Wexford Rally Marshalls urgently needed.

barney 20v

Hi all, The 41 st Wexford rally is on this weekend and as always we require marshals to help run the event.

This year however due to a sudden death in another local club we are short approx 30 marshals for the weekend.
Its highly un-usual to lose this much help so close to the rally and it leaves the event in jeprady.

I am asking anyone who is thinking of heading to spectate etc to consider helping the club out by marshalling on either or both days.
Expierience is not necessary as you will be located with other marhalls etc..
Wexford MC have a prize fund in place this yr of 800 euro and a chance to win one of 5 seats co-driving at the carrig rallysprint in november.If you marshal either day you will be entered into this draw.

The event itself has attracted a full entry this yr with severaltop Irish and UK crews competing.
Details available at http://www.wexfordmotorclub.com/
If anyone is available can they please contact Michael Brady on 0872772366
Many thanks Barney.

De Hipster

Sorry I cannot help out, but the very best of luck getting the remit of marshals to satisfy the safety plan prior to the event.

Drummerboy08

Spoke to Michael this evening, still looking for Marshalls. I've signed up for Sunday anyway.

This is a great weekend's rallying, and shouldnt be missed!

barney 20v

Thank you Drummerboy.. all help its greatly appreciated .
Anyone else interested can still contact Michael Brady on 087-2772366
Remember we have a prize fund of 800 euro and a draw for 1 of 5 seats in the Carrig on suir rallysprint in november.
Many thanks Barney!

Scioch

Should have put a bit of time into sign posting roads. All roads around here blocked into town and not one sign to be seen. Idiots standing there with ropes crossing the road to close roads just after bends.

And no Gardai to be seen either. I'm wondering about the legalities of such an event when people can literally park up a van and close a road without so much as putting up a sigh or organising a diversion route considering both main and by roads were being closed.

Drummerboy08

Scioch wrote: »

Should have put a bit of time into sign posting roads. All roads around here blocked into town and not one sign to be seen. Idiots standing there with ropes crossing the road to close roads just after bends.

And no Gardai to be seen either. I'm wondering about the legalities of such an event when people can literally park up a van and close a road without so much as putting up a sigh or organising a diversion route considering both main and by roads were being closed.

I live on one of the stages and there are plenty of signs everywhere.

What do the gardai need to be involved for?

Scioch

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I live on one of the stages and there are plenty of signs everywhere.

What do the gardai need to be involved for?

Must have used up all the signs on your end so, there was zero effort down this way to signpost roads. Thing had half assed written all over it.

And your blocking public roads to race cars, why wouldnt there be a Garda presence ?

Drummerboy08

Scioch wrote: »

Must have used up all the signs on your end so, there was zero effort down this way to signpost roads. Thing had half assed written all over it.

And your blocking public roads to race cars, why wouldnt there be a Garda presence ?

Where is your neck of the woods? I've been out on two or three stages today and they are all well signed.

The event has the permission of the gardai and the local council so I don't see why garda resources need to be tied up at every stage. That's why there are a large number of trained marshalls at each stage.

Scioch

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Where is your neck of the woods? I've been out on two or three stages today and they are all well signed.

The event has the permission of the gardai and the local council so I don't see why garda resources need to be tied up at every stage. That's why there are a large number of trained marshalls at each stage.

Wouldnt like to say my neck of the woods as you could track me down and have me silenced. But my main issue is with the lack of signs leading into the stage. It was very hard to know which roads were blocked until you were at the block. Which meant a lot of back tracking and checking roads to see if they were clear. Rather than one on the diversion road that would have to be taken.

And considering the main road to town from my side was blocked there was quite a bit of traffic which was coming up on the blocks and then with the lack of signs of which way to divert there was a lot of traffic on the sideroads too turning in gaps and gateways.

And if public roads are blocked there should be a Garda presence on the main roads to organise traffic and divert it seeing as the organisers werent too keen on doing much about it. Not just a case of a rally gets permission and shuts down the county to have a race. The Gardai should be present for these things which they are at all other public inconveniences.

But then again I was only popping out for a drive I wasnt in a hurry to get anywhere, I spoke to a few others who were pretty pissed about the whole affair so I'd expect this issue will be raised by quite a few people over the coming days.

Drummerboy08

Have you silenced?! Are you serious?

This event has been held on the roads of wexford for decades mow each year and there has rarely been an issue.

Scioch

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Have you silenced?! Are you serious?

This event has been held on the roads of wexford for decades mow each year and there has rarely been an issue.

I was joking, I'm hardly serious about you tracking me down to have me silenced now.

Maybe its me being a crank then but from the general vibe in talking to other drivers today it seemed like an issue for quite a few people. Wait and see if anyone complains I suppose but I'd be surprised if nobody did.

wobbles

Scioch wrote: »

Should have put a bit of time into sign posting roads. All roads around here blocked into town and not one sign to be seen. Idiots standing there with ropes crossing the road to close roads just after bends.

