Well the 2004 has been announced - what do you all think of it?

PROVISIONAL ROUTE AND TIMETABLE (March 2004)

Thursday 16th September
Start Cardiff 19.00
SS 1 Cardiff SuperSpecial 1 19.05
Parc Ferme In (Felindre) 20.25

Friday 17th September
Parc Ferme Out (Felindre) 06.05
Service A (Felindre) 06.05
SS 2 Brechfa 1 07.13
SS 3 Trawscoed 1 08.01
SS 4 Brechfa 2 10.05
SS 5 Trawscoed 2 10.53
Service B (Felindre) 13.28
SS 6 Rheola 1 14.36
SS 7 Rheola 2 16.59
Service C (Felindre) 18.24
Parc Ferme In (Felindre) 19.09

Saturday 18th September
Parc Ferme Out (Felindre) 08.00
Service D (Felindre) 08.00
SS 8 Crychan 1 09.37
SS 9 Epynt 1 10.05
SS 10 Halfway 1 10.35
SS 11 Crychan 2 12.25
SS 12 Epynt 2 12.53
SS 13 Halfway 2 13.23
Service E(Felindre) 15.38
SS14 Margam 1 16.41
SS15 Cardiff SuperSpecial 2 18.21
Service F (Felindre) 19.41
Parc Ferme In (Felindre) 20.26

Sunday 19th September
Parc Ferme Out (Felindre) 07.30
Service G (Felindre) 07.30
SS 16 Rhondda 1 08.21
SS 17 Rhondda 2 10.51
SS 18 Margam 2 12.17
SS 19 Cardiff SuperSpecial 3 14.12
Finish Cardiff 14.32

Paul..

Just had confirmation myself Paul from IMS Motorsport at Colnbrook on this. Pretty obvious that SS 19 (cardiff super special 3) is out for Money only.Will be at Crychan 1 and 2 again , but hoping to possibly get a position on the Sunday SS18 Margam 2. Fingers crossed.

Steve.

Hi ya paul,

The route looks a lot better this year thanks to the mileage limit change.

I've emailed marie about which stages me and my team are interested in doing this year, are you gonna need any help with Parc Ferme again? we might be able to help again this year if you are short.

Regards, Jamie.

Steve,

Its still provisional in the sense that the timing will change slightly as the road timings get adjusted but thats certainly the route itself.

The Superspecial and the finish being together makes sense really - with the Friday SS stage not running, it gives Cardiff some more exposure as host town having the last stage of the event plus the finish there.

I dont think youll have a problem getting onto Margam 2 as a marshal as many people will want to do the double run of Rhondda in the morning.

Jamie..

I have the Parc Ferme Out controls covered as things stand - should be plenty of people on them. However, theyve moved to Swansea this year as the cars do the trip back there after the Superspecial, which means the stages can start a little earlier..

All marshals on the Marshals register should receive a postcard through the post over the next couple of days with the route on it and some further details of the event to keep you informed oif whats going on..

Paul..

Timing on Rheola looks a little funny, what the story there? Two runs back to back with nearly two and a half hours between them, and either a very (if they keep start & finish where they are) or a relatively (if they move start and finish) road section to get round.

Won't that mean the crews sat twiddling their thumbs for ages queueing for the start of the second run?

Hi, am interested in helping marshal this year, tho I have never done this before. I know the ydid an appeal thingy last year for marshals as they were short, and I would have volunteered but I couldn't make it, however I can this year. Does anyone know if this may be possible, and who do I get in touch with?

Greasemonkey,

With probably 80 cars and 2 minute starts for around 10 of them by that point thats a total of 90 minutes - assuming no-one is late. Add on time for the course closer to traverse the stage (32kms long) and thats another 20 mins for the last car so were up to just short of 2 hours. Put in 000, and 00 just after the closer has gone and then a zero car and its easy to get to 2.5 hours. In fact Id say its pretty tight timing. What you dont see in the route above is that theres a fuel and tyre stop at Swansea at around 4pm...

Bex,

Basically the requirement for the rally is to be registered on the MSA Marshal Register - which means you must have marshalled 3 rallies and be nominated to the register by an MSA accredited club. Im sure you'll be able to manage that over the course of the next few months.

