Wrc Rally Australia 2011

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daniel

It says a lot when an Aussie says this. The Kiwi's just seem to get rallying a but bitter (jist trying out my Kiwi eccent :p ) than Australians do.

---

The people running the big stuff - ARC and Rally Australia - seem to have lost vision in some regards. Quite a few errors have been made over the past 2 WRC events, and North One and FIA will no longer take it. Whether it be cars, spectators, ticketing, roads/location/uniqueness, marketing... things just don't work :P (I'm on a role on having a crack at Australia tonight!). The ARC component is only doing the first 2 days, and Classics only doing select stages over 3 days...!!! One day we'll get it right again

Ironically, coming from Tasmania, it is only a couple of $100 more expensive for me to go to New Zealand next year (then factor in the exchange rate :O ), and not have to deal with so many negative factors influencing the event.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mitch555

The people running the big stuff - ARC and Rally Australia - seem to have lost vision in some regards. Quite a few errors have been made over the past 2 WRC events, and North One and FIA will no longer take it. Whether it be cars, spectators, ticketing, roads/location/uniqueness, marketing... things just don't work :P (I'm on a role on having a crack at Australia tonight!). The ARC component is only doing the first 2 days, and Classics only doing select stages over 3 days...!!! One day we'll get it right again

Ironically, coming from Tasmania, it is only a couple of $100 more expensive for me to go to New Zealand next year (then factor in the exchange rate :O ), and not have to deal with so many negative factors influencing the event.

---

Go to NZ every time. I just think that fundamentally Australians don't seem to get rallying and certainly not as well as Kiwi's. Towards the end of Rally Australia's run in WA, we had these moronic "rally villages" where you had two stages which ran perhaps a couple of hundered metres from each other so you could go and see both stages. Sounds great, but both spectator points were invariably poorer than just having one in a good position. Then they forced you to use buses to get in and out of the villages, so seeing more than one point a day was rather difficult.

Half the fun of going to rally oz was planning it all, getting to drive on a few gravel roads and getting to see the first 20+ drivers going through and then popping over to the next stage or two stages on and doing the same. Having to spectate at two poor spectator points along with so many other people and then being forced to queue for ages to get on a bus which then takes ages to get you back to your car is just annoying and not the way rallying should be done. I'm sure it sounded like a good idea and probably sounded really convenient. But all it did was annoy most people.

I think thats what they're missing in rallying by just having one point for spectators all day, you don't get the excitement of follwoing the cars around the country side.

Has anyone got their tickets yet?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 6789

I think thats what they're missing in rallying by just having one point for spectators all day, you don't get the excitement of follwoing the cars around the country side.

Has anyone got their tickets yet?

---

I don't think organisers world wide want speccies following the cars around the countryside - something that used to happen on the old RAC.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AndyRAC

I don't think organisers world wide want speccies following the cars around the countryside - something that used to happen on the old RAC.

---

I think he meant following in their cars, not actually trekking through the countryside. Australia doesn't have the same rights of way and so on as the UK has.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Livewireshock

Rally Australia have said that all tickets were posted on August 24th, so hopefully it will not be too far away for you.

---

Wow THAT is poor management.. I know I would not be the only spectator coming from NZ or other countries.. how do they expect the tickets to arrive in time?

They had better hope the ticket arrives.. I do have a bit of spare time in Sydney and in Coffs Harbour.. I am sure the last thing they'd want is an angry Kiwi rocking up to their ticket booths causing a fuss.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dingardo

Wow THAT is poor management.. I know I would not be the only spectator coming from NZ or other countries.. how do they expect the tickets to arrive in time?

They had better hope the ticket arrives.. I do have a bit of spare time in Sydney and in Coffs Harbour.. I am sure the last thing they'd want is an angry Kiwi rocking up to their ticket booths causing a fuss.

---

*Considers doing a bit of Kiwi speak on the forum but decides not to as Dingardo is a rare "angry" Kiwi*

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daniel

I think he meant following in their cars, not actually trekking through the countryside. Australia doesn't have the same rights of way and so on as the UK has.

---

Yeah in the cars to spectator points, definetly not allowed to treck the countryside.

According to our phone call to Ticketek today they were posted yesterday, I'm sure if you call tomorrow they will say that they were posted yesterday. Hope they show up!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 6789

Yeah in the cars to spectator points, definetly not allowed to treck the countryside.

According to our phone call to Ticketek today they were posted yesterday, I'm sure if you call tomorrow they will say that they were posted yesterday. Hope they show up!

---

Have they decided to bus people in there in the Eastern states as well? If the average gumby spectator wants to take a bus then they should offer them, but they should also offer people the option of being able to get close to the stage and walking. It's what the hardcore spectators will always want.

Holy cow! I'll be there in one week exactly a few hours ago with SS1 already underway!

Now, need some help with great points on ye stage to photograph it can be spectator or media zones! Waiting for media book but have to have a view of stage ASAP,!

Any luck in here guys? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Holy cow! I'll be there in one week exactly a few hours ago with SS1 already underway!

Now, need some help with great points on ye stage to photograph it can be spectator or media zones! Waiting for media book but have to have a view of stage ASAP,!

Any luck in here guys? :)

---

The SSS's start on Thursday night :)

Daniel - Yeahs there's a bus to the general spectator points on one or two days I think. You're locked in all day for both passes i think, or atleast thats what it was last time on the east coast

Where has Rally Oz pickems gone please?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 6789

The SSS's start on Thursday night :)

Daniel - Yeahs there's a bus to the general spectator points on one or two days I think. You're locked in all day for both passes i think, or atleast thats what it was last time on the east coast

---

We need to start a campaign to get the event moved to NZ rather than being on a rotation.

