Spectator Information Simpsons Ridge (SAT-2)

Saturday 18/11/2017 3 Simpsons Ridge Rd, BOWRAVILLE

Morning session: First car due at 7:28 am Afternoon Session: First car due at 12:32pm

Parking is available in a paddock a short 400m walk from the spectator area. Food & drinks are available on site. Toilets are available This site offers viewing of possibly the fastest bitumen section of the rally,

followed by a serious left turn off bitumen onto gravel. You then watch the cars travel away along a sweeping long uphill left, before disappearing over the rise. This site is very open, with very few trees to block the view.

Area Map

Spectating at Kennards Hire Rally Australia

There is no other sport like rallying for spectating.

An opportunity to watch the world’s best crews on gravel roads doing “their thing” only comes

around once a year in Australia, and we work hard to provide the safest possible viewing

environment, at the various official spectator points, throughout the course of the event. But Motor

Sport activities are inherently dangerous, and there is always a significant risk of injury, disability or

death.

Everyone who attends the event including spectators, officials, competitors, media and the various

services such as Police & Forestry need to be aware of the risks involved, and understand that the

very things that make the sport a spectacle to watch – high speed, deliberately pushing cars just on

the edge of spinning and making use of every possible millimetre of the road surface, and sometimes

a little bit more – are also the things that mean unexpected things can and do happen.

The spectator points are designed using guidelines such as the following diagrams. If a vehicle does

come “unstuck” from the course, the laws of physics can help us predict where it might go, but

remember – unexpected things can and do happen – so we always add a little safety margin. If you

look at these diagrams, and then at the layout of any of the spectator points, you can start to

understand why the various restrictions are in place.

This year, the event is using “scrim” to define the boundaries of spectator points, rather than the

orange parawebbing or red & white “hazard” tape you may have seen on previous events.

The red & white hazard tape will still be seen, but it now has a specific meaning – it is being used to

mark areas where NOBODY should stand.

If you see a line of red & white tape, please stay

away from it! The signs you will see attached to it

say:-

“the organisers of this event believe that entry

to the area beyond the red/white tape … would

place you and others at risk of serious injury”

Please appreciate and understand our ‘extra

safety margin’, and stand away from the tape

line!

If you are standing in a red/white taped

area, a Public Safety Marshal will approach

you and ask you to move to a less

dangerous position. You must move if

requested. We don’t want to have to issue

you with our version of a “yellow card’, but

we will, if we believe that you are placing

yourself, and/or others, at risk.

How to have a great day spectating

There are a number of things that you can do to help make your day (or evening) of spectating more

enjoyable for you and others:-

Be prepared. Weather wise, bring hats, ground cover, sun screen and protection in case of rain or cold weather. Food and drink outlets may be provided at the spectator point (refer to the spectator instructions), but if not, ensure you have some of your own food and drinks available.

Park your car sensibly so that it will not obstruct emergency vehicles, competitors, service crews or other spectators. In all cases, obey parking instructions given by supervising officials. It is usually best to park your car facing the way out.

Do not try to emulate rally drivers. Remember that if you give cause for complaint, it will reflect badly on the rally, and the sport as a whole. Drive carefully both to and from spectator viewing areas, and be ready to give way if necessary on narrow stretches of road.

Take your entire litter home with you - it is handy to have a bag or carton in your boot. Cans and paper do not help beautify our forests.

This event is pet free. You will be refused entry to spectator points if you bring a pet along! Of course, specially trained service animals are allowed. Please be prepared, and not offended, if you are asked to provide documentary evidence of their role. We want you, and them, to have a safe and satisfying experience.

Do not light fires or smoke in the forests.

Do not bring drones with you. Privately operated drones are prohibited at the event (you may see some being flown by the WRC TV crews from dji. They have all the training, licenses and insurance required under the CAMS and WRC policies).

Be patient. There will be queues of traffic as you travel to/from spectator points, so allow plenty of time, and follow the directions of event officials, police and traffic management crews. There may also be queues for food and drink outlets, and for the toilets. Again, allow plenty of time. Getting impatient or upset will not make the queue shrink any faster, and you will attract unwanted attention.

Do not try to find your own way around. Not only is there a danger of meeting up with an oncoming rally vehicle, but many roads have wash-aways, collapsed bridges, etc. which are potentially hazardous. The main spectator route has been surveyed, and is safe.