Are rally fans the best motorsport fans?
07/30/2013
Last weekend we were at the Eifel Rallye Festival in the Vulkaneifel, a sensationally successful event!
As with every visit to such events, you take home new impressions, thoughts, information and pictures. One thought that we are addressing here is the question of whether rally fans are the best motorsport fans, "best" in the sense of "supportive", "helping". After all, in what other type of motorsport do you suddenly see fans running to a crashed car to help the driver back onto the track?
We were there live when an Alfa Romeo GTV drifted skilfully around a hairpin bend and was then unable to stabilize the vehicle and drove into the bushes. The yellow flag was quickly raised, but the place was not so clear due to the hairpin bend and it took several marshals to motivate the oncoming drivers to brake. The Alfa driver was desperately trying to get out of the bushes in reverse under his own steam, so the car still seemed to be roadworthy, as did the driver and co-driver, but something was preventing the Alfa from getting loose.
After a short time, help came running from the spectator ranks, rushing along the edge of the track to the vehicle at the entrance to the forest passage. Several following vehicles slowly drove past, fortunately only at walking pace, until the fans finally managed to free the Alfa. However, the following vehicles finally had to stop, as the Alfa with the fans was now blocking the route... With a huge round of applause from the audience and a jubilant revving of the engine, the Alfa accelerated into the forest and disappeared. The fans ran back to their seats, laughing and satisfied...
A similar scene at the Bosch Super Stage, shortly after the water passage: if the co-driver and marshal are not enough to push the car out of the gravel, it needs help from the spectators.
No souvenirs
The head of Slowly Sideways, Reinhard Kein, explained at the weekend: "I think the rally scene has realized that the history of rallying has a value and that this must be preserved. Unique things are happening here this weekend. On Friday, two competitors lost a headlight and the other a front axle spring on the gravel of the Bosch Super Stage. Fans found them and didn't take them home as souvenirs but brought them back to the teams so that they could continue to take part here."
What is your story?
If you've had a similar experience, we'd love to hear from you in the comments below!
Our report on the Eifel Rallye Festival contains over 200 photos and describes all our impressions of the great weekend.
