For 1: You know my gripe at S2000. For me all cars should sound like the Audi Quattro S1 of which I only thought I had posted a video before. Then if it is sound and a turbo orchestra of interesting noises is not allowed (as for S2000), 5-cylinders are good too, V6s are good, V8s are good, even a 3-cylinder can have an interesting note, or make it a boxer. I just can't imagine a more boring base than 4-cylinder atmo if a sound show is promised. But that all said, what is it, I mean modern WRCars don't sound that exciting, and if I complain about S2000, have you ever heard me or anyone complain an Escort BDA sounds dull? And the F2 cars too, probably it is the revs, but the Golf in the video above sounds really good, and that was one of the dullest and lamest (least successful) F2 cars. Just listen to the high revving 306 Maxi in the following video (and remember in the comparison, WRCars sounded much better and louder those days too!)!
For 2: The stage in the link above is Madeira. A fantastic IRC round these days. But I want to use this chance to prove just how different Tour de Corse is, a rally so good that it had to be kicked out of WRC.
I could also add for 3: This is the days when we had proper TV, very good commentating, onboard with cameras surprisingly pointing into the direction of travel, just not enough of them... And then we got an expensive promoter and all stopped....
For 4: I don't want this to become a discussion thread but remain a video thread. But on the other forum we discussed different concepts, mixing 2WD N-GTs with 4x4s. Watch this following video to the end and you realised it was a dramatic WRC event with the top4 turned up side down in the last loop of stages, 2 of which were 2WD cars, despite a partly rainy rally. Note also in the video that in those days there have been discussions 2WD cars should be banned from taking WRC points from the regulars. I hated these discussions already then, and rallye-info.com oldies may remember my rants that people should let off Panizzi. Today we would be happy there was a Panizzi in a 2WD car making Loeb's asphalt wins anything else but a forgone conclusion and giving us some much needed extra variety!
So enjoy Tour de Corse 1997 with 306 Maxis that don't sound like sewing machines and a rally that is much narrower and curve after curve compared to fast Madeira:
OK, whilst at it, video classics that must be in this thread:
Taking on from last post, unfortunately not so high revving in the snow, but enjoy Frankie Le Nutter in a 306 Maxi onboard. Amazingly this is what Delecour describes as one of the biggest crashes in his career, he was convinced the rally was over, he described the impact as absolutely huge, but spectators carried the car up the ravine again, he carried on, finishing the rally 10th overall, which was 2nd F2, beaten by his team mate Panizzi by only 38 seconds and still beating the works Seats! (Note as well how atmo engines need more expensive transmissions, the off happened in 7th gear, seventh!)
Next video is an absolute WRC classic, must be in this section and needs no further comments. Well, remember Jim Bumper cartoon "Fancy a doughnut, Richard?"
Finally I complain about sound? Well, when S2000 was invented, FIA told us the reason modern rally cars sound boring was the turbo (which is about as correct as the FIA's 2nd excuse in 3 years time nobody would make turbo road cars any more). I don't agree. All rally cars that don't deliver an orchestra of chirps, pops, bangs and firespitting like this should be banned!
Maybe to underline my anti S2000 discussion (please discuss in another thread) study the scene in the video above at 2:13 - 2:18. That's Mikkola 1000 Lakes 85, and watch, or more listen how in that relatively fast gravel corner he hits the rev limiter repeatedly! Yes it has 4x4, and yes I agree we should not rally with 500+BHP any more, but my point is the power to grip relation is wrong today, and S2000 without turbo but keeping the 4x4 was a step into the wrong direction again! We need drivers that you can HEAR they are working hard and then the show is so good nobody worries about money any more! Drivers taming monsters is a show we can sell, drivers sitting behind the wheel of a computer controlled sewing machine plainly is not!
A 911 on some tarmac rally. Not sure which 911 it is but I love the sound of the straight cut gears. I think the WRC needs to have cars like this. Too bad PSA and Ford are in bed with the FIA, doing everything they can to keep these cars from ripping through the tarmac rallies.
The wrc came to ireland at the wrong time of year and in the wrong place. Should have been in the the south during the summer time. Killarney. Dry tarmac tracks with the road no wider than the car. Very high speeds.
Jeff Zwart driving a 911 GT3 cup while qualifying for Pikes Peak hill climb. He did pretty well though not in the top 3. Hyundai's new car prepared by Rhys Millen only placed 3rd while Suzuki seems to well in this type of event. Tajima wants to get a sub 10 minute time. Anyways on with the video below.
Just to mention that Jeff Zwart actually was 1st in the 2WD time attack class posting a 11:31.1 time. He was actually faster than the 4WD class, though not as fast as the unlimited class where you can build some pretty radical cars. Tajima builds these turbocharged v6 machines producing over 900 HP! He always wins, but other people have won.
Makinen driving an old Evo IV prototype around some unknown track. Looks like some made up course, but it's still a good video to watch. I still think the Evo GroupA from 97-2001 is the best sounding WRCar, and it's also my alltime favorite rally car of the GroupA era and possibly the WRcar era. I only wish this video was longer :(. I doubt we will ever see Mitsu rejoin the WRC again, but I hope someday they will build an R4 car, but I doubt that as well.
A video of a Golf IV kit car racing in Denmark by Tim Svanholt. Not sure where I can get the standings of the Danish championship, but it sounds like he is a good driver, but I'm not sure how good is he. There must be a few Golf IV's competing in national rally championship, and I'm sure they're much more successful than the ones that VW ran in the BRC.
A Honda (Acura) Integra Type-R with a K20 engine, and Honda does make some of the best sounding production atmo engines on the market. The F20C makes around 120 HP per liter, and it's still got Honda reliability. Honda can also make their atmo engines reliable and not have to be rebuilt every 400km's.
Some footage of the Danish Rally Championship. Narrow roads, just like those in Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.
The VW Golf IV kit car wasn't as lame as what ChrisB makes it out to be. VW rally cars always get better as the time goes on. Mikko Hirvonen was 1st in class in a Golf IV, while Tim Svanholt has won the Danish championship in that car. Maybe there isn't a lot of competition in the Danish competition. It's still the best sounding F2 car out there.
All the Toyotas in the 98 Rally Great Britain had defective pistons, which caused them to seize up. Gronholm had the same problem as Sainz at SS11. Auriol had his car repaired, and then he took a journalist on a ride. Then the engine seized up.
Could this be the most dangerous corner in rallying? This is the Finnish F-Cup rally series, no co-drivers, and no recce. Lots of good crashes here. It makes me respect the co-drivers and having pace notes even more, since you can't use notes in this series.
by rv65 » 19 Jun 2010 08:36 
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