2004 Wales Rally GB

[mogul_x]

Once again, my girlfriend and I are thinking about heading over for Rally GB this year. Itinerary is still being worked out, but if we go, it'll be for a little longer than a week. Probably flying into Manchester, and doing a little sightseeing in Wales and the West of England.

Is anyone from the club planning on going to the Rally, or live in the general area? Wouldn't mind meeting a few more club members, given the chance.

Cheers,

[ANDYG]

Hello Scott,
I shall be marshalling on all 3 days along with my team.
We will be at Rheola 1 & 2 on Friday, Crychan 1 & 2 on Saturday and Rhondda 1 & 2 on the Sunday. We try to base ourselves at the Rock and Fountain at Aberdulais during the evenings with a decent hot meal and cracking company before heading off to the forests at around 02:00 to find our junction and get some sleep - oh the glamour of it all :rolleyes:
The best chance to meet up would be at the Rock and Fountain as my timings elsewhere will be governed on how the event is running and my junctions are not known until i sign on.
Will be pleased to look out for you though.

[mogul_x]

Andy,

I think we will only be attending the rally on Thursday and Friday - although nothing has been set in stone yet. Perhaps we can plan on meeting Friday evening?

Once our plans have been firmed up a bit, I'll contact you again to try and get more specifics regarding the Rock and Fountain.

Cheers!

[mogul_x]

Andy,

As luck would have it, I'm pretty sure that Rheola is one of the stages we'd planned on seeing. You wouldn't have any pointers on when we'd need to arrive for spectating, would you?

[ANDYG]

Hi Scott,
You should aim to arrive no later than 12:00. The first car due through Rheola 1 is 14:28 with Rheola 2 starting at 17:34.
The best place to spectate at Rheola would be "Walter's Arena", it's a newly built complex done specifically for the rally and offers a good view of around a mile of stage including 90 lefts and rights, a hairpin, a couple of yumps including one which pitches you directly towards a lake!, catering and TOILETS! enhance the experience.
I dont know if you already know but you will need to purchase your tickets well before hand as this stage is very popular with locals.
You should be able to get all other information that you need from the official site below.

http://www.walesrallygb.com/

Hope this helps.

[mogul_x]

Guys,

Finally settled on an itinerary for my trip next week. Here's where we'll be visiting, and when:

South Wales (Cardiff) 16-17
North Wales (Caernarvon) 18-19
Conwy 20
York 21-22
Nottingham 23
Bath 24/25
London 26

I'm meeting Guy Mayers on the evening of the 20th and Rob Sando sometime during the day on the 23rd. If anyone else is nearby on the other dates, and want to meet in the evening for a quick bite or a pint, let me know. As far as I know, none of our plans extend past the closing times for the touristy stuff.

Andy - do you know about what time you'll be at the Rock and Fountain after the rally stages? I'd still like to meet if I've got the chance.

Thanks,

Scott

[colin artus]

You will be passing by my house on the way from Conwy to see Guy. I'm literally yards from the A55 AT Pantasaph.

Colin

[Arthur]

Conway on the 20th is a possibility for me as well. (Only a possible, so no promises). I'd be coming up from Runcorn, but its a doddle of a drive, and I'm always up for a trip out in the No1 motor.

Where/when in Conway?

(Oh yes - remember North wales has possibly the least driver-friendly Chief "policing by consent" Constable in the UK. I lived there 18 months. Beware of varying speed limits on dual carriageways, the white vans with mobile speed traps, fixed cameras, and plenty of unmarked patrol cars).

Arthur.

[mogul_x]

Arthur - Not sure exactly. Other than a general walk about town, we hadn't really come up with a detailed itinerary for the day. Probably walk the town wall, look at some of the older buildings - maybe catch a train towards Betws-y-Coed or Blaenau-Ffestiniog, if there's time. Only thing that's for sure is that we'll be heading out towards Chester sometime in the early evening so we can check into our lodgings before meeting Guy. If you can make it up there sometime during the day, I'm open to meeting anywhere.

Colin - If you're right on the way, we can try to stop in. What time are you usually home? We might be able to head out in time to visit for a bit before resuming the trip to Chester.

I'll have to talk to Guy to figure out exactly when and where we'll be meeting him Monday evening. Will post again later.

[Arthur]

Scott,

Chester is a doddle - just around the corner, so to speak. Sort out with Guy, and let me know what you plan - if possible, it's a 20-minute run for me.

Regards
Arthur.