And no Gardai to be seen either. I'm wondering about the legalities of such an event when people can literally park up a van and close a road without so much as putting up a sigh or organising a diversion route considering both main and by roads were being closed.

Sounds to me like your passing through, and not a resident close to the stages. If you were you would know what roads were closed.

Wexford motor club would have requested road closing orders from wexford coounty council. These were accepted and permission given to close the road between certain times on the day. These roads are now closed to the public between those times. i.e not open to the public. Why would the gardai be there when it is not a public road between those times. The road closing orders would have been displayed on telephone poles leading onto the roads, members of the organising club would have gone round to each resident on the stage to inform them of this and sort out any problems that this might cause. (Again if your a local then you would be aware of this)

Next time, ask one of the so called "idiots" about what roads are closed and they will direct you around the closed roads to where you need to go. Each marshal will have a road map to help you out.

Drummerboy08

Scioch wrote: »

I was joking, I'm hardly serious about you tracking me down to have me silenced now.

Maybe its me being a crank then but from the general vibe in talking to other drivers today it seemed like an issue for quite a few people. Wait and see if anyone complains I suppose but I'd be surprised if nobody did.

Fair enough. I do understand how it can be an inconvenience to some, and I respect that. However as I said, this event has been held for years now I've been present each year for the last 10) and it usually passes without too much hassle for anyone.

Anyhow, some great rallying today, joint leaders going into day two!!

Scioch

wobbles wrote: »

Sounds to me like your passing through, and not a resident close to the stages. If you were you would know what roads were closed.

Next time, ask one of the so called "idiots" about what roads are closed and they will direct you around the closed roads to where you need to go. Each marshal will have a road map to help you out.

Or here a crazy thought. Put a sign at the point where drivers should divert so people know how to get where they want to go !!

obrien10

I agree. No problem with rally on the roads, no problem with guards not on the roads, but big problem with no signs at diversion points.!!! (maybe on some roads, but the two roads I travelled yesterday did not) Drive two-three miles down a road to find it blocked at the end.... common sense to have a sign, at BOTH ends, stating road is blocked and indeed all entries roads onto that road !.. Pass it on to the organisers for next year - it might help...

barney 20v

Scioch wrote: »

Or here a crazy thought. Put a sign at the point where drivers should divert so people know how to get where they want to go !!

The Residents of all the stages are informed directly by the club as to the proposed route of the event in the months leading up to the event.

If any residents have an objection to the rally passing their house they have the right to object.

Once the permission has been granted by the Co Council to the club a notification is published in ALL the Local newpapers clearly defining the route, the times of the road closure and alternative routes/diversions.

In the immediate weeks leading up to the event each property is canvased twice to assure residents of the details and to give residents a chance to convey any access concerns or issues regarding the date of the rally..

The Wexford rally is 41 years in existance and the club has a very good relationship with the people living on these stages.

With regards to your claim of insufficient signage - I was out both days this weekend and found the stages to be very well indicated by warning signs etc.If you had approched one of these "idiots" as you call them they could have redirected you no problem.

With regards to your comment about "idiots"---These people are all volunteers who give up their own time to help out and run these events safely.. i was out doing the job you described at the weekend.. i am a trained official of Motorsport Ireland, safety is my number one priority and it is the clubs as well.

The motor clubs always try to accomodate people as best they can with out putting anyone in danger.

May i suggest that the real idiot in this circumstance is you scioch?
The event was signposted at all approching junctions .

Marshals were in place to help guide people to their destinations etc.

The route was published in print media and the event was sanctioned by both the Co Council and AGS.
The event was being covered on local radio etc..

I usually find that the only people who have any problems with the event are people who want to chance their arm on the day and try to gain access to what is a legally closed road, or people who are not from the areas and have not done their home work.
The stages were signposted on telegrah poles approching stages- they have been for weeks.

Many thanks to all who turned out to help .
It was a fantastic weekends sport and congrats to the Two Staffords on a fantastic victory.

Scioch

^^^ With regards to your comment about the roads being very well sign posted and signed at all approaching junctions. They were not in the area I was and thats a fact. Your either a liar or you are misrepresenting how well the roads were sign posted as you clearly were not in the area I was.

Three roads were blocked and no signs were put up on those roads at any point other than at the block itself which was quite a way down.

So waffle all you like about how long its been on and how informed residents were but you lot still failed to adequately sign post the roads I encountered.

Accept that and do better next time instead of trying to weasel your way out of it. Your attitude actually shows your more interested in avoiding responsibility and insulting me personally than learning from mistakes and ensuring it will be remedied next year.