Galway International Rally 2012. Where to watch?

Amik

I'm not a rally expert but have heard that routes are secret until the day of the race. But how are spectators supposed to know where to be to watch the rally? The Web site doesn't give any details.

I heard it will be going through the centre of town this year, so would Eyre Square be a safe bet?

ronnie3585

You need to buy the programme to get the actual routes.

I believe that the stages will take place this year in the Headford area.

There is also a special stage planned for the Dyke Road on Saturday evening.

Robbo

ronnie3585 wrote: »

You need to buy the programme to get the actual routes.

I believe that the stages will take place this year in the Headford area.

There is also a special stage planned for the Dyke Road on Saturday evening.

Programmes

Official Rally Program Outlets
Gort Howleys' Service Station Ennis Road, Gort, Co. Galway. 07:00 to 00:00, 7 days
Labane Texaco Labane (Quinn's) Labane, Co. Galway. 07:00 to 22:00, 7 days
Kilcolgan Topaz Kilcolgan, Co. Galway. 06:00 to 23:00, 7 days
Tuam Corrib Oil (beside level crossing) Galway Road, Tuam, Co. Galway 06:30 to 23:00 Mon to Fri, 07:00 to 23:00 Sat, 08:00 to 23:00 Sun
Tuam Mannion's Supermarket and Emo Service Station Milltown Road, Tuam 06:30 to 23:00 , 7 days
Mountbellew Mannion's Mace Supermarket and Service Station Mountbellew 06:30 to 23:00 , 7 days
Abbeyknockmoy O'Donoghue's Spar Abbeyknockmoy 07:00 to 21:30 Mon to Fri, 07:30 to 21:30 Sat, 08:30 to 21:30 Sun
Headford Keady's Supermarket The Square, Headford, Co. Galway 08:00 to 20:00 Mon to Fri, 08:00 to 21:00 Sat, 09:00 to 15:00 Sun
Headford Monaghans Centra Galway Road, Headford, Co. Galway. 06:30 to 00:00, Mon to Fri, 07:00 to 00:00 Sat, 06:00 to 00:00 Sun
Headford The Trading Post Cloughanover, Headford, Co. Galway. 06:00 to 23:00, 7 days , all night Sat 4th Feb
Clonboo Cunniffes of Clonboo Clonboo, Co Galway 07:00 to 22:00, 7 days
Oranmore Glynn's Centra Carnmore, Oranmore, Co. Galway. 07:00 to 22:00, 7 days
Oranmore Mor Oil (Texaco) Main Street, Oranmore, Co. Galway. 24hours, 7 days
Loughrea Corrib Oil Spar Express Dublin Road, Loughrea, Co. Galway 06:30 to 00:00, 7 days
Loughrea Emerald Filling Station (Topaz) Gort Road, Loughrea, Co. Galway. 06:30 to 22:00, 7 days
Craughwell Topaz Filling Station Craughwell, Co. Galway. 07:00 to 22:00 Mon to Sat, 08:00 to 22:00 Sun
Galway The Clayton Hotel Old Monivea Road, Ballybrit, Galway.
Galway Londis / Texaco Filling Station Tuam Road, Galway. 24 hours, 7 days
Galway Safety Direct Riverside Commercial Estate, Galway 08:30 to 17:30 Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 13:30 Sat
Galway Topaz College Road, Galway City. 06:00 to 23:00 Mon to Fri, 07:00 to 23:00 Sat and Sun
Galway Happy Days Galway Shopping Centre, Headford road, Galway. 08:15 to 20:00, 7 days
Galway Topaz Cemetery Cross, Bohermore, Co Galway 24 hours, 7 days
Galway Hollands Newsagents Williamsgate street, Galway 07:00 to 22:00, 7 days
Galway Topaz Filling Station Newcastle, Galway 24 hours, 7 days
Galway Spar Headford Point Headford Road, Galway. 24 hours, 7 days
Galway Monaghan's Centra Tuam Road, Galway. 24 hours, 7 days
Galway Centra Ballybrit (next to Hogan Motors) Ballybrit, Galway. 24 hours, 7 days
Galway Mor Oil (Texaco) Lough Atalia 24hours, 7 days
Claregalway The Village Store Unit 1 - 4, Cois Chlair, Claregalway, Co. Galway. 07:00 to 22:00 Mon to Fri, 08:00 to 22:00 Sat and Sun
Athenry Stop & Shop, Derrydonnell, Athenry, Co. Galway. 07:00 to 21:00 Mon to Sat, 09:00 to 21:00 Sun

The Spectator Stage is on Sunday, first Historic Car due on at 10:03, first International at 10:24.

