Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally taster

[Ian_H]

Just a few photos from yesterday to whet your appetites for the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally at Croft Circuit on the 29th of Decemeber. I spent yesterday at Langbaurgh kart track for a pre event shakedown for 3 of the teams, also managed a few laps as a passenger myself which brightened up a cold dull day in Middlesborough.

These were taken with my 1D MKII as my MKIII arrived back from Canon while I was out.


Darren Grimston's MKII Escort before it deposited it's oil after a lap:cry:
http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/main.php/d/72394-1/IR0E0005-Edit.jpg

Richard Welford trying his best to scare his new nav
http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/main.php/d/72396-1/IR0E0030-Edit.jpg

and again
http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/main.php/d/72398-1/IR0E0074-Edit_001.jpg

Larry Carter getting the little Pug on opposite lock, we actually managed to get up to 90mph along the back straight at Langbaurgh even with my slim athletic body in it;)

http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/main.php/d/72400-1/IR0E0082-Edit_001.jpg

Richard Welford again saving on tyre wear
http://www.ianhardy.net/gallery/main.php/d/72402-1/IR0E0174-Edit_001.jpg


Really looking forward to the event now and expect to bump into quite a few forum members


Cheers
Ian

[Brian P]

Nice set Ian, last shot my favorite. Thanks for the reminder. I attended the event last year, cracking days sport. It was the first time I had seen David Bogie, he was awesome in the 6R4. Just hoping for a dry day.

[petrolhead]

The last shot reminds me of what my does in that bend but not to that degree :)

Looking forward to the 29th

Are we bringing Mulled Wine and Mice Pies?

Have you had a chance to test the MKIII yet?

[dseered]

Oh, 29th, that sounds good, will set a reminder - shots look great !

[darren h]

Great shots of Welford's Escort Ian, lovely mkII that one :D. Going up to the Xmas stages so probably see you up there. Glad you got the mkIII back pretty quickly.

[kt8]

Guys sorry to hijack the thread but is there any governing sites that have like diarys with upcoming events and such for the UK? Taa

[darren h]

Guys sorry to hijack the thread but is there any governing sites that have like diarys with upcoming events and such for the UK? Taa

Look at Ian's website, got a cracking motorsport Diary on there.

[Ian_H]

The last shot reminds me of what my does in that bend but not to that degree :)

Looking forward to the 29th

Are we bringing Mulled Wine and Mice Pies?

Have you had a chance to test the MKII yet?


I take it you mean the MKIII;), I had it with me today but didn't get a chance to get the camera out of the car:( I am going to try and get a few hours tomorrow to test it out.

Thanks for the other comments, the lastest press release for the event is here http://www.ianhardy.net/motorsport_news.php complete with a provisional top ten which looks great, it's a pity Birdy has pulled his entry but still a quality entry and I think I would put my money on young Mr Bogie:D


Cheers
Ian

[Simon Harrison]

Hmmmm, I don't know. Bogie was flying when we saw him in Grizedale, but I think (and hope) that Proctor and Champion will give him a good run for his money.

Very nice shots Ian, and pleased for you that you've got the mk III back so quickly. The autodrome is quite a good venue for a sprint etc., and they are talking about extending it significantly.

Cheers,

Simon.

PS got sorted with Jacko.

[GSH]

Lovely stuff Ian, nice to see the Mk2 can still cut it in these days of Mk3 magickery ;)

I'm looking forward to the 29th now. See you all there as usual :)

[rich_cooper]

Should be a good event again this year

I should be going up for it not 100% sure yet!

[petrolhead]

Does anyone have a diagramme of the route they will be taking around croft please

[darren h]

Does anyone have a diagramme of the route they will be taking around croft please

I'll second that :lol:

[GSH]

Does anyone have a diagramme of the route they will be taking around croft please

In the front gate, turn left, park in the field amongst the sheep s**t as per usual i would think...

Oh..you mean stage maps? ;)

[GAELICSTORM7]

I should be there too fingers crossed, with a growing contingent from the Leeds area in tow, yup some info on where there routes would be very handy, is some of the racing going to be on the off road inner field section perhaps ?

Alan

Alan

[GSH]

I should be there too fingers crossed, with a growing contingent from the Leeds area in tow, yup some info on where there routes would be very handy, is some of the racing going to be on the off road inner field section perhaps ?


Alan


The Rallycross track?...i can't remember if they used it in previous years or not, but they definitely use the roads around the outside of the main track.

1 from 2005..
http://www.pbase.com/geoff_hubbert/image/54041642/original.jpg

[GAELICSTORM7]

Yes Geoff, my first visit to Croft was for the Jack Frost rally in Jan of this year, and as you say the area up the back of the pit lane (scrutineering ?) was used as was the other pit type area against sunny in and out, there was some quite dramatic angles with the cars passing very close to spectators !, and the marshalls seemed pretty relaxed about it, they didn't use the rally cross stage then, but guess it would add a little to the mix if they did.

