I spent a quality day today with my mates from the Gung-Ho Rally Team, marshalling on the Carfax Stages. The event, organised by Oxford Motor Club, moved to its new home at R.A.F. Benson near Wallingford this year after spending the last 11 years or so at Qinetic's test track (formerly the DERA) near Longcross in Surrey.
75 crews lined up to face eight special stages marked out on the runways and perimiter roads totalling approximately 60 stage miles. It was incredibly fast in places, which no doubt contributed to the fairly hefty attrition rate...just over 50 cars finished the event with almost all the retirees suffering major mechanical meltdowns. The front-running Mk2 Escorts were pulling maximum revs in top at some points, which equates to 140+mph.
Anyway...pics. I was Marshal-In-Chief for our particular section today which, allied with the many MSA observers and Military personnel lurking about meant that photo opps were a bit limited. Managed a couple of dozen half-decent efforts though, the best of which are reproduced here with (as ever) a link to the Flickr album containing the rest. Enjoy.
Car of the day for me. Monumentally quick on the straights, and even with those silencers strapped to the back end it STILL sounded awesome.
This Fiat 124 Spyder was also awesome. Driven by Bill Gwynne of Bill Gwynne rallyschool fame. Immaculate, quick and well-sorted.
One of the first crews to fall victim to 'wrong way at stage split disease' on the first stage this morning, which cost them dearly. Car was quick enough to have been challenging right at the top.
HOW beautiful? You should have heard it. ;D
Linky: www.flickr.com/photos/damaged23/sets/72157628070264853/with/6371640783/
75 crews lined up to face eight special stages marked out on the runways and perimiter roads totalling approximately 60 stage miles. It was incredibly fast in places, which no doubt contributed to the fairly hefty attrition rate...just over 50 cars finished the event with almost all the retirees suffering major mechanical meltdowns. The front-running Mk2 Escorts were pulling maximum revs in top at some points, which equates to 140+mph.
Anyway...pics. I was Marshal-In-Chief for our particular section today which, allied with the many MSA observers and Military personnel lurking about meant that photo opps were a bit limited. Managed a couple of dozen half-decent efforts though, the best of which are reproduced here with (as ever) a link to the Flickr album containing the rest. Enjoy.
Car of the day for me. Monumentally quick on the straights, and even with those silencers strapped to the back end it STILL sounded awesome.
This Fiat 124 Spyder was also awesome. Driven by Bill Gwynne of Bill Gwynne rallyschool fame. Immaculate, quick and well-sorted.
One of the first crews to fall victim to 'wrong way at stage split disease' on the first stage this morning, which cost them dearly. Car was quick enough to have been challenging right at the top.
HOW beautiful? You should have heard it. ;D
Linky: www.flickr.com/photos/damaged23/sets/72157628070264853/with/6371640783/
my 2 mastes were stood at the fence watching it 
