Do we have any Lombard RAC Rally fans in here?

[Pete-M]

The old Lombard RAC was the absolute peak of rallying for me. 750,000 people would get out into the forests and stately homes of the UK to watch lunatics in Escorts, Chevette HSRs, TR7 V8s, SD1s, Integrales, Celicas, Cosworths and Imprezas going hell for leather in cars closely related to the stuff that anyone who really wanted one could buy.

 

The only days I used to book off work were the RAC Rally days. I'd buy and prepare something to do 1500 miles in three or four days across country, going as fast as possible to leapfrog the rally cars through the event. Sometimes it was possible to see the first twenty or so cars on stage three or four times in a day, but that would involve a 2am start in Liverpool, across North Wales to Sweetlamb Hafren, then if the rally cars had a service break it was just possible to get to Penmachno. Then a blast across Wales and up the M6 to the Lakes for Grizedale, next morning it'd be Kielder, then down to Dalby or similar. The cars had to be sorted over the previous weeks, normally involved a bloody good service, the best part worn tyres available that week, a couple of quilts, a calor gas stove thing, a frying pan and some bacon, door pockets filled with ordinance survey maps, pro-plus, coffee and a flask. First year I took a Mk1 Escort 1.3, next year an injected Mk4 Cortina 2.8, then a Delta HF Turbo, then a 302 powered Granada Ghia - which was fun but far from ideal. Next few years were Mk2 RS2000s mainly, one year I took a brown Porsche 911 SC. Which was strangely brilliant.

 

The RAC Rally has influenced my choice in cars since I've been driving. I learned how to drive vaguely properly trying to watch the likes of Sainz, Kankkunnen, Pond, Vatanen, Brookes, McRae and Burns. I've spent an afternoon at Penmachno North chatting to Pentti Airikkala whilst spectating - funny guy, showed us a tree he remembered hitting. I've met Vatanen, Burns, Wilson and McRae at various events. It was going to happen, spend 10 years watching those guys drive and you were very likely to chat with them at some points.

 

Then Dave Richards got his grubby mitts on it and made it 'good for TV'. Yes the in-car footage is good, but for a good few years it was virtually based in a Cardiff car park. Richard Brainstorm up in North Wales banning half the leading pack didn't help, but other than very recently the event has gone shit. They've killed Rallying. If it wasn't for the likes of the Roger Albert Clark it would have gone for good from the UK.

 

I don't want that.

 

I don't want Le Mans Fucked before I get to see it, either.

 

/rant.

 

I've got loads of really terrible out of focus shots of old GpA rally stuff somewhere I'll try and dig them out.

 

Any of you lot used to follow the RAC? Anyone own a Skoda because they won the 1300cc class or whatever?

[maxpower]

I enjoyed watching the likes of Sainz, Kankkunnen, Pond, Vatanen, Brookes, McRae and Burns. but it was only on T.V.

 

loved it even more if they had an in-car camera whilst driving, used to scare the shit out of me god knows how the drivers felt.

 

But i do agree with your point that it has seemed to have died on it's feet, but if they gave it more coverage on telly then who knows it might even attract a new generation of fans.

[Pete-M]

To me, they need to bring this back..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS0bWtsv_b4

 

I was here.

[maxpower]

Brilliant!! that was what i used to watch... i laughed at "dave haggis" from skipton lol

 

and the way they all shoved to get the cars back on track...no health and safety bollox then

[Guest Breadvan72]

The best thing about rallying for an infantile person like me was that all the drivers were called Sukka Kokkinen, Stikka Dikkinen, Fukka Dukkinen, Wankka Tossinen, and so forth, but, that apart, I agree with the sentiments expressed in this thread.

[Cavcraft]

A mate and I had a job selling programmes for the Lombard RAC rally when it started in Chester a few times. It was brilliant watching the cars launch off from outside the Grosvenor Hotel right in the middle of town, then zoom off down Bridge Street.

Seem to recall it ended at the castle on a sort of drive on podium thing and we always managed to get right by it. Awe inspiring stuff to a 14/15 year old.

[CreepingJesus]

I watched it avidly on TV as a kid: run home from school to get the updates, badger my dad to keep an eye on it. Better still, we'd go into Glasgow for the early morning start, at Blytheswood Sq, at the RSAC. Made it more real, watching the drivers champing at the bit to get going.

Isn't the same now, and it wouldn't be hard to revitalise. The manufacturers need some incentive, then it can build from there.

[Vin]

For a couple of years I got my Dad to take me to Clumber Park for the stages they had there on the sunday, twas round about the 1989/90 period. They would also have a classic rally beforehand.

 

On the way home we'd get overtaken on the A1 by the rally cars heading North.

 

I also went to see it during the same period when they used Scunthorpe Steelworks as a special stage.

 

Great Times :smile:

[trocse]

Before my time sadly, but i have fitted an RAC Lombard sunstrip to my mk2 escort! 

[Junkman]

Not only a fan, but an ex-participant.

[warren t claim]

. Richard Brainstorm up in North Wales banning half the leading pack didn't help,

And took £15,000,000 out of the local economy.

 

"the FIA said that they had asked the safety delegate to look into the suitability of Cardiff as the host venue of the rally. A spokesman for the FIA said “Road safety is a matter of the utmost importance to the FIA and the actions of the police and magistrates seem to indicate that this is an exceptionally dangerous location for a rally.â€Â

 

This is what happens when you piss the FIA off, they have the last word and take their considerable investment elsewhere.

[M'coli]

I loved it.  The internets and "good for TV" stuff has meant that the thrill and anticipation has really gone out of rallying these days - with constant updates etc., we can never recreate the apprehension of waking up on a school morning, turning on the radio and listening to hear who had gone out/done well in Kielder.  That was something special.

