Off season topic: Why do you love rallying?

[raybak]

I can remember the late 70's listening to the Group 4 Escorts in the local rally that went past our farm. Then the early 90's my next taste of rallying in the Victorian forest at Heathcote watching guys like Crazy Cuthbert in his Subaru. This got me hooked, but alas no money to compete so started officiating. Moved to Canberra in late 97 and joined the BMSC. Just loved the rally people, always wanting to help, nothing was too hard. Started codriving in 2001 and haven't looked back. Still compete, officiate, service at all levels and am proud to competed at the highest level. I'm one of the rare few who can do both sides of the car, although my driving is quite limited these days as have too many codriving gigs(16 events this year with 1 still to go). I love the events with remote services and there seems to be a rally between the service crews to get there first. It is great also when you have car issues and your fellow competitors pitch in to help out. There are so many good memories for all events, whether we win or DNF.

The friendliness in rallying goes right through the sport from club level to WRC. I have made thousands of friends over my years in rallying. I remember a funny moment at 2005 Rally NZ, I was chatting with Gronholm at the after party and some quite attractive girls came up for his autograph, he said no no! you want Ray's Autograph

I just love the sport, I'm lucky enough to have run with some great drivers over the years, I have lost some good friends as well but we have a sport where everyone sticks together. We are a worldwide family.

Cheers

Ray

[BDunnell]

For me, it was the British Open Rally Championship of the early 1980s that got me into the sport. Fantastic events, a brilliant level of competition involving the best British drivers and some top-quality international entrants, plenty of spectacle and almost always a close title battle. It saddens me that British rallying today is of so little consequence, because growing up it couldn't fail to excite.

[Mintexmemory]

I grew up as a circuit racing fan, from the age of 14 regularly going to Brands Hatch and Crystal Palace (where I attended the start of the London-Sydney Marathon rally in 1968). Other than interest in what various racing drivers were doing in rallies (Elford, Clark, Hill) RALLYING (the correct english word for the activity) never figured much on my radar. A chance conversation with a workmate in 1977 led to me attending the 77 RAC rally as part of a group of die-hard fans. I was hooked the moment I heard Munari's Stratos hurtling through the nighttime and snowy Boltby stage. Not only did rallying appeal to the petrolhead in me, the fact that it took place in parts of the country that were scenic, that you saw so much of nature, that significant walking was usually involved to reach a vantage point, all combined to make a rallying a fulfilling experience on so many levels, Subsequently, I love the fact that when visiting events outside of the UK you get to see the countries you visit away from the usual tourist traps and get to experience some authentic aspect of the local cultures (not always positive - see my Catalunya musings). I have navigated on road rallies and stages and driven in 3 events, which like many just fills me with admiration for the skill and courage of those guys at the pinnacle of the sport as well as the talented amateurs at national level. The experience I had this last weekend on the Roger Albert, where you can converse with total strangers who share your passion as you watch wonderful machinery being driven expertly is something I wouldn't miss for the world.
In summary adventure (as has been said by several), cameraderie, excitement, and being close to nature.
It's the best fun you can have with your clothes on!

[AndyRAC]

The weekend just gone further reminds me what this sport is all about. The Roger Albert Clark Rally, Escorts, Porsche 911's, a Stratos, etc Yorkshire, Scottish Borders, Kielder, stages at night....all the sights, sounds and smells of competition cars going full chat!

[HarriK]

Hmm, where to start...let me see.
Like almost every Finnish fast WRC Rally drivers are farmer's son, so am I. Too bad that my father (neither my mom) had any interest in cars or any extra money.... But I have always been keen on engines that makes noise, i remember that I like drive tractor even without my foot touch on Valmet 361 clutch...
Maybe the car enthusiasm is coming from my mom's dad who is professional driver. I mean as his work was with trucks and earthmovers. I (as also my cousin) am always been my grandfather favourite grandson. He even bought us Lada 2107 at the age of 12! He said "boys have to learn how to drive". So we drove! a lot.. car did hit cowhouse etc, but no mistakes happens, had to learn something...

Back to rally cars. I do remember Toyota Team Europe service trucks at my grandfather yard at least in 1990-1991 and 1992 Subaru, i'm not sure. 1990 I was only 12 years old. They like to use that yard because it was big and flat and of course there was that workshop for the earthmovers etc. I have a lot of posters, postcards etc from those days. I like to watch mechanics at working, no one took me to the stages at those days...
1994 I remember that Tommi Mäkinen drove with Escort WRC and Ford team used also my grandfather yard to service place. So every August it was just to wait the NORF and those teams to arrive there. Also so guy named Marcus Grönholm was with his GT-Four nearby, but like 300m from the yard and service was only one Hiace at beginning of the small forest road...

