Rally racer leaves scene of crash, Having wiped out several people. Options

[Randal]

Check out the video

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/26/j...c_n_403957.html

Rally racing, truly a spectator sport.

[moggy]

I've been involved in rallying for as long as I can remember and am presently peddling a 914 in the British Historic Championship. Here's a short clip of me in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SeD-J6JqYY

Firstly, rallying is a huge spectator sports in many countries. Quite often these countries are places where safety comes a distance second over enthusiasm for the sport and the need for the spectators to get as close to the action as possible. This is one of the very few motor sports where the spectators can get so close the the action. Spectator deaths and the fact that the Group B cars were getting too fast for the drivers to cope with was the reason why they got banned in '85/6.

This incident has been discussed in depth on rally forums. It happened right at the finish line where there was a radio car and medical assistance. The officials waved the guy to continue the 50m to the finish line. As he was doing so the officials were already on there way to the scene. It certainly wasn't as cold hearted an incident as the press made it out to be. PLEASE don't believe the press in these situations, as you all should know they are prone to over-sensationalism and one-sidedness in the aim of a good story.

On another note - It's certainly strange that rallying is not big in the US. All that space and great dirt track roads. There's a big resurgence of Historic rallying in Europe at the moment 60' and 70's car mainly. Do some searches on youtube for 'Historic Rally' or check out rally's like:

Mid Wales Stages Historics
Severn Valley Stages Historics
Manx Rally Historics
Omloop Van Vlanderen

and many more

[Silverstreak]

I've been involved in rallying for as long as I can remember and am presently peddling a 914 in the British Historic Championship. Here's a short clip of me in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SeD-J6JqYY

Firstly, rallying is a huge spectator sports in many countries. Quite often these countries are places where safety comes a distance second over enthusiasm for the sport and the need for the spectators to get as close to the action as possible. This is one of the very few motor sports where the spectators can get so close the the action. Spectator deaths and the fact that the Group B cars were getting too fast for the drivers to cope with was the reason why they got banned in '85/6.

This incident has been discussed in depth on rally forums. It happened right at the finish line where there was a radio car and medical assistance. The officials waved the guy to continue the 50m to the finish line. As he was doing so the officials were already on there way to the scene. It certainly wasn't as cold hearted an incident as the press made it out to be. PLEASE don't believe the press in these situations, as you all should know they are prone to over-sensationalism and one-sidedness in the aim of a good story.

On another note - It's certainly strange that rallying is not big in the US. All that space and great dirt track roads. There's a big resurgence of Historic rallying in Europe at the moment 60' and 70's car mainly. Do some searches on youtube for 'Historic Rally' or check out rally's like:

Mid Wales Stages Historics
Severn Valley Stages Historics
Manx Rally Historics
Omloop Van Vlanderen

and many more

Moggy,
You are my new idol! Did you build the car to rally spec on your own? I'm dying to get into rally driving here on the Gulf coast of the States. But like you said, people just aren't that into it around here. There are tons of twisty hard packred clay roads around here to slide around on. I'm going to have to pry some info out of you once I get my hands on a car. If I can't source a 914 I may go with an old BMW 3 series or 2002, but a 914 would be tops!