There's a ceremonial start in Eyre Square at 7pm on Saturday.

McTigs

Will the usual supplementary races be taking place at silver strand and the Western Distributor Road.

Happy hardore and peroxide

unce unce unce unce

dastardly00

ronnie3585 wrote: »

You need to buy the programme to get the actual routes.

I believe that the stages will take place this year in the Headford area.

There is also a special stage planned for the Dyke Road on Saturday evening.

The special stage planned for Dyke Road is on Sunday morning.

Fey!

The Dyke Road should be good craic.

Mattie Griffin is doing a display before and after the stage (www.mgstuntriding.com). He should be starting some time between 9am and 9:30am.

Hopefully the Silver Strand Supplemental Racing won't take place this year. The people involved in rallying dislike their behaviour even more than the local residents do.

@OP; the other stages are all out around Headford.

bethehokies

Fey! wrote: »

The Dyke Road should be good craic.

Mattie Griffin is doing a display before and after the stage (www.mgstuntriding.com). He should be starting some time between 9am and 9:30am.

Hopefully the Silver Strand Supplemental Racing won't take place this year. The people involved in rallying dislike their behaviour even more than the local residents do.

@OP; the other stages are all out around Headford.

Sure the "Park and Ride" in Silver strand would be open anyhow!!!! :rolleyes:

Storm 10

Looks like its only a one day event this year as the cermonial start is in Eyre Sq on Saturday at 7pm with the official race starting on Sunday morning.

God be with the days when it was a three day rally with Friday night stages.

piscesgirl1

Will there be roads closed at the weekend??

Fey!

Storm 10 wrote: »

Looks like its only a one day event this year as the cermonial start is in Eyre Sq on Saturday at 7pm with the official race starting on Sunday morning.

God be with the days when it was a three day rally with Friday night stages.

Hopefully we'll get back to that in a couple of years. Most competitors simply can't afford the entry cost required to run an event that size at the moment.

piscesgirl1 wrote: »

Will there be roads closed at the weekend??

Dyke Road will be closed Sunday from 9am to noon. The carpark there will also be closed, as the rally stage will run around a track in the carpark. Any cars left there overnight will be removed to the top carpark on Sunday morning. It won't be possible to retrieve them until noon. There have been signs about it up there to warn people, and there will be people there to advise motorists on Saturday.

The first car will start at around 9:35, with the first WRC car starting at around 10.

For spectators, between the carpark and the bridge will only have spectators on the left hand side (the side opposite the carpark). For those considering watching from the Quincentennial Bridge, directly above the Dyke Road will be barriered off. There will also be barriers blocking people from running across the road either side of the bridge.

If you're coming down to spectate PLEASE follow the instructions of the marshals and the Civil Defence personnel. They're there for your safety.

Also please be courteous with your parking; there are 5,000 people expected at the Dyke Road, so there'll be a lot of cars that need to be parked in the area. Please remember that you won't be able to park in the carpark on the Dyke Road!!!

Above all else, enjoy yourselves if you come along. Safety Direct will have a stall there, and Supermacs will be there to stop people going hungry! Monster will also be there, as will Mattie Griffin.

As for the other stages, they're all out around Headford. The stages out there are similar to those used in the summer, with a few very good vantage points. There are good maps in the programmes for those interested. If you're looking for one, the petrol station at Flemings on the Tuam Road will have them. There should be a list of other outlets on the Galway International Rally website (http://www.galwayinternationalrally.com).

Enjoy, and be safe.

czgalway

so i take it the rally is not around monivea,skehana side this year?

dastardly00

Fey! wrote: »

.....................

Also please be courteous with your parking; there are 5,000 people expected at the Dyke Road, so there'll be a lot of cars that need to be parked in the area. Please remember that you won't be able to park in the carpark on the Dyke Road!!! .............

Are the organisers really expecting that many people for the Dyke road stage? It'd be great if there were that many on Sunday.

Fey!

Hoping, but it's impossible to know. Weather is a big factor in it, but being in the city we could get a lot of people out to look because they don't have to travel far.

