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Just a quick summary of random info and observations from a stage worker's perspective on Sandhills:
- As always, the stages present a good challenge to machinery prep, a challenge to the fast drivers to keep up speed in variable sand depth and ruts, and relatively safe stages for new drivers to get their first rally experience (Man, can that sand slow you down in a hurry..)
- Stage 2 was indeed delayed when some spectators suddenly darted out of the designated areas and down the stage; it took a 15 minute delay at the start to convince them that indeed the stage would be cancelled if they did not return.
- The orginal car '0' broke down on stage 4. (It had an ECU short that was tracked down well after the registar's car was pressed into car '0' duties, running at reduced speed!)
- As I heard it, Stage 4 also was run as a transit for safety after some people gathering pine straw mulch were found in the roads adjacent to the forest road. The Forest personnel were very prompt in responding and did some extra checks for us without even being asked; they always are great to work with there.
- Medical and ham teams were prompt and on time in every case. The hams in particular really seem to get into this event, and have evloved a good knowledge of what to do over several years' participation.
The rest of the stages went pretty well, and the event finished pretty close to schedule if not on schedule. (I was too busy pulling one of our stage team's cars out of the sand at the end to keep track of time!)
Anders Green and Amy Feistel ran the event for their first full rally, and did an impressive job of preparing and organizing, and placing the event functions in new locations that gave more exposure. (Tech, for instance, was at the Cheraw SC Ford dealer, and the facility was nice to work in.) Please extend your positive comments to Anders and Amy for their hard work; it paid off. And they created some new documents for the event that add a lot, like the spectator booklet and rally guide.
We had some first time volunteers on our stage team, and they were thoroughly impressed with, and enthused about, rallying. One was a circle track racer from Florence, SC, and he said he would be telling all his oval track friends how impressive it was. Another couple drive all the way from Warsaw IN to work while their son co-drove in his first event; they will be back!
Well, not much of a report I guess, but I was pleased to be there and see that it came off well, as an event that is fun to run.....as it seems to be every year.
Regards,
Mark B.
- As always, the stages present a good challenge to machinery prep, a challenge to the fast drivers to keep up speed in variable sand depth and ruts, and relatively safe stages for new drivers to get their first rally experience (Man, can that sand slow you down in a hurry..)
- Stage 2 was indeed delayed when some spectators suddenly darted out of the designated areas and down the stage; it took a 15 minute delay at the start to convince them that indeed the stage would be cancelled if they did not return.
- The orginal car '0' broke down on stage 4. (It had an ECU short that was tracked down well after the registar's car was pressed into car '0' duties, running at reduced speed!)
- As I heard it, Stage 4 also was run as a transit for safety after some people gathering pine straw mulch were found in the roads adjacent to the forest road. The Forest personnel were very prompt in responding and did some extra checks for us without even being asked; they always are great to work with there.
- Medical and ham teams were prompt and on time in every case. The hams in particular really seem to get into this event, and have evloved a good knowledge of what to do over several years' participation.
The rest of the stages went pretty well, and the event finished pretty close to schedule if not on schedule. (I was too busy pulling one of our stage team's cars out of the sand at the end to keep track of time!)
Anders Green and Amy Feistel ran the event for their first full rally, and did an impressive job of preparing and organizing, and placing the event functions in new locations that gave more exposure. (Tech, for instance, was at the Cheraw SC Ford dealer, and the facility was nice to work in.) Please extend your positive comments to Anders and Amy for their hard work; it paid off. And they created some new documents for the event that add a lot, like the spectator booklet and rally guide.
We had some first time volunteers on our stage team, and they were thoroughly impressed with, and enthused about, rallying. One was a circle track racer from Florence, SC, and he said he would be telling all his oval track friends how impressive it was. Another couple drive all the way from Warsaw IN to work while their son co-drove in his first event; they will be back!
Well, not much of a report I guess, but I was pleased to be there and see that it came off well, as an event that is fun to run.....as it seems to be every year.
Regards,
Mark B.
