nick205
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 09:20 AM |
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BBC4 Group B rally documentary
Watched Sunday's episode of the BBC4 documentary on group B rallying last night. Very interesting to gain an insight into how things got out of
hand and how quickly it all happened.
I think it was Toivenen or Rhorl who commented how one year he was driving cars with 150bhp, RWD, live axle then 3-4 years later they were in 500bhp
4WD bespoke machines - too far too fast!
I was also interested to hear the differing views on the issues with spectators, particularly in Portugal and Italy. Personally I don't see how
any blame whatsoever can be leveled at the drivers for any risk or actual injury to spectators - it's motor sport and drivers will lose control
when pushing to the limit. The responsibility lies squarely with the organisers and the spectators themselves - why would you think it's OK to
try and touch a car travelling at high speed on loose surfaces 
On the plus side it was great to see footage of those amazing machines and equally amazing drivers. They just look so much faster and more exciting
the the modern WRC cars.
Looking forward to the next installments.
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daniel mason
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 09:57 AM |
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it was a great programme. i really enjoyed it.
but why did they let the portugese amateur out in the works rs200 with no testing? absolute nuts!
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HomersDouble
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 10:14 AM |
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I watched as well, but it made me think I look at those times through some slightly rose tinted specs.
From a spectacle and engineering point of view they were fantastic times - fantastically fast, noisy and innovative cars driven by some hugely
talented drivers. However this film and the recent Senna one showed the side of motorsport that had largely washed over me at the time, namely the
politics involved and in particular the antics of J M Balestre - the man was so self centrered, arrogant and probably corrupt that he obviously
believed that the whole of motorsport was his personal plaything.
The Bernie & Max partnership that followed had its faults, but I do believe that most of their decisions where based on proper safety and
commercial grounds.
My lasting (now slightly less enthusiastic) memories are of flying cars decked out in Martini stripes and the great sound of the 6R4s.....
Chris
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richard thomas
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 10:21 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
it was a great programme. i really enjoyed it.
but why did they let the portugese amateur out in the works rs200 with no testing? absolute nuts!
Ford were late into the game and looking for results i think....and he was a capable driver...as his co-driver and manager said, he lost control due
to a road position adjustment to miss a spectator in the road immediately before he hit the crowd....found it hard to swallow that the poor sod who
got hit in the interview blamed the driver when he was stood where he was - I know it was the done thing (then) but it was obvious to all what the
risks were. Almost a game....
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daniel mason
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 10:48 AM |
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im not saying he wasnt a competent driver. just that he had never driven a rally car with this power. let alone with spectators stood everywhere. he
simply should not have been in that car on that day. and as for the spectators. there should have been more control over where they were stoood.
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omega 24 v6
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 11:41 AM |
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quote:
and in particular the antics of J M Balestre - the man was so self centrered, arrogant and probably corrupt that he obviously believed that the whole
of motorsport was his personal plaything
I feel sad that you have painted such a nice picture of this guy LOL ( sarcasm).
Excellent programme and amazing that so few spectators were killed. Nowadays theyd just shut the stage and rightly so.
If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.
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bi22le
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 01:32 PM |
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Is this a series or one off? What was it called and when. ill have a look tonight to see if my tivo piled it up.
I have been goodwood and heard back to back modern and old group B rally cars run at full chat.
They all seemed loud to me and like mice compared to the age comparative bikes and track day cars of the time.
inspirational cars and formula though to any motosport discipline.
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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iank
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 01:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
...
I have been goodwood and heard back to back modern and old group B rally cars run at full chat.
They all seemed loud to me and like mice compared to the age comparative bikes and track day cars of the time.
...
You sometimes see turbo's called 'rotary silencers' as they reduce noise levels a lot.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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nick205
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 03:13 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by richard thomas
quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
it was a great programme. i really enjoyed it.
but why did they let the portugese amateur out in the works rs200 with no testing? absolute nuts!
Ford were late into the game and looking for results i think....and he was a capable driver...as his co-driver and manager said, he lost control due
to a road position adjustment to miss a spectator in the road immediately before he hit the crowd....found it hard to swallow that the poor sod who
got hit in the interview blamed the driver when he was stood where he was - I know it was the done thing (then) but it was obvious to all what the
risks were. Almost a game....
Ditto re: the Portuguese spectator - IMHO he was 100% in the wrong, he chose to stand there and put himself at great risk. Anyone of the drivers
could have lost control for any number of reasons including mechanical failure. I'm amazed the fatalities and casualties were as low as they
were when you consider the car was travelling at a stated 130kph.
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nick205
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 03:14 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
Is this a series or one off? What was it called and when. ill have a look tonight to see if my tivo piled it up.
It's a series with 2-3 more episodes I think - should be available on iPlayer.
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wicket
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 03:23 PM |
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It's on again tonight BBC4 8pm. Think it's only the one program shown several times.
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jacko
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 04:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by wicket
It's on again tonight BBC4 8pm. Think it's only the one program shown several times.
Thank you for the head up
Jacko
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bobinspain
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 06:57 PM |
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Watched oodles of motorsport on sunday, including this excellent Group B rally programme.
I supplemented it with around 3 or 4 hours coverage of the first meeting of the season for BTCC, Ginetta Junior G40, Snrs G55 and G60 racing.
It's 'real racing' with the kitty-litter round the Brands (Indy) circuit getting some real hammer.
With virtually no pre-season testing, Jason Plato's debut in the MG KX was nothing short of sensational.
Most of the drivers, whatever the class took no prisoners, even the 14-17 year olds in the junior class were 'going for it.' (Very lucky
lads to be driving such tasty machinery at their age).
[Edited on 3/4/12 by bobinspain]
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coozer
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| posted on 3/4/12 at 09:11 PM |
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The opening shot on the Iplayer is awesome, it will NEVER happen again!
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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scudderfish
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| posted on 4/4/12 at 12:50 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by coozer
The opening shot on the Iplayer is awesome, it will NEVER happen again!
For good reason! I don't particularly have anything against running cars like that, but the 'management' of the spectators was
asking for carnage. I'm surprised so few were killed.
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mds167
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| posted on 4/4/12 at 01:00 PM |
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quote:
Watched oodles of motorsport on sunday, including this excellent Group B rally programme.
I supplemented it with around 3 or 4 hours coverage of the first meeting of the season for BTCC, Ginetta Junior G40, Snrs G55 and G60 racing.
It's 'real racing' with the kitty-litter round the Brands (Indy) circuit getting some real hammer.
+1 for Ginettas - I've been wathcing the Ginetta Juniors for the last couple of years on ITV4 but missed them last weekend.
Will look out for the late nmight re-runs! Prefer wathcing the ginettas to the Clios, single seaters and Porsches.
More fun than F1 and amazing to see the kids get out from behind the wheel and talk so cohesively about their performance and that of the car. Hoep to
see some stars of tomorrow...
As for the Group B programme, I've taped it (well got in on the hard drive) to watch later....
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