Somerset Stages 2014

[MrJan]

Entry list out and only 5 WRC cars but generally this is a good rally.

http://www.somersetstagesrally.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Entry-List-060414.pdf

Anyone got maps/times? Saw something on BRF about Porlock being 1st stage, which will mean an early start!

[Allyc85]

Shame there isn't a few more WRC's but it should be a decent Focus battle at the front!

Porlock being first really isn't ideal is it? Think it will mean the same kind of early start as a rally in south Wales! Should be worth it though!

[Allyc85]

Good day out yesterday, spectating on Porlock, Croydon and Bats Castle. Left home a bit late, but beat google maps estimated journey time by 20 minutes with a short stop, and without a slap from mum!!

Gutted for David Bogie to retire with a misfire after one stage, I am pretty sure he would have taken the win if the car hadn't let him down.

Smith's 6R4 sounded bloomin epic both on the stage and when passing us after Porlock, sounds like he and the car had a lucky escape when they went off.

Shame the narrow minded yocals can't deal with 1 day of minor disruption. Apparently cars waiting to be recovered had potatoes shoved up their exhausts.
My video from Bats Castle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da8F0--Ln-M

Pics to follow when the PC I have copied them to decides that it wants to work...

[MrJan]

Gutted for David Bogie to retire with a misfire after one stage, I am pretty sure he would have taken the win if the car hadn't let him down.

Yeah was disappointing even as a spectator, would have liked to have seen him and Bird battling it out all day.

Had a decent day watching but nothing photo wise, never quite watched in the right spot. Managed to see the front runners of the main field 5 times, twice through Porlock, once in Whits Wood and twice through Chargot. All pretty decent spots really, especially in Whits. We wandered into a corner that we've watched at before and were stood about when I noticed someone watching and wearing a race suit, couldn't work out why though as there was no car around. Wasn't until another guy clambered up from the bank opposite that I realised that there was a car off, about 20ft below the stage! Guys in 204 (a Nova) had gone off on the slippery surface and rolled down the hill a bit. You could see how it happened, the stage was unbelievably slippery and lots of people had moments, including the Elise which went amazingly close to rolling. The excitement all ended when car 48 (a blue Astra) locked up and went off the edge too. Car and crew were fine but they were stuck just off the edge of the stage so had to warn everyone to slow down. Bit of a shame as was a good spot, but meant we had time to get to Chargot.

[Allyc85]

I wasn't sure about Whits Wood as when I recced it, it seemed a bit tight. Might make the effort next year if they keep it in!

A few of my pics..

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/13899905453_59ae836e96_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13899905453/)
Somerset Stages 2014 - Croydon (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13899905453/) by Alastair Cummins (https://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/13875496335_8c60433d5c_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13875496335/)
_DSC0106 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13875496335/) by Alastair Cummins (https://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/13900384644_7f608b6a0c_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13900384644/)
Somerset Stages 2014 - Croydon (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13900384644/) by Alastair Cummins (https://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/13900581834_ec3388fdf1_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13900581834/)
Somerset Stages 2014 - Croydon (https://www.flickr.com/photos/allyc85/13900581834/) by Alastair Cummins (https://www.flickr.com/people/allyc85/), on Flickr

[MrJan]

Great shot of the Escort :up:

We ended up in Whits largely just because of timings. By the time we left Porlock we realised that it was either there or Chargot so made a dash for Whits. It's not a great stage but because it's narrow and bumpy it can be interesting. Also it was really, really slippery. When we turned up half way through the 1400s there was still a lot of grass off line and the guys in 204 said that the whole stage was pretty much like that when they went through. Even after the top 4WD boys had been through it was still a really difficult stage. I suspect that under different conditions though it could be a bit dull, one of those stages where sometimes you're lucky.

[306 Cosworth]

Yeah I was in Whits too, the first left hander after the start at the top of the hill. Was mega slippery and got some very nice footage!

Think the Somerset Stages was the best rally of the year for me so far (aside from Monte Carlo obviously!!!)

Got some great footage on Porlock, loved being able to stand on the inside of the second hairpin. Got some cracking shots, Whits Wood as I said above, was very slippy and again some nice shots, although I failed to get there in time for the 1400s due to Dunster being closed.

Last stage I did the final corner of Timberscombe. Plenty of action there, with Petch going wide and losing the rally on that corner. Had the road side camera run over 3 times in total too haha

[MrJan]

Yeah I was in Whits too, the first left hander after the start at the top of the hill. Was mega slippery and got some very nice footage!

Think the Somerset Stages was the best rally of the year for me so far (aside from Monte Carlo obviously!!!)

Got some great footage on Porlock, loved being able to stand on the inside of the second hairpin. Got some cracking shots, Whits Wood as I said above, was very slippy and again some nice shots, although I failed to get there in time for the 1400s due to Dunster being closed.

Last stage I did the final corner of Timberscombe. Plenty of action there, with Petch going wide and losing the rally on that corner. Had the road side camera run over 3 times in total too haha

Yeah saw you on the inside of the hairpin on Porlock, have always said that it's where I'd stand if I could get up early enough to get a media bib :D

[306 Cosworth]

Well worth it if you're allowed to stand there. One of the most enjoyable shots/locations I've ever filmed at. It helped that the majority of the crews were all chucking it in on the handbrake. Something which doesn't usually happen on asphalt only events.

[306 Cosworth]

Ally which junction in Croydon are your gravel shots from?

[Allyc85]

Junction 14, one of your guys was filming from just to the left of the pictures :)

[MrJan]

Well worth it if you're allowed to stand there. One of the most enjoyable shots/locations I've ever filmed at. It helped that the majority of the crews were all chucking it in on the handbrake. Something which doesn't usually happen on asphalt only events.

Was saying to my old man that it's probably my favourite corner that we watch at on any rally. You don't always get spectacular but it's always entertaining and something interesting happens. This year there was a green Evo nearly off the edge, a 205 driving into the bank twice and an Escort basically doing a donut.

Generally not a fan of hairpins but another one with good photo/video options is Piccadilly on Epynt

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/9629825646_4fc49db10b_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/fEXnEE)IMG_1167 (https://flic.kr/p/fEXnEE) by Jan Yeo (https://www.flickr.com/people/7887315@N02/), on Flickr