Off season topic: Why do you love rallying?

[Hartusvuori]

I love to romantincise. To me rallying and spectating it, is hardly just walking to the forest and see cars go pass me fast. There's more to it. Far more to it. This is why I'd like to get to know you, a forum member, better and hear your story - why do you love rallying so much that you ended up creating an account here and writing post.

To start with something, here's my few lines. In basic, I love rallying because my father did too and he took me to events when I was young. After a few phases I re-instutionalized my passion for the sport step by step since 2004 and since 2008 it's been full on. My first recollection of actual rally event is from 1987, Ari Vatanen and Terry Harryman jumping in a Texaco-livered Sierra RS Cosworth on some stage of 1000 Lakes 1987. It can't be far away from Ouninpohja, some of those roads. I was seven years old. It's funny how I don't remember any other car, or who was with us, just my father, the black and orange Sierra, a flame from the exhaust pipe and the rainy weather of late August in Finland. I've been later told that I've been to 1000 Lakes earlier, the Gr. B days, but being too young I don't remember as well as can't difference from was it a rally, a rallycross, or other autosport event. I have deeper memories from 1000 Lakes 1988 (like my father helping a crashed out pair from Estonia, under a CCCP flag at the day, to get their Lada VFTS away from the stage; that was super exciting!), Juha Kankkunen in Celica's early days, loved all that, or Carlos Sainz' first appearances in Finland, especially this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20BHA4hhW2M&feature=player_detailpage#t=499s) Scandinavian flick from SS Säyrylä/Himos from 1991, ran in dusk/darkness. Those years I remember in detail, and it lasted pretty much until my teen years bloomed and I wanted a guitar instead of a go-kart. However, as I lived in the centre of 1000 Lakes, not going to spectate the rally was never an option, and I've missed the rally only once for past 25 years. Now, I find it funny - or sad - how my least interested year to rallying were when the sport was at its bloom during my adult life (1998-2003). Okey, I went to watch Ouninpohja during the early period of WRC years, but nothing more. Only after 2004 I started to get more and more interested in rallying, and since 2008 it've been full on, hold no barriers following of this beautiful sport. I'm still holding into it, and please God of Rallying, make it come that there'd be more teams and all good drivers that would get a chance. I'd been thrilled pass the two-team hiatus, it should get better now by any odds.

And it's not only cars going fast pass me. The whole concept of spectating rallies is appealing to me right now. First the decision which event to go, then the preparations (where they run, how are those places, which is the best, how many stages can we see in a day, etc.) and only then the execution of the plan, the long days and short sleeps, the rallying high, to meet new people and to see the actual sporting event, in good day to see your favourite driver do good. This whole "what does spectating a rally live mean to you" could be divided into so many smaller details that it'd end up as a book, at least. If you know what I mean, you know what I mean. And that is why I love rallying at the moment.

So please, if you care, please tell me why do you love rallying :-) I'd love to know you better.

[stefanvv]

Yeah, I like this thread :) I'm a romantic person myself too.

Let me see. First of all it would be that I was liked cars, it is in my blood probably, I don't know why. As for Rally, it all began when I was very little boy in 80's - I live in a village which was passed by the Rally cars participating in main ERC event in my country - "Albena-Zlatni Pyasatsi-Sliven". I liked those cars with the colors, engine sound, etc. But that was only liking. The love came when my father dragged me and my brother to the stage above our village. Now that was something special - hearing the Rally cars revving in the mountain and various echoes of it, waiting it to show up, and how it will show-up and pass by you, the adrenaline was just rising and rising little by little when yuou hear it more and more loudly, I mean - WOW. Special part of this experience was the same stage we watched later in the night! Now you see the lights here and there before the car comes, and the flames from the exaust after it passes - very, very special indeed. At that time it was Lancia Delta HF Integrale which was the most noticable car at front - amazing sound, rough behavior, it was real adrenaline rush. Drivers like Cheratto comes to my mind - real master - driving brutally and cutting the corners more than anyone else. That was truly amazing :D

When I grew up a little more I was watching the Rallies myself in the mountin, trying to find the most spectacular places. And of course I began to understand why some of the drivers win with such ease - driving clean like a railway on the tarmac - Bertone, Snijers, Drogmans. Few years earlier when beginning to watch Rally here they have been even more credited drivers like Toyvonen (R.I.P.) and Rorhl. I must say I only sorry I was too young then to watch that!!!

I have to say that watching it on the TV is just a little fraction of what you experience watching a Rally live!!! Even with HD :D

[OldF]

I love rallying because it’s spectacular.

My first enthusiasm of rallying was when Timo Mäkinen won Monte in 1965. I was 11-year old by that time and it was the first time I saw rallying on Finnish TV. Luckily I had a classmate that also liked rallying and when we went to a kiosk (R-kioski) that sold lot of different magazines, we found “Vauhdin Maailma”. I bought the second issue of the magazine and then subscribed for it for a long time, until 197x (I don’t remember when I cancelled the subscription).

We had only the magazines in those days and my friend had subscribed for a Swedish rally magazine and me were exchanging pictures of rally cars like little girls with their shining pics (I don’t what it’s in English). I made my own book with pics, cutting reports from rallies from a newspaper and my own drawings of rally cars. But then in the beginning of the 80’my childhood home was demolished for a road and I didn’t had room for all the several issues of “Vauhdin Maailma” and my book in my new apartment, so I left them there which I regret know.

After few years my enthusiasm for rallying was fading away because as being a teenager my interest was more oriented to those reps pies (ripsipiirakat) if you know what I mean and driving and repairing the moped I had. An other thing that was taking over my interest was music, especially heavy music and later also other kinds of music like ELP, Yes, Genesis etc.

I spent the few last years of 60’s and the whole 70’s and beginning of 80’s with music but still watched NORF on TV every year when it was possible so my passion for rallying was not completely gone.

When I saw the Audi Quattro S1 E2 on TV (NORF) my passion for rallying took a new start. My first rally as a spectator was the 1986 NORF, which I visited with my family. Next year I was also with my wife and as Hartusvuori said I also remember those black orange Sierras and also the smell of the exhaust gases in those days.

