Roger Albert Clark Rally 09 Important news

[sal]

Copied from http://www.britishrally.co.uk:

It is with great regret that I have to inform you all that the promotion company R.A.C. Rally Ltd which was set up to look after the financial affairs of the Roger Albert Clark Rally has had to go into voluntary liquidation as of the 20th April 2009.

The event organisers the De Lacy Motor Club Ltd have asked the organising committee to look at the best options available to continue with the running of the Rally.

The event organising committee have applied to the MSA to set up a new motor club on a not for profit organisation basis to continue the event moving forward.

The organising committee should be in a position to announce the event after the new motor club has been set up with the MSA.

It is requested that the motorsport public give the organising committee some time to ensure that the future of the most popular event in the motorsport calendar is on a sound basis for years to come.

It is envisaged that a full announcement can be made during late May.

Regards

Colin Heppenstall
Rally Manager
Roger Albert Clark Rally

[sal]

However it's not as bad news as it first appears!!! The event will run as this further post from one of the organisers confirms:


Could I please ask anyone who is doing the rally this year to let us know by posting your intension on the Roger Albert Clark Rally forum at http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org
We are up to 16 so would appreciate any more notices.

[sal]

Possibility of a 3 car MSport team with Malcolm and both Hirvonen and Latvala in MK Escorts!

[MrJan]

Hope it stays alive, if this event goes then it really does look bad for rallying :(

[sal]

Dont think there is much doubt that the event won't run, in fact this news kind of makes it more likley! Dont cross it out of your diary. Will try and post more news here as and when it becomes available.

[306 Cosworth]

Petter Solberg perhaps a possibility with Phil Mills Viking Motorsport team?

[Allyc85]

Really will have to make the effort to go this year when/if its confirmed :)

[306 Cosworth]

The organisers have said it is definitely going ahead :D

[J4MIE]

If there was one event a year that I would sacrifice everything to go to, it would be this one, hope something gets sorted out :up:

[306 Cosworth]

After my first experience of this event last year, I won't be missing any more in the future :D

[Allyc85]

Brilliant news, will be booking a long weekend off work for this one :D

[sal]

http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/

The provisional route for this yearsevent is now up on the site. Saturday morning at Olivers Mount for me!

Posted Wednesday 3rd June 2009
2009 Provisional Route Announced

Friday 13th November
1st Car Due

SS 1 Showground 18.45

SS 2 Langdale 19.30

SS 3 Showground 20.20


Saturday 14th November

SS 4 Olivers Mount 09.15

SS 5 Olivers Mount 09.40

SS 6 Harwood Dale 10.21

SS 7 Langdale 10.55



Pickering Showground Service 11.45



SS 8 Olivers Mount 12.50

SS 9 Olivers Mount 13.15

SS 10 Harwood Dale 13.57

SS 11 TBA 16.30

SS 12 Shepheardshield 18.35

SS 13 Chirdonhead 19.05



Carlisle Service 20.10



SS 14 Shepheardshield 21.30

SS 15 Chirdonhead 22.00



Sunday 15th November


SS 16 Holehouse Hill 10.00

SS 17 Ae 10.20



Heathhall Service 11.05


SS 18 Heathhall 11.30

SS 19 Holehouse Hill 12.40

SS 20 Ae 13.05

SS 21 Heathhall 13.48



Heathhall Service 14.03


SS 22 Greystoke 16.05

SS 23 Greystoke 16.28



Monday 16th November

SS 24 Hopehouse 07.50

SS 25 Falstone 08.40

SS 26 Archys Rigg 09.10


Service Kielder 09.30


SS 27 Falstone 10.00

SS 28 Samual Crag 10.30



Finish Carlisle Town Centre 12.00

[MrJan]

No Twiglees :( Loved that stage.

Not sure if I'm going yet anddon't really know where those stages are but Ae and Greystoke on the Sunday seem good. If we go it'll probably be Saturday and Sunday but it's all a bit awkward to do it low cost when you are travelling the length of the country.

[306 Cosworth]

but it's all a bit awkward to do it low cost when you are travelling the length of the country.

Yeah tell me about it, i'm off to Scotland on Friday!

[Allyc85]

No Twiglees :( Loved that stage.