When I was at the age of 15 I got my first moped. With that I drove from Keuruu to 30km circle to near rally events. Like Keuruu RallySprint, Rantapirtti Sprint, Mänttä-Rally etc and of cource NORF. I also started photogarphing the events with my dad camera. Some good some bad photos to film.

I think that it was year 1995 or certain when Jouko Puhakka drove in Mänttä 200-Rally. And of course I was on the service place, which was at Mänttä City. There it was, that yellow beauty, I was "in love" right away. Guess what it was? Of course a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III ! Build for Jokke to a notecar. There I was with my camera and asfalt stage was starting and I had hurry. One guy had seen me and if I remember right he was Jorma Pulkkinen. He was a commentator to Finnish motorforum at those days if I'm right. He hand the Press-Pass for me and I was happy to rush with him to the stage. We have a little chat and he said that I know quite an lot about rallying and cars.

Let's jump to the year 1999. I had had two years car driving licence and I did rolled one of my car. Young and stupid, almost cost my life, but that cliff that teach a lot for me: Thank god I did'nt hurt myself and other road users! Grandfather gave money to repair my car and soon it was back on road. After that I changed that to Lancer 1.6 litres model 1995 and of course that car had to be build to "evo3 -look" :P
One what I do remember is Mänttä Rally also in that year. Who crashed hard there?
Carlos Sainz´s big crash in Mänttä 200 Rally 1999 - with pure crashing sounds - YouTube Carlos Mänttä crash.
That place is only 500m before my grandfather yard! I met Esko Reineirs and had a little chat with him. He worked to TTE then.
Remember as Didier Auriol had same problems during the Norf (car slided as a snake even on straight roads)

I did a lot rally events with my VHS camera at those days but I bored to watch races behind the black/white viewfinder so I stopped that later.

Let's jump again to year 2006. I fullfilled one of my dream and bought Mitsubishi 3000gt VR4. First Supercar for me!
I bought it with broken transfer box, called to my earlier coworker which has a good garage. He promised that I can use his garage to repair my "new" car. Later in that year he called to me and asked
.-" Hi, I bought a brand new Lancer Evo IX, and I want you to come disassemble that with me!"
I was totally "scared" and said, of cource I will help you,but I don't know anything about a new cars!"
- "but you know how to use screwdriver-" he answered.
Before that I had studied and graduated to mechanical engineer. Nothing about cars, just only what I had learned myself earlier year.
This, my friend, had been driven Finnish rally championship with Opel Astra, evo V and then Evo VII. This was his first totally new car. We build that car and I started my "mechanician -career" from that. Worked with him until 2010 when he reduced his competions without any wins in FRC. Then one of my other friend ask me to join to young and promising team. Almost rest is history

So I have no education to cars and not to Rallycars but a BIG passion!
Rallycars and mechanician job is only my hobby, my day job is as engineer in water hydraulic firm.

I had to add that I have owned one of my dream car now one year. Of course Mitsubishi Evo7 and pure JDM-model !

[HarriK]

Hmm, where to start...let me see.
Like almost every Finnish fast WRC Rally drivers are farmer's son, so am I. Too bad that my father (neither my mom) had any interest in cars or any extra money.... But I have always been keen on engines that makes noise, i remember that I like drive tractor even without my foot touch on Valmet 361 clutch...
Maybe the car enthusiasm is coming from my mom's dad who is professional driver. I mean as his work was with trucks and earthmovers. I (as also my cousin) am always been my grandfather favourite grandson. He even bought us Lada 2107 at the age of 12! He said "boys have to learn how to drive". So we drove! a lot.. car did hit cowhouse etc, but no mistakes happens, had to learn something...

Back to rally cars. I do remember Toyota Team Europe service trucks at my grandfather yard at least in 1990-1991 and 1992 Subaru, i'm not sure. 1990 I was only 12 years old. They like to use that yard because it was big and flat and of course there was that workshop for the earthmovers etc. I have a lot of posters, postcards etc from those days. I like to watch mechanics at working, no one took me to the stages at those days...
1994 I remember that Tommi Mäkinen drove with Escort WRC and Ford team used also my grandfather yard to service place. So every August it was just to wait the NORF and those teams to arrive there. Also so guy named Marcus Grönholm was with his GT-Four nearby, but like 300m from the yard and service was only one Hiace at beginning of the small forest road...

