2009 Alpine Rally

[DaveTrees]

Originally Posted by Spac

This makes me think that I didn't do too bad a job on the last speccie point after all

Ken & I had a big lose there ..... much to the amusement of several HRA members who were still there when we went through.

Not sure if Golly got a photo or not - I think he was too busy laughing !

[pvda]

Originally Posted by AdrianS

I was reminded of the TopGear volkswagen lurking behind the guys on their African adventure.

You're not the only one who had that thought, in fact the 999 crew were the one's who suggested it to me on Sunday.

[andykat]

There wasn't a NO wheelspin policy in 2007, and the 23 trenches at the start of those stages prompted me with input! from DSE to put into place one in 2009
On driving the route post event there was no damage at any start lines, brilliant. Guess the message from the COC re the bitumen (go for it) was appropriate LOL

We only damaged one road that being the start of the Hospital Ck stage 5 where the road had been graded in the last 6 months. The hard surface was disturbed exposing the sandy base. A number of cars got bogged, and the road is to put it bluntly rooted!!!! Lots of grovelling to my friends at DSE coming up, somehow have to get them to take the blame for grading it LOL!
Considering the filed size, and the redefined OLT rules, 80+ cars started Sunday, I budgeted for 60 plus, there is no question the determination of competitors to be able to say "I finished an Alpine". My personal score is 5 starts 2 finishes.

Watching Goldies in car footage of the Murrungower stage I kept thinking "what was he doing" sliding all over the road etc, until I spoke to the course checker who was running 00 and was informed they'd dropped a load of gravel there during the week proceeding the event! Apologies Goldies for ? your driving ability!!

One gripe I have about "certain" competitors is their inability to obey SPEED LIMITS on unsealed transports! as the other 00 car 3 times during the event on 2 way transports I was passed by competitors doing "Mach 1" and the dust and stones thrown were not appreciated. If you guys who are guilty of this read this please note next time you will get pinged and probably excluded! Generally though feedback from our local police was fantastic, only a few Service Crews got booked for speeding!

Having 2 cars go off less than 10km from the end reminds of a quote from Geoff Portman who told a group of Excel drivers, "Ross and I have never won an event we didn't finish". Perhaps young Mr Bell might put it in his car, I'm sure his Dad didn't have it there. LOL

Andrew
Alpine Road finder

[Swill]

Andrew, I thought the roads were tops. Good work from you and your crew. It had a mixture of everything which kept us on our toes. Some of the roads had a sandy base and we had to follow the ruts, but it is on the coast and we expected this. Apart from that its a hell of lot smoother than Canberra

A++ will drive again

[Spac]

Originally Posted by andykat

There wasn't a NO wheelspin policy in 2007, ....

There was for at least some of the stages - but I couldn't remember how many, hence my wobbly wording about "strictly enforced".

But hey: What Swill said.
Even the roads that chopped up badly, weren't car breakers.
And a long event, with lots of competitors would be impossible to run exclusively on billiard table smooth roads.


Also, Rallysport Mag has put up photos :
http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home...647&Itemid=122

[DaveTrees]

Some excellent photos here too ....

[andykat]

Spac you must have the same disease as the rest of us oldies 40+ as road director in 2007 there was definitely NOT a wheelspin policy anywhere. Perhaps some officials threatened your manhood if you sprayed them starting LOL

[andykat]

Dave rumour from Golly and John is they slow the camera shutter speed to one normal used for still life when you guys go past, but l think they are just being nasty LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rallyray]

Don't know what Spac is whinging about. Its a Volvo. Not a great producer of Wheel Spin...

[PeterO]

Originally Posted by DaveTrees

No exemption needed .... it's only classed as "advertising" under the Act if there is a commercial arrangement involved.

Before you rush out and paint your car up as a pack of Camels, I think permission to run with a cigarette name on it is not only where a non-commercial agreemant applies, BUT ALSO where the car has been painted in a traditional livery. There is/was a "Rothmans" Commodore on the tracks recently - painted in the liverey of the VLs that won Bathurst after the Sierras were disqualified for fitting European - sorry modified - inner guards.

Peter

[PeterO]

Originally Posted by Spac

Sobering.

Also sobering is the fact in 07 the 'no wheel spin' thing was much less strictly policed.

I also reckon that the roads were grippier in 07 - a bit more moisture in them.

Certainly had more grip this year back in the field, as the roads chosen were not cut to ribbons - except in a couple of cases.

Considering the claims of impending doom and impossibilities, it would seem that the "no wheel spin" was not an issue. The organisers helped by having a majority of start controls on a downhill, with most of the rest flat, and as a starter from towards the end of the field, it was great to be able to start promptly at each stage.

I am sure that in 2007, the first car dug a hole only 1 metre long. car 2 dug that a little deeper and extended it another metre, etc
By the time car 100 got there it was a case of join in with "playing in the sand-pit" for 30 seconds, then commence the [slightly shorter remains of the] stage.

The sky didn't fall, I didn't hear of anyone getting pinged, and there should be very little backlash from the local authorities so we should all be able to do it again in 2011.

That last phrase has no ring to it. Perhaps it is time to get the Alpine and RRA out of sync, so that the Alpine is not preceded by the Classic Outback Trial. In that case "LET'S DO IT AGAIN IN 2010!!!"

Peter

[Spac]

Originally Posted by andykat

Spac you must have the same disease as the rest of us oldies 40+ ...

Lots of beer between then and now will do that, I guess.

In any case, it only proves the point that I was trying to make - 09 had a condition that slowed the stage times down marginally, and yet the fast guys still went faster.

At least tell me that one of the more recent Alpines had a no wheelspin requirement? I definitely remember encountering it before last weekend.

[AUST2000]

What an amazing rally .

A shot from the media day is attached

More shots here:

Leeding Edge Photography : Cars : Rally Cars


Enjoy

[DaveTrees]

Originally Posted by Spac

At least tell me that one of the more recent Alpines had a no wheelspin requirement?

2001 did ..... not sure about 2003.

[Swill]

Either way it worked well in 09. I have lot of trouble getting off the line without spinning but i never got pinned. I think its the way you spin it, because as soon as I hit the board I unleashed the beast through the next 3 gears