Rally of the Voyageurs, July 15th., 2017
Spectating
“And rallying, I’m afraid, is a sport for the terminally gormless.”
Jeremy Clarkson
There are a few people around like us who lack gorm, especially the organizer types. Spectating involves standing around for hours in the heat, rain, snow, dust and bugs to see a car whiz by for a few seconds. It’s what we do.
Voyageurs has the advantage in that what it lacks in snow it makes up for in bugs and dust. We have two spectator areas this year with limited parking. The first is at the entrance to an active quarry about 800 meters from the Hwy. 507 (Picture) end of the stage, the second is an open area 1.4 Km in from the Highway. (Picture)
Here is a top map of the general area. The start of the stage is at the junction of Rd. 507 and the fire access road, (GPS 44.685882, -78.359144), the service area is 8.9km. South of the stage (GPS 44.685882, -78.359144)
If you want to get into one of the spectator points in the morning you must be at the stage start by 11:00AM After that the road will be closed. Car 00 should start the stage at about 11:20 and Car 0 at 11:35. Car one should enter the stage at 11:47 and then cars should be one minute apart. Expect the return stage to start to start at around 12:30. There is a break for service around 2:00PM when there is a short span where people can exit or enter the stage. The Rally should be over by 5:00PM. A detailed schedule is here
You can understand that as organizers, a spectator or worker getting injured is our biggest worry.
Rally fans are some of the hardiest spectators on the planet. They have to brave the elements to witness the challenges that the competitors face as they battle each other and the clock over the most demanding stages that the organisers can create.
The chance to witness the extraordinary talents of the drivers inevitably leads to an assault on the senses of speed and noise, not to mention the smell of hot oil and glowing brakes – for many this is what attracts them to the stages.
Most important of all is the safety information– designed to keep everyone safe and ensure that we can all go home again after a great day’s fun and entertainment. The Rally organisers have done all the pre-event planning possible to identify the safest possible viewing areas for you. Please use them.
Please also listen to the marshals and follow their instructions. Similarly, please adhere to any instructions given by the safety cars that precede the rally cars. If you do not follow the instructions, you run the risk that the stage will be cancelled and you won’t get to see any rally cars at all.
Please remember that when a rally car is out of control, it could go anywhere. Expect the unexpected at all times and take full responsibility for your safety and that of others around you.
Pay Attention To The Banner Tape!
Make sure you keep the green banner tape between you and the stage road. This will keep you in the safest place possible. When the stage is active, remain standing and know where you’re going to run if something unexpected happens!
Some areas are riskier to be in, but you might see accredited media or event officials there. These people are familiar with the sport, are officially registered with the event, and are only in these areas if they need to be. Often these areas look safe, but the organsiers have identified a concern and decided to not let people watch the event from there for good reasons.
Absolutely no one is allowed behind red tape areas during the rally. These areas have the high probability of danger and are likely where the cars will go if they have a problem.
Listen To Our Volunteers!
Look for our people. These are the people who are there to make sure you stay as safe as possible, we appreciate your listening to their advice and do as they ask. If you see someone who might be a hazard to themselves or others, let one of our volunteers know about it so they can address the situation quickly.
Watch For The Course Cars
Before the competitors are set loose on the stage, three ‘course cars’ drive through the stage to makes sure everything is safe and secure.
The cars are labeled 00 and 0 and travel the stage in that order for stages A1 and B1. Unless there is a delay we will only run car 0 for the other stages. These safety crews have the final say when it comes to safety and the stage will not run if they don’t think everyone is as safe as possible. Once Car 0 has passed, get ready for the excitement as the next car will be a rally car at speed!
At the other end of the pack you’ll see and 99, a pair of SUVs or Trucks that ‘sweep’ behind the rally and possibly a medic crew. Only after the closing cars have passed will the volunteers be able to let you leave the spectator area. In our case the only oporunity to exit the stage will be between stages A4 and B1, around 2:00PM or after the rally is over.
Mind The Gap
The cars start every minute. Depending where you are in the stage the gap between cars may have increased or decreased significantly. Never assume there is going to be time between cars. Competitors can also have problems and be delayed significantly. If you haven’t seen the course closing cars then you have to assume there will be more rally cars coming!
Constant Contact
Because we’re rallying out in the woods and phone coverage is usually spotty at best, the events use a radio network that has radio operators placed at important points all along the route. The radio network’s primary role is to track the competitors and help the organizers quickly react to a missing car. However, the radio operators also relay information as needed to Spectator areas and other workers if there are delays during the event.
Be Ready For Anything
The hazards at a rally are a bit unpredictable, so stay on your feet, know your surroundings and know how to get out of harms way! It may not be just the cars you have to worry about, but something they might kick up from the road surface or some gravel spray as the push through the corners.