Wyedean Rally 2009

Well given that my last post was one year ago, it would seem the plan to blog after every event I visit went slightly to pot. I will try and make sure it actually happens this year and fittingly we once again start at the Wyedean Rally in the Forest of Dean.

The event had been in question in the two days before the event thanks to the heavy snow falls that the UK had suffered from. A stage inspection on Friday morning took place and at 12 noon on Friday - it was confirmed that the event would run. Armed with this information I then went to pack my camera, making sure the batteries were charged and that the memory cards were empty. Warm clothing was bunged into my bag as was some over night stuff, we would be travelling down to a Premier Inn near Ross-On-Wye to act as an overnight halt closer to the event. Armed with a new iPod Nano from Xmas, me and my Dad set off from Telford at about 7pm, arriving at the hotel some 90 minutes later.

Saturday morning came, the sun rose and it was time to get up! After a breakfast we set off towards our destination for the day, Car Park D! The forecast had been for a cold yet sunny day and so far the forecast proved to be right. We had heard that this part of the country had recieved a lot of snow, and as we neared the forest there were still parts of road with snow on them. However it wouldn't be until we arrived at the car park and ventured towards the stage how much snow had actually fallen! I have no ieda how long this car had been parked or where it had been parked but look how thick the snow is on the roof!

I was expecting to take a lot for photos, I'd taken 8GB worth of memory cards with me! But I didn't expect to take so many pictures of trees and snow before event reaching the stages! It's not often we get such a thick covering of snow so I took the oppourtunity to add some snow shots to my portfolio! After a snowy walk down a hill (part of the stage from last year) we found the stage. I will be honest, I had planned to go to the Speech House stage in the morning which was over the road from our car park. However I just went to Serridge 1 instead which would mean I'd then have to go to the same stage again in the afternoon, this was a mistake I was glad I made though!

For the first run the cars would be coming along a straight out of view, the taking a 90 left before a short blast up hill the a 90 right. Normally this would be fairly routine, but the stage was still covered in ice and snow! For the poor 2WD front runners this was nearly impossible! They would crawl up to the corners and between the corners they were just wheel spinning, making it impossible for them to build up to any real speed. It also meant that the different types for driving where on show. The drivers that just wanted to get through unscaved and then the drivers who were going as fast as the conditions allowed so that they maybe able to get an unexpected result. Normally cars come at minute intervals and sometimes some cars are caught up ass they have had a proble or an off. However with the conditions as they were - cars were quite often coming in twos or threes and the time gaps had no stucture to the at all. It really was a case of waiting until somthing turns up!

After these there was a small historics class - never before had I seen three rally cars so close on the stage - it was like watching the BTCC! Once these had passed the big boys were up next, as was the might 306 Cosworth of the infamous Andy Burton.

The 4WD was instantly visable as he came flying into the first corner and powered up the hill in a wail of noise and confidently swung it into the 90 right and up the straight. It was now that you started to appriciate the difference between 4WD and 2WD and the different power each car can put out! After around 25 cars or so we then headed back to the car to get some food and warmth!

After lunch we headed back down to the stage, although I had already learned that I had gone to the wrong stage I planned too in the morning - I had also planned where I would stand for Serrdige 2. The stage would take a different route for the second run - where they were coming up the hill towards us and turning right, they would now come down a unused section of stage, have a 90 right, head down the hill then take in another 90 right at the bottom. The stage had now pretty much cleared up from snow - so the afternoon run was expected to more spectacular.

As we walked down the hill I noticed a crowd of people and as we got closer discovered that an Escort Mark 2 as parked up at the side of the road. A rear right half shaft had snapped and as you can see from the pictures, the off side rear wheel at an angle it shouldn't be!

Then we move to a prime spot down on the bottom right and got some great pictures if I say so myself. We thought we were in for a interesting and dirty run when the first car covered us in mud and the the second spun but most driver held it together and made it past with no dramas. Thie big boys came through without drama, but being so close to the stage the noise and action on show was brilliant. After around 25 cars again we made out way back to the car, there was a journey back home to Telford to make!

