I'm still confused here. I understand that a lot of people that have been going for the past 10 years or so have seen a lot of changes - and not all for the better.

However, in my recent experience which has seen me go to Monte Carlo, Germany, Spain and Wales, I would have to say that Rally GB is not that different. Granted, it takes a lot to beat Monte Carlo as a venue (highly recommended BTW), but in terms of the organisation, it wasn't a lot different to what I've seen in Wales. Yes, there were occassional probelms with parking and there were some long treks (no different to Wales), but it was OK. Germany was similar (much nicer weather this year).

Spain last year was fabulous, I was there at the viaduct on the Viladrau stage watching Panizzi do his doughnut. That has become one of the most famous images of rallying in recent years (something I won't forget :)). That said, I was also at Halfway last year and watched Gronholm roll his car - again something I won't forget either.

My point is I guess, is that all events have their strong and weak points. You make what you like of them. I enjoy Wales - it's always unpredictable, we normally meet a great mix of rally nutters and it's on my doorstep (so to speak). It ain't perfect, but as I said in other threads, I go this year with an open mind and thoroughly looking forward to the battle for the Championship.

I would prefer if it were free, but I'm a realist and I know that is not practical. I also know that many other rounds of the WRC are considering charging aswell.

So stop bloody whinging and go and enjoy yourselves!!! :)

Chris

[Edited by Chris L - 11/2/2003 9:35:31 PM]

As I said before - you make what you want of an event. If you want to live in the past then fine - sit there and go all misty eyed about "how things used to be better".

That maybe the case, but it isn't going to change.

I would post more, but I can't be bothered. I'm leaving now to drive down to Wales and a have a bloody good time. :D :D

Chris

[Edited by Chris L - 11/3/2003 8:53:40 AM]

Would like to hear from people who think that they are.
Cheers
Colin

Depends what you compare it with:

1. Compared to F1 at Silvers - both a rip-off.
2. Compared to the total cost of doing say, Catalunya or RallyDE - still a rip-off.

What's 75 quid though - sacrifice 2 nights out on the lash, and there, you got your money.

Thing is, however much we complain:

1. They (the organisers) won't listen to us
2. There will always be youngsters coming through who don't remember what the good old days were like - they will pay for the tickets, and won't be dissapointed - not having anything to compare it to.

BUT, just once I would like to hear the "official" justification for the fact that 10 years ago I payed "fiver a car". Looking at RPI inflation rates in recent years (circa 2-4%), I just don't see how they can justify current pricing?????

Wouldn't know - never bought a ticket - except the odd service or super special ticket, and they're well worth the money.

Compare the price of WRC to F1... Rallying is better value.

My local club charges £15 per head to watch a hillclimb... now that is what I call a rip off.

15 squidlies SM?

I would want a Stannah stairlift thrown in for that!

I wonder how many ppl will be hiding in the boots of their car to avoid the charges

Sorry but I disagree with rallying is better value then F1. It IS more fun but its not cheaper to go abroad to watch F1 wheer (In some cases, not all its cheaper to watch a WRC round)

Rallygb has got far to big to soon and it has distroyed the spirt of the event, I for one will never, ever forget the fun of Sweat Lamb 00 (which is my mine any way) was the last ever RallyGB.

No one from the MSA, cough, cough Tim Foster has listened to what THE fans want. They just want lining for there pockets.

Just my opion of course (not to start anything nasty)

Are you sure you're not looking at this through rose tinted glasses?.... £5 per car, yep used to pay that myself, but that was per forest stage and possibly £7 or £10 per person for sundays spectator stages on an event with 30 odd stages which you could do 4 maybe 5 stages per day over 4 days.... certainly adds up to as much as today if not more. Now, ok, that was per car and now it's per person but although I cringed when I bought my tickets I'm not so sure it's that much of an increase from 10 years ago in the bigger picture. Having tickets and not having to scrabble in pockets for a wet £5 note has got to make it easier for getting into the stages.

Then think of all the extra fuel costs from treking all over the country, seem to recall doing the best part of 1500 miles on one RAC years back, should be able to do it on 2 tanks of juice easily now even with the run down from the midlands and back.

Is it really a rip off?? The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking it's not so bad as people say!!

Some fair comments map-man :)

Too Damn Right its a rip off £30 pound if you want to pay on the day to watch a single forrest stage and your the only one in your car. Living close to Cardiff though and knowing what the council & WDA farts are like i wouldn't expect any different. The highest council tax rates in the whole of the UK i wouldn't be surprised. Anyway ramble over see you all there if i can just find a way through this bloody forrest.......

Im only 35,but went to RALLY GB in all its guises for 15 years consecutively,until ticketin came in.I remember it bein free and only £2 per car,ok you did some travellin to see what ya wanted,but that was your own choice and part of the fun.It is a poor excuse as a rally now,i prefer to go and see clubmen and The Jim Clark is probably now the best rally in the uk.
Im a rally marshal and i WONT be attending this year,and i aint on my own,at the last count the MSA were 1400 marshalls short,it takes 3000 to do the event.People are deserting in droves,and without the people to support the sport it will go into decline.Hopefully 2005 when the rally is revued will see some changes.And to say to have the rally spread over the country isnt viable is nonsense,to whom is it not viable?Most of the team managers aint bothered here nor there,its the same job wherever ya service holts are,etc etc.Lets have it right how big is Britain?
We all know its about hard cash and people management.Im sorry but the whole event is now ****e!!

myself being younger and relativly new to spectating last three years or so done the odd bit of marshalling i dont think that £75 notes is too bad for four days car parking included but then i wasnt around when it was free, RallyGB is a big event it cant be run on a shoestring!

"stop whining and enjoy yourself" by going out to watch the Jim Clark. A far better evnt than this one is now!
The event is now crap, and there is no reason on earth that it has to be in a little corner os South Wales for ever!

1 comment: Germany was, I think not more than 60 euro's for a 3 day pass (about 40 quid I guess)....

That said, I'll probably end up coughing up more for a rental car than on tickets.

Oh yea,forgot to say that im goin to the race of Champions at the end of the month in Gran Canaria.£169 includes flight,accomodation for 7 days,all transfers and tickets into the event for 3 days.How much is it for a 3 day pass in "sunny"Wales then?
And by the way i aint Whingin,just statin a few facts.Cant think of any sportin event thats gone 20 times worse but costs 20 times more to attend!!
Keep smilin!!

My mates started going to the race of champions years ago instead of the RAC! They go every year and have said that they spend less going there than staying here! (and much better spectating facilities and weather than darkest Wales)

flat-in-5th

You are getting boring with so many negative posts across all the threads. If you hate Rally GB so much why are you even bothering to post here?

While you're at home next weekend being Billy No Mates the rest of us will be enjoying the closest finish to the season I can remember for a long time.

I know! I am depressing myself now! I will watch the event on the telly and fondly remember the event as it used to be! At least I will be warm and have saved myself a few hundred quid! I will be even more pissed off next week when I see such exotic machinery being driven so badly!

Everyone has the right to express there opinion.Flat out is aggrieved at the ticket prices which is what the topic is about.Fair enough.If the title contest wasnt so close what would your closing line be??I dont know either,coz nothin else has really happened!!If ya cant see the WRC is going downhill due to the "top brass" your blind my friend.But i digress,let him have his say without slaggin him off,its a free country--ish!!!
TA...

you beat me to it........ what a wakner........ and stop moaning cause you have to do a bit of traveling

that was aimed at the the bloke from up north, who basicly wants to slate the event because he has to put petrol in his motor....

Im 17 and remember the 'good old days'. Ive been rallying all my life and certainly remember it when it was just £5 a car and how much more fun it was beck then.. You could actually see the stage then rather than being stood in a sea of people. Although i have only actually watched in a speccy pen once so far and that was on halfway last year... I dont think its right that they should keep the people who know what they are doing in Spectator pens with all the general public who know very little except from what theyve learned from their playstations. But on the other hand i see why they have to do it cos there are some total idiots around who stand in ridiculous places and its often difficult to tell who actually knows what they are doing.. I have no intentions of standing in spectator pens this year either... Its not the people out the pens who get the stages cancelled, its the ridiculous places that some of them stand.

I dont mind putting petrol in my car at all. I used to drive hundreds and hundreds of miles to watch the event when it was worth watching. Now it isnt worth getting out of bed for!
Bored now!
bye!

Fatscoobyfella,
That sounds like a good idea mate, get a tan at the same time too, any idea where I might find some info on it.
Cheers
Colin

Livin in the past and goin all misty eyed aint even the issue here surely.If your happy to be ripped off for your national event thats your perogative,but some people aint,and would prefer not too attend to show that they disagree.Granted its a poor way to show how much ya dont like ticketin prices,but ya could just turn up with ya pre-paid tickets,walk 3 miles to get on stage after sittin in a traffic jam for 90 mins,then have to take a shvitz in a forest with ya back against a tree for the priveledge!
The longer people put up with it,the longer they will carry on slottin you for your hard earned.
Remember to take some wet ones with ya,not only do they do a fine job on the undercarraige they also get the lichen off the back off ya immitation rally jacket!
Keep smilin!
Oh,search under michelin roc for info about Gran Canaria.The trip i spoke about is bein run by our comp sec of our car club,but think ya can find that deal anywhere as long as there is more than 1 of ya goin.TA...

u cant get away from the price as alot of organising goes into it etc.. and prifit making but its not the money that gets me but not being able to stand where i want, like on national rallys, u have to stand in pens where u cant see the car, but i understand the safty cos its for the people who turn up in there trainers and thin jackets from the city not ever being to a rally and maybe only been to a track.

but thats it u just have to live with it. as its getting so expensive i'm hoping to go to rally de and cyprus next year. if they are still on!!!

So there's your answer! We can all identify the virgins by their new trainers, polished brogues, high heels and best trousers, with Aunty Nelly in tow. So round them up, bung them all in a pen 500m from the stage where they belong, and the rest of us who turn up looking like Edmund Hillary and Ranulph Fiennes can have a bit more freedom.

Actually, I have to say the only places where I find the restrictions OTT are Margam Park and the Superspecial - but they attract most of the virgins anyway so it's understandable.

Looking at some of the great pics people have posted before on this forum are we really that far away from the cars on most stages?

I remember the day when there was no charge to watch the rally, i also remember when the stages around this side of Wales were not used in the RAC because they were to dangerous and the sages were up north,so it swings and roundabouts i travelled up there for a few years and now it's back close to home. When it does move back up north will all the people that say that this rally is rubbish go and watch it then? i think so.
I also fancy going to se the rally of champions, but then do i really want to see cars racing around in a circle, if i did i would go and see F1 or TOCA. I paid nearly £250 for WR passes for me and my son, I'll go to see the Super special on Thursday night only and then see the Rally where Rallying belongs IN THE FOREST. One more thing, when group B was abolished haw many feared that rallying was dead,now it has a bigger following than ever.

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