The number of WRC spec cars and ex-champs, including a new Mini driven by Eugene Donnelly, this year should bring out a lot of people too.

When Gronholm was here a few years ago and we had weather like today, apparently there were around 10,000 on a few of the stages. I don't know if they were official figures, though!!

whatever99

What's the scrutiny thing on Saturday in the Motorpark on the Headford Road? I know a few lads who'd love to get a close-up look at the cars, is that what that is - the cars open to the public or something?? Or is it just where the competitors' cars are checked to see if they're road/rally-worthy?

Iwannahurl

piscesgirl1 wrote: »

Will there be roads closed at the weekend??

I rang AGS in Mill Street and Oranmore (Traffic Corps) to ask about road closures, access etc. Nobody I spoke to knew a blessed thing, and they couldn't even tell me if a Traffic & Parking management plan had been prepared. Waiting for a call back now.

The article in the Advertiser advised people to "park where permitted", without giving any information about where it will be permissible to park.

I hope to be around town on Saturday. Would be great if this fine weather holds up...

Fey!

whatever99 wrote: »

What's the scrutiny thing on Saturday in the Motorpark on the Headford Road? I know a few lads who'd love to get a close-up look at the cars, is that what that is - the cars open to the public or something?? Or is it just where the competitors' cars are checked to see if they're road/rally-worthy?

Scrutiny is a safety inspection for the cars and the crews equipment to make sure that everything is up to standard for racing. For the car it's checking that the correct fire extinguishing system is plumbed in correctly, that the safety cage is fitted right, and so on. They also check that the crews fire retardent clothes are all there, and that the clothes and things like helmets and seatbelts are all within date (they go out of date within a few years, so have to be replaced).

They also check that the parts on the car are right for the class that they're entered in, so that nobody gets an unfair advantage.

Scrutiny is on from 2:30 to 6pm in Motorpark, and is free to go and see. You won't get right up beside the cars while they're being checked over, but some of the crews might let you get a picture beside the car before they leave the area.

Iwannahurl wrote: »

I rang AGS in Mill Street and Oranmore (Traffic Corps) to ask about road closures, access etc. Nobody I spoke to knew a blessed thing, and they couldn't even tell me if a Traffic & Parking management plan had been prepared. Waiting for a call back now.

The article in the Advertiser advised people to "park where permitted", without giving any information about where it will be permissible to park.

I hope to be around town on Saturday. Would be great if this fine weather holds up...

There are no road closures on Saturday during the day, but there may be some hold ups aruond Eyre Square from around 7 to 9pm while the ceremonial start is taking place. As far as I know this will be crowd dependent; the Gardai may choose to redirect traffic on safety grounds. That will be the same on Sunday in Eyre Square from around 4:30pm.

The Dyke Road will be closed from 9am to noon on Sunday, and the stages in Headford will close at times ranging from 9:45 to 10:30 in the morning to 5pm to 6:30 in the evening. The exact times and roads were printed in the Connacht Tribune recently, but I can't put my hand on it right now.

The only carpark being closed is the Dyke Road one, so the places permissible to park in are the other legal spots and carparks in the town.

There was a traffic plan submitted to the corpo. There will be diversion signs up on Sunday for traffic to get them around the closed road section in the city.

On your final point, I hope that the weather holds, too!!!

REDCARE

ronnie3585 wrote: »

You need to buy the programme to get the actual routes.

I believe that the stages will take place this year in the Headford area.

There is also a special stage planned for the Dyke Road on Saturday evening.

Only in Ireland can you have loads of local roads shut for a day but have to pay 10 Euro for the privelige of finding out what time the event that has closed the road is taking place.. More people would turn up to support if they were not blackmailed to find out wherte these stages were taking place.. this would generate more intrest in the sport long term ( Isn't that the idea ) rather than for a quick Euro or 10 to a limited audience.

Fey!

REDCARE wrote: »

Only in Ireland can you have loads of local roads shut for a day but have to pay 10 Euro for the privelige of finding out what time the event that has closed the road is taking place.. More people would turn up to support if they were not blackmailed to find out wherte these stages were taking place.. this would generate more intrest in the sport long term ( Isn't that the idea ) rather than for a quick Euro or 10 to a limited audience.

Firstly programmes are on sale for most rallies in most countries, not just in Ireland.

The stage locations are often times kept quite until close to the event in order to avoid some elements using the routes as their own private racetracks, therefore annoying the people who live in the area.

