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Tim Young wrote that the US is 'prime' for
a WRC event. I almost agree with him.... Rallying has become more
visible to the North American public over the last few years as a result of
coverage (however sparse) by two 'sports' television networks, ESPN2 and SpeedVision.
ESPN2 dropped the coverage of Formula 1, WRC and US ProRally (stage rally) as a result (as I understand it) of being able to make
MUCH more money from increased coverage of 'stick and ball' sports. SpeedVision
picked up that coverage, but is has a much smaller total audience due to the
fact that in most areas (read: outside large urban settings) it is not offered
by cable TV services and is thus only available to those with satellite dishes. Canadians
are luckier.... at least one of their major networks carries rally coverage as
part of its regular package.
ESPN2 was marketing rally as an 'extreme sport' (along with sky- diving,
competitive skateboarding, snowboarding, etc.). Although this may seem odd
to folks outside the US, it really caught the interest of the 15 to 25 year old
market (which is, in my view, who we need to interest; as I've been competing in
this sport for over 20 years and have been able to interest VERY few older US Autosport
fans in rally). As a sweeping generalization, over-25 Americans don't like
leaving their armchairs. I had a conversation recently with a friend who
attends several races each year and watches NASCAR and CART regularly on TV.
When I mentioned that I really liked the road course events much more than the
ovals, he was surprised. It seems that most US fans don't like these
events because they can't see the whole track at once!
I hope that John Nagel's event gets lots of press from the US media, although
I'm afraid that it won't be the case. Talking anything except NASCAR or
maybe CART to most US sports-media types will only get you glazed eyes. And, in
reply to Jean
Pierre's comment about the cows and deer at Olympus, I can only say that dealing
with wildlife (and some farm animals) on the road is an unfortunate danger in
any forest rally anywhere in the world. The roads Olympus used in the
Northwestern US were EXTREMELY challenging (read any reports from that era) and
I'm sure that the ones his group have chosen for this year's event will be
equally interesting. I certainly wish him all the best.
End of ramble!
Dave Bruce
South Point, Ohio, USA
dbruce@wwd.net
Regarding the interesting discussion on
what events shd and shd not be in the WRC, I'd like to add my 2 cents' worth ...
First, the Safari ...
I fear it's time has come. Yes, it's a great rally, but it no longer fits
the mold of a typical WRC event. In fact, the FIA has to give special
dispensation for such long stages to be held.
Most events used to have an element of endurance, but they have changed, and the
Safari hasn't - and probably couldn't. Many well- known rallies used to
have starting points all over Europe, the Monte Carlo being the best known, and
it was considered an achievement if you actually arrived in Monaco from
Edinburgh, Warsaw, or wherever, in order to compete in the Parcour Commun.
As recently as 1972 (to me, that classes as "recent":-) the TAP Rally
of Portugal had many starting points, and I recall starting from London, and
going thru 2 days and nights of traveling (which included time controls) before
reaching Braganca in N.Portugal - where the stages began.
Why do I mention this? Well; no one would want to see the Safari die, and
there probably are many who would still enjoy what I might call "endurance
rallying" so maybe the Safari could branch out to become the first event of
a World Endurance Rally Championship (WERC!)
There are many long distance rallies around, altho mostly for
"classic" cars - but I've heard rumors of a Norway-S.Africa rally to
be held for currently homologated Group N cars ... so maybe a new championship
is not so far fetched.
The WRC meanwhile could introduce many new and deserving events by reducing the
annual events to a core of six or so, and by holding other events every two
years.
I've rambled on about this before, so plz excuse the repetition, but I believe
the idea has merit. I know nothing about Lebanon (which I think started
the discussion) but it is probably a good example of a country where rallying is
thriving, and it deserves a chance of joining the top rung. Someone
mentioned Asia, and for sure there are many countries in this region which have
fabulous stages. The USA and Canada deserve a shot too - even though there
seems to be a great reluctance on the part of rallyists there to adopt the
seemingly evil FIA rules!
But; you can't add them all if the events are annual. Having "second
tier" events which are only held every 2 years would make organization and
sponsorship-raising easier, and would heighten excitement in the country when it
was "their year" for a WRC event.
I would hope it would add more interest for competitors too. Current WRC
events seem to change little from year to year (I believe the FIA wants it that
way) and this monotony does not seem to be in the true spirit of rallying.
It would also create some competition between organizers. If an event was
not well run, which by all accounts would include the famous Monte, they would
be dropped from the annual list.
I'd be interested in feedback, and comments on why this could or could not
happen.
(And yes John, you can copy this to rally-l if you wish:-)
--paul
Paul S. Russell, CMY Systems Sdn. Bhd., Shah Alam, Malaysia
E-mail: paulr@cmysys.com Web:
http://www.cmysys.com/info/
On 6/20/99, Paul Russell wrote in reference to
John Nagel:
But, - yes, there had to be a but - I can't help wondering if yr efforts are not just a little misguided. Have you established a need
for yr digital nervous system and internet rallying? It must be costing a fortune, but who is going to use it? Does anyone want to
wander around with some handheld device which detracts from the spectacle of real rallying?
