Just a heads up to anyone thinking of visiting the FoD this weekend coming, the Wyedean Motorsport Rally takes place on Saturday.
Stage 1 runs through Sallowvallets enclosure [the main MTB area behind Pedalabikeaway] starting at about 09.00 and finishing at thePedalabikeaway overflow carpark.
Other stages run in and around the Family Cycle Trail throughout the day.
If you enjoy rallying, it’s a good day to combine MTBing with watching the rally. It’s a popular event though so as well as disruption to the dedicated MTB areas in the morning, there will be a lot of spectators and associated car parking issues.

And shed loads of awful driving, much of it from spectators. Its not a good time to cycle the roads.

Just a little bump for anyone thinking of visiting FoD this weekend 🙂

I’ll be there, should be a great day: cold, dry, mark2 escorts, forest, singletrack between lots of vantage points, what’s not to like?

And a couple of inches of snow forecast for early tommorrow morning, probably cold enough for it still to be around on Saturday which should make it interesting.

Any recommendations for a quick (30 to 60 minutes) of spectating with easy parking, short walk for me and my 3 year old? That’s if he’s interested.

Is there a map of the stages anywhere?

yep all here http://www.wyedeanrally.com/maps.pdf

Thanks – I can work out a spot from those.

psling – Member

And a couple of inches of snow forecast for early tommorrow morning, probably cold enough for it still to be around on Saturday which should make it interesting.

Sounds like it could be fun then, might just pack a camera

Sorry for the numpty question, is it a vintage car rally or will we see more recent rally cars?

Will we get to see any 6r4’s rs200’s, quattro’s, etc.? 🙂

There is a Historic Vehicles Class I believe but I think it’s more Volvo Amazon, Saab, Mk I & II Escort than Quattro/Sratos/6R4 🙁
There should be a few Subarus/Evos/etc as well as all the hatchback classes.

http://www.wyedeanrally.com/entry.pdf

A couple of 6R4’s out & some WRC but mainly Lancer EVOs & Subarus.

Wow, great stuff!

would be great to see a 6r4 & Mk1 Escorts in action again.

Showing my age 😉

Have a look at maps and stage start times on links above, but beware first cars through are the 1400 class, (about 60 of them), then the historics, (about 30), so the big boys wont be starting until the stage has been live for at least 90 minutes after advertised start time.

Top 1400’s are indecently quick, especially downhill. Historics are fantastic – Escorts, Porches, Asconas – proper sideways rallying, and the main field is a right old mix, WRCs,Imprezas Evos, Escorts, 6R4s, Beemers and not forgetting the Discos and freelanders which are always good for a laugh as they don’t hang about.

stgeorge – Member

Have a look at maps and stage start times on links above, but beware first cars through are the 1400 class, (about 60 of them), then the historics, (about 30), so the big boys wont be starting until the stage has been live for at least 90 minutes after advertised start time.

Top 1400’s are indecently quick, especially downhill. Historics are fantastic – Escorts, Porches, Asconas – proper sideways rallying, and the main field is a right old mix, WRCs,Imprezas Evos, Escorts, 6R4s, Beemers and not forgetting the Discos and freelanders which are always good for a laugh as they don’t hang about.

Where would you say is the best place to view was stgeorge?

We are traveling from Worcestershire and I was thinking of going to Chepstow Racecource car park first, but any other tips for some good vantage points would be appreciated. 🙂

Where would you say is the best place to view was stgeorge?

We are traveling from Worcestershire and I was thinking of going to Chepstow Racecource car park first, but any other tips for some good vantage points would be appreciate

Never done the Chepstow bit, no stages and too busy for my liking.

If you’re driving down are you walking or riding once down?

If you’re driving down are you walking or riding once down?

Will be walking once there, or should that be sledging 😉

OK,

Depends how long you’re there and how many stages you want to see, bearing in mind it takes approx 3 hours for the whole field to pass. If walking we generally do two stages, one before and one after lunch.

Car Park H gives access to two stages easily and good places on both.

Stage 1 try Sallovallelets Map ref 606135 across road from car park – long fast open hairpin, down hill approach and uphill out, good viewing from up on banks on outside of bend (high enough to be out of danger).

Stage 2 and 7 Serridge. 5 ways corner Map Ref 615139 same side as car park H, on family bike trail. 90 left into right/left. Up on banks again, always people overshoot bend on stage 2 as long straight up to corner and it can get very icy there.

Stage 7 Serridge same car park H again but a further walk is 625139. Tight hairpin left after very fast approach, if its dry you’ll be shocked at how late the top cars can brake, if its snowy/icy its hilarious (See 2009)

Stahe 3 Speech House – is OK, but tends to be rather bland unless you walk a fair way, as mainly straight/turn, straight/turn not much flow to it. It is fast on the straights though.

You could stay in Serridge all day and watch both stages, but there will be a break of approx an hour in the middle, hence we’ll go to say stage 1 in am and then 7 in pm, staying in car park H, but a walk between stages at lunchtime to warm up and get burger from van if there.

Hope that helps. (Look out for old unfit bloke on White Kona Hardtail)

Hope you’ve got your woolly hats and gloves on! Cold and dry here this morning, still a dusting of frozen snow in places, I’m almost glad to be at work with the heating blasting out 😕

stgeorge – Member

OK,

Depends how long you’re there and how many stages you want to see, bearing in mind it takes approx 3 hours for the whole field to pass. If walking we generally do two stages, one before and one after lunch.

Car Park H gives access to two stages easily and good places on both.

Stage 1 try Sallovallelets Map ref 606135 across road from car park – long fast open hairpin, down hill approach and uphill out, good viewing from up on banks on outside of bend (high enough to be out of danger).

Stage 2 and 7 Serridge. 5 ways corner Map Ref 615139 same side as car park H, on family bike trail. 90 left into right/left. Up on banks again, always people overshoot bend on stage 2 as long straight up to corner and it can get very icy there.

Stage 7 Serridge same car park H again but a further walk is 625139. Tight hairpin left after very fast approach, if its dry you’ll be shocked at how late the top cars can brake, if its snowy/icy its hilarious (See 2009)

Stahe 3 Speech House – is OK, but tends to be rather bland unless you walk a fair way, as mainly straight/turn, straight/turn not much flow to it. It is fast on the straights though.

You could stay in Serridge all day and watch both stages, but there will be a break of approx an hour in the middle, hence we’ll go to say stage 1 in am and then 7 in pm, staying in car park H, but a walk between stages at lunchtime to warm up and get burger from van if there.

Hope that helps. (Look out for old unfit bloke on White Kona Hardtail)

Great advice stgeorge

Managed to get a parking spot in car park H & watched stage 2&7 as advised, great day, great company and all the oficials were super helpful.

& got some pic’s of the 6r4’s as well as others, its been over 20+ years seeing these types of cars in action, but was worth the effort.

Having them buzz past you when you are only feet away is an amazing experience.

Will post some pics I took latter, after I have warmed up a bit.

Thanks again stgeorge for the advice, I owe you a pint 😉

Glad to be of help. My God it was cold though. Good day out myself, spent the morning going around Verderers and various off piste tracks watching stage 1 from loads of different points, and afternoon in Serridge .

Cars were having a very tough time of it and much slower than usual as sheet ice everywhere, never seen it like that, ice is far worse than snow from a few years ago.

Ice/snow made the trails decidedly dodgy in places as well.

Cheers