Not sure if I'm going yet anddon't really know where those stages are but Ae and Greystoke on the Sunday seem good. If we go it'll probably be Saturday and Sunday but it's all a bit awkward to do it low cost when you are travelling the length of the country.

yea was thinking that myself when I looked at a route up there on google earth. Its at least a tank of fuel getting up there driving at a sensible speed! Still will probably be worth it lookingat the cars that are intending to enter :D

[MrJan]

yea was thinking that myself when I looked at a route up there on google earth. Its at least a tank of fuel getting up there driving at a sensible speed! Still will probably be worth it lookingat the cars that are intending to enter :D

You lucky **** :p : I take a tank of fuel to get to Manchester, any further and it starts getting risky. Last year we went in my Dad's diesel A4 up to my brother's house in M'cr and then took his company car across to Leeds then Scarborough on the Saturday morning and then back across to the other side during the evening and then stayed in a hotel. It was that trip which made me decide that having a sat nav would be useful :D

Like you say though it is all worth it when you get there and see the rally. It's not just the cars either, there was a really good atmosphere out on the stages. The more I think about it the easier the decision to go gets,now I just need to convince the old man :D

[J4MIE]

Easily the best event of the year, wouldn't miss out and had all four days booked off work for months :D Totally worth it wherever you're coming from :up:

[sal]

Remember the route has been designed to hopefully make it more practicable for crews to enter and therefore whilst it might not meet every speccies desires it should see more crews out on the whole event. There is a big push to bring overseas crews to the event and the supporters club should be a must for anyone who wants to see this event build and thrive.

[sal]

One of the most iconic of MK2 Escorts LAR 801P the Allied Polymer car has been restored and will be out on the event!

http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/RAC_2009/rac_rally_latest_news.htm#Famous%20Escort%20Set%20 For%20Roger%20Albert%20Clark%20Rally

[sal]

Stig Blomqvist will be out on the event again this year!

[Langdale Forest]

Very good plan for the rally this year. :)

Will probably be marshalling in Langdale on Friday night and in Harwood Dale on Saturday. :)

[sal]

Gwyndaf Evans and Phil Collins now on the entry list. It's building up to another great event!

[MrJan]

I think the decision has been made to go, can't wait and really excited about seeing the real Stig :bounce:

[Neil J]

The best rally of the year, by far :D

[snijers FE]

We are coming from Belgium with a group !! We can't wait ....

[ste898]

There is deffo NO other rally that comes close too this one!!

[Langdale Forest]

I hate to say this here but although it is good, it is not my faverote event of the year.

[sal]

We are coming from Belgium with a group !! We can't wait ....

You are most welcome! I'm sure you will all have a great time. Are you coming to support Steffan?

[snijers FE]

You are most welcome! I'm sure you will all have a great time. Are you coming to support Steffan?

Yes , for sure !! We are coming with 8 people. I hope he's going like he did on the test in august on Sweet Lamb.
The Belgium flags are ready haha.

I don't know if you seen it already but here's some action from that test :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSfNczMCEQU

Greetings Gio

[MrJan]

Hotel now booked in Dumfries ready for our trip to Ae on the Sunday morning. Sadly can't spare much time off so limited to travelling up on Friday night, catching Oliver's Mount stages on the Saturday and then Ae and possibly Greystoke on the Sunday I think.

Properly excited about his event, I know it doesn't consist of the fastest drivers but it's great to see the older stuff and the best thing is the atmosphere :up:

[snijers FE]

Some time ago i heard names like Latvalla , Hirvonen and Wilson to take part of the rally. Does anybody know what is true about this ?

[sal]

There's still time for more entries!

Steve Bannister was added to the list today and as a former winner of the event and Escort driving legend he is likely to be the one to watch!

Malcolm Wilson was rumoured to be entering in a new MK1 Escort but has yet to appear on the list. Sadly I think Hirvonen and Latvala will be absent...

[Langdale Forest]

That's a shame.
*bashes table with head*

[sal]

That's a shame.
*bashes table with head*

Very strange comment. Whilst it would have been nice to have the two Finns on the rally this is still the best event of the year atmosphere and spectacle wise...

[sal]

Marty McCormack is now on the entry list. Maybe he can match his outright pace to a bit of consistency this year and challnge for the win?!

[Simmi]

I assume it's easy to get into Langdale once you get to Pickering is it not?

[Langdale Forest]

The quickest way in from Pickering is to go along the A170 to East Ayton and turn left there and left again at Hackness.