Paul (and all), I really think that John is on the right track here.
American race fans LOVE gizmos. They also love statistics. Go to any
NASCAR race and check the number of fans wearing headphones. These folks have
spent hundreds of dollars for special radios that let them listen in to team
communications and get real time updates on scoring. They've also spend
big $ on tickets and even more money on transportation to the event and hotel
rooms.
John, I think, realizes the same thing that the FIA does (and
Bernie, especially).
US and Canadian fans have plenty of disposable income. If the FIA can get
them interested (even a relatively small percentage of them) in F1 and WRC,
there are HUGE financial rewards to be reaped. If the fans begin to demand
more media coverage, Bernie will be ecstatic. Let me say here that I'm not
including John in that group. He's knocked himself out for minimal
personal gain (if any) for too many years to even be suspected of being in this
for a quick buck.
John's angle is different... he's apparently found a way to solve his
communications problems by attracting high-tech companies (probably loaded with
young executives) to a relatively unknown sport that will let them showcase
their wares to a part of the market that they covet: young, edgy, affluent North
Americans... who think that extreme sports are the ultimate in 'cool'.
Just my 2 cents...
Dave Bruce
dbruce@wwd.net
An autobiography by the kid who loves
rallying:
I was born on January 10, 1987. The month after the Group B cars were banned. I
think a month after I was born my dad got the 86 Rally Reveiw (you know how they
come out each year around Feb). Laying with my dad I watched it the whole thing.
With those cars sliding around the corners stuck in my head, forever :-) As the
years went on I couldn't talk, so I never saw it again. But in 89 there was some
highlights of the 88 Pikes Peak on Hidden Heroes that just focused on Ari
Vattenen and Robby Unser in the Peugot's. I had never seen a helmet that went up
to your nose (It was almost like a motocross helmet) so since they also went up
a mountain, I called it Racing Up Your Nose. Then when my mom was home the week
after my dad taped it, I told her "Watch Racing Up Your Nose". (This
part right her I don't remember, neither when I watched the 86 rally reveiw, but
my parents told me) My mom said "What's Racing Up Your Nose" I said
"RACING UP YOUR NOSE!!!!!" I begain to scream and cry (Hey, I was 2)
My mom called my dad and said whats racing up your nose. He told my mom and
finally I was happy. I watched it every day.
February, 1990. My first year in Pre-school and my dad brings home 89 Rally Review. I was
so happy. The Dark Ages of Rallying (for me) 90-92, I completely
forgot about it. May, 1993. My dad comes up and asks me "Would you like to
go to a rally?" "Now that your old enough I think you can experience
the real thing" I said, "When, I never knew about it!" "So
you want to go or not?" My dad said I said "ok". We left at 7:00
am therefore missing the morning stages. But I got there and I thought it was so
cool I could talk to these drivers and then I would see them drive. They came up
a hill and slid around a 90 left. I liked it very much, perhaps too much. I
wanted to walk there, watch from here, whats over there? (I still do this) I was
never completely satisfied, always looking for the ultimate spot. But I really
like the night stages. Dim light, then brighter, brighter, and brighter until
you see the car come flying by.
June 1994, missed it, moved (We moved to a house 1.5 miles away)
June 1995, We decided to take my mom and sister to it. That was bad. We left the
day before. We went to the green, but this year, I saw Merril who let me sit in
his new Ford Escort Cosworth. He became my favorite driver, for that year at
least. Then we went to Asaph. After that we had to go to some dumb Animal Land
where the little animals
are in a field with Barbwire Fences. Also we had to walk the PA Grand Canyon.
Missing the evening Green we went to Ridge Wilson which I had never been to
also. I enjoyed it. I learned a valuble lesson, don't take girls to a rally
unless there Janice Damatio or Michelle Guttan
or Fabrizia Pons or someone like that. (Don't take girls that loooove to
shop, it just doesn't work)
June 1996. No girls this time, and leaving the day before was a good plan. I sat
in serveral guys cars, and talked to many drivers. We went then to Asaph (again)
where a guy in a Mitsubishi Gallant fell off the bridge. Chaos and havoc. I'm surprised
they weren't dead. On the other extreme, they left the hospital that same day.
We were at the green for a real little while. This time my dad sighned up
to work. We got there and found it was a long straight to a long straight :-).
Getting there at 5:00 when it was the first car was due at 6:00. We'll they
didn't get there until 7:30! Once the first part was over we waited again and
the guy who was working with us started talking about bears and stuff. I never
thought about that and
immediately I was scared stiff.cont.
If you'd like to hear the race up until now or have any comments, send a reply.
If enough people do (If at least 1 person does), I'll post the rest. Note: This
was posted lasted year, but I never made the sequel, if you want the sequal,
reply.
Alex Kihurani agakuu@yahoo.com
