Somerset Stages 2012

[Allyc85]

With the Malcom Wilson done, I thought I would get this thread going :)

I expect il do the normal Croydon/Porlock/Croydon unless they have massively changed things for this year.

Current entry list is here http://www.somersetstagesrally.com/OnLineEntryList/index.html

[Allyc85]

Its looking good with 89 entries so far with a month to go :)

[MrJan]

Always a good event. I'm toying with the idea of doing the whole day and not bothering to go to City, but I've already missed quite a few games this season and the more I miss the less value I get from my season ticket. Will certainly be heading up in the morning though, managed two stages last year I think so should get the same again.

[Allyc85]

Well after seeing City against Wycombe the other night I would have said rally all day long! But as you have a season ticket I wouldnt blame you for doing both!

[MrJan]

Well after seeing City against Wycombe the other night I would have said rally all day long! But as you have a season ticket I wouldnt blame you for doing both!

Possibly the worst game that I've ever seen at St James Park, and one of the main reasons why I'm tempted not to bother...in fact the only reasons to go to the football are: I've basically already paid to, and, the beer in the pub I go to before/after is very good :D

[Allyc85]

Haha Beer swings every decision dosnt it!?

I see there is a full entry of 150 cars which is great! The only downside being no Perez, Dave Wright or Allan McDowall, but I guess they could still be in of people drop out!

[Allyc85]

Results by text can be ordered here..

EVENTS INDEX (http://www.nersresults.co.uk/sms/html/events_index.html)

You can actually get phone signal in the rally area and last year was great being able to keep track of the close battle.

[Allyc85]

Full entry list is up now.

http://www.somersetstagesrally.com/EntryList.pdf

Looks good to me :)

[MrJan]

Anyone got hold of stage times? I've got last year's maps so have a rough idea of where to go, just that with trying to get back to the football I can't just head to a stage at random (I think we used to be able to aim for Porlock at about 10am or so and be there in good time)

[Allyc85]

Nope nothing yet, but ive emailed a couple drivers ive sent pictures in the past, so should hopefully get something.

Timberscombe isnt being used this year, but there is more milage in Croydon while Porlock and Knowle sound the same as before.

[MrJan]

I'm sat here trying to work out which stage is when based on the liaison distance on the NERS results itinerary and knowing what time Chargot is. Plotting the stage starts/ends on google maps and then checking the road distance between them...if anyone actually has the stage times it would make my lunchtime a lot more enjoyable!! :D

[MrJan]

Right, think it's pretty much the same as last year! This is my best guess based on last year's schedule and this year's:

1st Car
0853 SS1 - Croydon
0940 SS2 - Chargot
1010 SS3 - Knowle
1127 SS4 - Porlock
1151 SS5 - Porlock
1403 SS6 - Chargot
1415 SS7 - Chargot
1435 SS8 - ????
1524 SS9 - ????

I didn't bother working out where the last two stages were because I'll be in the pub/at the Relegation Celebration, reckon they'll be a second running of bother Croydon and Knowle...in fact almost certainly because the distance from Timberscombe end to Knowle start last year is the same as the distance between SS8 and SS9 this year...which would suggest that Croydon is being run the other way.

*sits back and waits for someone to provide actual stage times that are completely different*

[Allyc85]

On facebook ive seen that Croydon 1 is 8.30 and Porlock is 11.20.

Ive been told il get some maps from one chap, but had nothing yet so im thinking it might be a case of getting to Croydon pretty early and going for a wonder to find a decent spot.

[Allyc85]

Well saturday was a great day out, even with a couple retirements from Chilman and Payne before the event begun, giving Hunter a much easier run to the win! We started out in Croydon before moving onto Porlock (Think I spotted your MR2 parked on the way Jan) where we saw some awesome commitment through a fast left/right not far from the finish. Dave Brick was the man through there, massively side ways on both runs! We then went back to a hairpin left near the start of Croydon 2, where there was "a variation of lines" into, and through the corner.

