Tristan

We left Bristol late Thursday afternoon for this years Network Q Rally of GB, meeting another car load of friends just over the Severn Bridge. Despite the price increase we had decided to do the Super Special, Trawscoed and Rheola.

One of us had ordered the tickets from the website and we had 3 envelopes full of stuff to sort out. 4 tickets for the Super Special, 4 day passes, one car pass and 8 event guides.

On arrival at the Super Special we parked in Splot market and got the free bus to the docks. We went through two sets of ticket checks and into the super special. A great evening was had by all and a free huge hand and Muller rice was acquired whilst watching.

On leaving the docks we headed West towards Trawscoed. Being issued with passes for car park F off the B4337 from LLandeilo. Small printing error by the organisers on their maps as the road is the B4302 from Llandeilo which then meets the B4337 but our local knowledge steered us around this problem.

On arriving at Car Park F we were met with a request for car passes we duly showed ours but our other vehicle did not possess one so they refused entry despite having day passes. We do understand how this happened but we do believe the organisers would have known it is very difficult for 4 people to sleep in one normal sized saloon car. We argued for 20 minutes but fair play to the marshals they stood their ground and we were sent on our way.

We drove up to car park D where a huge queue had formed with many people in the same predicament as us. Luckily for us the marshal had walked so far away from the ticket check point that we explained we had no car pass for the second car they said pull over by the caravan and it will be sorted. As we approached the queue for the caravan was huge and we nipped down the outside of this traffic and onto the parking area. Yes we were wrong to do it but when you have paid several hundred pounds to see the rally not a lot was going to stop us getting onto the stage.

A few beers and fireworks later we settled down for a remarkably warm night in the welsh forests. Being only 5 mins away from the stage a leisurely breakfast was had and we wandered up onto the stage.

Comments had been made about spectator pens and this had been a little worrying but they were of good size with plenty of good spots to see the cars. Although the way they had made the area it was very muddy with banking either side which was a little soft in places. A hairpin right was chosen for the first run through and all the cars got round with precision although a few went wide and the odd wheel looked like it was over the edge of a large drop.

Lunch followed and we returned to the stage going in the opposite direction for the second running. Reports had come through that Brechfa 2 had been cancelled and even marshals had been attacked. The excuse of spectators not standing in the correct place was used. The sector marshal for our area wandered down telling everyone this and a fair few rude comments were heard from both sides. The FIA safety and entourage passed through with no problems. With the stage under way we watched the cars come into a slight right onto a straight and into a couple of bumpy left rights, plenty of sliding and oohhs and arrhhss from the crowd were heard.

We watched the top cars through and returned to our cars to make the trip to Rheola 1. A decision was made to leave one car close to the entrance and travel in one motor to the stage to save any more aggravation over car passes. With the traffic and despite local knowledge as we approached car park F we had 20 mins until the stage started. Through 3 check points we turned up onto the access road and stopped. We sat there with a queue of traffic in front of us out came the OS map and we worked out we could park the car safely and walk into the stage and we may make it to see the top ones through.

As we pulled in we were told we couldn't park there as it was two way traffic and as time ticked away it was clear there would be no chance to see this stage we reluctantly turned the car around and left. No doubt the non running of Brechfa 2 had not helped with all those rushing to Rheola to see some action.

A fast food tea followed and myself and Tom decided to continue to Halfway while the others returned home. A drive up through the Vale of Neath showed the massive amount of traffic that had been on Rheola and the headlights from cars could be seen miles into the forests. Although the car park officially didn't open until 6am for pay on entry we decided it was better to be as close as possible to the entrance so we turned off the main road at Brecon and onto the ranges. Surprisingly the gates were open and £40 was duly handed over and another two event guides thrust upon us and we drove the 6 miles into Halfway. With very few arrows and no directions we stumbled onto the stage and drove along it until Dixies and parked up.

We did make a mistake here and should have parked the southern side of the stage so we could leave by the southern route but this is noted for future years. With close to 12 hrs sleep a rare thing on the rally we awoke refreshed and looking forward to the two runs of the stage. Walking along the stage we chose Dears Leap to watch. Very exciting with plenty of cars leaving the ground. Then Gronholm crashed at Dixies just out of view but we stood our ground as lightning rarely strikes twice and we will kick ourselves for weeks for not wandering the couple of hundred yards to see two others go off at the same point. Oh well that's rallying for you.

After the stage had been cut short we walked up to see the damage and it was as the TV showed pretty bad, thankfully no one was injured although one person was airlifted from the scene. The local police were even on hand to guard the cars from eager trophy hunters. We returned to Dixies for the second running of the stage and despite caution boards a few went wide and clipped the same bank although no one lost it completely it made for some great action and a perfect end to our rally weekend.

As for the problems with the tickets I think we were lucky and got away with it but surely some didn't and we saw many a car miles from the stages on day one and no doubt there will be complaints and we hope a more sensible ticketing system could be used. All they had to do was ask how many cars we were bringing and not presuming 4 people can fit in one car for an overnight stay in the welsh forests. Would we do it again? Of course we would, we are true petrol heads.

Tristan
www.westonwheels.co.uk