[Doug Woods]

From the latest post in the Press Releases Forum:

"John Nagel, the only North American ever to host a World Rally event, ..."

Sigh. I would have expected Nagel to know better than to write something like this. I would also have expected the Moderators to read the press releases before posting them and to recognize such nonsense when they read it.

Doug Woods

 

[Foghorn]

Just another case of you Canadians being North American wannabe's.

Kent Gardam

 

[Doug Woods]

>Just another case of you Canadians being North American
>wannabe's.

Kent:

Not quite. Forgetting the two Canadian events that were part of the World Rally Championship (Rideau Lakes and Criterium de Quebec), the press release also ingnores the fact that the POR was a WRC event.

Doug Woods

 

[Jim]

I read it before I posted it. It is not my job to decide if his press release has facts or lies in it. It is a press release. Feel free to discuss his claims all you want. If I was to reject press releases because if incorrect statments, we probably would not have any press releases. :+

Regardless, I changed it to say "John Nagel, one of the only North Americans ever to host a World Rally event," just because I can.

So there you have it...

 

[Wink Timber]

RE: Olympus Rally? NARA?

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but...

I thought John Nagel's health was quite bad, and that he could not get around much these days, much less undertake a journey to observe the Monte Carlo Rallye.

And isn't "Olympus Rally" a registered trademark of SCCA? Has Nagel gotten permission to use it again?

A few years ago John flooded the national rally forums with all kinds of tales about a couple of major rallies he was going to put on, but they never came about. Some of the people he listed on his committee did not know they were supposed to be involved until they saw their names on his list.

I certainly appreciate what John Nagel did for the sport in the 1980s, but I don't believe he has the same connections nor abilities that he had in those days.

Are these the ravings of a madman? Or will these events finally come to pass? Enlightenment appreciated.

 

[Doug Woods]

Jim:

>I read it before I posted it. It is not my job to decide if
>his press release has facts or lies in it. It is a press
>release. Feel free to discuss his claims all you want. If I
>was to reject press releases because if incorrect statments,
>we probably would not have any press releases. :+

I see your point. I did not mean to dump on the Moderators, it was the press release that bothered me.

>Regardless, I changed it to say "John Nagel, one of the only
>North Americans ever to host a World Rally event," just
>because I can.

Thanks.

>So there you have it...

I don't know if it is just me, but it does sadden me when people ignore or distort the history of our sport in North America. With all the posts on SS about the future of rallying, perhaps we could all benefit by knowing where we came from, what we did right and what we did wrong.

Doug Woods

 

[Topi]

RE: Olympus Rally? NARA?

Doug,
I think Jim's first version was correct; John Nagel IS the only North American to put on WRC....
Here why: The official WRC started in 1979 and Bjorn Waldegard was The First FIA WRC Champ!
- 1979 "Quebec rally" was part of the championship BUT that was the time French Canadians ansked to be officially French...so thet makes Quebec organizers European. Right?

- John has done more than anyone for the US rallying, what ever happens in the future doesn't matter. The man is a legend.

Tim - it's easy to test if John has any connection left:
- Take 14 of your pals, go to M-C and see who gets red carpet.....

- To be a rallyist been mad is a requirement. Nothing new there.

 

[Doug Woods]

RE: Olympus Rally? NARA?

>Doug,
>I think Jim's first version was correct; John Nagel IS the
>only North American to put on WRC....
>Here why: The official WRC started in 1979 and Bjorn
>Waldegard was The First FIA WRC Champ!
>- 1979 "Quebec rally" was part of the championship BUT that
>was the time French Canadians ansked to be officially
>French...so thet makes Quebec organizers European. Right?

Topi:

Sorry, your facts are not correct. The WRC for DRIVERS started then, however the WRC for MANUFACTURERS started in 1973.

I have no idea what you are getting at with the comments on the "Quebec Rally" which was the Criterium de Quebec and was a WRC event from 1977 to 1979.

It was a very well supported event with full factory teams from Ford, Fiat, Datsun, etc. Some of the best specatating that I have ever done, with many of your Finnish greats competing such as Vatanen, Makinen, Salonen, Alen and Lampinen. The teams and the drivers were there because it was a WRC event.

Doug Woods

P.S. If you go to the site below, you will find all of the WRC statistics since 1973:

http://gamma.nic.fi/~globe/rally/paradise/

 

[Topi]

RE: Olympus Rally? NARA?

- Not SO successful.....

The Criterium Molson du Quebec, Round Eight of the World Rally Championship, was a battle between Ford and Datsun and between the competitors and the weather. The tail end of a hurricane caused torrential downpours for the Canadian event. The Ford Escort RS1800s of Bjorn Waldergaard and Ari Vatanen built up a lead over the Datsun 160J of Timo Salonen on the first day. However in the rain of the second day Waldergaard lost seven minutes due to drowning out and Vatanen dropped thirteen. This allowed Salonen into the lead, however Waldergaard retook the lead on the last day with just two stages to go. The win gave Waldergaard and Ford substantial leads in their respective World Championships. The event was also notable for a low entry - there were only 39 starters - and poor organisation.

- PS. I only hear good thing about Candaian/Quebec area rallies. Vinni Frontinna, among others, love to rally there. I went to Montreal F1 and had FUN. French-Canadians love motor racing!