Somerset Stages '08

[MrJan]

Okay so it's a few weeks away yet but I always seem to find that it comes down to the Friday before and I have no plans in place.

So with this in mind I am starting a thread now and asking that if anyone knows the stage start times (speciafically Porlock) could they please either post here or send me a PM. Cheers :D :up:

Entry list to date available at http://www.denisewoodward.worldonline.co.uk/2008/2008/2008%20event.htm

Entry isn't closed yet but I pressume it'll be the usual suspects.

[Allyc85]

Ah you beat me to it, cant wait for this one :D

[MrJan]

I've now found out/remembered that this clashes with the last game of the season when my beloved Exeter City will be playing away to play-off rivals Burton, a game I was thinking of going to.

I think the rallying will win the battle but I'll not be paying much attention from 3 o'clock onwards (although City is 5:15 kick off). I just hope the play off places are sorted by then and I don't need to worry, I somehow doubt that this will be the case though

[Allyc85]

Bugger thats true, I might have to find a pub in Minehead that shows Setanta!

[MrJan]

Bugger thats true, I might have to find a pub in Minehead that shows Setanta!

I was thinking the same thing :D Trouble is I'm not too sure there'll be many of those about :mark:

[Allyc85]

Theres this place http://www.theyork.co.uk/dugout.php

Mine will be a fosters ;)

[MrJan]

Nice. :up:
Just need to wait and see if the game is actually going to be on telly. Kick off has been moved but I think Setanta are still keeping their cards close and waiting to see if the game will be important or not.

I just want to see Burton (Andy not Albion) flooring it out of the hairpin on Porlock to take my mind off of the football thing. Although if Burton Albion at Porlock it could only mean good things as far as the football is concerned.

Oh and if you see some t*** wearing a Exeter City football shirt (I hate when people do that at rallies ;) ) and looking a bit nervous, it'll probably be me.

[Allyc85]

lol fair enough!

How do do you get to the Porlock stage and what time does it run, compared to Chargot?

[MrJan]

Hoping to find out what time it is from one of the more knowledgable on the forum but usually I think we turn up around 10 and hope we don't miss the start. I think it is usually run too close to Chargot now so you end up having to find someone who knows what time other stages are on and where. Photographers are usually the best as they have road books and tend to be very friendly :D

Remember that on this rally you aren't really supposed to be on any stages other than Chargot (not that anyone cares) so it makes it a bit more tricky to find your way around.

As for where Porlock is I'm not too sure as my old man always drives.

[306 Cosworth]

Can't wait for this now, seeded entry list now posted too, looks like it should be a cracking day.

Went along to the press day last Thursday, and had a great time there, after that walked round chargot and they've done alot of regrading in there, looks very smooth for most of it.

Here's my video from the press day - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJqL6dQDV8

I have a full list of the stage being used but as of yet don't have times or maps (coming soon!). I can tell you that Porlock is SS4 & SS5.

I'll be in Croydon all day though as will get the chance to see the cars 3 times :D

[MrJan]

Cheers Luke :up:

Usually we get to Porlock and watch the runs through there and then just about catch one of the later stages so also manage to see them three times :D

I'm well excited now, can't wait to see AB power it around that hairpin. Here's a video that my brother managed to get last year, a repeat of this will be much appreciated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46rGNhXDpPI :D

[306 Cosworth]

The car will sound fantastic going up there this year :D

[MrJan]

SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exeter are in the playoffs anyway so I can attend the rally guilt free :D :D :D UP THE CITY

[Andy_B]

keep an eye out for bright yellow Proton. My brother in law is a co-driver in the Proton, leading his class championship at the moment.

[306 Cosworth]

Is that Rob Leigh?

I now have all stage maps and full schedule if anyone wants me to e-mail it to them PM me with your e-mail addy. Can't wait for Saturday :D :D

[Rallyst3ve]

First time on the forum! :D

Cant wait for the Somerset Stages to see AB powerslide the Peugeot round those Porlock hairpins :D
Has anyone been in Knowle before heard its supposed to be a good stage?

[306 Cosworth]

Knowle is impossible to access pretty much if you're a speccy, unless you're prepared to walk a fair bit (uphill too!) I wouldn't bother.

PMs now dealt with :up: :)

[nathstone]

Is that Rob Leigh?

I now have all stage maps and full schedule if anyone wants me to e-mail it to them PM me with your e-mail addy. Can't wait for Saturday :D :D


Hi mate i'd love the stage maps and full schedule please if its on offer!? would be awesome! email address is [email:2axxfiti]nateleestone@hotmail.com[/email:2axxfiti] cheeeeerz

[MrJan]

Cheer for the e-mail Luke it is very much appreciated. I think that this is the first year that I'll be heading out to the rally with an actual plan and idea of what is going on, when and where :D

[Allyc85]

Aye cheers for the info Luke, very much appreciated!

[306 Cosworth]

No probs. Where's everyone heading then? I'll be in Croydon to see SS1, SS7 and SS11.

[Rallyst3ve]

Yeah thanks a lot for the info Luke :up:

I was planning to go to Porlock then Croydon but might just go to Croydon SS1,SS7,SS11 as well. I saw the historic rally in there before and some really good places only problem is somewhere to park :confused:
I know theres an area near Whits Wood where might be able to park any other suggestions?

