Tumut/Tumbarumba/Captains Flat/ ???

[Whitey]

Hi NSW competitors,
it seems that what was the Tumut rally maybe moving to yet another venue, not sure whether the date will remain. I am hoping to hear something within the next week.

I just wanted to flag it here and ask what everyone wants to do?
Bearing in mind the proximity of the spare round date to the revised Coffs Date and the proximity of the Tumut??? date to NSW ARC etc.

[ae86trueno]

For Mathew and I Sunny Corner is very bad as ill be driving in the spoonter :)

ARC not so bad, as i was finally going to get a drive of the Excel, but i can wait.

I know Mathew is not fussed, as he goes where ever i tell him to go :rofl:

[Rally Angel]

We will be there at Forster (I am doing the Classics with Spac in the Ovlov). It would be great to see a contingent of Excels there and to catch up with everyone.

FWIT, I think it would be good to have a contingent on show in front of the "ARC Regulars" so to speak and show them how good the Excels are in competition and as a network. :)

[Crazy Dave]

I voted for the ARC because I think it best for the series as it might get us some exposure at bigger levels. It is just before I go away so is a pain but I would be able to do it. Sunny Corner being the spare is probably right if people want to argue we have a series laid out, but if we are unanimous in wanting to go to the ARC event, and I think some already did, then I think we should do it. SUnny Corner is difficult as a spare as there are still events to go so you don't know wether you have to do it or not. I think we should try to make the last event of the year a spare form now on (sorry getting of track).

Go Foster, and we know there are good roads up there and it is on the coast which seems to be more favoured amongst many.

Tumut was bad for me anyway as it clashes with a charity event I do and I can't give up on the kids for my rallying. Thats one line I won't cross.

[Glenn]

I voted for the NSW ARC as long as we do the pacenoted event. It suits me a lot better as I was going to do the NSW ARC in preference anyway.

In the end it doesn't worry me too much. If it is anything other than the NSW ARC, then I'll probably pick up my officiating points at this round rather than compete.

Cheers

Glenn

[ae86trueno]

I spoke to Mathew and he agrees to ARC the way to go, with Pacenotes.
We just need Whitey and Andrei to vite now.
so i think that will need to be the next poll, to pacenote or to not ??

Ben.

[Glenn]

We just need Whitey and Andrei to vite now.

...don't forget Haggers.

[ae86trueno]

sorry i forgot Haggers, my bad :(

If we do go do the ARC event, will we be asking for a cheaper entry fee event?? Probably wont affect us to much as i can make up the shortfall for Mathew, but may effect others budgets ??

Ben.

[HMCA]

I had planned on doing the ARC anyway so if its a round of the Excel Series it would certainly be good for Excel deries exposure.

I would also prefer pace notes- Although I haven't ever used em.

Cheers Mick

[Glenn]

Cost is apparently $580ish for two days and includes two tickets to the ARC presentation....this is all from memory.

There is the "classic" rally as well which runs on a roadbook and does the ARC course during the day on Saturday and then continues on into the night....I think the entry fee is less, but you're not eligible for state points, so it's not my preference.

[Andrei]

Guys,
When is the date of Foster rally?
What is the event format and cost?

[bek82]

I'm voting for Foster as Haggers and I had talked about doing it at the beginning of the year:grouphug:. It will be good exposure for the excels and I would also prefer pacenotes like most other people. But alas the car isn't quite finished yet we need to hope bastards inc doesn't get involved and ruin the plan, :naughty: but we are hoping to finish it very soon.:hyper:

[Rally Angel]

Guys,
When is the date of Foster rally?
What is the event format and cost?

Great Lakes Rally - September 15th-17th 2007

This is some information I have previously received in relation to the CLASSIC component:

For the Great Lakes Classic Rally our plan is to be as flexible as humanly possible. The ARC component (the Great Lakes Rally) will fit in with the usual ARC timetable. So, for Classic competitors (that is anyone in a 2WD car!) regional scrutineering is encouraged to the max. If that doesn't suit you then you can be scrutineered on the Friday between 11am and 1pm or if that's no good either, then give us a yell and we'll organise a Friday evening time for you. Documentation will be available Friday/Friday evening. Again, if you need more flexibility give us a call and we'll see you bright and early Saturday.

