rally and i had a fantastic time.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Miss

So let me get this right... sweep isn't released into the stage until the last car reaches the SOS point...

So if the last car DOESN'T reach the SOS point then the sweep isn't released.... but if they haven't gotten that far surely that's an indicator that something's gone amiss and they really need the sweep behind them...

Huh???

That would normally be the case, but the model in this event is based on the live tracking and thus the instant information as to whether there has been a stoppage or not and then a decision is made on which vehicle to despatch, i.e. stage start FIv or other FIv or other control vehicle which may include sweep.

[Mike Cherry]

Absolbloodylutely.
There should be 2 sweep cars, the first to act as "next car on the road", buddying the last car and the next to carry on with emergency procedures if needed.

[Mikey555]

Originally Posted by Rallyray

Chief Koala Wrangler...

Didn't stop to get the one with the orange vest up the telegraph pole though?

'Porbes! Quick! Up that pole! Fro is heading our way!

[gemgem]

hey guys just found this on a website about the WRC

Andy Gough wrote
at 8:32am on September 6th, 2009
I reckon the whole 'rock throwing' incident was totally made up by either WRC or the police just to discredit the protest. Where's any evidence? Show us a dented car at least... what a load of ****. NO RALLY IN THE VALLEY.

[Jme]

Originally Posted by MATNESmotorsports

.......the flying finish board blew over it was a 30 minute walk to fix it so we ask HQ to get 000 to fix it.....because it wasn't his job to do that stuff.

Ok, I'll bite. I know it's off topic but a 30 minute walk to fix a FF board in the Natcap!! WTF?... they put the FF board in the line of sight from the control.

As a director of a rally, I need Stop control officials to be able to put a T or FF board up quickly if it gets knocked down by wind/car etc. It's a simple safety thing- competitors are 'up it' until the board, if they don't see a board it can become dangerous. My rally will have T boards both sides... it's not uncommon for T or FF boards to get done in, and it's the job of the controllee's to maintain that.

[SHEPPO R.]

Originally Posted by gemgem

hey guys just found this on a website about the WRC

Andy Gough wrote
at 8:32am on September 6th, 2009
I reckon the whole 'rock throwing' incident was totally made up by either WRC or the police just to discredit the protest. Where's any evidence? Show us a dented car at least... what a load of ****. NO RALLY IN THE VALLEY.

sunday morning.... aprox 1km before the start of the first morning stage.
car 54.

Missile shatters Rally car | Local News | Lismore Northern Star

more than happy to show Mr Andy Gough to be wrong.

[welby]

Stupid twat. Maybe i should show him this photo. Also i spoke to your brothers co-driver at the kyogle service and he wasn't to happy about it and i don't think he was telling me fibs.

[Haggers]

Originally Posted by BEN

Yeah it is a shame about the incar, as there was a buliton issued just before scrutineering to say that we could run a camera

I can't believe something as basic as that is left to a few hours before the rally. Root my friggin boot -it's not some obscure philosophical proposition from Wittgenstein's Tractatus we're talking about here. As Loeb would say "Coqs"

Haggers

[MSP]

The amount of bs surrounding the rally is never ending. Mr Dunstan has been writing another addition to his blog, complete crap of course.

Stop the Repco Motor Rally blog August 2009

"We were festive and we were feisty at Byangumn Bridge. The Wrecko flags flew proudly magnificently from a line of bollards along the road, a mock corproate sponsorship. They added height to a varied array of hand painted placards and banners.

I had camped over in the reserve and was setting up from 6 am. People gathered slowly from 8 am parents with school children and by 9 am maybe 60 cars parked and 100 people."

that's funny, this photo tells a different story


Dunstan continues with, "The Rally cars and their supporters came by from Murwillumbah on their way to Byrill Creek and we held up placards and also wagged our little fingers at them. A few were seething with resentment, revving their engines, hanging out of windows and responding creatively with the middle finger gesture and shouts of "Go Rally!" and "Get a job!"