[306 Cosworth]

Go further up the lane past whits wood there's loads and loads of laybys to park in which are well off the road :up: Just hope they're not taped up like last year though!

[Rallyst3ve]

Cool will do :D
Yep hope there not taped up too cos that lanes so narrow in places!
Hopefully get in a good location to do some filming of Burton recon those Irish boys in the MK2's will be quick and sideways too :D

[Allyc85]

Even though there seemed to be quite a few stoppages and a bit of confusion, it turned out to be a great days rallying. Some stunning driving and machinery on show and the weather turned out great. Just a shame about Burtons car breaking down on ss7, I was looking forward to seeing that on dusty gravel.

First stage I went to was Porlock which was awsome. I was stood on the exit of a hairpin, when an Evo ran wide, clipped a bank and rolled over. They did a rough estimate of the damage up to £10,000 before realising the roll cage was bent, ouch! Then 10 minutes or so later a mk1 escort blew its engine big style and parked up next to the Evo, causing one of the stoppages.

Then after Porlock I went to Batscastle, which was just about worth the hours delay! Only 70 odd cars made it that far, with alot of breakdowns.

Anyway enough of my ramblings, il finish my pictures and post them up tomorrow.

[Rallyst3ve]

I watched the start at Minehead then went off to Porlock which was great as usual but wanted to see the cars twice afterwards so i risked it and went to Knowle. What a steep climb it nearly killed my mate! :D
Gutted that Burton went out heard that it needs quite a lot of work on the engine so may not be ready for Severn Valley :(

[Rallyst3ve]

I watched the start at Minehead before heading to Porlock which was great as usual. But i wanted to see the cars twice again so i risked it and went to Knowle. What a steep climb it nearly killed my mate! :D
Gutted that Burton went out heard that the engine needs a lot of work done to it so may not be ready for Severn Valley :(

[MrJan]

Managed to get to Porlock in the morning but missed some of the 1400s. Saw a MK2 roll (video on Youtube, link later) and left at that point to head to Croyden. Just got there in time for the main field.

Once we found out that the stage had been cancelled (roll at flying finish apparently) we wandered the few hundred yards to where the stage was being used as Bats Castle (I think). Got a few videos on youtube and photos on Flickr some of which I'll post when I get home from work :D

Good day all in all as got to see 4 stages and Burton 3 times. Low point was getting pelted in the stomach by a stone when I was on the inside of a quick left, didn't even get a decent photo of it :D Still the weather was nice and driving up the Exe Valley in a 1938 open top MG was fantastic, now I just have to get my speccy head off and a competing head back on as doing a sprint next Monday :eek:

[Allyc85]

Put my videos up now

C2 on Porlock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMcBtSLp1Uw

A Mk2 Escort and Impreza close together on Porlock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enwzTwDihRI

A WRC Focus on Bats Castle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiqweH62rCw&feature=user

[Allyc85]

:D And pics http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/allyc85/Somerset%20Stages%2008/

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/allyc85/Somerset%20Stages%2008/DSCF2140Medium.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/allyc85/Somerset%20Stages%2008/DSCF2150Medium.jpg

My new PC background :D

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/allyc85/Somerset%20Stages%2008/DSCF1955Medium.jpg

[MrJan]

Very nice pic of Burton astraracer :up:

I've got quite a few that I'm chuffed with so will do a Porlock post and a gravel post. I can't imagine what it'd be like shooting with proper film though, I get maybe 10 photos in every hundred that I actually like

This is my desktop background now :D
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4019/coleporlock2pc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1347/mgintohairpinos3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

No I haven't accidentally posted the same photo twice, this is a Cole's other run up the stage.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6195/coleporlockna6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[MrJan]

Gravelly ones now.


I'm stoked that this came out in focus
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3466/car232batscastleclosete8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3230/106batscastlesj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4830/blackmk2croydenly6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[MrJan]

Flying Mark 2 Escort (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xozI4WjCsi8)

Mk 2 Quick Round Hairpin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcCQTX_3Udc)

Mk 2 Roll (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAE6bczEGrs) He had it coming really. Only just caught footage though so not great.

Andy Burton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWZMQ4A-FWw)

All of these are vastly improved if you click the 'play in high quality' bit :D

[Allyc85]

That top picture of the Escort is a stunner, love it.

And how good did Mr Burton look around that hairpin, il have to find my way there next year :D

[306 Cosworth]

Still the weather was nice and driving up the Exe Valley in a 1938 open top MG was fantastic, now I just have to get my speccy head off and a competing head back on as doing a sprint next Monday :eek:


I seen you when I was walking along the road back towards my car after SS11 :D

Here's a couple of my videos

Andy and Shell
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CAMAb8vaNj8

Top 3 O/A
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BGoxtl6HFK4

[MrJan]

I seen you when I was walking along the road back towards my car after SS11 :D

I wasn't paying attention to anything at that point, too busy thinking about how bloody cold I'd be on the way home :D

[Allyc85]

Anyone else put their pics on the Somerset Stages website?

[MrJan]

Anyone else put their pics on the Somerset Stages website?

Didn't realise that you could. Might put a few up this evening if I find the time.

[306 Cosworth]

Bit late, but here's a highlights vid from last Saturday

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V_81lWIqv6c

[Rallyst3ve]

Here's a few more pics

Burton at the start

[Rallyst3ve]

http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1808&stc=1&d=1210096969

[Rallyst3ve]

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