WYIOC EOM Meet - 27th @ Squires Cafe Sherburn (RIP Colin Mcrae)
16 September 2007 | 04:54 PM
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WYIOC EOM Meet - 27th @ Squires Cafe Sherburn (RIP Colin Mcrae)
With the loss of one of our sports greatest drivers and with whom many of us wouldn't be in a Subaru, Evo, Focus or in this great club...... I'd like to take the time on this Months write up to have a poignant look over a sport that shapes the cars we drive and, without which, we wouldn't be enjoying the rich & varied events that the club takes part in.
For some, the early history of Rallying may be a little distant, but as a teenager looking at the bland cars driving around at that time, the 70's was truly a magical time which contained some of the most evocative Rally cars of all time.
The beautiful Lancia Stratos.
Driven by the likes of Markko Alen, the sound of the Ferrari V6 engine and it’s looks was the stuff of dreams...
The mundane looking Escort may not have been a simple saloon car on our roads at the time, but it left it’s indelible mark on the sport of Rallying... Just about every world rally champion from the past 30 years has competed in an Escort RS at some stage or just about every person from that that time lusted after a MK1 Mexico, Castrol RS or even a RS1600i.
Heroes of the time included Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, and Roger Clark who captivated us with their artistry behind the wheel...
The 80's saw some of the highest and lowest points in the sport's history.
Who can forget the Audi Quattro exploding on the scene in 81? Looking back now, it seems barely believable that such cars were ever let loose on the world rally stage. The battles between the Lancia and the Audi have passed into rallying legend and it was this battle that changed the sport forever.
This change saw the Quattro going head with the 500+ bhp Peugeot 205T16, the RS200, the Metro 6R4 and the Super and Turbo-charged Lancia Delta S4. For me, this was Rallying's peak... but the cars were simply too fast on stages that were packed with spectators.... some great drivers paid the price and fans also paid the price with some of the scenes of these cars flying headlong, barely under control down narrow roads, and only inches between packed spectator stages, staying with me till this day...
It was probably inevitable that these cars would be banned... The RS200 had barely got off the production line before the Group B plug was pulled..
The Group A era then evolved into what we now know as the WRC
It was at this time that a new interest in Rallying, helped by the TV rights and deals that were starting to become big business, that manufacturers from Japan & Korea stepped in. The Scandinavian drivers, such as Juha Kankkunen and Tommi Makinen continued to dominate the sport whilst others such as the spectacular Colin McRae (68-07, RIP), Carlos Sainz, and Didier Auriol proved that they could win on all surfaces as well and started to challenge the Scandinavian domination... later on, drivers such as Richard Burns and Petter Solberg led the way...... with Subaru..
Post 2000, the 'kit car' or Homologation specials have dominated the scene, mainly with Sebastien Loeb at the helm, as the sport hit a 'low' with only two manufacturers really leading the road car connection....
Sebastion has been the driver to beat with his style being reminiscent of the great Walter Rohrl (who is often voted by his peers as the best WRC driver of all time).
But with the likes of Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg around today expect some classic WRC battles going forward as we remember the life of one of the Sports great drivers and gentleman.....
RIP Colin.....15 WRC Victories with Subaru...
(some history, words and pictures taken from various rallying sites....)
*********
If you'd like to attend this month's EOM, we'll be holding a few Charity football card rounds to raise some cash for the charity the McRae family designates..
Usual Convoys from the Brickworks at 7pm.. meeting up at the Trading Post to set off with the group there from 7:20...
See you there.....
For some, the early history of Rallying may be a little distant, but as a teenager looking at the bland cars driving around at that time, the 70's was truly a magical time which contained some of the most evocative Rally cars of all time.
The beautiful Lancia Stratos.
Driven by the likes of Markko Alen, the sound of the Ferrari V6 engine and it’s looks was the stuff of dreams...