All in all it was a great day, the snow really added to the spectacle as it was something I've never experienced before. The crowds were out in huge numbers and made the drivers feels supported. Stopping over the night before also helped as well, I can't begin to imagine how tiring it would of been to of had to of travelled from Telford in the morning! The Wyedean "Snow" Rally was over for another year, there will be no hesitation in returning next year.

For more of my pictures from the event click here!

Wyedean Rally 2008

Well this is a couple of days after the actual event but I'll do my best to remember what happened!

The rally was on the 9th of February and well I remember the 6 am wake up that's for sure! My Dad said we had to leave by quarter to 7 so I got myself ready for that time but low and behold quarter to 7 he wasn't even at the house! He'd gone to get the papers! So at 7 am ish we set off on our big day trip down South!

It was on this part of the journey as we got onto the M54 that a strange system of events occurred. I got a iPod shuffle for Christmas and obviously quite a fan. I'm also a big Feeder fan so there is quite a lot of their music on my iTunes. I let iTunes automatically fill my shuffle for me, but due to the huge amount of Feeder there's always quite a lot on the shuffle play list. Yet despite it all being randomly selected and my shuffle being on, ahem, shuffle, I still managed to get six Feeder songs in a row!

Anyway back to the rallying :P We got there about well I don't know actually but either way we were lucky. We were meant to go to a certain car park so that I could walk across the road to meet JJ and Co on the second stage I was going to visit on the day, but the roads seemed to spear off on there own and we ended up at a completely different car park. Even the professional I blamed the signs! Even so we were lucky to get into the car park as about five cars after we had got in they closed the car park! The stage we were at was Serridge 1 and Car Park G if my memory is correct! After eating what was quite frankly a very nice bacon bap and negotiating the lethal mud strewn paths of the Forest of Dean we reached the stage. Despite parking space being small but once we'd got to the stage there were a large selection of spectators!

The area was a straight into a 90 right which I thought by standing further up from the corner we may get to see some sideways action. However I was to be disappointed by all the drivers behaving themselves, obviously the first event of the year it's vital to finish! However we did see one car pull up as it had just completely died and then a rather amusing moment involving a man sitting down and a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Now I frown upon sitting down when the rally stage is live. I don't mind sitting down when there is no action, but once the cars start coming, the same at track meetings, I stand. However this man was insistent on sitting down. Then came the Lancer, cutting the corner too much the back stepped out and into the ditch the car went. Keeping his foot to the floor he drove this car right through this ditch which was full of water, mud and all sorts. I think you can sense what's coming.

The man who was peacefully enjoying his rallying was now covered head to toe in mud and grass thanks to the exploits of the Lancer. The Lancer got out of the ditch but you could tell that someone had gone off when you looked back down the stage! The man however was soon dusting himself down and the centre of much amusement for the many spectators who were wise enough to stand. Ironically after the scene his chair was too wet and muddy to sit down on, so he stood for the rest of the stage!

We watched a couple more cars then decided that it was time to move on to give ourselves plenty of time to get to the next stage. And swapping into are more casual "travelling" clothes we moved onto the next car park, this time arriving where we were meant too. After just about finding a parking space with plenty of time to spare until the start of the stage we wasted some time in the car, my Dad reading the paper, myself reading my Nintendo mag. But soon we were getting back into the rally gear and set off into the stage, on foot, obviously.

Again we were on the Serridge stage but this time at Car Park D which is where we were supposed to go in the first place I think. After a small walk we reached the stage on what was a hairpin left. After having been disappointed at the lack of action at the last stages 90 right I went in search of some high speed action. So after a decent walk we came to a long straight which was after a 90 right and which the followed into a medium right and the hairpin left or second gear left after the medium right. We couldn't see the hairpin but I thought it was as good a place as any.

The smaller car Nova's etc.) were making a terrific noise as they came up the straight, as was Mr Burton's Peugeot. As we moved down the field one car came back through with some friend of his near us pointing at there watches as he drove past! After watching just over half the field we decided that with us having to still get back to Telford we'd call it a day and walk back to the car. On leaving the car park I saw a Aston Martin Vantage soft top. Don't think I'll see one of those at a rally again!

All in all was a good day out and was well organised. But was also great to see some rallying as it had been since Wales Rally GB since I'd seen any rallying action.

The next event for me is the Robin Hood Stages in March some time, my Dad doesn't know this yet so we'll see what happens there!