Alan

Alan

[petrolhead]

I seem to remember they used the long straight where the cars and rigs normally park, the one down to sunny out from the parc ferme

[petrolhead]

Looks like the weather may be changeable

What time are guys going to be there?

[Simon Harrison]

All of the area behind the pit garages and down past the scruitineering garage is being used as part of the stages, so I guess access up that part of the circuit will be difficuly or impossible. They are not using the rallycross circuit - the event is a tarmac rally so I guess that it rules out the use of that section of the track.

Get there early, as you'll want to be parked near the exit of the car park after all the rain there's been, as it looks like the car park will be in one of the fields. The normal areas are taken up by trailer parks and service area.

The section of track up by the entrance to Chicane should be reasonable for the first 2 stages at least. Instead of following the track through the chicane, the cars will be heading up the old pit lane entrance, and then turning right just past the point where the high catch fencing ends. Should mean that frame filling shots are easilly achievable with 300mm or less.

See you all up there at some point no doubt.

Cheers,

Simon.

[Ian_H]

Well I did have a set of stage maps that I picked up at documentation today but between Croft and home they seem to have disappeared :o They will not be using the rallycross track, this is after all a tarmac rally ;). Service area will be on the hardstanding behind the grandstand and they are using the hangar straight as the trailer park and I would imagine spectators will be parked in the normal field. I think spectators will be kept down around the Clervaux area and around Hawthorn up towards Tower although you will probably be able to get to the banks above the Complex and down to Sunny out. As far as I can remember the start of the stages is in the paddock down from the garages and then out onto the circuit with the finish being on the road by scruiteneering.

By the way it was pissing down when me & Simon were there today and it was the sort of rain that hurts when it hits you:cry:


Cheers
Ian

[Ian_H]

Bugger you just beat me to it;)


Cheers
Ian

[GSH]

Looks like the weather may be changeable

What time are guys going to be there?

I'm being a good lad and having an early night (sick of the sight of booze anyway) so i'm planning to be there early.

As Simon says, parking will be an issue due to the weather so i really don't fancy ending up parked where i did for the Jack Frost, i.e. right down the farm Track behind Sunny...

[Simon Harrison]

Okay, stages 1-4 will go something like this.....

The cars will start in the parc ferme area just up from where the assembly area is. They will turn hard right and essentially go on to the track at the pitlane entrance. They then follow the circuit around through Clervaux and Hawthorn. They have added some hay bales and tyres between Clervaux and Hawthorn to make the cars do an elongated 's', before heading up to Chicance. They continue either through Chicane or just to the left of it depending on the stage, before heading back up towards Tower. Half way up the back straight, they leave the circuit for a short section of the infield road, before rejoining at the crossing point and heading up to Tower. The rest of the lap is pretty much standard, save for some artificial bends or tightening of existing bends, which means there's tyres and bunting all over the place in some locations.

The cars do 2 laps each run. On the second lap, they leave the circuit and come down the pitlane, coming out just at the bottom of the garages, a quick loop in front of the circuit offices and toilets before going through the flying finish just up from the scruitineering area.

Stages 5 to 8 are essentially that in reverse.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Simon.

PS my scanner is U/S so I can't scan anything in - sorry!

[GAELICSTORM7]

Thanks for the info guys, sounds pretty similar to what it was last year I guess, we are setting off at 06.30 hours so should be there nice and early.

According to the met office the weather doesn't look too bad for toworrow cold, windy, and a little rain, thats alot better than at Grizedale, lol, lol, lol.

Alan

[Simon Harrison]

According to the met office the weather doesn't look too bad for toworrow cold, windy, and a little rain, thats alot better than at Grizedale, lol, lol, lol.

Alan

You'll soon learn that what the weather man says just doesn't apply to Croft :lol:. The only way to get an accurate weather forecast is to wind the window down in your car when you drive into the circuit.

Hopefully see you there. I'll be the one with a serious turkey allergy :p:lol:

Simon

[GSH]

I'll be the one with a serious turkey allergy :p:lol:



I won't bother bringing turkey sandwiches for you then :p

[John Hudson]

IIRC last year the straight road between the paddock and Sunny formed part of the circuit.

The road was split in two by wheelie bins, so there was still a fair bit of parking on the straight.

Great fun, even when the weather turned grotty at the end of the day.

[Simon Harrison]

IIRC last year the straight road between the paddock and Sunny formed part of the circuit.

That's where the trailer park will be this year. They may try and put some parking there, but the trailers and towing vehicles for 90+ cars will take up quite a bit of room.

Simon.

[John Hudson]

Oh dear, the sheep sh*t ice rink it is then.

[Cadwell]

Very nice, Ian. You really can't beat old Escorts for acrobatics!

[Charles Richards]

that last one is awesome :)