When I was at the age of 15 I got my first moped. With that I drove from Keuruu to 30km circle to near rally events. Like Keuruu RallySprint, Rantapirtti Sprint, Mänttä-Rally etc and of cource NORF. I also started photogarphing the events with my dad camera. Some good some bad photos to film.

I think that it was year 1995 or certain when Jouko Puhakka drove in Mänttä 200-Rally. And of course I was on the service place, which was at Mänttä City. There it was, that yellow beauty, I was "in love" right away. Guess what it was? Of course a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III ! Build for Jokke to a notecar. There I was with my camera and asfalt stage was starting and I had hurry. One guy had seen me and if I remember right he was Jorma Pulkkinen. He was a commentator to Finnish motorforum at those days if I'm right. He hand the Press-Pass for me and I was happy to rush with him to the stage. We have a little chat and he said that I know quite an lot about rallying and cars.

Let's jump to the year 1999. I had had two years car driving licence and I did rolled one of my car. Young and stupid, almost cost my life, but that cliff that teach a lot for me: Thank god I did'nt hurt myself and other road users! Grandfather gave money to repair my car and soon it was back on road. After that I changed that to Lancer 1.6 litres model 1995 and of course that car had to be build to "evo3 -look" :P
One what I do remember is Mänttä Rally also in that year. Who crashed hard there?
Carlos Sainz´s big crash in Mänttä 200 Rally 1999 - with pure crashing sounds - YouTube Carlos Mänttä crash.
That place is only 500m before my grandfather yard! I met Esko Reineirs and had a little chat with him. He worked to TTE then.
Remember as Didier Auriol had same problems during the Norf (car slided as a snake even on straight roads)

I did a lot rally events with my VHS camera at those days but I bored to watch races behind the black/white viewfinder so I stopped that later.

Let's jump again to year 2006. I fullfilled one of my dream and bought Mitsubishi 3000gt VR4. First Supercar for me!
I bought it with broken transfer box, called to my earlier coworker which has a good garage. He promised that I can use his garage to repair my "new" car. Later in that year he called to me and asked
.-" Hi, I bought a brand new Lancer Evo IX, and I want you to come disassemble that with me!"
I was totally "scared" and said, of cource I will help you,but I don't know anything about a new cars!"
- "but you know how to use screwdriver-" he answered.
Before that I had studied and graduated to mechanical engineer. Nothing about cars, just only what I had learned myself earlier year.
This, my friend, had been driven Finnish rally championship with Opel Astra, evo V and then Evo VII. This was his first totally new car. We build that car and I started my "mechanician -career" from that. Worked with him until 2010 when he reduced his competions without any wins in FRC. Then one of my other friend ask me to join to young and promising team. Almost rest is history

So I have no education to cars and not to Rallycars but a BIG passion!
Rallycars and mechanician job is only my hobby, my day job is as engineer in water hydraulic firm.

I had to add that I have owned one of my dream car now one year. Of course Mitsubishi Evo7 and pure JDM-model !

edit: in 2010 I "graduated" the AKK Finnish Rally exam and got rally license. I have done now only one competion as co-driver with my another friend Opel Manta group.F.

[tommeke_B]

Why do I love rallying... I could name countless reasons for it... The spectacle, the atmosphere, the sound, the different roads, the planning and timing, the different levels, the help you get from other people, the talking with rally-minded people on stages,...

Some short text about things I remember most from my rally-experience:

It started in fact long before I was born. In the mid-70's my father started watching rallies in Belgium, he started going to rallies during the last years of Staepelaere his carreer. He has seen everything from Alpine A110, Escort MK1 etc up to the newest WRC-cars, it wasn't difficult for me to get "the virus" too... The first thing I remember from rallying is from tv, there was an amazing TV-show on Belgian (Wallonian) tv, named champions, there were reviews from WRC, ERC, Belgian Division 1 and 2 (like the current championship and sprint championship in CZ) championships. Some old video-tapes with Belgian championship reviews and old tapes from the Ypres Rally could keep me busy for hours too.

My father took me to rallies in Belgium since the late 90's, when I was around 6-7 years old I saw my first 24 hours of Ypres (I don't remember much from it anyway but ok). The more events we were going, the more I was getting interested in the sport. Great to see the heroes pass by in the quickest and most spectacular ways. In 2002 Germany joined the WRC-calendar. It was THE opportunity to see a WRC-event relatively close from home (less than 4 hours driving). Since 2002 we missed only one edition of the event. At 10-years old it was great just even to be somewhere on the road section before the start of the first stage and watch all drivers prepare, have a chat with each other (probably to make each other just nervous), then rush to one of the first corners after the start to see them pass by. With that my interest not just in rally as a spectacle, but rally as a sport with different levels, was growing fast. I started following the 2 Belgian drivers in the WRC back then (Loix and Duval), and Thiry in the European Championship. Searching on te internet (in the beginning with slow phone-line internet, everyone must remember the sound when you made connection), on the official websites like wrc.com, rally-live.com (which was huge back then, I really enjoyed surfing on that website) etc. With surfing through the countless albums there were on rally-live, I was becoming more and more interested in photography also.

