2005 Rallye Monte Carlo

[RallyBasher]

I've just uploaded a large selection of my photos from the 2005 Rallye Monte Carlo to my Webshots albums. Click here (http://community.webshots.com/user/rallybasher-date) to take a look. Managed to view the action from some great positions, especially on the first day of the event when both Citroën drivers spun at the same junction. My legs have just about recovered from the estimated 50km of walking that we did going from the car, to the stages, and back again! We saw 7 stages in total, plus the shakedown.

It was great to see Kris Meeke take his first JWRC victory and I've created a special album with photos of him in which are now also on his website. As predicted, Sébastien Loeb was the overall winner, beating his nearest challenger by some 3 minutes. Toni Gardemeister made a good start for his new team Ford, finishing 2nd, whilst Mitsubishi driver Gilles Panizzi claimed the final podium position - a great result for them.

[RallyBasher]

Another couple of images.

[FlipsidE]

You guys make me so jealous. I would love to shoot Ralley races as well as the Gran Turismo style races, but unfortunately, those are rare to non-existent here in the US. Nice shots!

FlipsidE

[Tom O.]

You guys make me so jealous.
I'll second that. I LOVE the Rally races. One day I hope that I can actually at least see one in person. The few we do have here in the US lack the intensity of what you see there.

Nice shots too. Do you have anymore that you could post or a link to some more?

[Ian_H]

Nice photos, I think the Monte is the one round of the WRC I would like to see.


Cheers
Ian

[RallyBasher]

Nice shots too. Do you have anymore that you could post or a link to some more?
Thanks, Tom. If you click the link in my signature, there's another 400 or so for you to look at, all in high resolution.

[Wazza]

Some cool shots.
What camera were you using? 10D + both those listed lens? Or just one mainly.

I'm looking forward to Rally of NZ April 7-10th. I'm just hoping my work will allow me to take Thursday and Friday off. For some reason, they want us to apply for leave 6-9 months in advance, even though it's illegal. Two weeks is the minimum required by law.

[RallyBasher]

Some cool shots.
What camera were you using? 10D + both those listed lens? Or just one mainly.
Actually, I didn't use my 75-300mm at all during the weekend, just the 28-135mm.

Notes for next year - a decent flash and a lens with a bigger aperture!

[ppuga]

Great shots you have there!!

For those of you livigin in the US, and want to see a WRC, may be you can come to Mexico, I think the Corona Rally México is the Closer WRC event you have. It worth it! If you like Rally.

Cheers!

[RallyBasher]

Rally Mexico is a great event. Some of the stages remind me of the Safari Rally. Rally Mexico should have a good entry this year with about 15 World Rally Cars amongst the competitors.

[NikonF4s]

Some cool shots.
What camera were you using? 10D + both those listed lens? Or just one mainly.

I'm looking forward to Rally of NZ April 7-10th. I'm just hoping my work will allow me to take Thursday and Friday off. For some reason, they want us to apply for leave 6-9 months in advance, even though it's illegal. Two weeks is the minimum required by law.

See you there Wazza! I asked my boss for the time off, and he was more than happy too!! We look very similar and share the same name and address!!haha.
Should be good, nice to see Skoda is back in the game.

[Wazza]

OT:
I wish my boss is considerate. (Maybe in a year or two. ;))
Anyway, if it was the immediate bosses call, it wouldn't be a problem, but now it's a regional/national thing, we're they try and accommodate people being away from other Westpac branches. It's a load of bull.
Never got to last years one, as I only had a slightly advanced Sony Point and Shoot. And would probably get lost, and manage to see the cars only once. I guess I need some tips from people with experience, on which stages to be present at, and where not to walk to.

http://wazza.nfscity.com/wrc.htm <-- Only managed to see the closing ceremony. And get up close and personal to all the racers.

[NikonF4s]

OT:
I wish my boss is considerate. (Maybe in a year or two. ;))
Anyway, if it was the immediate bosses call, it wouldn't be a problem, but now it's a regional/national thing, we're they try and accommodate people being away from other Westpac branches. It's a load of bull.
Never got to last years one, as I only had a slightly advanced Sony Point and Shoot. And would probably get lost, and manage to see the cars only once. I guess I need some tips from people with experience, on which stages to be present at, and where not to walk to.

http://wazza.nfscity.com/wrc.htm <-- Only managed to see the closing ceremony. And get up close and personal to all the racers.

Pick a stage that they go through twice, find out where the marshalls are, then try to dodge them. I know people will say that it's a bad idea, but if you don't act like an idiot and stay out of they way, you can get great shots with out having other am photogs breathing down your neck. Last time, myself and two mates walked acouple of K's into a stage and found a little bridge that they barrel across, great fun.

[quickben]

Great shots. I like the Skoda one the best. Just a pity he didn't have his main cluster on, that would've looked awesome.

Lucky sod for being there !! :-)

Gary.

[jmjmotorsport]

I hate you guys.. and I mean that in the nicest way possible.:D I've already said it, but I would sell my organs to science to get that close to a real WRC event. Maybe one day.. sadly I'm stuck in the US and we just don't get anything this cool. (who wants to snap pics of domestic cars going in circles?!?) Anyhow, nice shots.

[merrrrjig]

Sweet shots and my god that looks fun!

[Phil V]

I hate you guys.. and I mean that in the nicest way possible.:D I've already said it, but I would sell my organs to science to get that close to a real WRC event. Maybe one day.. sadly I'm stuck in the US and we just don't get anything this cool. (who wants to snap pics of domestic cars going in circles?!?) Anyhow, nice shots.

Mexico isn't that far from the States (or Argentina)? I'll be travelling from the UK to Cyprus for a summer 'holiday' around a week of WRC action. It all depends on your priorities. The other guy's posting WRC pic's are also travelling around Europe to do so.

[RallyBasher]

Sweet shots and my god that looks fun!
Thanks, it is a lot of fun, and the atmosphere is great!

When you've been stood there for a couple hours safeguarding your vantage point, you begin to question your sanity, especially if the tempearture's below freezing. But about 20 minutes before the first competitive car comes through, there are a couple of safety cars come through the stage to check all the spectators are behaving. Usually there is some warning being played on a loud speaker on the car, which seems to cause amusement amongst the locals. I don't speak French so I wouldn't know what they're on about! But anyway, as the excitement builds, there's a definite buzz in the crowd and the adrenalin starts to flow once you hear the first car approaching the corner. Almost everyone cheers, no matter which driver is passing, but there was obvious favouritism on the Monte for the likes of Sébastien Loeb and Didier Auriol. The biggest cheers though always go to the over-zealous drivers who manage to spin.

I hate you guys.. and I mean that in the nicest way possible.:D I've already said it, but I would sell my organs to science to get that close to a real WRC event. Maybe one day.. sadly I'm stuck in the US and we just don't get anything this cool. (who wants to snap pics of domestic cars going in circles?!?) Anyhow, nice shots.
My reccommendation would be to book a European holiday based around a WRC event. Book your flights early enough and you should be able to get a good deal and then you just need a hotel and a hire car. If you're not sure about doing all that yourself, there's a great company called Rally Travel (http://www.rallytravel.com/) that can arrange rally trips. I know they took a lot of people to Mexico last year and they had a ball. They did my trip to the Monte last year and were fantastic. They provide you with maps and full directions to get you to all the best locations in the event. Once you've been to one, you'll want to go to them all.

[RallyBasher]

Great shots. I like the Skoda one the best. Just a pity he didn't have his main cluster on, that would've looked awesome.
Yeah, perhaps, but one of the privateer Peugeots had the full spots on and I fired as they pointed right at me and I ended up with just a white out. :lol: