Rally discussions, comments and pub talk

**Brother John** · 7th Jan 12, 12:07

This Thread is mainly to keep the forum clean.
If you have a different opinion with someone, say what you want here.
No matter what, with who, and preferably about rallies.
Pub talk and fun is also welcome here.

Discussions and comments that do not fit in a thread I'll move over here.
Members can appropriate or own messages move with a link to this thread.

Threads of the Same issue as existing would be placed together.
Written nonsense would be moved or deleted.

You may be angry or disagree with someone do it without swearing please or the moderators have to intervene.

If you disagree with my work send me a private message and we shall have a discusion.

I wonder how this thread will look like and will evolve in the future.
Hopefully we have many years a lot of fun here. John

**Brother John** · 7th Jan 12, 12:13

As a new moderater I had made a mistake and all your posts and comments from yesterday removed.
Hopefully see you all here again appear.
John

**T.Maanteiden kuningas** · 7th Jan 12, 13:30

Thanks!

And sometimes disappearing is good thing for all of us.

**DonJippo** · 7th Jan 12, 17:18

Originally Posted by Brother John

... I had made a mistake and all your posts and comments from yesterday removed.

Knowing you don't think it was the last time it happens ...

**Brother John** · 7th Jan 12, 17:53

Originally Posted by DonJippo

Knowing you don't think it was the last time it happens ...

I know Don, It will definitely happen but it is not wrong for some post to disappear or to remove them.
There will be many who will not like this but someone has to do this.

**Barreis** · 7th Jan 12, 19:48

Is there some link to the old forum before 2006?

**Mark** · 7th Jan 12, 20:34

No. In 2006 I was unable to import the posts due to us being on a crap server so I had to start from scratch.

However vBulletin wanted me to pay for a new licence in order just to keep the old forum running for archive purposes.

**Barreis** · 7th Jan 12, 20:38

Thanks for info.

**leighton323** · 11th Jan 12, 12:01

Thought about starting a discussion here about the good old days of teams hiring "specialists" for one off events. Last one I remember was Subaru hiring Stephane Sarrazin to contest certain Tarmac rounds. I'm guessing this is no longer as only two cars can score manufacturers points and manufacturers tend to stick with the same driver line up? And it's not very profitable to run a third car? Just curious to know your thoughts

**N.O.T** · 11th Jan 12, 12:21

with the current trend in the budgets of the teams i doubt we can see anything like it.

**leighton323** · 11th Jan 12, 12:39

Originally Posted by N.O.T

with the current trend in the budgets of the teams i doubt we can see anything like it.

Yes true, a sort of what if discussion, although in a way MINI I guess are sort of doing this unfortunately at the expense of Kris Meeke and the drivers are paying for themselves to be there.

**AndyRAC** · 11th Jan 12, 12:56

Originally Posted by leighton323

Thought about starting a discussion here about the good old days of teams hiring "specialists" for one off events. Last one I remember was Subaru hiring Stephane Sarrazin to contest certain Tarmac rounds. I'm guessing this is no longer as only two cars can score manufacturers points and manufacturers tend to stick with the same driver line up? And it's not very profitable to run a third car? Just curious to know your thoughts

The 'specialists' always added something to the WRC - throwing an unknown into the mix. Whether it was on Tarmac, snow or gravel; Panizzi, Kenneth Eriksson, Mats Jonsson, etc
Sadly, as you say, costs have risen and teams only run with 2 car teams. One day, maybe sense will return & the 3rd car will return. The sport needs it.

**Rallyper** · 11th Jan 12, 13:10

Anyone have some thoughts about the none activity on WRC.com? They are not pushing either, aren´t they?

**jcatanho** · 11th Jan 12, 13:30

Originally Posted by AndyRAC

The 'specialists' always added something to the WRC - throwing an unknown into the mix. Whether it was on Tarmac, snow or gravel; Panizzi, Kenneth Eriksson, Mats Jonsson, etc
Sadly, as you say, costs have risen and teams only run with 2 car teams. One day, maybe sense will return & the 3rd car will return. The sport needs it.

IMHO the reason why teams run only two cars it is because the current rules and not because of costs. Very recently Citroën was actually running 3 or 4 cars. For instance in 2009 and 2010 Loeb+Sordo in official team and Ogier+Novikov(or Rautenbach or Raikkonen) in Junior Team. But trully the decisions concerning both teams were made by Citroen alone (for instance the swap between Sordo and Ogier in gravel rallies during the second half of the season!.) The same apllies to Ford and Stobard team. So if the rules were changed to allow a third pilot to score manufacturer points (like in 2003!) I believe that instead of running a "junior" team the manufacturers would prefer to choose a surface specialist or to give a chance to a young driver or a local driver.

**N.O.T** · 11th Jan 12, 14:05

do not confuse the pay driver with the 3rd team driver...

as for the WRC.com thing i think the sooner that Ford propaganda site folds along with the radio the better for the sport...

**AndyRAC** · 11th Jan 12, 14:10

Originally Posted by jcatanho

IMHO the reason why teams run only two cars it is because the current rules and not because of costs. Very recently Citroën was actually running 3 or 4 cars. For instance in 2009 and 2010 Loeb+Sordo in official team and Ogier+Novikov(or Rautenbach or Raikkonen) in Junior Team. But trully the decisions concerning both teams were made by Citroen alone (for instance the swap between Sordo and Ogier in gravel rallies during the second half of the season!.) The same apllies to Ford and Stobard team. So if the rules were changed to allow a third pilot to score manufacturer points (like in 2003!) I believe that instead of running a "junior" team the manufacturers would prefer to choose a surface specialist or to give a chance to a young driver or a local driver.

The rules were brought in for 2004, so that costs could be cut. Is the sport better off??

**leighton323** · 12th Jan 12, 08:02

Originally Posted by AndyRAC

The rules were brought in for 2004, so that costs could be cut. Is the sport better off??

I guess it's finding the right balance between the costs of the sport or the level of entertainment. To high cost and the manufacturers won't come leaving a boring championship. Not enough entertainment will cause them to lose public interested. Seems like its quite a delicate balance at the moment.

**Brother John** · 12th Jan 12, 08:27

Nice to read at this pub about what you talk here.

**Mark** · 12th Jan 12, 16:52

I deleted the latest posts. Remember BJ is a new moderator, lets give him some chance here

**Karukera** · 12th Jan 12, 18:04

Originally Posted by Mark

I deleted the latest posts. Remember BJ is a new moderator, lets give him some chance here

Mark, i understand your admin position but he went too far this time.

Did you read what he wrote ? stating publicly he was against a certain nationality ?

This is simply and obviously not appropriate for a moderator and for the credibility of the forum.

You can't ask for patience when he had his chances as a moderator and burned them quickly.

He simply does not have what it takes to be a moderator and should step down, resign or whatever equivalent by himself.

Please Mark, remind me why we'd need him as a mod here ?

Too bad really that people like AndyRac, BDunnell & co didn't apply instead.

Now, rock on Monte Carlo Rally !