Somerset Stages Rally - Saturday 25th April

[306 Cosworth]

Regs and online entry now available on the website

Somerset Stages 2009 (http://www.somersetstagesrally.co.uk)

Entries already coming in and currently upto 19. Regs have only been out since Monday so looking promising for a healthy entry :D

[gazza_1388]

anybody know whats happening about the Reddragon Rally?

[306 Cosworth]

Yeah it's not running this year.

[Rallyst3ve]

Entry shaping up nicely now 47 entries and still over a month to go :D

[Allyc85]

oh c**k im working that weekend. Will have to try and twist someones arm into swapping days else il have to miss porlock :(

[Allyc85]

Result, got someone to wok my weekend. Will be doing the Somerset stages on saturday then the BTCC at Thruxton on the Sunday :D

[gazza_1388]

is Andy Burton doing the rally? he ain't on the entry list?

[306 Cosworth]

He should be. Will have to wait and see how the engine rebuild goes, and the test session on the Pirelli if he makes that ;)

[gazza_1388]

brilliant, im going to this years event, best ways to get to stages from Seven Bridge, also im sleeping in my car, best place to go?

[MrJan]

Another rally off the list for me :( Exeter have their last home game of the regular season and there could be quite a lot riding on it.

[306 Cosworth]

You're missing your local rally :s hock: Shame on you!

[MrJan]

There would be more shame if I missed the football, I've seen every home game (including pre-season and cup) and if I missed the last one of the year then I'd feel bad about it.

It's a shame that it has to clash with a good rally but after getting on for 3000 minutes of football I want to finish the job :D

[Allyc85]

I guess thats a half decent excuse ;) You wont want me going to see Exeter ive yet to see them win this season lol.

[MrJan]

I guess thats a half decent excuse ;) You wont want me going to see Exeter ive yet to see them win this season lol.

Until Port Vale the other week my mate was like that, his first game of the season was the 6-1 thrashing by Chesterfield :eek:

It's a real shame when I get clashes between motorsport and football, it's a very tough decision. I almost considered getting the Porlock in the morning and then back for the football in the afternoon, it all depends on what time stages run but I'd imagine it's just too tight :(

[306 Cosworth]

Burton and the Pug Cos now on the entries list :D

[Allyc85]

:D :D Cant wait!

[MrJan]

Anyone got stage details yet? I'm trying to work out if it's possible to catch some rallying and get back for the football. The trouble is that it's an awkward place to get too, usually go up through Tivvy, Dulverton etc. and it's all fiddly stuff that takes a while. Nice roads though :up: :s mokin:

[POO505R]

Chargot 1 (ss3) 1st car due 9.40.
Chargot 2 (ss4) last car through approx 12.47
That should leave you plenty of time to go & watch City :D

[MrJan]

Chargot 1 (ss3) 1st car due 9.40.
Chargot 2 (ss4) last car through approx 12.47
That should leave you plenty of time to go & watch City :D

Nice, that could work. Anyone else know about Porlock? I know that no one is supposed to go there but we all know that it's just not the case :D

[306 Cosworth]

Haven't heard anything about any other stage times yet. Maybe it's SS1 & 2??

[Rallyst3ve]

Porlock is between half 10 and 2 o'clock so theres a group of forest stages then Porlock which will probably be SS5 and 6 then back into the forests :)

[MrJan]

dammit, wanted to make it to Porlock but it's probably not worth it being that the 1400s will be first so probably a 11:30 start for the others and I'll probably have to leave before half one. Hmmmm, extra planning needed methinks.

[POO505R]

i know the 2nd run through the Croydon stage is ss8, 1st car just after 2pm so i think St3ve is right about the order of things.

[Allyc85]

Looks like Porlock for me, then which ever stage I can get to after that. Was Batscastle last year.

