Rally Discussion and Bar Talk Thread

**fiscorpun** · 16th September 2022, 19:10

In Europe theres the WRC, in "America" they have BAJA.
In Europe theres Rallycross, In America theres Short Course racing with 4wd 900HP super trucks
If someone here doesnt know this thing, check it out this quick clip from last
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVRiJJc7J2E

**WRCStan** · 16th September 2022, 23:37

Originally Posted by Sal yet again

General question about rally organisation in your respective countries be it a local level or up to WRC. Are rallies organised by volunteers giving up their free time to arrange road closures and insurance etc or do clubs or motorsport bodies employ people to do the job on a paid basis? Bit of an issue in the UK just now which is seeing events cancelled or stopping altogether as more and more time is being asked of less and less people who do the "job" on a voluntary basis. Not many younger people stepping up to help so rallies are biting the dust. This in turn is leading to even less interest in the media so less and less commercial interest as a result.

Nobody seeing the business opportunity then?

Please don't blame the young because times have changed.

**J4MIE** · 16th September 2022, 23:49

One of the organisers of a closed road event in the UK earlier this year told me that they had put in 800 hours of their own time to get the event running.

That is completely unsustainable.

**WRCStan** · 17th September 2022, 00:09

Originally Posted by J4MIE

One of the organisers of a closed road event in the UK earlier this year told me that they had put in 800 hours of their own time to get the event running.

That is completely unsustainable.

You don't have to answer this but scale-wise, if it was a music festival, would they be getting paid?

**Steve Boyd** · 18th September 2022, 00:38

Originally Posted by WRCStan

You don't have to answer this but scale-wise, if it was a music festival, would they be getting paid?

If it was a music festival the spectators would be paying a very significant sum for watching, leaving enough for the promotors and participants to be handsomely paid. Sadly for the organisers and competitors, rallying doesn't work that way.

**AndyRAC** · 18th September 2022, 08:02

In the UK at nearly all events, spectators 'pay to park' - and money quite often goes to local charities, etc Organising clubs get virtually nothing. From memory, only RallyGB (and IRC Rally Scotland) charges/charged to spectate; and then that means they have to provide facilities, etc for spectators....which is a costly business. Which is the reason most events charge you to park your car - there aren't the same requirements for spectators. As already said, most events are run by volunteers, and they simply don't have the time/resources to do this.

I agree with Sal, I would love to know how other countries operate....I dare say it's different.

**WRCStan** · 18th September 2022, 12:43

Originally Posted by AndyRAC

I agree with Sal, I would love to know how other countries operate....I dare say it's different.

And any role the state and authority play: in eg. France and Spain, their (democratic) authorities have directives set by the ministry of sport and receive state funding. Does any of that trickle down to support organisers?

**the sniper** · 18th September 2022, 13:03

I never really understood why UK organising clubs don't keep the spectator parking money for themselves. Okay, it's not much but it's something.

**Sal yet again** · 19th September 2022, 11:14

Originally Posted by WRCStan

Nobody seeing the business opportunity then?

Please don't blame the young because times have changed.

Been thinking of some possible ways this could be done as a business for a while, offering a service to motor clubs to do all the applications for road closures etc however you first have to understand the "politics" that surround clubs and the egos that are involved. Its often the same people who are complaining of the amount of time they give up that are most reluctant to cede control of their events to others. Once spoke with a promoter of a major UK Rally championship and he told me that it was like herding cats trying to get 6 event organisers to agree on a standard format!

There would be a cost involved to clubs obviously and without big sponsors I'm not sure how many would be able to afford to "contract out".

Its clear something has to be done otherwise the proposed saviour of UK rallying, i.e closed roads will be dead in the gate before the tape drops.

Regards the average age of organisers, I've seen event after event talk of combined ages of their teams in high 100's. The fact is the motorclub structure just doesnt appeal to younger people and quite often the atmosphere around rallies is very poe faced and lacks "fun". I know that is because of rules and regs, insurance needs etc however it doesnt help get people engaged.

I guess motorsport of the traditional type in general could be on borrowed time on the island however am still interested to know how other countries go around thier business so we can learn from them.

**Jarek Z** · 19th September 2022, 11:15

I would like to recommend you a documentary series on Netflix titled "Bad sport" that I saw last week. Especially interesting for us is episode no. 2 - about a hippie and pot dealer, who turns into a famous racing driver. It doesn't have anything to do with rallying, but it's still a great story:
https://www.netflix.com/pl-en/title/81084829