Sorry I thought today was Thursday! I am living too into the future!

I have just spent all day in Coffs Harbour, hanging large rally car prints at the airport, major hotels and other places. Things are coming together well in the city, with the general public showing great enthusiasm for the event.

The ticketing arrangements have definitely been poor and the Rally Australia management have put their foot down with Ticketek. On site ticket selling will take place at spectator points and mail order tickets can be claimed at any Ticketek outlet, especially the WOW Sight & Sound store agency in Coffs Harbour. The problem and fault has been with Ticketek and their mismanagement, not from the rally organisers.

Idiots!

Work underway on the Coffs Super Special Stage 31st August.'

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...079-Edit-2.jpg

Can go for a swim at stage!

It's no Langley Park or even a Gloucester Park :p

Muddy swim!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Muddy swim!

---

The main swimming beach is off the the left of this shot between the two breakwalls. Behind the photographer in this pic, is mostly a surfing beach. Lastly, I am the guy dressed in blue on the right side of the picture in the middle distance.

The only hassle with this site has been a colony of muttonbirds who nest on the headland, well away from the cars, but that does not stop the enviromentalists from complaining.

Where are Rally Australia Pickems?

Beautiful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Can go for a swim at stage!

---

ohoh be aware of sharks! :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Red bull

ohoh be aware of sharks! :D

---

Might be a bit chilly unless you have wetsuit.

Ray

Gots my mankini

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Gots my mankini

---

:rotflmao:

Can't wait for the start.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1

Gots my mankini

---

mankini and shark repeller ? Shark Shield - Shark deterrent system - protection from shark attack and great white sharks

Dolphins were playing and mixing it up with swimmers jumping off the Jetty near the Super Special yesterday. So it is a unique place.

The most likely 'White Pointers' will be the ones sunning themselves on the beach near the Jetty. I am not sure if I would want to repel those ones.

Very poor web site, next to impossible to find anything there...

Rally Guide 2 (incl. itinerary in appendix 1):
Rally Australia (WRC) | Rally Australia
(direct link to RG2 http://www.rallyaustralia.com/wp-con...de-2-text1.pdf
and to itinerary appendix http://www.rallyaustralia.com/wp-con...Appendix-1.pdf)

Approved entry list:
Notice Board | Rally Australia
(direct link to list: http://www.rallyaustralia.com/wp-con...Entry-List.pdf)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jonkka

Very poor web site, next to impossible to find anything there...

Rally Guide 2 (incl. itinerary in appendix 1):
Rally Australia (WRC) | Rally Australia
(direct link to RG2 http://www.rallyaustralia.com/wp-con...de-2-text1.pdf
and to itinerary appendix http://www.rallyaustralia.com/wp-con...Appendix-1.pdf)

Approved entry list:
Notice Board | Rally Australia
(direct link to list: http://www.rallyaustralia.com/wp-con...Entry-List.pdf)

---

Cheers

looking forward to the rally, for me the highlights will be shakedown, Saturday as we have private land to spectate at :D and Petter Solberg WRT supporters pass.

I'm picking Ogier for the win, report more on the stages after our recce on Wednesday :)

Had a great day performing a road closure at the PWRC / ARC Test Day on the Shakedown stage. From 9am till 4pm, constant rallying action sitting in a nice uphill left hand sweeper. Can hardly wait for the WRC Shakedown now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Livewireshock

Had a great day performing a road closure at the PWRC / ARC Test Day on the Shakedown stage. From 9am till 4pm, constant rallying action sitting in a nice uphill left hand sweeper. Can hardly wait for the WRC Shakedown now.

---

Awesome, I'll be there, are you doing the Shakedown road block?

Yes but in maybe a different position on the road for some variety. Being the southern end of the old ARC Sherwood SS, always good action on a fantastic piece of road.

We've made it to Coffs.

An uneventful drive up from Canberra today.

Weather is awesome here at the moment.

Looking forward to Recce tomorrow.

Ray

Enjoy it Ray, will be on Plum Pudding for Recce tomorrow so I will not see you. Call me when you get the chance and we will catch up.

I think drinks at the Jetty Hotel at 8:30pm will be good for everyone from this forum. Hopefully late enough for those going to the Officials briefing and scrutineering.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Livewireshock

Yes but in maybe a different position on the road for some variety. Being the southern end of the old ARC Sherwood SS, always good action on a fantastic piece of road.

---

Cool, should have a nice and compact base for the WRC boys come Thursday then :)

Has anyone been to the service park yet? If so, is the Ken Block WRT apart of the Ford WRT team

Opinions wanted from Aussies - Does Brendan Reeves have a realistic chance of challenging Paddon in PWRC or will this be the start of Kiwi sporting domination of Oz for the next month or so (just being provocative). Has BR actually rallied over this ground before?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mintexmemory

Opinions wanted from Aussies - Does Brendan Reeves have a realistic chance of challenging Paddon in PWRC or will this be the start of Kiwi sporting domination of Oz for the next month or so (just being provocative). Has BR actually rallied over this ground before?

---

In short, yes. While Brendon has not rallied on these roads, he is very familiar and experienced with the Australian conditions. It was unfortunate that he was sidelined when he had a tyre sponsorship deal that became null and void when the Australian Rally Championship went to a control tyre with a rival company. When he was doing the ARC, Coffs Coast was not on the calendar. He is quite at home in a Group N car, more so than the Fiesta ST Academy Car, so it should be quite good to watch the times through out the weekend.

Nathan Quinn is the local Coffs Harbour driver with a PWRC wildcard, he has the ability to shake both of them up. He has scored stage wins at ARC & APRC level, so he will be quick. Even if Hayden manages to win the PWRC together with the title, it will certainly not be a run away victory by 7 or 8 minutes.