SRC
August 4th, 2003, 05:06 PM
On Saturday 26 July, Guy Mayers, Gary Picken and myself went to the Promenade Stages Rally to review the event as a potential round of the proposed Stratos Challenge 2004.
This rally has been run for the last 23 years and is a very well organised single venue asphalt stage event held on closed pubic roads on the New Brighton sea front. This year’s rally covered a total of 45 competitive miles over 10 special stages.
The rally is quite unique and, as usual, attracted some big name/wealthy competitors (John Price, Mike Oates) and very fast machinery (several 6R4’s, Impreza S8, Escort Cosworths, Darrians). Amongst the typical selection of club rally cars were a number of more interesting motors (MGF, Hillman Avenger, Lotus 62).
The rally, although simple in format, is not an easy one to master and provides a number of challenges in the form of kerbs and camber changes, not to mention the six roundabouts and a hairpin at the end of the promenade. To achieve the average 4.5 mile stage length the “cicuit” has to be completed virtually twice. As can be imagined this provides some very interesting moments at the merge points and competitors require strong nerves as cars literally race each other down the dual carriageway to the hairpin! This of course is great for the spectators, especially when a Mk1 Escort out manoeuvres a mega expensive Evo 6.
Imagine John Rutter and Jerry Bailey entering the hairpin nose to tail in 2004!
This rally is a serious event, and if dry, will be very hard on tyres, brakes and transmission, not to mention the risk of damage due to hitting kerbs or other competitors! However, I didn’t see any incidents during my visit.
The event is very popular with rally fans, and there were some interesting cars in the spectator car park, including Guy’s Stratos, which was the centre of much attention (until the Tommi Makkinen Evo 6 parked up next to my Integra).
Scrutineering for the event is held on the Friday evening before the event, and spectators are invited to view the cars at close quarters and meet the drivers. Get ready to sign a few autographs!
I would definitely recommend this event to be included in the Stratos Challenge 2004 and would be willing to arrange other activities for non competing club members in an effort to make the event as popular as Abingdon.
To see the winners of this years event, and other photos and reports of the rally, click on http://www.promrally.bun.com/Introx.html
This rally has been run for the last 23 years and is a very well organised single venue asphalt stage event held on closed pubic roads on the New Brighton sea front. This year’s rally covered a total of 45 competitive miles over 10 special stages.
The rally is quite unique and, as usual, attracted some big name/wealthy competitors (John Price, Mike Oates) and very fast machinery (several 6R4’s, Impreza S8, Escort Cosworths, Darrians). Amongst the typical selection of club rally cars were a number of more interesting motors (MGF, Hillman Avenger, Lotus 62).
The rally, although simple in format, is not an easy one to master and provides a number of challenges in the form of kerbs and camber changes, not to mention the six roundabouts and a hairpin at the end of the promenade. To achieve the average 4.5 mile stage length the “cicuit” has to be completed virtually twice. As can be imagined this provides some very interesting moments at the merge points and competitors require strong nerves as cars literally race each other down the dual carriageway to the hairpin! This of course is great for the spectators, especially when a Mk1 Escort out manoeuvres a mega expensive Evo 6.
Imagine John Rutter and Jerry Bailey entering the hairpin nose to tail in 2004!
This rally is a serious event, and if dry, will be very hard on tyres, brakes and transmission, not to mention the risk of damage due to hitting kerbs or other competitors! However, I didn’t see any incidents during my visit.
The event is very popular with rally fans, and there were some interesting cars in the spectator car park, including Guy’s Stratos, which was the centre of much attention (until the Tommi Makkinen Evo 6 parked up next to my Integra).
Scrutineering for the event is held on the Friday evening before the event, and spectators are invited to view the cars at close quarters and meet the drivers. Get ready to sign a few autographs!
I would definitely recommend this event to be included in the Stratos Challenge 2004 and would be willing to arrange other activities for non competing club members in an effort to make the event as popular as Abingdon.
To see the winners of this years event, and other photos and reports of the rally, click on http://www.promrally.bun.com/Introx.html