The mundane looking Escort may not have been a simple saloon car on our roads at the time, but it left it’s indelible mark on the sport of Rallying... Just about every world rally champion from the past 30 years has competed in an Escort RS at some stage or just about every person from that that time lusted after a MK1 Mexico, Castrol RS or even a RS1600i.
Heroes of the time included Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, and Roger Clark who captivated us with their artistry behind the wheel...
The 80's saw some of the highest and lowest points in the sport's history.
Who can forget the Audi Quattro exploding on the scene in 81? Looking back now, it seems barely believable that such cars were ever let loose on the world rally stage. The battles between the Lancia and the Audi have passed into rallying legend and it was this battle that changed the sport forever.
This change saw the Quattro going head with the 500+ bhp Peugeot 205T16, the RS200, the Metro 6R4 and the Super and Turbo-charged Lancia Delta S4. For me, this was Rallying's peak... but the cars were simply too fast on stages that were packed with spectators.... some great drivers paid the price and fans also paid the price with some of the scenes of these cars flying headlong, barely under control down narrow roads, and only inches between packed spectator stages, staying with me till this day...
It was probably inevitable that these cars would be banned... The RS200 had barely got off the production line before the Group B plug was pulled..
The Group A era then evolved into what we now know as the WRC
It was at this time that a new interest in Rallying, helped by the TV rights and deals that were starting to become big business, that manufacturers from Japan & Korea stepped in. The Scandinavian drivers, such as Juha Kankkunen and Tommi Makinen continued to dominate the sport whilst others such as the spectacular Colin McRae (68-07, RIP), Carlos Sainz, and Didier Auriol proved that they could win on all surfaces as well and started to challenge the Scandinavian domination... later on, drivers such as Richard Burns and Petter Solberg led the way...... with Subaru..
Post 2000, the 'kit car' or Homologation specials have dominated the scene, mainly with Sebastien Loeb at the helm, as the sport hit a 'low' with only two manufacturers really leading the road car connection....
Sebastion has been the driver to beat with his style being reminiscent of the great Walter Rohrl (who is often voted by his peers as the best WRC driver of all time).
But with the likes of Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg around today expect some classic WRC battles going forward as we remember the life of one of the Sports great drivers and gentleman.....
RIP Colin.....15 WRC Victories with Subaru...
(some history, words and pictures taken from various rallying sites....)
*********
If you'd like to attend this month's EOM, we'll be holding a few Charity football card rounds to raise some cash for the charity the McRae family designates..
Usual Convoys from the Brickworks at 7pm.. meeting up at the Trading Post to set off with the group there from 7:20...
See you there.....
Last edited by Alan C; 16 September 2007 at 05:18 PM.
16 September 2007 | 05:12 PM
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From: JB is @ Scoobyclinic.
Top write up Alan....
Im Stunned and lost for words... In 1995 I Was just turned 14 when Colin raised the silverwear for subaru, The colours of the blue and day-glow yellow were imprited on my brain, And have run through my blood ever since, I'll Always rember being 16 when colin was in the 22b rally car and telling my friends"one day i'll have a subaru' I took much stick for this statement but look now scoob no.4
Im heartbroken at the loss of colin, he always was and will be the biggest influnence on my lifestyle and choices, Come to think of it even my fasion sence
If you even look in my small SN Biog you'll see "Do you know who I think I Am' even the answer to that was Colin Mcrae
It makes you wonder why we have lost so many British drivers of the past few years.... Micheal park , Richard Burns , Roger Clark, colin Mcrea...to name but a few ..
I guess rallying is so close to the edge and you get so many near misses over the years .... That your name is moved up the list....
Thank you Colin Mcrae For all the joys and heartache you have given me and all the joy of owning subaru's
such a sad loss
Thanks JB
Im Stunned and lost for words... In 1995 I Was just turned 14 when Colin raised the silverwear for subaru, The colours of the blue and day-glow yellow were imprited on my brain, And have run through my blood ever since, I'll Always rember being 16 when colin was in the 22b rally car and telling my friends"one day i'll have a subaru' I took much stick for this statement but look now scoob no.4
Im heartbroken at the loss of colin, he always was and will be the biggest influnence on my lifestyle and choices, Come to think of it even my fasion sence
If you even look in my small SN Biog you'll see "Do you know who I think I Am' even the answer to that was Colin Mcrae It makes you wonder why we have lost so many British drivers of the past few years.... Micheal park , Richard Burns , Roger Clark, colin Mcrea...to name but a few ..