That's interesting, my records show that Byrrill was not a spectator stage and this rules out his claim that the rally cars AND supporters were on route to Byrrill.

I drove from service to Byangumn Bridge via a short cut, waiting to photograph the cars as they passed. Funny that I observed the several protesters (as my photo demonstrates) giving the bird to the drivers, not the other way around as Dunstan claims. No doubt the public responded with the same sign though.

"But every proRally car load was followed by at least one tooting No Rally supporter, often the very next car. In particular fire and ambulance vehicles signalled their support."

Again I observed the opposite, and spoke to several individuals from the rescue squad who voiced their disgust at the rudeness of the protesters giving the finger.

"When it became known that the Rally had been stopped in Byrrill Creek our spirits took flight and our No Rally became celebratory; dancing by the road, slogans over the PA as the disappointed Rally drivers came by returning to M'bah for lunch."

Hmm, I didn't read that in the program.. lunch at noon Murwillumbah WTF?

The papers are just as bad with their misleading stories, and the readers letters claiming that the rock throwing was made up. Makes you wonder how many of the stories actually contain any facts.

On another note, has anyone seen our sign from any of the footage online? I'm guessing that they didn't use anything from the Byrrill stage due to the accident that occurred here.

[Dave Kelly]

Originally Posted by gemgem

hey guys just found this on a website about the WRC

[name deleted] wrote
at 8:32am on September 6th, 2009
..blah blah blah etc....

Isn't it time to let it all go now?

Lets look at a few truths...

• The rally has been run, a few ferals made themselves extremely unpopular with locals, competitors, fans and organisers alike.
• The Police will be following up where they can, and have some people that have been charged with a variety of offences.
• We know that the people opposed to the rally actually number very few (gee, they could only manage something like 800 signatures on their much publicised on-line petition.. and a very high percentage of those signatures are fakes or duplicates anyway).
• We know that of those opposed, there are some, who actually are quite peaceful and have honestly held beliefs (albeit, we in supporting the rally most likely hold differing views)
• We know that there are a small number of really rabid ferals who have been protesting in quite a different way, including advocating direct and violent action, and in some cases taking or supporting such action.
• We know that of these feral type protestors, although relatively few in number, many of those are the kind of rent-a-protestor that will go wherever and whenever to have the opportunity to cause trouble, no matter what the cause.
• We read from their web sites that the "no rally people" tend to stereotype all of us who support the rally as speed loving bogans who will happily be reckless and violent towards out cause.
• We know they are wrong on that front!

Continuing to ramp up rhetoric between us who support the WRC event and the more petty minded and ridiculous of those who don't, is only going to add to their cause!

We all do appreciate that it is a quite small minority of people that hold the "no rally" views (especially at the extreme end), and if we continue in any way to be advocating ridiculous pay back or anything else, then all that does for them is to risk confirming the stereotype they have us all pegged as.

Yeah, some crap happened, and for people like Steve Shepheard and his crew, that is incredibly tough and extremely scary and disappointing I am sure... however, I also feel sure he has moved on, and so should we! The events been run... the protesting rabble really had very little effect (despite their claims to the contrary).. and in particular, the obvious VAST MAJORITY of locals (people, families, businesses, local government etc etc) are making very great noises of support for the WRC event.. and can't wait for its return!

Those same supporting locals will I am sure make our bidding for us in terms of how some of the more vocal ratbags will be viewed for the potential for damage they have done; whilst I am sure those of the "no rally fraternity" that remained peaceful and totally non-interventionist will remain respected notwithstanding their dissenting views.

Lets not risk US as a rally community being lobbed in as being the mindless bogans that some from the other side think we are by continuing with the rage.

Its time to celebrate the success, and look forward to next time (and with that make the constructive criticisms to the organisers that most definitely are needed).

Lets forget those ferals and leave them to crawl back to wherever they came from and their base existence as the hypocrites and mostly useless bludging leeches on society that they are..

Cheers

David