At the end of 2006 I bought my first DSLR-camera, and started taking photos on the events. I was 14 years old, the first few events my photos were really useless. But I tried more and more to find the best corners, learn to set-up my camera better, learning how to use the light for photos. And bit by bit that got better, while the passion for the sport kept growing. I got in contact with several drivers/codrivers and other people involved by coincidence. At the end of 2007, at 15-years old I had a first co-drive with Snijers-GT3 and with Lietaer-MK2 BDA on some kind of test-track. It was not a real stage, but it had some faster, corners, junctions, hairpins, and a jump. I was still quite small back then and could only just look above the dash-board, but it was a great experience! After that I had several co-drives on tests, which is always amazing, one I will never forget in particular is with Snijers in the Subaru S12 WRC on a test, amazing driver, all I can say! Everything about that car is just phenomenal, hard to imagine that the S12 was one of the slowest WRCars of its generation... All those experiences somehow helped me more to understand how complex our sport is, there are so many factors, inside and outside the car, that have to be absolutely right if you want to have a good event. In 2008 we had a really busy rally-year, I think we had 25 events, from WRC to the smallest village-events, but we appreciate(d) and enjoyed the sport on all levels. I started to learn more and more how to read maps, how to plan a rally and get the maximum out of it. Somewhere in 07-08 I started to follow this great forum more and more, but I didn't post much (partly because my English was quite poor back then). I started to become more interested in watching onboards, try to figure out how the pacenotes work, see the drivers lines, compare the drivers/cars etc.

In 2009 Germany wasn't on the WRC-calendar. We decided to go to Sardinia, which was a great event, it was the first time I saw the WRCars being on gravel setup. We've seen things we could not imagine before. We did 3 French gravel events also during that year. Funny is that in Langres in 2009, Neuville was driving for the first time on gravel, with C2Max in the C2 trophy. We went to him to talk on the shakedown, he said nothing really worked like he wished etc. On sunday he won the C2-Trophy I followed his prestations since his first rally he ever drove and went up to him to congratulate him and said (in French) "if you continue like you're doing now you'll end up in the WRC in a few years", apparently I was right. Later in the year we decided to do Barum Rally (IRC), which was a bit of a gamble in fact, because we didn't knew anyone who had ever been there as a spectator. We were only 3 to go there since nobody else was interested. Thanks to Mirek his tips we have seen an amazing event, very spectacular and a great atmosphere around the rally (especially during the city stage on friday night). Insane speed on the very fast and bumpy roads around Zlin. In 2010 we were 9 to go to Barum Rally (and many other asked too but we wanted to keep it with 2 cars), again an amazing event... Thanks again Mirek!

From 2010 on we did more WRC events and more bigger rallies outside Belgium (like French asphalt and gravel, Dutch events, Eifel Rally in Germany when it was DRM). We did Alsace in 2010, '11 and '12. Everyone was complaining that you would have to walk a lot of kilometers to get to the stages, park you car very far, police everywhere etc. I decided to make my own maps in 2010, so we would know all roads and little gravel roads... We never had to walk over 500m and we've seen a truly amazing rally. Since then I always made my own maps for all events. We did Sardinia again in 2011, now I did all the planning and we did our own recce of most of the stages, it's amazing to just even drive those stages. With the new WRCars and our own places we picked ourself the event was much better than it was in 2009. Tastes for more... We did Sardinia again this year, and we also did Finland this year. We did Finland in the same way we did Sardinia in '11. By driving the amazing stages a few days before we found some places we liked and went there during the rally. I also got a lot of help from Hartusvuori and Juha_Koo, thanks again guys. Last week I did the last event of the season, Rallye du Var, my first real mountain-asphalt-rally. It was ca completely different way of spectating, we could see only few stages, but with the itinerary and the mountains there weren't so much possibilities. With the wide roads and corner after corner (where the driver must think 3 corners ahead in order to have some good line) and a very abrasive tarmac, the speed was surprisingly high, another great experience where I would like to go back to!

I'm still enjoying rallies at least as much as I did as a 10-year old 10 years ago. I've seen pretty much any surface now, except for snow... Next: Rally Sweden!

[Francis44]

Very nice topic.

