That sounds like me and my mates and brothers.panhard65 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:11 am Me and a few mates used to follow the RAC rally every year (It was the Network Q back in the 90's) What killed it for us was when they stopped spectators being able to watch from anywhere. The costs went right up and you could only watch from one crowded spot. They also cut down the entry list so instead of 100 odd cars trying their best you just got about 40. Driving hundreds of miles sleeping in the car for a few days in November just seemed too much effort and expence when they had sucked all the fun out of it. If they had kept to the spectator stages on the Sunday, round the stately homes for the families and idiots who thought their girlfriend would enjoy the mud. Then kept the serious stages during the week when only the sadest bobble hatted weirdo's would take the time off to freeze in the woods and eat the most disgusting burgers from some taffy in a caravan. I am sure there is probably a better explaination why it has died a death but that's what did it for me and my mates. The stupid thing is I used to live 250 odd miles away from the Welsh stages but still drove there, now they are about 70 and I can't be arsed to go.
“ The RAC” was the highlight of my year from 1985 until about 97 and for all the reasons you list we just stopped.
We started planning in October and sorted out equipment and prepared cars, I had access to company cars and would usually find the roomiest pool car or demo as space to sleep was more important than speed or handling. Mk3 Ganny hatchbacks we’re the best although in 1990 I remember having to use a demo Rover 214 which got thrashed mercilessly. I invented the 180 degree burnout in that car. To turn round on a Forestry track, just apply handbrake , get the wheels spinning then 2 people just push the front round in an arc.
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I drove like a cunt that whole week , the high points were when racing competitors- they must have loved that betweeen stages. I remember the traffic in Newtown been so bad that I drove through a pedestrian shopping arcade and loads of cars followed me- it was like The Italian Job( it was in the middle of the night)
Subsequent years were less frantic and better planned.