[306 Cosworth]

Here's some pics from yesterdays press day

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/Rallyfan/photocomp3big.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/Rallyfan/Clipboard02-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/Rallyfan/IMG_2924.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/Rallyfan/IMG_2857.jpg

[Rallyst3ve]

Great pics :up: cant wait for next weekend should be awesome hopefully the weather is good as well

[306 Cosworth]

According to the local forecast next week is meant to be good :up:

[Allyc85]

Great pics mate, love the first one :D

[urabus-denoS2000]

I love the second one :D

[MrJan]

Can you people stop doing stuff to make me feel bad about missing this event :p : I've now extended my Exeter City programme to include the last game of the season which is at Rotherham (going to combine it with a night out in Manchesta and the BSB at Oulton) so money is getting tight to the point that I now need to convince the old man that he really wants to drive to the rally and then leave after only 2 stages :D

[greencroft]

Seeded entry list now posted on the event website at:

http://www.somersetstagesrally.com/Entry%20List(2).pdf

[nathstone]

does anyone on here think they are likely to find out all the stage start times?? i dont wanna go chargot looks cack! i know mr 306 cosworth sorted me out last year :)

[MrJan]

Looking at the logistics of this and might make it to Chargot if the weather is good. The idea of cruising up the Exevalley with the sunroof out at 8 in the morning is fairly appealing :D Really wanted to go to Porlock but I reckon it'll take about 2 hours from leaving the stage before I get back to Exeter (including to walk up that bloody hill). Can anyone suggest a decent spot in Chargot? Whenever I've been I usually go in the back way and watch on a fairly open bend at the bottom of a hill. It's never really seemed that interesting to me and in recent years we haven't bothered with the stage.

[Rallyst3ve]

There are some good hairpins in there and theres a bit of jump somewhere

[306 Cosworth]

There are 2 cracking hairpins in Chargot providing they're running downhill, there's plenty of places to stand and some good spots to watch.

I'll be in Croydon for both runs, just hoping my new video camera arrives on Friday!!

[Allyc85]

Dont really like to ask for info, but what stages are being run in the afternoon as id like to see a bit more than just Porlock :)

[nathstone]

what time is croydon running? :)

[Allyc85]

Found this on Britishrally.co.uk :)

Car 0 due time:

Start 8.30
Timberscombe 8.53
Croydon 1 9.03
Chargot 1 9.48
Chargot 2 10.00
Knowle1 10.33
Service 10.54
Porlock 1 11.42
Porlock 2 12.06
Service 12.42
Croydon 2 14.10
Whits 14.32
Knowle 2 14.52
Finish 15.13

[Allyc85]

Thinking of going to Timberscombe for the first stage ofthe day and thinking of parking up here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=51.170599,-3.466637&spn=0.008893,0.02281&t=h&z=16&msid=114618988145337008330.0004683d3f2dc7976df78 Should be ok shouldnt it?

Afterwards il then go on to Porlock :D

[nathstone]

mate this is awesome thankyou very much :)


Found this on Britishrally.co.uk :)

Car 0 due time:

Start 8.30
Timberscombe 8.53
Croydon 1 9.03
Chargot 1 9.48
Chargot 2 10.00
Knowle1 10.33
Service 10.54
Porlock 1 11.42
Porlock 2 12.06
Service 12.42
Croydon 2 14.10
Whits 14.32
Knowle 2 14.52
Finish 15.13

[MrJan]

Eugh, Timberscombe is far too early for my liking, would need to be up earlier than I am for work.

Think I'll head for Chargot as I reckon I'll need getting on for 2 hrs to allow to get there and then get into the stage to find a decent spot. Then hopefully I'll have plenty of time to get back to Exeter so that I can queue up and watch the football. At least by going rallying it'll take me mind off the football and the tension.

[306 Cosworth]

and by going to Chargot you'll get to see the cars twice :up:

[Allyc85]

mate this is awesome thankyou very much :)

No problem mate, what stages are you going to? I think I should be ok for Timberscombe and then porlock.

I was concerned about getting out of Timberscombe as the road is narrow but the last rally car off is at just after and at around that time the other cars should be up around chargot so I shouldn't block the narrow access road.

[nathstone]

i'm thinking of either timbercombe or croydon followed by porlock and then croydon in the afternoon.

Are these start times for when the 1400's go out or the first of the big boys? Its just i saw one of the earlier posts said porlock starts about 1030 and this schedule says the stage starts at 1142

[Allyc85]

The times are for the 0 car which goes before the 1400's :)

[nathstone]

cool, i've typed timberscombe into google map, do you know where the stage in relation to the village/town ?