Since I was a little kid I always loved cars and later speed. My dad used to take me to the balcony and I would name every car that passed as soon I started speaking properly.
One of my uncles used to talk to me about story's from Rally de Portugal back in the day, we told me how it almost stopped the city completely when the rally runned. I was very young and it was hard to relate to this since I had never seen a rally and it was difficult to find media, there was no internet at the time (atleast not how there is today).
A few years later one other uncle took me to Rally Vinho de Madeira as I was in Madeira for vacation. I remeber standing in a 90 degree corner with plenty of dirt and thinking "it's not possible to do this very fast". Well I was wrong, in rally logic it was possible. As soon was the first car passed I fell for the sport. It had speed, sound, powerslides, colorfull cars....

Since then I became a huge fan of the sport.
My grandmother used to tell me that her father was a mad man when driving (and loved rallying), story around the small town where they lived tells he once jumped form a small bridge Duke's of Hazard style (with a Celica ST 1600). I guess it's something that poops up in some men of the family , since a few of my uncles love this aswell.

[Iskald]

I could write a book about this. It has been a long and rewarding journey...
First and foremost as a competitor during 30 years, codriving something like 40 different lunatic drivers! Then also as a journalist,photographer, TV-cameraman and reporter. I have also been involved in organising and running rallies, and I`m quite proud to have been the first clerk of the course in a very popular rally still running in our countrys national championship.
Its just like the painter putting all the different colours on his plate to mix into new colours on the canvas, all these colours representing feelings and sensations. Rallying is all that, and more too.
I remember it all:
My first rally in 1979, codriving Per Engseth (the grandfather of norwegian rallying) in a Volvo 142. The sensations of sideways speed which I had never experienced before.
Going off the road one winter mid 80-ies, and walking/running in the dark nearly six kilometers back to the start of the stage, throwing myself in the snowdrifts every minute when the next car arrived with headlights blinding.
Nearly beating Petter Solberg/Egil Solstad in the 1998 Rally Snøfresern, again codriving grand old man Per Engseth.
The faboulous mountain stages of the 1992 Rally Norge (Norway) event. Brilliant sunlight in the clear morning. Fog in the valleys below us. What could be better than experiencing this in a Toyota Celica GT4 165 flat chat on gravel stages?
Nearly beating Petter Solberg/Egil Solstad in the 1998 Rally Snøfresern, again codriving grand old man Per Engseth.
The last few hundred metres of the roadsection into the first stage of Rally Finland 2000, and it suddenly hit me in my stomach and all all my senses; we`re about to go rallying in Finland on the most beatiful and fastest stages in the world!! I was overwhelmed...
Winning Rally Hedmark 2005, last round of the championship, with my much younger mate and on his, day driver with brilliant natural capabilities, Tord Linnerud. On that specific day it was like a telepathic instinct between us, and Linnerud could do anything he wanted with the Corolla WRC (my favourite rally car of all times btw).
Stepping out of the car after the last stage of Rally Norway 2009, feeling completely content and finished after 30 years of rallying.
There are so many memories, and I still love the great sport of rallying!

[MartijnS]

Why do we like rallying?
Sometimes I can't really tell, for example when its the 4th day in a row the alarm goes off at 5am, for another day in lousy weather waiting for some cars to pass by and before you see them you have to drive to a stage and walk for some time to find a decent spot.

But than, when the first car passes by, you forget everything it took you to get there and love the excitement and thrill of the speed they reach on the stages, the power of the cars, the sound, the environment everything!
It's crazy though, as Joost films every car we see at for example a WRC rally, we know for how long we see actual cars passing by during a weekend. If you imagine that we leave home at wednesday most of the times and get back home sunday evening or monday, making days of around 10-14 hours per day during the rally, from closing our door in the morning and getting back at the hotel at night, and we only have seen like 50 minutes to a maximum of 75 minutes of cars on the stages

But we just love it, the crazy roads you drive to get to the stages, finding the good spots and taking home some nice shots makes it all worth it. Also the social part is nice, especially in the national rallies you meet a lot of people you see at all the rallies. Just a very nice hobby!

My first rally I visited was in 1998, at the age of 13..my dad used to go to that rally as the only one in the year, first couple of years Joost went with him, I didn't even bother to go.............! Eventually they got me to got with them and that was it..around 2000 we started to visit more events every year. During that time I somewhere began to make photos. I've had a period where I was one of the annoying guys with an airhorn, but only at selected cars!
So from 1 rally close to our home, we now visit around 18 per year, this year 6 wrc's, 8 rallies in the Netherlands and 4 in Belgium.