Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEX.
On the topic of rallying Dave, I know you love to follow it, but what has your experience on gravel been over the years in terms of driving cars? The odd few hundred meters in your rex has been done (dunno if you've done other stuff) but have you been out to some tracks in other cars over the years? What's stirred your passion for it so much?
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I have driven plenty of gravel roads over the years, but nothing ever competitive.
I grew up watching it, started when I went to my first Rally Aus in 1990, and was hooked. Went every year after that until it ended. I miss the days of old when they used to make the cars dance and skip around corners.
Today's rallying driving styles seems to precise and clinical, which is sure to be faster, but used to love hearing the car approaching through the forest, then all of a sudden seeing it come around the corner in a big slide on opposite lock. Don't see too many Scandinavian flicks anymore.
Rallying in those days was also very accessible. I got to meet all the top level drivers face to face, chat with them etc.
I would leave on some days of the rally at 3am just to get the best spots on the stages for viewing. Would spend ages camped out in the bush, watch the top 10 or 15 cars, then high-tail it to the next stage or service park. Would cram in as much as possible. And the variety of cars was great too... Lancia, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Toyota, Ford, Seat, Skoda.
Watching the service crews was another great thing to see. Watched a crew change a gearbox inside 15 mins once. So many great drivers who could be fighting for podiums, instead of watching Loeb simply win everything. Juha, Colin, Richard, Didier, Carlos, Marko, Francois, Miki, Marcus, Harri, Possum, the list goes on. We also have some spectacular stages here, the Sotico stages, Stirling West, Atkins, Muresk.
Anyway, I could go on all day Alex... I have a multitude of great memories, and cupboards full of photos and memorabilia.