I guess rallying is so close to the edge and you get so many near misses over the years .... That your name is moved up the list....
Thank you Colin Mcrae For all the joys and heartache you have given me and all the joy of owning subaru's
such a sad loss
Thanks JB
Last edited by JAKbauer24; 16 September 2007 at 05:15 PM.
16 September 2007 | 05:38 PM
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From: Just beyond the limits of adhesion
Being a little older than JB, although not as old as Al 
my memories steep back to the forests of the proper Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain. Wiping snot drips from my frozen nose in the days before Polatec and Goretex, squinting into the black night waiting to be showered with stones by Jimmy, Ari, Yuha and the rest. The Group B's were indeed the pinnacle of the sport but my days in the forests ended as grown-up life took over. The sport moved on with lesser cars and interest wained for a while, until characters like Colin emerged onto the scene. I never regained the drive to go watch live in this modern era, something I regret, but his loss will be felt hard by anyone with a passion for driving especially so soon after Richard and Michael.
BTW Al, he also drove a Fabia
my memories steep back to the forests of the proper Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain. Wiping snot drips from my frozen nose in the days before Polatec and Goretex, squinting into the black night waiting to be showered with stones by Jimmy, Ari, Yuha and the rest. The Group B's were indeed the pinnacle of the sport but my days in the forests ended as grown-up life took over. The sport moved on with lesser cars and interest wained for a while, until characters like Colin emerged onto the scene. I never regained the drive to go watch live in this modern era, something I regret, but his loss will be felt hard by anyone with a passion for driving especially so soon after Richard and Michael.BTW Al, he also drove a Fabia
16 September 2007 | 05:41 PM
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From: JB is @ Scoobyclinic.
A smile on a sad day
nicked from the thread in general.....
Colin arrives at pearly gates.
St Peter : Ah, Mr McRae? here, take your pick.
Colin steps forward to see every car he's ever crashed, repaired and waiting.
Colin: Hm? how about a co-driver?
Up steps Beef.
Colin: And some competition?
Burns taps him on shoulder..............
As quoted on Colin McRae - The official site of Colin Mcrae and home of the R4 performance car
"give me 300 bhp, a winding road – and no brakes, and then you’ve got my attention!"
can just picture it
Colin arrives at pearly gates.
St Peter : Ah, Mr McRae? here, take your pick.
Colin steps forward to see every car he's ever crashed, repaired and waiting.
Colin: Hm? how about a co-driver?
Up steps Beef.
Colin: And some competition?
Burns taps him on shoulder..............
As quoted on Colin McRae - The official site of Colin Mcrae and home of the R4 performance car
"give me 300 bhp, a winding road – and no brakes, and then you’ve got my attention!"
can just picture it
16 September 2007 | 05:41 PM
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From: Leeds, West Yorkshire
In light of such tradgic events, a truely heart warming EOM post alan. Its still hard to take in that Colin has gone, I find it ironic that the day we were all enjoying ourselves hooning round a track enjoying been part of this huge Impreza following was the day that the man who started it all died so tragically, though I as everyone else knows, his legacy (no pun intended) will be around forever.
I like many others on scoobynet have wanted an Impreza ever since watch the man himself glide over various surfaces of the WRC, in some cases literally flying to victory many times. Colin will be dearly missed.
I'll be there.
I like many others on scoobynet have wanted an Impreza ever since watch the man himself glide over various surfaces of the WRC, in some cases literally flying to victory many times. Colin will be dearly missed.
I'll be there.
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24 September 2007 | 10:21 PM
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From: huddersfield WYIOC