I first went to see it in 1993, and even then, as we walked into Pundershaw in the snow, we wouldn't know for sure who was leading and who was out despite the flyers handed out by the organisers detailing an approximate running order 2 stages ago (Falstone, IIRC).

 

It was awesome, even just getting there in the snow, having to dig people out and that.  We had to dig ourselves out once, but at least we'd brought the spade/and it was sinking into the ground rather than the snow.

 

When we left the stage, it took 3 hours to reach a 2-lane road, such was the weight of traffic out of the stage...

 

Last time I went, I marshalled at Blenheim Palace.

 

I loved it, but it will never return.  Long live the RAC.

[Spiny Norman]

.

 

[trigger]

I still get excited when I hear propaganda played on the radio, happy times!

[Mash]

I loved the RAC on TV as a kid in the 80s.  I remember the last gasps of Group B with the RS200s and the like but also the glory days of the Martini Deltas after that.

[barefoot]

I don't know anything about this event, but I do have an acronym.

 

Lombard - lots of money but a real dog.

 

I have no idea where this came from, can anyone help?

It doesn't even seem to relate to racing?

[Shep Shepherd]

^

 

I recall coming across that in the early 1990s, but in the form of 'Lots Of Money But A Real Dickhead'

 

But I digress. I really enjoyed the RAC Rally in the 1980s and early 1990s, but I have no interest in it at all nowadays.

[Spiny Norman]

.

[Junkman]

But I digress. I really enjoyed the RAC Rally in the 1980s and early 1990s, but I have no interest in it at all nowadays.

that's because everything was nicer and better in ye goode olde dayse.

[retrogeezer]

Yes, absolutely loved it....good memories of Sainz breaking down just yards from the finish line and 6R4/RS200 times were awesome.

 

I've carried on watching it right up to this year as they didn't show the first few rounds on UK tv and I've no idea when it is on now.

 

p.s  What happened to Gwyndaf Evans??

[Shep Shepherd]

p.s  What happened to Gwyndaf Evans??

 

He's running his family's Ford dealership:

 

http://www.gwyndafevansmotors.co.uk/aboutus.cfm

 

[dollywobbler]

My memories are all telly related. Loved it. I find that actually, I'd much rather watch that sort of thing on an actual telly - same goes for circuit racing. WRC is showing some potential, but I marshalled a car park for the Myherin stage last year, and barely anyone turned up. £20 PER STAGE! Why on earth would anyone pay that? No wonder sneaky f*ckers were trying to sneak people onto the stage in the back of vans...(that trick really didn't work and funnily enough, if you say that you really don't want to open the van doors up, it makes us more keen to do just that! Idiots).

 

I did watch the Myherin stage the previous year. Freezing and utterly boring. Ken Block typically got a bit sideways but that was it.

[retrogeezer]

lol,  I was joking really as all the other big names still get mentioned now and again but he seems to have been forgotten. 

[Wilko220]

I used to enjoy watching the rally reports on Top Gear - even though this fellow was a bit annoying.

 

[skattrd]

I loved it as well, fond memories of watching it late night on telly as a kid. I never did get out to see it, but it used to be a real endurance event, and not just a bunch of special stages.

I blame Markku Alen for my love of Lancias.

 

It's probably not really AS, but maybe we should think about a trip to Le mans or similar ... I'd defo be up for something like that

[Spiny Norman]

I used to do a bit of marshalling/timekeeping at a few local events a few years back, was good fun trying to work the clocks while getting pelted with stones as the cars whizzed through the flying finish.

Met the real Stig (Blomqvist) a couple of times too.

[Pillock]

It used to come through Clumber Park so mother dearest would pack some soup and sandwiches, stick an excited small Pillock and a rather less excited big sister in the car, and we'd go and pick a dangerous-looking corner. Mother would make a slight attempt at telling me to keep back from the rope but then give in. Back in those days I remember the first Sierra Sapphires running, the ill-fated Mk3 Golfs, the up-coming Skoda Fabias and so on. Still some Sunbeams running and Mk2 Escorts but I remember them being quite unfashionable back then.....

 

Years later I still love going to watch local rallies, the feeling of gravel in the face and listening to cars hooning through the forest in the distance can't be beat.

[scruff]

I think for a certain generation of petrolheads, rallying had a massive influence which it just doesn't have nowadays.

I have been lucky enough to go to the Goodwood FoS a few times and the rally stage is by far the best thing there for me. Oh to have been born, say, 10 years earlier and seen Group B reports on a wonky Trinitron screen...

[Pete-M]

I've got the Top Gear Rally Reports from about 90-93 on video somewhere..

[Formula Autos]

My earliest memory of Motorsport is when my Dad took me to see the last of Group B in '86. He took me to a freezing car park in Ambleside that was a service halt. As a seven year old I struggled to take it in, really. I do though remember the Lancia Delta S4s, Metro 6R4s and RS200s very vividly, as well as Markku Alen giving me his autograph and a Lancia/Martini sticker in exchange for a few warm chips out of the cone I was carrying. Top bloke - he qualifies as an honorary Northener in my eyes.

 

Have a look at these as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6Oy8baNW7I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOD8L83Df0c

Top Gear rally reports from the '85 RAC, featuring current Autoshite favourite William Woolard on presenting duty.

 

Many, many happy memories came flooding back at the mention of the old RAC. The Top Gear rally reports, following it all on Teletext on any telly I could get near, rushing out to buy Motoring News (not Motorsport News as it is now) the week before, etc., etc.*

 

*Jumpers for goal posts, isn't it?