Finally, rallying is a free to watch sport, but the costs to run an event are very, very high. The cost of the programme goes in part to fund the show.

Amik

Was down by the waterworks on Dyke Rd today to watch the rally and had a great time! Was really impressed with the professional setup (tons of marshalls) and the variety of cars! I'm a new rally fan.

I agree with REDCARE. It's 2012, they should be a little more innovative and come up with better ways of raising money for the event than just selling programmes. Seems very high school-ish.

Several people I talked to this week that aren't rally fans but wanted to check it out were also frustrated they couldn't find any info on the Web site, etc.

Marlow

I've put some footage together from the stages I was at.

This is from stages 3, 5 and 9.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrH89I2FkHY

/M

driveshaft

Amik wrote: »

Was down by the waterworks on Dyke Rd today to watch the rally and had a great time! Was really impressed with the professional setup (tons of marshalls) and the variety of cars! I'm a new rally fan.

I agree with REDCARE. It's 2012, they should be a little more innovative and come up with better ways of raising money for the event than just selling programmes. Seems very high school-ish.

Several people I talked to this week that aren't rally fans but wanted to check it out were also frustrated they couldn't find any info on the Web site, etc.

I think that attitude towards paying a small fee is very high schoolish. When compared to the likes of paying €20 into a GAA league game it's very good value considering you get to see ex World Championship cars and it's a full days entertainment. Also, it costs a considerable amount to insure against and minimise all risks to the public.

Marlow

driveshaft wrote: »

I think that attitude towards paying a small fee is very high schoolish. When compared to the likes of paying €20 into a GAA league game it's very good value considering you get to see ex World Championship cars and it's a full days entertainment. Also, it costs a considerable amount to insure against and minimise all risks to the public.

Aye. Here you have the choice, if you want to pay for it or not.

You can decide to go cheapskates and follow the crowd with the risk of getting to the wrong spots and seeing very little.

Of you can pay the 10 quid, which is pretty darn cheap for what is on offer and make your own plan, what to see and where to go.

You don't have that choice with a GAA game or soccer match.

/M

savagecabbages

REDCARE wrote: »

Only in Ireland can you have loads of local roads shut for a day but have to pay 10 Euro for the privelige of finding out what time the event that has closed the road is taking place.. More people would turn up to support if they were not blackmailed to find out wherte these stages were taking place.. this would generate more intrest in the sport long term ( Isn't that the idea ) rather than for a quick Euro or 10 to a limited audience.

Do you have any idea how much it costs to run an International rally, and where the funding for such an event comes from?

I'm guessing you don't if you think paying for a programme to support a free to attend event costing hundreds of thousands of euros is unfair...

overshoot

Marlow wrote: »

Aye. Here you have the choice, if you want to pay for it or not.

You can decide to go cheapskates and follow the crowd with the risk of getting to the wrong spots and seeing very little.

Of you can pay the 10 quid, which is pretty darn cheap for what is on offer and make your own plan, what to see and where to go.

You don't have that choice with a GAA game or soccer match.

/M

they are great value, with getting the road close times, and a bit of carefull analysis you can really plan your day out. had it so spot on one time, going from stage to stage but crossing through an evening one. they literally pulled the tape across the road after us:P.
not to mention the running order so you can tell who is out straight off, and the content in general.
any idea what the estimated attendance was? didnt make it over to the rally

Marlow

overshoot wrote: »

they are great value, with getting the road close times, and a bit of carefull analysis you can really plan your day out. had it so spot on one time, going from stage to stage but crossing through an evening one. they literally pulled the tape across the road after us:P.
not to mention the running order so you can tell who is out straight off, and the content in general.
any idea what the estimated attendance was? didnt make it over to the rally

The attendance was better than any of the earlier years. By cutting it down by one day, they have made it more affordable to the drivers and the spectators were all out on the one day, where they otherwise might have been there on one or the other day, only some on both.

It was good craic. The stretches chosen were really good.

/M

twincamman

great rally well done galway motor club

twincamman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-99dREQ9GOg&feature=player_embedded

sidewaysdrivin

they did release the map of the spectator stage on facebook and on their website lads, was marshalling down on the dyke road down beside the waterworks the far side of the quincintenal.. epic view aswell pity there wasnt a bit more slidy action & a few tips with the oil slick that came from one of the historics