Wales Rally GB.....

[DukeBoy]

4-7 December....am thinking of going up to this 1,2 or maybe all 4 days.
http://www.walesrallygb.com/
Looking into it at the moment, anyone been up before? what would you recommend?
Anyone else interested?

[Scott.T]

went many years ago when you could park in Falmer Palmers (probably Farmer Evans) field for £5 per car and walk into the woods.
This was back in 1999 and was fantastic (it was my first experience of mass Scoobies parked up on the stage, probably SIDC) I bought my first scoob the following year.

Went again in 2001 got well pissed off.
Too much traffic and too little time to go between stages.
Day rover pass was about £25 per person, not per car.

Since then they have put the price up even more and limited what stages you get on the Day Rover pass and from what I can gather, limit were you can view.

Rallying is all about walking round the stage to get several vantage points and diving in a bush when the whistle blows.
Not standing behind fencing and being hearded like sheep.

Hence have not been to Rally GB since.
Although every year I think about it, and regret not being there on the weekend.

sorry... RANT over....

A more friendly event is the Tempest in Aldershot which is 8th November IIRC.

[DukeBoy]

Was only looking into Rally GB as i here Valentino Rossi is entering and may possible be driving a Subaru again....an 8 times world bike champion in a Subaru, couldn't get better (in my opinion)

[Steve_PPP]

I'll be able to help you out mate - i'm there this year and have been going for the last 9 years now. Starting off marshalling (i'm an MSA marshal) until they changed the regs in 2003 and a friend i go with couldn't marshal anymore (he isn't a registered marshal) so we've just been spectators since.

I partly agree with Scott and partly don't. Yes it is more commercial now, and yes, there are spectator pens that you can get herded into. But there only next to the car parks and full of lazy people who don't want the short hike into the forests. Out there, you can pick your spot, often with no marshals around at all. Its just as good as it ever was, in that sense.

I've got stage maps for all of the Saturday and Sunday stages (plus others they're not using this year), but Friday's stages haven't been used since 2000, so no decent maps around at the moment. Still, i know some good spots from those from marshalling when i started out Drop me a PM with your email address and i'll send over a zip file of stuff if you're interested.

I'm staying at a B&B in Brecon as its fairly centrally located, and we know the people there - stay there every year. They even give us the same room every time Its also a lot quieter than staying closer to Cardiff, which gets packed out.

edit/ just bear in mind, it takes ages to clean the car when it gets back like this:
[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/chipho/dirtyscoob2.jpg[/img]

[Scott.T]

Sounds good.
I used a bunk house at a B&B near Talgarth (near Brecon).
It's the Castle Inn, http://www.thecastleinn.co.uk/

It's a fully heated bunk house and food/B&B were great.
Trekker's Barn
Staying in the Trekker's Barn providing your own sleeping bag or duvet, and towel
£12 per person per night plus optional £3 for full breakfast (all group option only)


I was going to go last year but they wouldn't take a booking just for 1 night.
But i suppose if enough go we can book in and people can stay for as little or long as they like.

I have emailed them to check availability and also see what their minimum requirements to book that weekend are.

[DukeBoy]

Sounding good guys

I am most def up for this,i went many many years ago.

[Scott.T]

time to start a list then of attendee's and no. nights required :

1. Dukeboy
2. Scott.T : Friday Night Only
3.
4.
5.


I will require Friday night only, will travel up v.v.early Friday, liase at hotel with anyone already there, then travel back late Saturday.
Would like to see Sweet Lamb and Crychan, not bothered about Millenium.

time to start a list then of attendee's and no. nights required :

1. Dukeboy
2. Scott.T : Friday Night Only
3. Crowman : Friday night
4.
5.

I will travel up v early on the Friday

[Scott.T]

I doubt the Castle Inn will take single night booking.
However, travel inn at Merthyr (stayed here in 2001), Pontypool and Aberdare all have availability.

Just done a quick search and all 3 have Friday 5th available for 4 people in Twin rooms.
works out at £30-£35 per person. Breakfast is extra but we will be out the door before they start serving anyway.