[Simmi]

The quickest way in from Pickering is to go along the A170 to East Ayton and turn left there and left again at Hackness.

Thanks for the info mate.

[J4MIE]

Only four days to go now, I am almost organised already (for once), really can't wait and looking forward to it so so much!! :bounce:

[MrJan]

Once I've finished my college assignment (taken tomorrow off to do so), played on Modern Warfare 2 for a bit and had a few beers I'll be ready to start packing :D Plenty of warm/waterproof stuff I think, along with spares of everything incase it all gets wet.

[Bolton Midnight]

Be handy to have paperwork for the event :-(

[sal]

Going to be at the Mountside hairpin first run at Olivers and may go up to near the cafe for run two so may see some of you there. Have a great event everyone!

[GridGirl]

The other half told me his itinerary for the RAC this weekend and there doesnt sound like much time for rest. Something about Olivers Mount, Penrith, Lockerbie and Kielder with some 3am and 5am starts involved. I'm sure they'll have fun but I think my rally adventures are best suited to the Grizedale Stages in a couple of weeks.

[sal]

The other half told me his itinerary for the RAC this weekend and there doesnt sound like much time for rest. Something about Olivers Mount, Penrith, Lockerbie and Kielder with some 3am and 5am starts involved. I'm sure they'll have fun but I think my rally adventures are best suited to the Grizedale Stages in a couple of weeks.

It's a proper rally. Rest is for wimps!

Seriously though this is the only event that comes even remotely close to capturing the atmosphere of an RAC Rally of days gone by.

[MJW]

Follow Stig
http://www.sbtrac.com/map

[sal]

Hoping the weather forecast is wide of the mark tommorrow as Olivers Mount is no place to be in driving rain and gale force winds!

Heard that the Stratos threw it's fan belt and overheated yesterday in testing resulting in the headgasket blowing but hpoefully it will be up an running again fort this evening.

[AndyRAC]

Good luck to everyone, hoping for a good one!!

[MrJan]

Definately hope the rain stays away. Down here there are weather warnings for the weekend so it might be a case of being better oop north (for once ;) :p : )

[shaunroche]

Would any of you fine gents have any details for the stage routes for SS6 and SS7 please? Is the open hairpin just north of Langdale End being used?

On - bloody - call this weekend, of all weekends, but may just be able to pop in and see 'Banner' somewhere if I'm lucky! :)

[Macd]

Heading to Chirdonhead tommorow and Ae and Greystoke on sunday should be fun.

[FF-fan]

Follow Stig
http://www.sbtrac.com/map

That's great!!!

[Langdale Forest]

In Langdale Forest last night and two cars including car 27, fell into a ditch.

[GridGirl]

Car off into the crowd and injured three spectators on the stage the other half is Marshalling. Not good.

[Simmi]

Do we know who it was that went off. We were spectating at the other side. Did it even get going again? We figured it would get cancelled.

Luckily we saw them through Langdale earlier. The Stratos turned up about twenty cars in so that was a nice surprise!

[shaunroche]

Appear to have lost the plot on how to bring up images....but I'm sure you will find a way!..........from Langdale today!

Perez http://www.flickr.com/photos/14399664@N08/4102880713/

Easson http://www.flickr.com/photos/14399664@N08/4103636964/

Banner http://www.flickr.com/photos/14399664@N08/4102878429/

[GridGirl]

I don't know went off but by the sounds of it the car didn't actually hit those that were injured. The stage did get going again at around 4pm I think.

[sal]

Was at Ollies all day. Car 5 Darren Moon didnt appear on for his second lap on Stage 8 and apparantly went off hitting three spectators. Very sad news and I think it is better we dont speculate on anything until the organisers make a full statement.

Needless to say the remaining cars came through stage 8 as a road section and then after a very long wait without any information from the marshals stage 9 was cancelled meaning we missed out on a rush to Harwood Dale to see the crews there. As we were heading back along the A170 the Kalll Kwik crews were passing us going to wards Lollies so I assume they ran in the dark.

A sad end to what was otherwise a great day which apart from it being a bit fresh and windy was brilliantly sunny.

[Neil J]

Appear to have lost the plot on how to bring up images....but I'm sure you will find a way!..........from Langdale today!