[Allyc85]

That square bit just to the right of the marker on this map. Should be the start or finish depending on which way the stage is being run.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=51.170599,-3.466637&spn=0.008893,0.02281&t=h&z=16&msid=114618988145337008330.0004683d3f2dc7976df78

[nathstone]

cheers that looks like a plan :)

[Allyc85]

Well had a really good day today, bar the stage that was cancelled at the end. Hopefully the driver will be ok :)

Started off watching at a long downhill section in Timberscombe which sorted the men from the boys. Some people seemed to almost free wheel down it while Hugh Hunter was on a absolute mission! Burton seemed to be quite neat and tidy, not his usual spectacular self, but another top 3 will do him good.

Then I went to Porlock and watched from the near the stage finish as all the car parks were rammed full. Saw some good action there, the number 21 Mantra had a big sideways moment, as did the lady in the purple and blue Impreza. Got to say a massive thanks to the person who found my mobile phone and gaffer taped it to the drivers door of my Black focus. Was so hacked off when I thought id lost it, so I owe them one!!

Then I was heading home, when the short cut I took lead me to Knowle 2 so thought it would be rude not to stop! As said the stage was cancelled after someone went off the road. All I heard fom a marshal was that they were concious but with suspected spinal injuries :( So saw the cars come through at slow speed and had a great blast home!

[POO505R]

Had a great day also, was a marshall on chargot 1 & 2, i agree burton was tidy, but he was fast. Then i moved on to croydon 2 to help out there. We saw the air ambulance & guessed why we were stood around waiting. It all went quiet around 4 & the folks had all gone, there was a few spare marshalls left so we then went to minehead to see the finish. All i know was it was a micra driver on knowle 2, taken to Bristol with spinal injurys.....hope he/she is ok....pity it was a cracking day up til then.

[Audimadgeoff]

Well I’m finally recovering from the Somerset Stages and the really random weather we had….
At least the action on the stages was good!

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/356/25040796.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6876/76829733.jpg


http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1779/46149819.jpg


A big thanks to my pilote for the day – Chaz ‘the chav’ Robbo!

[MrJan]

Got to CHargot in the end and watched where there was a commentator. Didn't look like a great spot and I hate commentators at rallying but didn't want to risk the wrath of the marshalls by walking along the stage. Turned out to be alright and I enjoyed my time there. But the best part of the day was driving back to Exeter, I went pretty much from the stage to Tiverton without catching another car and it was a joy to drive along the twisty roads, reminded me of why I bought the pointless 2 seater in the first place :D

Anyway a few photos what I tooked:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3476288117_a17c165317.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3477112112_127931ec81.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3477140366_986a822afd.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3476232639_9acde3eb98.jpg

More photos (and more importantly the videos, including AB) at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjanyeo, or just click the link in my sig

[Allyc85]

Nice pics mate. Im still sorting though all the ones I took yesterday and now my pics from Thruxton today so might be a while before they are uploaded!

That road down to Tiverton is great. I headed up to Timberscombe really early just so I could get a clear run up and it was well worth it, even just in a Focus!

[Allyc85]

My pics http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Somerset%20Stages%202009/?start=0

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Somerset%20Stages%202009/DSC_1966.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Somerset%20Stages%202009/DSC_1976.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Somerset%20Stages%202009/DSC_2011.jpg

[Pete w]

I was going to post some pics but you have a 5 pic limit i supose its cos some people post huge size pics ?????

[Pete w]

Great day again apart from the marshals in Timberscombe as usual they were crap, one car pulled over on a tight hairpin & the marshalls done nothing untill the second car after was going through, the marshalls were no more than 15 feet away (very poor) but a great day all the same!

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6886.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6847.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6750.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6702.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6640.jpg

[Pete w]

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6626.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6636.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6466.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/somerset%20satges/IMG_6806.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp101/petewaterman/sig001copy.jpg

[Allyc85]

Nice pics :D

Anyone read about the endurance rally they are trying to organise in the area. Could be a great event, especially if they can do Porlock at night ;) :D

[306 Cosworth]

Yes i've been told about that, I think there's going to be an 18 miler in Croydon :eek:

[POO505R]

Porlock is being run, but from what I've been told so far that stage is one of the ones before its dark.....but Croydon should be great

[Allyc85]

18 miles through Croydon should be awesome. Anyone know how far down the line the event is before being confirmed?

[POO505R]

I only know that the event is being run overnight on 10th/11th of october. I believe some stages will be run on the afternoon of the 10th which will include Porlock with a break around 6pm. The rally will then start again later in the evening running through the forest stages into the night finishing around breakfast time.