For the event itself, entry fee is $590. No recce and no having to put your car in parc ferme each night (unless you want to, then it can go in with the ARC cars). Otherwise you can take it back to your motel or a workshop or wherever.

Leg one is Saturday and covers 150 competitive kilometres. ARC's first stage is 19kms, Classics is 60kms! When the ARC cars have finished for the day the Classics have a meal break and then head off into Saturday night for another 100kms competitive. Sunday will see you do another 80 or so competitive kilometres. Sunday night is presentation dinner (two tickets included in your entry fee).

Servicing is 'on the move' as in the olden days, however one service crew will do and they'll have plenty of time to get ahead of you.

There are some stages common to the Classics and ARC, but there are only 5 of them. You will get to go in front of the ARC cars on the common stages and these are generally spectator stages so you get spectator value too. There will be a ceremonial start on Friday evening and all classic competitors are welcome to participate, but if time is against you and you can't make it then that's OK too.

More information is on www.greatlakesrally.com.au

[Trevor]

Looking at the poll I realise I am on my own here, and as I am not competing this year my opinion doesn't really matter. But I think many of you are forgetting about who the series is catering for. To me the series should be looking to attract entry level competitors and/or budget conscious competitors.

A lot of the comments made about wanting to run the NSW ARC event, comments like it being good exposure (level of the event) and wanting to use pacenotes to me aren't really entry level or budget conscious. It isn't just this one event either, but more on that in another thread.

I guess the other thing is, considering the ARC field, and the NSW State field, the road conditions will deteriorate pretty quickly.

[Andrei]

Thanks Lisi and Glenn,

Correct me if I am wrong,

All this below applies to Classic part

• Entry fee of $590 including 2 tickets to the presentation dinner
• 330 competitive kilometre on excellent roads
• 150kms Saturday,100kms Saturday night and 80kms Sunday
• Vehicle Eligibility - Production Rally Cars made prior to 31 December 1999, Historic Rally Cars, Classic Rally Cars and other rally vehicles as defined suitable for the event by the organizers. No 4wd or forced induction vehicles
• No overnight parc ferme
• Regional scrutineering preferred or at the Rally Friday 11am to 1pm or Friday night arrangement
• No reconnaissance

How about the ARC part? The cost? Is it pacenotes only or can it be run on the book? The competitive distance?

I like the idea, my main concerns are high entry fee and pacenotes.

[Rally Angel]

Hi Andrei

Yes, that was for the Classic Component and all the information I have. I am not sure what pricing would be like for the rest of the event. Sorry. Hopefully the price is similar to the Classic Component.

Kind regards

[matt mead]

i would like to try notes, but i dont think its in the spirit of the series

[Crazy Dave]

Looking at the poll I realise I am on my own here, and as I am not competing this year my opinion doesn't really matter. But I think many of you are forgetting about who the series is catering for. To me the series should be looking to attract entry level competitors and/or budget conscious competitors.

A lot of the comments made about wanting to run the NSW ARC event, comments like it being good exposure (level of the event) and wanting to use pacenotes to me aren't really entry level or budget conscious. It isn't just this one event either, but more on that in another thread.

I guess the other thing is, considering the ARC field, and the NSW State field, the road conditions will deteriorate pretty quickly.

Entry fees are only a part of the costs of running an event, and realistically the other costs do not have to be any higher, so it may be more like the difference between $1300- normally and $1500 for this event. People want a cheap series that you can be competitive in, but also something where for a cheap cost, you can be fighting with the best there is, and even more then most events, Foster can provide an incling of what it is like to run against the best in the country, but in an affordable car, plus to mix it with the best we have, which is one of the strongest group n series in the world is an awesome aspect. To run the same roads and sit down for dinner at the end with these guys and girls is awesome. And the majority of them are as talkative and friendly as you can get. Simon would never say no to a beer and a chat and most of them wouldn't as well. That an awesome prospect for somone new to the sport being able to say they have run with the guys they see on TV, at the very event that was on TV, the best there is in this country. Thats bragging rights for anyone, even if they have only done one event.