When my wife got bored I was few years alone with my son spectating NORF. At some times I got one of my friends interested in spectating NORF and then we went only for one day (Saturday mostly) to spectate NORF. But as you know the hunger grows and then we did several years the Saturday & Sunday stages. Renting a cottage as our “base camp” and getting early up in the mornings with time to have some breakfast and then to the stages and having the “lunch” at the stages and going back to the cottage quite late and having some kind of dinner (or a dinner on our way to the cottage). Sauna and swimming made the day.

At some time my friend got bored and didn’t want to come anymore but luckily I found some old friends which whom I been to NORF last years. I don’t remember exactly but since 1986 I’ve missed NORF 2 – 3 times.

Few moments I recall from those days:

My friend had for few years a company party at Friday and first thing I did on the Saturday morning was to take him to a grocery store to buy some beers (pussikaljaa).

I don’t remember the year but Juha Kankkunen was driving a Toyota that year. We were at a spot after a small crest before a right hand turn on a narrow stage. OK, thinking that a place before the turn would be nice but, the drivers using in those days the Nordic flick, we were at the spot where they starts to turn in to bend. We got all the gravel and the stones all over ourselves. But we didn’t move, just covering the head with the spectator guide not to get a direct hit by stones. It was just great, pure rally feeling.

I think it was the first time when Urria was a stage of NORF for a long time, I was at the big jump hanging in some trees to get a view, when Juuso Pykälistö landed after the jump, the rear glass was broken and it looked like water pearls in the air.

I was carrying my son (about 3-year old then) to a stage with lot of people around us and when we where passing a barn with cows he said, “Here smells like cow farts” which raised some amusement for people near us.

[Susiraja]

Seems that everybody remembers those black and red sierras :) I was so young at the time that my dad and my older brother didn't take me with them to NORF. But I watched the 1987 rally over and over again on video. For me the moment I remember is watching the Henri Toivonen tribute video and in it when Henkka was testing for NORF with a red 037 lancia with no sponsor stickers on it. Lots of rally memories, but spectating wise on of the best trips was watching NORF during university studies. When you are in your 20s and studying you really don't have too much money. We travelled with one of my friends m-b gwagen, slept in an army tent and washed in the lake. I remember the pity on some of the VIPs eyes when they landed their helicopter on the same field where we were just making our morning tea.

Nowadays when I spend more time co-driving than spectating the scenery is different. Of course the speeds are fun and you now and then get the adrenaline rush. The best part is to get out of the every day life at the office and hang around with like minded people. During recce and rallies you have a strict time table so it's kind of meditation. You clear you head of other stuff. And way more fun than to sit in a lotus position and say ohm... :cool:

[Barreis]

'Cos I'm crazy. First rally saw was Delta rally (today is Croatia rally) in 1990 (only a start of it) and it was love on first sight.

[Juha_Koo]

It's a collection of factors I guess...

Like so many Finnish guys, for me it all started when my father took me along for his rally journeys. At the time, he mostly just spectated rallying, although he had taken part to few rallies when younger. My first rally was 1000 Lakes in 1994, me being just short of four years old... Since then, I haven't missed a single one. I always wanted to go with my father to spectate rallies and spent many hours at home watching VHS rally casettes and TV shows - not to forget all the toy cars which I used a lot. I remember how I used to drive rallies with them and when I won, I took a bottle of red vinegar from the fridge and then climbed to the kitchen table and shook it like a champagne bottle (cork closed)... Of course I asked my parents to be spectators and cheer a bit for me. :) Somewhere from 1997 onwards I played rally games on computer, I still remember how awesome Network Q Rally felt back then, heh.

As I grew older, I kept going to rallies with my father and his brother plus my cousin. Of course my interest got bigger all the time, even though we lived a fraction too north for the rallies in Southern Finland and the number of events we went to was quite low. From 2005, as my cousin got a driving license, we used to drive hundreds of gravel roads with his RWD Sierra, sometimes doing spectator recce or otherwise just for the enjoyment of going up and down all the time, left-right-crest-left-crest-right. I don't even actually know why, but somewhere around 2007 I got more and more into rallying - I started to closely follow many European national championships and generally got more and more into rallying. I started to watch A LOT of onboards and learned different pacenote languages/styles and got really fond of all kinds of co-driving things.

Susiraja said it well above, when going to spectate/doing media/competing (one thing to try out in the future I guess ;) ) rally, I forget everything else. It's like a deep meditative state where there's only you and the rally. For me, it's the only hobby where I completely forget everything else and focus 110% to it. I love the planning stuff which is done beforehand, especially NORF because it's so massive. Stages, times, finding and discussing good spectating places, maybe doing compromises with them, driving spectator recce, etc etc. Then when the rally starts, the air is electrified - the excitement levels get very high.

I guess I'll never get tired of watching rally. There's just something so beautiful and intriguing in cars being driven fast in different enviroments. I remember Mini WRC Finland tests from 2011, we stayed for half a day in one big jump+corner jump place, none of us got tired of watching it flying sideways. :) I also remember how I used to watch one VHS as a child, it was about MIRA rally 1984 (or something like that) and I kept replaying it to see the great RWD lines. I like the fact how different the rallies can be - everything from a very slow rough gravel/mud to high speed tarmac not to forget snow events. The sensation of watching high speed slides, jumping and nice lines is so awesome, it's like a ballet, motion in every direction, poetry through motion. I feel priviledged to have experienced it onboard a car in one test, it was a mindblowing experience... I would like to experience it again. :-P

The things which make me love rallying are the excitement, the speed and the possibility to follow it on so many levels - from pure action to more analytical levels like regulations, technical aspects, psychological factors, etc. I can't specify all the reasons, I just love it. :)

[Franky]

Read the first few posts of this thread in the morning and thought that it is quite undefinable but now I actually got a very laconic answer.

Rallying is adventure.

[Hartusvuori]

Rallying is adventure.

It very much is. Different kind of adventure to different parties (organisers, crews, teams, media - and of course, spectators), but nevertheless, an adventure. For competitors of course the finish, victory, good run, should be the first goal, but for spectators, what matters most is the travel, not the destination. Also, compared to many other sport, from spectator view rallying requires quite a lot - just read the posts above and you should recognize yourself in there. You may travel far, but once you find the perfect spot, you don't feel tired anymore.

Here's an old picture from Caj Bremer, a renowed Finnish news photographer, titled "First row seat in 1000 Lakes". That innovative and crazy, hard to define atmosphere is still in many ways present at rallies. In different ways, but still it is.

http://www.patriciaseppalansaatio.fi/pics/suurajot.jpg

[kirungi okwogera]

For a different kind of answer, I can say why I prefer rallying to other motorsport. I think that the quest for perfection in any motorsport where you do laps is a million times less interesting than an ever changing road, scenery, and real life in different countries. If it weren't for the slight variations in the shape of the tracks, most motorsport championships could be conducted in the same place every week/month, forever, and make hardly any difference. They don't offer any flavour of the country they take place in, or indeed any flavour of anything other than a parking lot. No mountaintops, lakesides, cliff roads, icy forests, subtropical rainforests, etc. Just a (twisty) parking lot with a grandstand. The whole appeal of motorized transport to humanity is the ability to travel and get you places you couldn't go - it seems like a waste of that amazing power to drive in a circle over and over. Obviously there are technical, endurance, talent and other challenges to circuit racing still, but the tiny refinements in lap times don't appeal to me like seeing a rally driver on the edge, slipping everywhere in bad weather and gaining 25 seconds on the field in one stage. You can SEE the differences in drivers just in their style, which is much harder on track racing because there's one well-known way to do the fastest lap, and that's what everyone's trying to do.

One interesting thing I found when I edited rally TV programmes was putting two onboards in split screen just for a few seconds was enough to really show you who was pushing hard, whose style was too conservative, etc. You could see someone gain half a second in one corner by taking it a gear higher and almost losing control. It's really significant compared to the tiny adjustments made in circuit racing.

So there's those aspects of rally, but also the fact that the road changes as more people run it, different weather, the many different surfaces, having to change tyres yourself or drive home with 3 wheels, with the only advantage you have over nature being the pacenotes. Which is another fascinating challenge albeit a mental one!

For the "what got you into it" type of answer: I haven't been to many rallies as a spectator, having grown up in the USA, but we did hear about McRae etc. a bit - I can remember a friend and me watching year-in-review WRC tapes from the video store. Earlier than that, my number one favourite movie as a kid was Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, which was about the RMC (or "Trans France Race" as they called it in the movie)! So as much as any American could get into it, I did, and when I moved away from America (and started working at a TV company that broadcast the WRC programmes, and later actually worked on creating rally programmes for a national championship) I was able to get a much bigger fix. I got to drive a Gp. A Evo around a forest track in NZ, which was one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life! And finally got to spectate. But unlike many of you, spectating's not in my blood the same way that TV/web coverage is. It started with movies and TV shows for me and that's still how I follow most of it.

[BDA Cosworth]

For me its about the car control required in changing conditions, no corner is the same.
I can stand quite close to the action compared to other motor sports.
Spectating is an adventure. You have anticipation waiting for the first WRC car, then you hear the sound and your heartbeat increases. The car comes into view and its full concentration. Then the car flies past and you are in total awe (and adrenaline if you stand in the right spot). For me Rally NZ Day 3 was the ultimate experience. Petter 140kmph past me sideways in mid air! All that I could say was "**** me" and some incoherent mutter! Ultimately rewarding. Trip worth it just for that one stage!

[raybak]

I can remember the late 70's listening to the Group 4 Escorts in the local rally that went past our farm. Then the early 90's my next taste of rallying in the Victorian forest at Heathcote watching guys like Crazy Cuthbert in his Subaru. This got me hooked, but alas no money to compete so started officiating. Moved to Canberra in late 97 and joined the BMSC. Just loved the rally people, always wanting to help, nothing was too hard. Started codriving in 2001 and haven't looked back. Still compete, officiate, service at all levels and am proud to competed at the highest level. I'm one of the rare few who can do both sides of the car, although my driving is quite limited these days as have too many codriving gigs(16 events this year with 1 still to go). I love the events with remote services and there seems to be a rally between the service crews to get there first. It is great also when you have car issues and your fellow competitors pitch in to help out. There are so many good memories for all events, whether we win or DNF.

The friendliness in rallying goes right through the sport from club level to WRC. I have made thousands of friends over my years in rallying. I remember a funny moment at 2005 Rally NZ, I was chatting with Gronholm at the after party and some quite attractive girls came up for his autograph, he said no no! you want Ray's Autograph :)

I just love the sport, I'm lucky enough to have run with some great drivers over the years, I have lost some good friends as well :( but we have a sport where everyone sticks together. We are a worldwide family.

Cheers

Ray

[BDunnell]

For me, it was the British Open Rally Championship of the early 1980s that got me into the sport. Fantastic events, a brilliant level of competition involving the best British drivers and some top-quality international entrants, plenty of spectacle and almost always a close title battle. It saddens me that British rallying today is of so little consequence, because growing up it couldn't fail to excite.

[Mintexmemory]

I grew up as a circuit racing fan, from the age of 14 regularly going to Brands Hatch and Crystal Palace (where I attended the start of the London-Sydney Marathon rally in 1968). Other than interest in what various racing drivers were doing in rallies (Elford, Clark, Hill) RALLYING (the correct english word for the activity) never figured much on my radar. A chance conversation with a workmate in 1977 led to me attending the 77 RAC rally as part of a group of die-hard fans. I was hooked the moment I heard Munari's Stratos hurtling through the nighttime and snowy Boltby stage. Not only did rallying appeal to the petrolhead in me, the fact that it took place in parts of the country that were scenic, that you saw so much of nature, that significant walking was usually involved to reach a vantage point, all combined to make a rallying a fulfilling experience on so many levels, Subsequently, I love the fact that when visiting events outside of the UK you get to see the countries you visit away from the usual tourist traps and get to experience some authentic aspect of the local cultures (not always positive - see my Catalunya musings). I have navigated on road rallies and stages and driven in 3 events, which like many just fills me with admiration for the skill and courage of those guys at the pinnacle of the sport as well as the talented amateurs at national level. The experience I had this last weekend on the Roger Albert, where you can converse with total strangers who share your passion as you watch wonderful machinery being driven expertly is something I wouldn't miss for the world.
In summary adventure (as has been said by several), cameraderie, excitement, and being close to nature.
It's the best fun you can have with your clothes on!

[AndyRAC]

The weekend just gone further reminds me what this sport is all about. The Roger Albert Clark Rally, Escorts, Porsche 911's, a Stratos, etc Yorkshire, Scottish Borders, Kielder, stages at night....all the sights, sounds and smells of competition cars going full chat!

[HarriK]

Hmm, where to start...let me see.
Like almost every Finnish fast WRC Rally drivers are farmer's son, so am I. Too bad that my father (neither my mom) had any interest in cars or any extra money.... But I have always been keen on engines that makes noise, i remember that I like drive tractor even without my foot touch on Valmet 361 clutch...
Maybe the car enthusiasm is coming from my mom's dad who is professional driver. I mean as his work was with trucks and earthmovers. I (as also my cousin) am always been my grandfather favourite grandson. He even bought us Lada 2107 at the age of 12! He said "boys have to learn how to drive". So we drove! a lot.. car did hit cowhouse etc, but no mistakes happens, had to learn something...

Back to rally cars. I do remember Toyota Team Europe service trucks at my grandfather yard at least in 1990-1991 and 1992 Subaru, i'm not sure. 1990 I was only 12 years old. They like to use that yard because it was big and flat and of course there was that workshop for the earthmovers etc. I have a lot of posters, postcards etc from those days. I like to watch mechanics at working, no one took me to the stages at those days...
1994 I remember that Tommi Mäkinen drove with Escort WRC and Ford team used also my grandfather yard to service place. So every August it was just to wait the NORF and those teams to arrive there. Also so guy named Marcus Grönholm was with his GT-Four nearby, but like 300m from the yard and service was only one Hiace at beginning of the small forest road...

When I was at the age of 15 I got my first moped. With that I drove from Keuruu to 30km circle to near rally events. Like Keuruu RallySprint, Rantapirtti Sprint, Mänttä-Rally etc and of cource NORF. I also started photogarphing the events with my dad camera. Some good some bad photos to film.

I think that it was year 1995 or certain when Jouko Puhakka drove in Mänttä 200-Rally. And of course I was on the service place, which was at Mänttä City. There it was, that yellow beauty, I was "in love" right away. Guess what it was? Of course a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III ! Build for Jokke to a notecar. There I was with my camera and asfalt stage was starting and I had hurry. One guy had seen me and if I remember right he was Jorma Pulkkinen. He was a commentator to Finnish motorforum at those days if I'm right. He hand the Press-Pass for me and I was happy to rush with him to the stage. We have a little chat and he said that I know quite an lot about rallying and cars.

Let's jump to the year 1999. I had had two years car driving licence and I did rolled one of my car. Young and stupid, almost cost my life, but that cliff that teach a lot for me: Thank god I did'nt hurt myself and other road users! Grandfather gave money to repair my car and soon it was back on road. After that I changed that to Lancer 1.6 litres model 1995 and of course that car had to be build to "evo3 -look" :P
One what I do remember is Mänttä Rally also in that year. Who crashed hard there?
Carlos Sainz´s big crash in Mänttä 200 Rally 1999 - with pure crashing sounds - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l__z6Objqk) Carlos Mänttä crash.
That place is only 500m before my grandfather yard! I met Esko Reineirs and had a little chat with him. He worked to TTE then.
Remember as Didier Auriol had same problems during the Norf (car slided as a snake even on straight roads)

I did a lot rally events with my VHS camera at those days but I bored to watch races behind the black/white viewfinder so I stopped that later.

Let's jump again to year 2006. I fullfilled one of my dream and bought Mitsubishi 3000gt VR4. First Supercar for me!
I bought it with broken transfer box, called to my earlier coworker which has a good garage. He promised that I can use his garage to repair my "new" car. Later in that year he called to me and asked
.-" Hi, I bought a brand new Lancer Evo IX, and I want you to come disassemble that with me!"
I was totally "scared" and said, of cource I will help you,but I don't know anything about a new cars!"
- "but you know how to use screwdriver-" he answered.
Before that I had studied and graduated to mechanical engineer. Nothing about cars, just only what I had learned myself earlier year.
This, my friend, had been driven Finnish rally championship with Opel Astra, evo V and then Evo VII. This was his first totally new car. We build that car and I started my "mechanician -career" from that. Worked with him until 2010 when he reduced his competions without any wins in FRC. Then one of my other friend ask me to join to young and promising team. Almost rest is history ;)

So I have no education to cars and not to Rallycars but a BIG passion!
Rallycars and mechanician job is only my hobby, my day job is as engineer in water hydraulic firm.

I had to add that I have owned one of my dream car now one year. Of course Mitsubishi Evo7 and pure JDM-model ! ;)

[HarriK]

Hmm, where to start...let me see.
Like almost every Finnish fast WRC Rally drivers are farmer's son, so am I. Too bad that my father (neither my mom) had any interest in cars or any extra money.... But I have always been keen on engines that makes noise, i remember that I like drive tractor even without my foot touch on Valmet 361 clutch...
Maybe the car enthusiasm is coming from my mom's dad who is professional driver. I mean as his work was with trucks and earthmovers. I (as also my cousin) am always been my grandfather favourite grandson. He even bought us Lada 2107 at the age of 12! He said "boys have to learn how to drive". So we drove! a lot.. car did hit cowhouse etc, but no mistakes happens, had to learn something...

Back to rally cars. I do remember Toyota Team Europe service trucks at my grandfather yard at least in 1990-1991 and 1992 Subaru, i'm not sure. 1990 I was only 12 years old. They like to use that yard because it was big and flat and of course there was that workshop for the earthmovers etc. I have a lot of posters, postcards etc from those days. I like to watch mechanics at working, no one took me to the stages at those days...
1994 I remember that Tommi Mäkinen drove with Escort WRC and Ford team used also my grandfather yard to service place. So every August it was just to wait the NORF and those teams to arrive there. Also so guy named Marcus Grönholm was with his GT-Four nearby, but like 300m from the yard and service was only one Hiace at beginning of the small forest road...

When I was at the age of 15 I got my first moped. With that I drove from Keuruu to 30km circle to near rally events. Like Keuruu RallySprint, Rantapirtti Sprint, Mänttä-Rally etc and of cource NORF. I also started photogarphing the events with my dad camera. Some good some bad photos to film.

I think that it was year 1995 or certain when Jouko Puhakka drove in Mänttä 200-Rally. And of course I was on the service place, which was at Mänttä City. There it was, that yellow beauty, I was "in love" right away. Guess what it was? Of course a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III ! Build for Jokke to a notecar. There I was with my camera and asfalt stage was starting and I had hurry. One guy had seen me and if I remember right he was Jorma Pulkkinen. He was a commentator to Finnish motorforum at those days if I'm right. He hand the Press-Pass for me and I was happy to rush with him to the stage. We have a little chat and he said that I know quite an lot about rallying and cars.

Let's jump to the year 1999. I had had two years car driving licence and I did rolled one of my car. Young and stupid, almost cost my life, but that cliff that teach a lot for me: Thank god I did'nt hurt myself and other road users! Grandfather gave money to repair my car and soon it was back on road. After that I changed that to Lancer 1.6 litres model 1995 and of course that car had to be build to "evo3 -look" :P
One what I do remember is Mänttä Rally also in that year. Who crashed hard there?
Carlos Sainz´s big crash in Mänttä 200 Rally 1999 - with pure crashing sounds - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l__z6Objqk) Carlos Mänttä crash.
That place is only 500m before my grandfather yard! I met Esko Reineirs and had a little chat with him. He worked to TTE then.
Remember as Didier Auriol had same problems during the Norf (car slided as a snake even on straight roads)

I did a lot rally events with my VHS camera at those days but I bored to watch races behind the black/white viewfinder so I stopped that later.

Let's jump again to year 2006. I fullfilled one of my dream and bought Mitsubishi 3000gt VR4. First Supercar for me!
I bought it with broken transfer box, called to my earlier coworker which has a good garage. He promised that I can use his garage to repair my "new" car. Later in that year he called to me and asked
.-" Hi, I bought a brand new Lancer Evo IX, and I want you to come disassemble that with me!"
I was totally "scared" and said, of cource I will help you,but I don't know anything about a new cars!"
- "but you know how to use screwdriver-" he answered.
Before that I had studied and graduated to mechanical engineer. Nothing about cars, just only what I had learned myself earlier year.
This, my friend, had been driven Finnish rally championship with Opel Astra, evo V and then Evo VII. This was his first totally new car. We build that car and I started my "mechanician -career" from that. Worked with him until 2010 when he reduced his competions without any wins in FRC. Then one of my other friend ask me to join to young and promising team. Almost rest is history ;)

So I have no education to cars and not to Rallycars but a BIG passion!
Rallycars and mechanician job is only my hobby, my day job is as engineer in water hydraulic firm.

I had to add that I have owned one of my dream car now one year. Of course Mitsubishi Evo7 and pure JDM-model ! ;)

edit: in 2010 I "graduated" the AKK Finnish Rally exam and got rally license. I have done now only one competion as co-driver with my another friend Opel Manta group.F. :)

[tommeke_B]

Why do I love rallying... I could name countless reasons for it... The spectacle, the atmosphere, the sound, the different roads, the planning and timing, the different levels, the help you get from other people, the talking with rally-minded people on stages,... :)

Some short text about things I remember most from my rally-experience:

It started in fact long before I was born. In the mid-70's my father started watching rallies in Belgium, he started going to rallies during the last years of Staepelaere his carreer. He has seen everything from Alpine A110, Escort MK1 etc up to the newest WRC-cars, it wasn't difficult for me to get "the virus" too... :) The first thing I remember from rallying is from tv, there was an amazing TV-show on Belgian (Wallonian) tv, named champions, there were reviews from WRC, ERC, Belgian Division 1 and 2 (like the current championship and sprint championship in CZ) championships. Some old video-tapes with Belgian championship reviews and old tapes from the Ypres Rally could keep me busy for hours too.

My father took me to rallies in Belgium since the late 90's, when I was around 6-7 years old I saw my first 24 hours of Ypres (I don't remember much from it anyway but ok). The more events we were going, the more I was getting interested in the sport. Great to see the heroes pass by in the quickest and most spectacular ways. In 2002 Germany joined the WRC-calendar. It was THE opportunity to see a WRC-event relatively close from home (less than 4 hours driving). Since 2002 we missed only one edition of the event. At 10-years old it was great just even to be somewhere on the road section before the start of the first stage and watch all drivers prepare, have a chat with each other (probably to make each other just nervous), then rush to one of the first corners after the start to see them pass by. With that my interest not just in rally as a spectacle, but rally as a sport with different levels, was growing fast. I started following the 2 Belgian drivers in the WRC back then (Loix and Duval), and Thiry in the European Championship. Searching on te internet (in the beginning with slow phone-line internet, everyone must remember the sound when you made connection), on the official websites like wrc.com, rally-live.com (which was huge back then, I really enjoyed surfing on that website) etc. With surfing through the countless albums there were on rally-live, I was becoming more and more interested in photography also.

At the end of 2006 I bought my first DSLR-camera, and started taking photos on the events. I was 14 years old, the first few events my photos were really useless. But I tried more and more to find the best corners, learn to set-up my camera better, learning how to use the light for photos. And bit by bit that got better, while the passion for the sport kept growing. I got in contact with several drivers/codrivers and other people involved by coincidence. At the end of 2007, at 15-years old I had a first co-drive with Snijers-GT3 and with Lietaer-MK2 BDA on some kind of test-track. It was not a real stage, but it had some faster, corners, junctions, hairpins, and a jump. I was still quite small back then and could only just look above the dash-board, but it was a great experience! After that I had several co-drives on tests, which is always amazing, one I will never forget in particular is with Snijers in the Subaru S12 WRC on a test, amazing driver, all I can say! Everything about that car is just phenomenal, hard to imagine that the S12 was one of the slowest WRCars of its generation... All those experiences somehow helped me more to understand how complex our sport is, there are so many factors, inside and outside the car, that have to be absolutely right if you want to have a good event. In 2008 we had a really busy rally-year, I think we had 25 events, from WRC to the smallest village-events, but we appreciate(d) and enjoyed the sport on all levels. I started to learn more and more how to read maps, how to plan a rally and get the maximum out of it. Somewhere in 07-08 I started to follow this great forum more and more, but I didn't post much (partly because my English was quite poor back then). I started to become more interested in watching onboards, try to figure out how the pacenotes work, see the drivers lines, compare the drivers/cars etc.

In 2009 Germany wasn't on the WRC-calendar. We decided to go to Sardinia, which was a great event, it was the first time I saw the WRCars being on gravel setup. We've seen things we could not imagine before. We did 3 French gravel events also during that year. Funny is that in Langres in 2009, Neuville was driving for the first time on gravel, with C2Max in the C2 trophy. We went to him to talk on the shakedown, he said nothing really worked like he wished etc. On sunday he won the C2-Trophy I followed his prestations since his first rally he ever drove and went up to him to congratulate him and said (in French) "if you continue like you're doing now you'll end up in the WRC in a few years", apparently I was right. Later in the year we decided to do Barum Rally (IRC), which was a bit of a gamble in fact, because we didn't knew anyone who had ever been there as a spectator. We were only 3 to go there since nobody else was interested. Thanks to Mirek his tips we have seen an amazing event, very spectacular and a great atmosphere around the rally (especially during the city stage on friday night). Insane speed on the very fast and bumpy roads around Zlin. In 2010 we were 9 to go to Barum Rally (and many other asked too but we wanted to keep it with 2 cars), again an amazing event... Thanks again Mirek! ;)

From 2010 on we did more WRC events and more bigger rallies outside Belgium (like French asphalt and gravel, Dutch events, Eifel Rally in Germany when it was DRM). We did Alsace in 2010, '11 and '12. Everyone was complaining that you would have to walk a lot of kilometers to get to the stages, park you car very far, police everywhere etc. I decided to make my own maps in 2010, so we would know all roads and little gravel roads... We never had to walk over 500m and we've seen a truly amazing rally. Since then I always made my own maps for all events. We did Sardinia again in 2011, now I did all the planning and we did our own recce of most of the stages, it's amazing to just even drive those stages. With the new WRCars and our own places we picked ourself the event was much better than it was in 2009. Tastes for more... We did Sardinia again this year, and we also did Finland this year. We did Finland in the same way we did Sardinia in '11. By driving the amazing stages a few days before we found some places we liked and went there during the rally. I also got a lot of help from Hartusvuori and Juha_Koo, thanks again guys. ;) Last week I did the last event of the season, Rallye du Var, my first real mountain-asphalt-rally. It was ca completely different way of spectating, we could see only few stages, but with the itinerary and the mountains there weren't so much possibilities. With the wide roads and corner after corner (where the driver must think 3 corners ahead in order to have some good line) and a very abrasive tarmac, the speed was surprisingly high, another great experience where I would like to go back to!

I'm still enjoying rallies at least as much as I did as a 10-year old 10 years ago. I've seen pretty much any surface now, except for snow... Next: Rally Sweden!

[Francis44]

Very nice topic.

Since I was a little kid I always loved cars and later speed. My dad used to take me to the balcony and I would name every car that passed as soon I started speaking properly.
One of my uncles used to talk to me about story's from Rally de Portugal back in the day, we told me how it almost stopped the city completely when the rally runned. I was very young and it was hard to relate to this since I had never seen a rally and it was difficult to find media, there was no internet at the time (atleast not how there is today).
A few years later one other uncle took me to Rally Vinho de Madeira as I was in Madeira for vacation. I remeber standing in a 90 degree corner with plenty of dirt and thinking "it's not possible to do this very fast". Well I was wrong, in rally logic it was possible. As soon was the first car passed I fell for the sport. It had speed, sound, powerslides, colorfull cars....

Since then I became a huge fan of the sport.
My grandmother used to tell me that her father was a mad man when driving (and loved rallying), story around the small town where they lived tells he once jumped form a small bridge Duke's of Hazard style (with a Celica ST 1600). I guess it's something that poops up in some men of the family :D , since a few of my uncles love this aswell.

[Iskald]

I could write a book about this. It has been a long and rewarding journey...
First and foremost as a competitor during 30 years, codriving something like 40 different lunatic drivers! Then also as a journalist,photographer, TV-cameraman and reporter. I have also been involved in organising and running rallies, and I`m quite proud to have been the first clerk of the course in a very popular rally still running in our countrys national championship.
Its just like the painter putting all the different colours on his plate to mix into new colours on the canvas, all these colours representing feelings and sensations. Rallying is all that, and more too.
I remember it all:
My first rally in 1979, codriving Per Engseth (the grandfather of norwegian rallying) in a Volvo 142. The sensations of sideways speed which I had never experienced before.
Going off the road one winter mid 80-ies, and walking/running in the dark nearly six kilometers back to the start of the stage, throwing myself in the snowdrifts every minute when the next car arrived with headlights blinding.
Nearly beating Petter Solberg/Egil Solstad in the 1998 Rally Snøfresern, again codriving grand old man Per Engseth.
The faboulous mountain stages of the 1992 Rally Norge (Norway) event. Brilliant sunlight in the clear morning. Fog in the valleys below us. What could be better than experiencing this in a Toyota Celica GT4 165 flat chat on gravel stages?
Nearly beating Petter Solberg/Egil Solstad in the 1998 Rally Snøfresern, again codriving grand old man Per Engseth.
The last few hundred metres of the roadsection into the first stage of Rally Finland 2000, and it suddenly hit me in my stomach and all all my senses; we`re about to go rallying in Finland on the most beatiful and fastest stages in the world!! I was overwhelmed...
Winning Rally Hedmark 2005, last round of the championship, with my much younger mate and on his, day driver with brilliant natural capabilities, Tord Linnerud. On that specific day it was like a telepathic instinct between us, and Linnerud could do anything he wanted with the Corolla WRC (my favourite rally car of all times btw).
Stepping out of the car after the last stage of Rally Norway 2009, feeling completely content and finished after 30 years of rallying.
There are so many memories, and I still love the great sport of rallying!

[MartijnS]

Why do we like rallying?
Sometimes I can't really tell, for example when its the 4th day in a row the alarm goes off at 5am, for another day in lousy weather waiting for some cars to pass by and before you see them you have to drive to a stage and walk for some time to find a decent spot.

But than, when the first car passes by, you forget everything it took you to get there and love the excitement and thrill of the speed they reach on the stages, the power of the cars, the sound, the environment everything! :)
It's crazy though, as Joost films every car we see at for example a WRC rally, we know for how long we see actual cars passing by during a weekend. If you imagine that we leave home at wednesday most of the times and get back home sunday evening or monday, making days of around 10-14 hours per day during the rally, from closing our door in the morning and getting back at the hotel at night, and we only have seen like 50 minutes to a maximum of 75 minutes of cars on the stages :D

But we just love it, the crazy roads you drive to get to the stages, finding the good spots and taking home some nice shots makes it all worth it. Also the social part is nice, especially in the national rallies you meet a lot of people you see at all the rallies. Just a very nice hobby!

My first rally I visited was in 1998, at the age of 13..my dad used to go to that rally as the only one in the year, first couple of years Joost went with him, I didn't even bother to go.............! Eventually they got me to got with them and that was it..around 2000 we started to visit more events every year. During that time I somewhere began to make photos. I've had a period where I was one of the annoying guys with an airhorn, but only at selected cars! ;)
So from 1 rally close to our home, we now visit around 18 per year, this year 6 wrc's, 8 rallies in the Netherlands and 4 in Belgium.

[BOZIANracing]

I love rallying, it's my life. Here I am now talking about it when I have a college assignment due in 12 hours. Thanks to Rallymedia, Flyin Finn, SudRallye and all the other great video guys for distracting me from my work so much haha!

My first memory is when I was 6 years old, watching Bertie Fisher in the Toughmac Impreza on the famous Moll's Gap stage on the Rally of the lakes. He set the record of 9.59. He was so quick he almost caught Liam O Callaghan in a fresh TTE ST205 GT4 on the stage! The whole place was going wild, I was up on my dad's shoulders, very nice memory.

Since then I used to go with my father to rallies until me and my friends were old enough to drive ourselves. Andrew Nesbitt flat out in the old P2000. Eugene Donnelly beating everyone in the famous K-AM 651 Corolla. McRae in Killarney 2005 in his Escort, sideways everywhere. In 2007 seeing Gronholm, Loeb, Sordo and Hirvonen compete in our tarmac championship rounds was unreal, I will never forget Loeb's pace on the Cork 20, and Donnelly, Higgins et al trying to keep him in sight. Higgins always sideways in the yellow S11 Subaru.

The first Irish WRC round was incredible. Not so much the stages themselves,just the atmosphere. Going to shakedown on Thursday morning, hearing the loud bark of the Focus' anti-lag through the trees. Watching all the WRC cars being loaded onto the transporters was very cool. Just little things like that stand out.

Sitting in with local rally drivers during testing, the speed, the noise. Now I am old enough to compete I cant wait to start. Every road I drive down I am calling pacenotes to myself in preparation, driving my girlfriend mad. First rally in a few months. I don't think I'll ever be happier than on the start line of the first stage

[ShiftingGears]

What first got me into rallying?

http://img.cyberdevilz.net/images/jwH7L.jpg

[Iskald]

Sitting in with local rally drivers during testing, the speed, the noise. Now I am old enough to compete I cant wait to start. Every road I drive down I am calling pacenotes to myself in preparation, driving my girlfriend mad. First rally in a few months. I don't think I'll ever be happier than on the start line of the first stage

I`ll second that! Just keep on preparing yourself.
My first experience of pacenotes came in 1991, the Finnskog Winter Rally, at that time in the European Championship. It was the first rally with pacenotes in Norway. I told my driver Knut beforehand that we should attend a notetrainingschool with John Haugland. He was reluctant and didn`t show up on the day. We were allowed one drivethrough on the stages as asort of recce, but all competitors were using organiser pacenotes (made by Haugland btw). My driver didn`t turn up for this time either, and I had to summon a tarmac racing driver mate of mine to do the recce driving, while I was reading the notes - to get some sort of "experience" with it! When we started the rally my driver Knut actually hadn`t heard a pacenote being read to him ever! Okay, here we go I thought, you will get pacenotes wether you like it or not, and I started reading the notes from the word go on the first stage. After just a few hundred metres my driver muttered something in the intercom that it became to much information for him to "take in". I then started to read only one corner at the time, and soon Knut (the confused driver) became quiet and consentrated on the driving. Great, he is actually understanding something, I thought! Midway through the stage I "dropped out" for a few corners, it was the first time for me as well, remember? But I soon came back into it and continued reading notes to the finish of the stage. Knut was silent as we approached the stop control, but then he looked over to me and said: "Henning, I felt blind when you dropped out mid-way!"
I`m still laughing when I think of it today. Knut, the confused and sceptical one, had actually got some sort of grip and understanding! On the next stage we beat a fourwheeldrive car in front of us with nearly one minute, passing the finish line of the stage right on his back bumper. Knut was happy as a monkey, drove better than ever, and never more questioned the "magic" of seeing the corners in front of him. It still is one of my most cherished memories from rallying!

Great thread btw, its so good to read all these posts and the fascination and love people have for this great sport.

[Miika]

Why? Because of seeing (or more likely hearing) the Group B cars live when I was two years old - and then watching them from the grainy VHS tapes instead of the usual nickelodeons. And because our family moved to Jyväskylä when I was four. And because..

[donlorean]

My first memory of rallying is from year 1977. I was 5 year old and my father took me in 1000 Lakes Rally. It was legendary Humalamäki stage and I still remember the sound of Leo Kinnunen's Porche when he's got a problem with gas pedal. He drove over first jumps and then car just "rolling" behind a next corner. Then I heard how they try to fix it and few moments later they continue. There is a famous foto where co-driver Jorma Pulkkinen sit in top of that engine and accelerate it so they can drive till the end of stage... I got some kind of virus from there...

Now I've done NOFR 3 times as a co-driver(first in class twice...), about 20 small rallies as a driver, hundreds of service parks from Arctic Circle to Maspalomas as a mechanic...

[Sami]

Nice question to think about. Rallying plays big part in my life, its my passion, its my hobby, I sacrifice a lot for it. An awful lot.

I've been told I went spectating rallies as a one year old baby with my father. And I still do (And my father still does in his seventy years of age). I visit almost 30 rallies a year, in Finland, Sweden and further away. I'm hunting challenging places to see the greatest saves and close calls by the greatest drivers. I'm hunting crashes too, I admit, even used to count them when I was young, I remember my record being wittnessing 40 crashes where car rolled (only those were counted) in one year :)

Rallying has brought me a lot of good friends, amazing enjoyment and great spectacle. A lot of memories as a driver and as a spectator.

But rallying has also cost me a lot. I've been driving with rented rally cars, rwd Corollas, BMW 325's and BMW m3's lately, I've done this for more than 10 years, and spent a lot in rents, crash repairs, tyres, parts, accomodations. But the biggest cost has been my neck injury, which gives me pain at this moment, too.

But the reward has been greater. Driving a 300hp M3 in blind rally without notes, 200km/h over crests and jumps is just bigger than life experience. Fighting to control the beast, having close calls, avoiding trees and rocks, and beating your opposition, its just impossible to describe. It just makes me feel alive. All those memories just come to your mind and make you smile.

I wouldn't change anything, it's been all perfect. It's been all rallying.

[Ripplin]

I started watching the WRC in 1995. My first rally memory was seeing Kenneth Eriksson's feet dancing around on the pedals. I thought it was so cool that they had so many cameras in the car, so I must admit the presentation was a part of my fascination with the sport. I think my favorite driver at the time was Juha Kankkunen. (it was a good year to start watching, with McRae winning the championship, too!) I was instantly hooked.

It was really hard getting information and merchandise back then, but thankfully, it became easier and easier over the years.

[GigiGalliNo1]

I think for me, I won't write a long post but the sport itself Rallying be WRC or local is emotional. It's a passion and I love it! I've followed the WRC for over a decade now, maybe 12 years and I have maybe another 60 decades to follow it haha! I'll write more when I get a chance, the smells, the sounds, the early hours you have to wake up to go to the stages, the drivers; their charisma's and characteristics, the cars and more! ;)

[Anders Grøndal]

Spectate Swedish Rally 2001! My life since then!

[pino]

About time to post on this great thread.

So for me, all started in 1972 on Turini stage, watching amazing Sandro Munari beaten the huge and almost unbeatable Alpine Renault Team. Watching that Fulvia HF always sideways and flying on the downhill part covered with snow made rallying to became my favorite motor-sport. It was the start of a loving story and passion, culminated with more than 20 entries as codriver in the Ital Champ and more than 100 rally- events spectated live. Greatest experience ever for me, it was a ride with legendary Waldegaard on a Stratos in Sanremo :cool:

[GigiGalliNo1]

1972 Pino?! You're much older then I thought!

[pino]

Yes I am an old man but thanks to rallying...I still look like a teenager :p : ;)

[A.F.F.]

My father took me to the rally of the thousand lakes the first time and the year was 1979. I must admit I don't remember it much but I do remember that Markku Alen won it and my favourite car was Per Eklund's Triumph TR7. I have not missed many NORFs since then. I remember the first time we saw Audi Quattro S1 and laughed that those spoilers will fall out at first jump. And we were really amazed it landed rear first. I do remember the sound those group-B monster gave and the smell in the dark forest after they passed by. And the nightstages. It was unbelievable feeling to hear the car from many kilometers and then see the lights closing and then awful sounds as they passed by. Folks were cheering and clapping their hands. Oh man... I also remember the feeling the first time I saw group-A cars... It seemed like they weren't moving at all. We chose one particular 90-degree turn and the comparision how the cars accelerated after the turn 1987 was a bit different than in 1986 :/ But soon there were more manufacturers and more Finns driving and rallying was rallying the next year :) And so it has been. So many memories to pick. When Henry Toivonen drove off right in front of us with 037 and I got to almost touch the car. And Tommi's maiden victory. And those crazy Galli-fans in the forest :D One thing I want to point out is that I joined in this forum 2003 and have met and been a host to some forum members abroad. And I have to say it has been a pure pleasure. A strong social element joined in this sport I love and made it to even more cool than I ever thought. That's why I love rallying. Even at worst it's the best sport in the world. :up:

[pino]

...and to answer the topic question...here's why I love rallying...A.F.F are you among those spectators ? :cool:

cDRkHXMHqFo

[stefanvv]

Well :) this is.... :) actually I don't have words for it :) May be the Holy Graal of Rallying...

[MrJan]

I have no idea why I like rallying, but I know that every now and then I get an indescribable urge to go and stand in a forest/on a moor and watch some cars drive past while I complain about being cold.

I suppose that going to watch when I was a kid has had a lot of influence. My dad was keen not to force me to watch motorsport and would generally wait until I asked to go and watch something, meaning that I never felt like I was being dragged along. And soon I developed a love of the speed, the sound and the smell of it all. As I gradually got more interested my dad was happy to spur me and my brother on, and it quickly became a hobby that the three of us could do together. Increasingly it became about the banter as much as the motorsport, something that I've always thought of as key to rallying.

As for my first rally, well the first that I can remember was reasonably local to me in Exeter, in Haldon Forest (which they don't use any more). I must have only been 2 or 3 and remember very little of it, but what I can remember shaped my image of rallying. There was a particular moment when we were walking along the stage and heard whistles, the shouts of 'CAR' and then I was hauled off the stage onto a bank. At some point Pat Doran came round in his Sierra (I remember that it was Pat Doran because he was my brother's favourite driver) and promptly rolled it just down the stage from us. He was soon put back on his wheels and went on his way, it was probably that one moment that hooked me.

[A.F.F.]

...and to answer the topic question...here's why I love rallying...A.F.F are you among those spectators ? :cool:



Probably. But if you dig the clip where Henkka brakes and slides to the ditch with Lancia 037, I am there about 20 meters away. For some reason my dad always chose the stages from south of Jyväskylä. Btw, if that clip was from 1986, I was 14 years old then but I still was a bit afraid of S1 when it passed by. The sound/smell combination was amazing :D