SUNDAY DRIVER

Mad555,
Stephen Finlay is undoubtedly a talented driver-possibly the most talented in Ireland-no argument there.So is Andrew Nesbitt and 95% of the other drivers out there every weekend.If anyone involved in rallying saw your post slagging Nesbitt calling him 'some driver' they would laugh.I personally know how hard you have to go to achieve,say,5th in class on a local rally-never mind winning one of the Irish 'majors'-it requires immense skill,***** and a bit of luck.No matter what type of machinery you are in-the car can only do so much.As far as local rallying is concerned,I have been at almost every one in the last 11 years including quarry sprints as service crew,navigator and driver-so I am aware that corners do exist-and not just in Antrim.The point I was making about the Escorts was that nowadays Mk2's can be running as much as 280brake-just look at Enda Keenan's Millington engined car.These things in the right hands can keep pace with almost anything-so one of them getting close to you whatever you are in is no shame.However in rallying seconds are a lifetime-never mind minutes.Anyway thats enough typing and if you happen to be up in Crossgar for the forest rally next weekend,give us a wave-I'll be in car 38.

[Edited by SUNDAY DRIVER - 7/6/2002 10:52:20 PM]

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Would anyone be interested in going to a WRC event,Finland or GB in November????Know a mate who was in Finland for last years round said it was brilliant.Who would wana go????

bug-eyed wonder

I'm already booked for the German round at the end of August.

Sloaner

Was hoping to go to Corsica or somwhere nice and warm next year. Would Finland not be ball freezing the whole time.
Anyone ever been to British? I hear you have to sleep overnight at the stage to make sure you get a good spot. Wouldnt mind going except seeing those Peugeots doing so well would spoil it for me. I want to see Scoobys at the top of the time sheets!
Did you hear they are banning group A cars from local rallying at the end of the year. Dont like the sound of that.

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Local rallying is now a case of whos the most money,Andrew Nesbitt drives ex-works Prodrive supplied Imprezas yet still can only manage to beat 1970s Mk2s by only a few minutes!Some driver!!A good case was when Fisher won the Circuit a few years back Uel Williamson(i think) was 7th in a Mk1 Escort!!!Even on clubman rallies there scared to drive flat out cause if they wreck them they can barely afford to fix them.My mate says you couldnt compare WRC to anything here Mac attacks all the time!!Any way when he comes back from his hols Ill ask about the Finnish weather last year.

Hong Kong Phooey

a mate of mine has been to the GB for the last 2 years. We used to go to Silverstone for the GP each year, but he says the rally is so much better and would rather go to it.
A few of them went by getting a cheap flight to Liverpool, hiring a car and driving a few hours to Wales!
I've some good photos from last year of McRea's crash, and Gwyndaf Evans's MG on it's roof. I'd try to post them, but haven't got a clue.

SUNDAY DRIVER

Mad555,
I would totally disagree with your comments on local rallying if I may.There is nobody to touch Nesbitt in Ireland today as far as top league drives are concerned-yet there are more wrc cars in Ireland than in any other country in the world.'Some driver'-Have you ever done any rallying or co-driving-If you did you might understand better just how good not just top guys,but 95% of clubman guys rallying out there are compared to your normal motorist.As far as guys being afraid to wreck cars because of expense to fix is concerned-I dont know anybody like this.When guys go out -they go out to go as hard as they can.If you are worried about smashing-you aren't on the pace.And lastly-some of these 1980's Mk11's will eat Gp N scoobs and Evo's in a straight line.

Sloaner

The reason for banning the WRC stuff is because it is a case of who ever has the money will win and takes away the competition. Local bys just cant afford the expense. I think they are afraid of it turning out like F1 with Ferrari domination and people loosing interest.
Anyone else disappointed with the Subarus this year in the WRC - whats the problem? I know the Peugeots are hot but they cant be that good!

p.s. A hire car is definitely the best way to see a rally - who wants to go to the British then?

bug-eyed wonder

Hong Kong use this to upload pics

bug-eyed wonder

Personally I'd like to try the snowy rounds next year, not a big fan of the heat! I'll try to find the link for the rally trip organisers I'm going with (I didn't book it). The prices are top notch, £299 for all travel,4 nights in a hotel and a hire car plus maps and passes.

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Regards Sunday Driver
Stephen Finlay is 'some driver'if only he would commit himself fulltime.How many rallies has Nesbitt,Fisher,McHale won in the pre F2 British championship????None cause their miles of the pace,not of the higher level drivers.As for local rallying you havent been to one recently then??As for Mk2s quicker than Evos/Imprezas in straight line,we in CoAntrim use forrests and roads with corners for rallying not straights!!
Sloaner wot about GB in November??

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Cheers bug eyed any help would be great

Sloaner

The tour organisers are an easy option - I personally dont like paying top dollar for something i can arrange myself. I organised a trip to San Marino GP last year for half the price the tour operator was asking. Lets do a bit of homework Mad555 and see what our options are. Would love to go. Anyone else interested.

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Sloaner I have a mate who will go,we have been goin now as 5 years but never get round to goin!!we^re good!!!!

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Sunday driver your not getting my point,Im not knocking the 'clubman',Iam stating that drivers like Nesbitt,McGarrity and so on can well afford to run their own cars.They take big sponsor away from I believe in some cases better drivers eg Niall McShea why dont Subaru Ireland throw cash at him????.I saw on RPM one night about the rally in Londonderry (lark in the park)where Nesbitt was unhappy at the fact it had rained and "made it to slippy".To slippy!!its a fu@kin works Scooby!!not his wifes 1000cc Corsa!!!!!.Subaru had the only really good driver Colin McRae.

Hutchy M

Ive been to the Rally GB for the last 5 years, wouldnt miss it. Last year we flew to Bristol (GO) and hired a car. We opted for B+B - much warmer, plus you get a good brekie!!!! We managed to go to a few very good spots. Mates are going to Finland in August -had to cancel because of family wedding-bummer! Will definately go to GB this year again - great weekend.

bug-eyed wonder

WRC tours

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Cheers bug eyed very helpful mate

SUNDAY DRIVER

Having just watched the Killarney rally of the lakes on RPM-I must concur that Andrew Nesbitt really couldn't drive his finger up his a$$.-And neither can Tommi Makinen or Petter Solberg.
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Yeh right.

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Are you harbouring a love interest with Nesbitt?.Its good to share this info!!As for comparing him to Makinen,thats why Tommi is paid millions to drive for Subaru and Nesbitt had to BEG Prodrive for a car to do the Circuit!!!!!.You are boring me with this now,this thread was set up to try to organise a trip to a WRC event not have postings of how good(word used loosely)Nesbitt is,if you wana carry on this debate open your own thread!!!

SUNDAY DRIVER

Where did I compare Nesbitt to Makinen??
Its just that you were saying that Subaru only ever had one 'really good'(your words)-driver and that I was disagreeing,thinking in my naivety that Tommi and Petter could steer a bit as well.

mad555

iTrader: (1)

Its this Nesbitt thing again!!!YAWN!!!!

bug-eyed wonder

OMG it's all gone General forum in here!