[Crazy Dave]

Another bit of info about the ARC/State event is that it will be pacenoted on the friday, which makes it harder for people as they then have to get friday of at minimum, if not thursday or part thereof as well. I was keen to give pacenotes a try but I don't see that as being right for the excel series, unless everyone wants to do it, and then I am in as well. The classic event there though is a blind rally with road book, tulip etc, so may be easier, but then this conflicts with Glenn wanting to run the state rounds, so unless we get 100% happiness, maybe we need to keep looking at options.

[Glenn]

Yep. I agree Dave. Unless it's unanimous (and I mean that everyone prefers that option to the others, rather than just tolerating the popular choice) then I reckon we should stick to the original plan.

As I said before, I'll be doing the State round at the ARC regardless so don't worry about me :)

[Crazy Dave]

So what do we have then as preferences, Foster, Sunny Corner or Jindabyne as Tumut is gone, Captains Flats forests are unavailable except for one small bit of road, so it looks like Jindabyne will be Marty's event now. I do not know cost for pacenoted event but State events have a $505- limit. I am sure they will get permision to be higher but I think it would be the same as the classic event and that includes a dinner. Jindabyne and sunny corner would be around $350- entry. Road wise I would prefer Foster and it is a better opportunity to take the family somewhere nice.

Glenn for Foster - pace notes
Myself for Foster - prefer road book but will try pacenotes for the fun & experience but what are your thoughts Matty M
Andrei - What is your preference.
Whitey - What is your preference.
Mick for Foster - pace notes preferred
Mathew and Ben - not Sunny Corner but which is the preferred of the other 2.
Haggers - sounds like Foster
And anyone else that may complete a car by then?????

It doesn't matter if we are all different or if one is different, as I am happy at any rally, although cannot make Jindabyne due to a charity event I run, but would prefer to see the series stick with what it has if anyone at all would still prefer to run it. Andrei and Mat are building a really good challenge at the moment on the novice series, Glenn has cleaned up the outright results as winning 3 out of 5 events, so I guess it is more about the novice series providing the best challenge. Whitey, Mick and myself have all missed or dnf'd events and have been unable to stop Glenn when we were there anyway.

Decision would be good so I can look at getting organised if I am going to go to Foster, plus getting planning aproval through the system, and a day or 2 leave.

[matt mead]

Myself for Foster - prefer road book but will try pacenotes for the fun & experience but what are your thoughts Matty M


Im KEEN to try pace notes :hyper: should be a good laugh

[Andrei]

I’ve never been at Sunny Cornet / Tumut, so can’t make informed decision here.
I don’t mind state events for the reasons already covered – usually better safety, organisation, more competitive distance, etc.
As for the ARC, I am just not yet prepared to run the 600++ entry fee, take several days off work and run two day pacenoted event. That’s too much challenge for a starter. Please let me be clear – I am not against pacenotes, we will definitely try and start using them, but most likely next year and starting from the smaller pacenoted event, not jumping straight away to the ARC level.
I think my first preference is the Forster in classic part – no pacenotes. Second choice is to keep it as is.

[HMCA]

As part of the Classics do we get to run at the front of the field?

[Crazy Dave]

It is a completely different event and from what I understand utilises about a third of the stages of the ARC/State event. The main spectator stage is used in common and the classic event runs through first. I would think that entry fee is going to be identical. The main difference I see between the 2 is that you will need to be there friday afternoon for the classic event and friday morning for the pacenoted event and you will do more rallying on Saturday with night stages for the classic but less on sunday.

I am getting really keen to run one of the events no matter what at the moment, as it sounds like a great opportinuty to mix it (socially) with the best in our country, get lots of miles on really good roads, especially even more so if we have a few excels going up, whether people are doing either event.

[Crazy Dave]

So definite answers from competitors coming yet. I am thinking about trying to talk my work into bringing up a helicopter and getting them to pay for my accommodation and transport but need a lot of planning and political play to achieve it so need to start working on it.

[HMCA]

Dave

Are you going to use the chopper to service out of or to transport the Excel from Nowra?

[Col Vic]

There's an election coming up, your local pollie is probably open to ideas like that as long as you promise to vote for him !!

[Crazy Dave]

I should get it to pick me up on a long stage and drop me further in, but knowing my luck they would drop it on me, or even better, get them to fly along the road in front of Glenn creating a dust problem to slow him down. Wouldn't mind to see if they could get some video footage from the air if there are any open stages, but from memory of those areas, I think most of it was closed in.