Pics

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7086/6961216198_edc4f5abd0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6961216198/)
Croydon 1 Somerset Stages 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6961216198/) by Allyc85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7109883641_54f1a750e2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/7109883641/)
Porlock Somerset Stages 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/7109883641/) by Allyc85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5342/6963789828_6239dec99e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6963789828/)
Porlock Somerset Stages 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6963789828/) by Allyc85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/6961334382_1d5193476a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6961334382/)
Croydon 2 Somerset Stages 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6961334382/) by Allyc85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6961415260_38bb60f2ae_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6961415260/)
Croydon 2 Somerset Stages 2012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/6961415260/) by Allyc85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

Somerset Stages 2012 - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/sets/72157629884717073/)

[nrpfoto.hu]

Hi everybody!
I uploaded some photos from this fantastic event.
nrpfoto - rally és természet fotók (http://nrpfoto.hu)

[Martin Liddle]

I uploaded some photos from this fantastic event.
nrpfoto - rally és természet fotók (http://nrpfoto.hu)

For some reason you seem to have put a British Rally Championship logo on the album alongside the Somerset Stages logo. The Somerset Stages is not a BRC round but a round of the REIS - Get Connected BTRDA Rally Series see BTRDA Rally website (http://www.btrdarally.com/)

[MrJan]

(Think I spotted your MR2 parked on the way Jan)

Yeah that was probably mine, giving it one last run out before I sold it.

Nice pics, I didn't get a single one worth showing..although I did only have one run through Croydon to watch and it wasn't a great picture taking spot.

[306 Cosworth]

Ally/Jan if you need maps for events in the future don't be afraid to ask me on FB, I will usually have some a week before an event!

[anstis]

Ally/Jan if you need maps for events in the future don't be afraid to ask me on FB, I will usually have some a week before an event!

Sorry this is a bit off topic, but I'm just curious as I often keep an eye out on local & national events from other countries, and i've noticed so often that full maps/itineries often aren't publicly available on the events website. Is there a reason for this? In NZ they're generally available at least a few weeks before almost all rallies, which if you're going to spectate makes things a lot easier.

[MrJan]

Sorry this is a bit off topic, but I'm just curious as I often keep an eye out on local & national events from other countries, and i've noticed so often that full maps/itineries often aren't publicly available on the events website. Is there a reason for this? In NZ they're generally available at least a few weeks before almost all rallies, which if you're going to spectate makes things a lot easier.

Spectating is limited at a lot of UK events, generally due to restrictions from the owners of the land. A large number of our events are run in areas where they try to limit damage to the forests or are on Ministry of Defence land. Subsequently they don't actually allow spectators on a number of events. The Somerset Stages for example has only one stage where spectators are allowed, they provide details of that on the official website. If you want to go to another stage then you have to find out about it some other way (hence stage maps from competitors/media), generally no one will stop you if you turn up, they just don't like to advertise it. Other rallies give you the info though, the Wyedean Rally gives map references and information about different spectator locations.

[anstis]

ok that might explain it. cheers Jan. I know of a few spectator restrictions here where a stage is run through forestry, but generally most are held on public roads so spectating is basically free. Maybe we're lucky!

[MrJan]

ok that might explain it. cheers Jan. I know of a few spectator restrictions here where a stage is run through forestry, but generally most are held on public roads so spectating is basically free. Maybe we're lucky!

Motorsport on public roads in the mainland UK requires an act of parliament to close the road. As it's so involved it never happens, in fact there is only one rally I'm aware of (the Jim Clark) that uses public roads

[Martin Liddle]

I know of a few spectator restrictions here where a stage is run through forestry, but generally most are held on public roads so spectating is basically free. Maybe we're lucky!
There are a whole range of issues that force organisers to restrict spectators; the most common are lack of parking, access issues (eg narrow access road needs to be used by competitors), ecological issues (land owner doesn't want wild life or rare plants damaged by spectators), public relations issues (local residents will put up with the rally but don't want a crowd of spectators), land owner confidentiality (some land owners have activities on their land that they do want to disclose to the general public (e.g. Ministry of Defence, vehicle testing grounds)). It really is increasingly difficult to organise a rally in the UK.