Where are you based? Would be a good idea to join an active marshalling group or motorclub near you as it adds to the enjoyment - having the craic with like minded people.

Take a look at www.rallymarshal.co.uk as theres a calendar on there, an FAQ and other details that will be useful. Feel free to drop me an email and I'll help as much as possible.

Paul..
Wales Rally GB Marshal Liason.

I'm kinda based In Aberystwyth and Lancaster. I'm a student at uni (in Aber), but don't have access to a car, except when at home during the hols, which poses a bit of a poblem when it comes to joining a club!

Hmm,

At Aber without a car is a bit of an issue but Im sure theres some marshals studying up there. I did my degree in Lampeter so know the area quite well..

In fact, just found:

Aberystwyth District Motor Club Ltd
Christine M Evans
4 Maesyfelin Llanafan
Aberystwyth
Dyfed
SY23 4BN
Home: 01974 261698
Work: 01970 633145

Other Contact Information
Website - Justin - JUJ9@aber.ac.uk

We meet on the third Monday of every month at Aberystwyth Rugby Club at 7.30 for 8. Everybody Welcome, new and old!

So theres a club for you - should be able to get lifts to events... Theres plenty of local(ish) rallying on through the year with 3 events at SweetLamb and others such as the Plains using the other forests plus loads of other forest and single venue events within an hour and a bit drive (ie Pembrey).

Paul..

Thanks!

What you dont see in the route above is that theres a fuel and tyre stop at Swansea at around 4pm... Ah, there you go, that makes all the difference. Schedule makes sense now! :D

Just had confirmation myself Paul from IMS Motorsport at Colnbrook on this. Pretty obvious that SS 19 (cardiff super special 3) is out for Money only.Will be at Crychan 1 and 2 again , but hoping to possibly get a position on the Sunday SS18 Margam 2. Fingers crossed.

Steve.

Sorry if I am wrong steve but doesn;t the earlier quote say that the Friday SS at Cardiff is not running - if that is the case then how can the Sunday super special be for money if they are still running the same number? Oh - I know - you will say it is the finish so a good earner?! I don't think that is a given as who knows how many runners will be left at the end. And besides - I was at Margam last year which was a naff finish - couldn't get back to the city centre in time for the 'other' finish ceremony and then I heard there was an 'awards' dinner after that too - at least this way anyone wanting to see a proper finish will get the chance.

By having the Cardiff SS as the last stage it means that if there is only a couple of seconds or less between the top two, then spectators will pay to see a head-to-head. Or that's probably what the organisers feel

Paul, is the finish ramp and final parc ferme due to be at the SuperSpecial on the Sunday, or will there be a short road section back up to the city centre?

That 20 minute section seems to give time for the stage plus a short liaison back up to city hall, but OTOH having the Special and the finish in two different places would appear to split the crowds available and is likely to make either the stage or the finish a little sparsely populated... Hmmm...

Ah, not to worry, know the answer now, just read the MSA bumf. :)

Just to confirm that the Start of the event and the first stage (SS1) will both be at the Superspecial on Thursday and that the Finish of the event and the last stage (SS19) will be at the Superspecial on Sunday.

Should make it a good atmosphere there - not sure yet how the finish will be sorted in terms of a schedule of events though! Im sure I'll find out soon enough.

Paul..

Will be a bit weird doing the SSS in daylight after five years of darkness!

Shame about the start/finish being down there in some ways, will take some of the atmosphere away from the centre. Will need good promotion in the local media to keep the local speccies in touch with the progress of the event. Good from an organisational/traffic management point of view tho.

Bex...

I am secretary of a Motorclub which has quite a few members in Aberystwyth.. If you email me at jamie.sandison@novadrive.com I should be able to sort out getting you some marshalling experience in that area, along with transport to get to the stages.

Regards, Jamie.

p.s - The juj9@aber.ac.uk email address above wont work.... that is Justin John, who is still a member of Aber and District, but is no longer at Aber Uni, Justin is also Competition Secretary for my club Novadrive!!!