Perez http://www.flickr.com/photos/14399664@N08/4102880713/

Easson http://www.flickr.com/photos/14399664@N08/4103636964/

Banner http://www.flickr.com/photos/14399664@N08/4102878429/

That corned beef pie looks tasty and yes you`re right those socks dont look right with them shorts. Nice Impreza though :D

[shaunroche]

That corned beef pie looks tasty and yes you`re right those socks dont look right with them shorts. Nice Impreza though :D

Hehe - nice one Centurian! :)

[Langdale Forest]

Had to rescue a Kall Kwick car that had rolled into the same ditch that the other 2 cars fell into on Friday night.

[MrJan]

I was at the scene of the accident on Ollies and I'm not sure that the car hit anyone. People seemed to get injured trying to jump over the fence and out of the way, looked like 2 with broken legs and one walking wounded with a nasty cut on his ear and possibly a broken arm/collarbone or the like.

Everyone was stood around for ages, the police took interviews, the MSA and organisers asked questions and eventually they let everything get underway again but with only the Kall Kwik rally coming through.

Anyone besides nearly getting killed I had a great weekend, some good driving and incidents at Olivers (especially the Bimmers in the Kall Kwik who kept going through the bales). Forest of Ae yesterday and watched in a good spot where a few ended up in the ditch and then on to Greystoke which was all a bit dull. Anyway after the long drive back to Devon last night I've only just got up so not had time to do anything with photos/videos, will try to get something up later in the day :)

[snijers FE]

Back home after a grea weekend of rally. It was nice to see for us Belgiums.
We don't know the gravel roads like you do s it was magi for us.
My video is uploading and when it's ready i post him here.
The crash of car nr 5 is also in it.

[MJW]

Absolutely fantastic drive by Gwyndaf in the Vilking Motorsport Escort.

[snijers FE]

My video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaHobMqJ840

[driveace]

Well done to Gwyndaf on a brilliant drive to win by over 4 minutes,well done to Milly the winning navigator,on his 2nd successive win on the Roger Albert,AND a question for Milly "Do you ever look up on a stage"?

[Martin Liddle]

My video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaHobMqJ840
Nice video. It is good to see the cars in action having spent the event in the results room. What happened to your countryman in car 10? Was that on stage 10? Interesting to see the car 5 incident; it is different to the descriptions we had heard and looks a bit of an unusual accident that would be difficult to predict.

[snijers FE]

Nice video. It is good to see the cars in action having spent the event in the results room. What happened to your countryman in car 10? Was that on stage 10? Interesting to see the car 5 incident; it is different to the descriptions we had heard and looks a bit of an unusual accident that would be difficult to predict.

There was a mechanical problem with te car. Luckely they have fixed it by night so that they could start again. When the car was going wel they had very fast stage times. Onlucky this morning when they have an offroad on the second stage of te day. Crew was OK but the car not.

[sal]

I think the organisers would be very interested in the footage of the accident and as Martin says it does put a different angle on things.

Great video though and Stefan put on a great show at Olivers three wheeling round the hairpins. Bring some more Belgians back with you next year!

[J4MIE]

snijers FE were you standing next to a group of photographers at the Heathhall watersplash? There was a few of us discussing what we'd heard about the accident and you said you got it on video?

I'm just home after the RAC and again it was an excellent event :up: Totally knackered, just trying to get organised to head out to rally scotland at about 6am, will try and get a few photos up this evening!

[MrJan]

Interesting to see the car 5 incident; it is different to the descriptions we had heard and looks a bit of an unusual accident that would be difficult to predict.

It was a silly place to stand mainly because you can't run away, you can see in the video how everyone ends on top of each other, but it certainly wasn't an easy one to predict.

He actually lost it coming out of a right hander a good 100 odd yards up the road, over corrected (or the car gripped), hot up a bank, back onto the road, hit the bank again and ended up pinging off either the bridge stantion or a fence post before being speared into the tree. If he hadn't hit that tree I wouldn't be typing this now because I'd ended up in a really bad spot through panic.

When it happened everyone did the usual "oooh" when someone gets it wrong, and it took a bit of time before we all realised where he was going to end up. People probably won't be allowed on the inside of the stage next year but it wasn't an obvious sort of accident to happen, the main problem was that there was a fence behind so no place to run too.

Incidentally I know that the organisers (and the police) have some footage already but I'm sure any will be appreciated. I believe that the MSA are also looking into it.