[Steve_PPP]

1. Dukeboy
2. Scott.T : Friday Night Only
3. Crowman : Friday night
4. Steve_PPP
5.

I'm already there for the whole event, but have some plans already so might be off doing my own thing, if you know what i mean. Already got accomodation booked in Brecon, with http://www.thebreconbeacons.co.uk (its a large B&B with approx 15 rooms, and private off-road car park (which helps with a scoob!). If people are only staying Friday, it might be worth giving it a try (they were all booked for the Sat/Sun night with a big non-rally related booking but had loads of space on Friday night at the time). Its also a bit further north than Merthyr, so well located for Friday/Saturday stages.

My rally plans are probably:
SS2 Sweetlamb 1 09:42
SS4 Hafren 2 13:15
SS7 Walters Arena 1 17:06
SS8 Walters Arena 2 17:15

SS10 Halfway 1 09:41
SS14 Crychan 2 15:09 ? (Or Halfway again - there a loads of good spots on Halfway)

SS16 Rheola 1 07:51 (not Walter's Arena car park)
SS18 Rheola 2 11:03 (not Walter's Arena car park)
Service H 12:57

Went to Port Talbot last year and theres a fairly good jump about half a mile hike from the car park, but its often really foggy up there. But doubt i'll go this year because Rheola should let us get out of the second run and into service on time for the cars to return to Parc Ferme.

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

Already got accomodation booked in Brecon, with http://www.thebreconbeacons.co.uk (its a large B&B with approx 15 rooms, and private off-road car park (which helps with a scoob!). If people are only staying Friday, it might be worth giving it a try

They appear to be full according to their website availability

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by SilverSurfer

They appear to be full according to their website availability

I did see that page, but the owners aren't exactly the internet website update types

They seemed to have missed the whole of November off the page for a start i don't believe theyre booked up 100% for the whole month - nobody goes to Wales in November!

[Steve_PPP]

A few pics from last year, just to wet the appetite







Can't wait!

[DukeBoy]

Are we def going?

I'll be up for the friday night....think we should get somewhere booked if we're going!

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by Steve_PPP

1. Dukeboy
2. Scott.T : Friday Night Only
3. Crowman : Friday night
4. Steve_PPP
5.

I agree - if people are going, then accomodation needs to be booked asap really. Tickets can be left another month i guess.
Anyone else up for it?

I've already got tickets/accomodation sorted (before this thread was created), but will try and meet up with anyone that goes and will help out with maps/info etc

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by DukeBoy

Are we def going?

Great response.....

Sorry Guys
I am having to leave a decisision on this late.
I will almost definately going,will be taking my eldest son.
I think maybe i should book acomodation now and can always cancel if i cant make it.
Only i am going into hospital a few weeks before and will not know how i will be by 1st week of dec.
Will definately want to meet up with you guys,if thats possible.

Steve is therte acomodation at the hotel your staying at?
Rich are you going,reckon steve would be up for this.

[BIG"E"]

Originally Posted by Crowman

Only i am going into hospital a few weeks before and will not know how i will be by 1st week of dec.

Sorry to hear that, nothing serious I hope.

[DukeBoy]

Originally Posted by Crowman

Rich are you going,reckon steve would be up for this.

Yep will be going (prob just friday/saturday), just waiting to see if anymore interest before booking up.

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by Crowman

Steve is therte acomodation at the hotel your staying at?

I doubt it now, if there is it'll only be for the thursday night i think. if you're aiming for friday or saturday stages, then somewhere near Brecon would be ideal for you

[Scott.T]

I can't commit to this as am having to do a fair bit or away from home pleasure/business stuff at the moment.
Ironically the work stuff is in south wales/cardiff area. But unfortunatley not on the Rally Week.
I don't fancy another trip up there to be honest...M4 is so boring.....

Couldnt resist putting this thread in here.

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by Crowman

Couldnt resist putting this thread in here.

i wouldn't call crossing the Severn Bridge going overseas!