[ANDYG]

Hello Scott,
Judging by the stage times, i should be arriving at the Rock & Fountain by around 21:00, hopefully, that is not too late for you.
We will be there for probably about 3 hours then we have a 60 mile drive to Crychan for the next 2 stages.
The Rock & Fountain will be very busy and due to road (Rally GB) closures will only be accessible from the south (Neath and Aberdulais Falls end). It is situated on the B4242 which runs parallel with the A465.
If you need a table booking for food, let me know and i can get something booked for you.

[mogul_x]

Arthur - looks like we will be meeting Guy in Chester. We're shooting for 7pm at the East Gate Clock. We'll figure out where we're going to eat once we're all there.

Andy - 2100 isn't too late to meet at the Rock and Fountain. Don't know if we'd want to eat that late, but I'm sure we could have a drink or two. I think the B&B we're staying in isn't too far from there. Probably need to arrange a good way to find each other in the crowds. Any ideas?

[ANDYG]

Hi, I believe i am on Junction 7 at Rheola so you could try to find me that way (brave man) or meet up at the Rock & Fountain. Whilst there, i should be easy to spot. Most visitors will be dressed up in certain rally gear such as Subaru (blue) or Ralliart (red), i shall be resplendant in my black SEC clothing.
I am also 6'3" with fair hair and built like a gridiron player!! (wish i weren't!).
You could also try calling me on my mobile which is 07941 255447 but the service in Wales is not brilliant and in the forests is nigh impossible.
I hope this is of some help.
As you're spectating at Rheola, you should be in the Rock & fountain well before me so you should possibly get some food earlier, i will not be eating until 9 - 10 but i will also be up all night so it wont affect me too much.

[mogul_x]

You should aim to arrive no later than 12:00. The first car due through Rheola 1 is 14:28 with Rheola 2 starting at 17:34.

Andy,

Is it safe to assume that there is no access to the stage BETWEEN Rheola 1 and 2? Arrive before noon and you're there for both stages?

[Arthur]

Scott,

OK, 19.00 at the Eastgate clock.
If I can make it, I'll be there. All 6-foot, slim-built, blue-jacketed, brown-eyed handsome son of a bitch that I am. In my dreams. Mostly grey now, including the beard.
And I know Guy, of course, provided he doesn't try too hard to avoid me.

Here's hoping
Arthur.

[Arthur]

PS

I should mention, I've still got Guy's number in my mobile, and I guess he'll still have mine. So no point hanging around if I'm not there on time. Either I can't make it, or I'll find you one way or another.

Arthur.

[ANDYG]

Scott,
Provided that you are in a designated spectator area, then you are free to do as you wish, walking up and down the stages as we were previously allowed to do has now been outlawed and if you are found where you are not supposed to be, you could be removed if safe to do so or you will end up staying at that point until the last car has gone.
Has that answered your question?

[mogul_x]

Andy,

Not quite. I was trying to figure out whether we would be able to arrive between the running of Stage 1 and Stage 2. We are planning on seeing Rheola from Walter's arena, but we were also going to try and see the remote tire zone at the Wales botanical gardens in the morning. Wasn't sure how long that would take, or how long we'd have to stay at the gardens before heading over to Rheola.

If we have to get to Rheola before noon to view both stages there, then we just have less time to dally in the morning. :)

[ANDYG]

I believe the Gardens are around 45 miles from Rheola so you should be easy on ( watch for Police speed camera's! - quite a few competitors were done a couple of years ago!!). If you were to watch Stage 1 as well then you will only be watching the first few cars through before having to move.
Any better?

[guy mayers]

Scott,

And I know Guy, of course, provided he doesn't try too hard to avoid me.

Here's hoping


well Arthur, I hope you're not trying to avoid me! There are only the two sides to the clock plus the bridge over the road so hiding places will be severely limited!

See you Monday!
Guy

[Arthur]

Guy,

I recall (very vaguely) being a little ..er .. "battle-weary" at the Abingdon evening. Always good to know there's no surprises lurking!
See you Monday evening. I'll be coming in from the Station (walking yet.....another novelty).

Arthur.

[guy mayers]

Hi Arthur! I'll be driving so I'll be off the pop on Monday so no need for you to buy a return ticket!
See you tomorrow evening!
Guy

[Arthur]

Guy,
Fine offer, I'd be glad to accept. Never been in the passenger seat of one of those things..........

I'll was going to get a lift into the station - I'll be in Ellesmere Port for the afternon - to check the train times for going home to Sunny Runcorn. If I don't need to, well Whoopee, and much thanks.

See you later.