[J4MIE]

I'd say where the marshals were standing behind the bales at the bottom hairpin was stupid as well :s

Pics will have to wait until tomorrow.....

[HaCo]

As always, nice video snijers_fe!

[snijers FE]

snijers FE were you standing next to a group of photographers at the Heathhall watersplash? There was a few of us discussing what we'd heard about the accident and you said you got it on video?

I'm just home after the RAC and again it was an excellent event :up: Totally knackered, just trying to get organised to head out to rally scotland at about 6am, will try and get a few photos up this evening!


That was me ;) .

[snijers FE]

As always, nice video snijers_fe!

thx Haco

[shaunroche]

That was me ;) .

Hehe - I'm the fat lad at 3:07 walking up the road! Remember talking to you at that hairpin about the Omloop van Vlaandaren, Ieper and Jupiler! That is an excellent video though!

Regarding the accident after seeing it on your video - the fault lies fairly and squarely with the organisers - all manner of official vehicles went through there prior to it going live and why anyone was allowed to stand on the outside of a high speed bend is beyond me!

[MrJan]

Regarding the accident after seeing it on your video - the fault lies fairly and squarely with the organisers - all manner of official vehicles went through there prior to it going live and why anyone was allowed to stand on the outside of a high speed bend is beyond me!

It's not much of a bend and the accident happen 200 yards up the road in a right hander rather than a left hander. Maybe the marshalls should have moved people on but at the end of the day it's our own fault for standing in a stupid place (although it's only with retrospect that I realise quite how stupid it was)

If someone were to go off on the left hander then the actual end of the crash would have been much further down the hill.

At the end of the day the organisers shouldn't need to molly cuddle every single spectator, we all know that we are there at our own risk and it should stay that way. The bloody suing culture is doing more to harm the sport than ISC will ever manage.

[snijers FE]

Hehe - I'm the fat lad at 3:07 walking up the road! Remember talking to you at that hairpin about the Omloop van Vlaandaren, Ieper and Jupiler! That is an excellent video though!

Regarding the accident after seeing it on your video - the fault lies fairly and squarely with the organisers - all manner of official vehicles went through there prior to it going live and why anyone was allowed to stand on the outside of a high speed bend is beyond me!


Now I know who you are haha. It's a smal world. It was nice talking to you ;)

[snijers FE]

Video onboard by STOUF/ERARD :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RjWdIZB5F4

[Macd]

Video onboard by STOUF/ERARD :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RjWdIZB5F4

You got the incar from the chirdonhead stage?

[snijers FE]

You got the incar from the chirdonhead stage?


They had mechanical problems saterday evening and didn't drive the last four stages.

[shaunroche]

They had mechanical problems saterday evening and didn't drive the last four stages.

That was awesome footage.....we want MORE!!!!

Deffo going to Ieper and the Omloop in 2010....can you recommend any other Belgian events for the year....with plenty of historics in obviously! :)

Mind you, Condroz looks fun!

[MrJan]

Better late than never, here's some piccies (not that impressed with what I managed to get). Videos will be even later, need to get around to deleting the crap and uploading the good.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4123343612_f022fe7721.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4123385888_a3fff3ce01.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4123364280_605928d587.jpg

[MrJan]

This was taken seconds before he came hurtling towards me:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4122553767_75cc8bb0d9.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4123234542_908f497c76.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/4122556205_36b84fda03.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4123335940_ccb188ddd4.jpg

[Mintexmemory]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2513/4119883729_2243f37255.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2489/4113515998_2b49f7f292.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2505/4115962044_1c88ae7c11.jpg

Three from me taken in Falstone where the light was appaling for 35mm SLR photography. The Saab is SLR, the shot of Stefan's accident and the Mk 1 were both taken with my point and click digi. The Bay Horse on the A68 was great at 1230 when I sat next to their coal fire and had a hot Steak and Ale Pie for lunch :D

[306 Cosworth]

snijers FE were you standing next to a group of photographers at the Heathhall watersplash? There was a few of us discussing what we'd heard about the accident and you said you got it on video?

I'm just home after the RAC and again it was an excellent event :up: Totally knackered, just trying to get organised to head out to rally scotland at about 6am, will try and get a few photos up this evening!

Hey Jamie were you with Phil Bramhill at Carlisle Airport on the Sunday evening?