IFMAR stageII report - 10th off road Worlds.

[Lee]

Cape town, Jo'burg wasn't much better.

Jimmy that was a secret (ish)

[Si Coe]

I'm pretty sure the 'too dangerous' aspect is being a little overblown, its an excuse, a good one but an excuse all the same.

The fact is the in the current climate few manufacturers want to spend a fortune sending teams (and remember for the worlds its just that, a whole team not a few drivers) half way round the globe to somewhere with only a small local market, when the rest of the world couldn't care less who wins.

The whole 'what wins on Sunday sells on Monday' argument is broken. Most racers can't afford to change cars randomly based on race results, and those that can tend to be interested in whats new and fancy. All those pre-ordered Durangos will be bought regardless of who wins the worlds.
In 8th, despite a worlds win, D8's are vastly outsold by the RC8 and 8Ights it beat, because frankly people would rather buy Losi or AE than Hot Bodies. Tamiya won the TC worlds, but you'll see more Cyclones or T2's than TRF416's at most tracks. So why bother?

[Lee]

Have you spoken to a lot of the top drivers?

A lot of them have said they are not willing to go. Im sure a lot of the drivers could afford to go off their own steam but they "choose" not to go.

Back in the early "naughties" when Spash came back from the worlds he warned everyone who was going to take old clothes, leave watches etc at home. Is that really a place where anyone wants to be going a) to race and b) to socialise afterwards

People look forward to the travelling and it is also a holiday for a lot of people, god knows why the rep from that section chooses such a place?

[Mielie]

Both the off-road & on-road worlds was held succesfully in 2002. That was after the off-road event was moved due to 9/11!!!! I was part of that Worlds and all the drivers that made the trip had a great time!!!!

Most of that drivers don't race anymore such as Francis, Pavidis, Drescher, Steenari, etc. I assume all the factory drivers thought if they don't go IFMAR would cancel the event. Looks like that is not going to happen!!!!!

There is a good chance that the 1/10th On-road Worlds will also be held in South Africa. Will we also have only 30 entries?

I have travelled to a few countries, lived in the States for 18 months!!!! But I am glad to be back in South Africa. South Africa has hosted a lot of sporting events over the last few months with no problems. We had the IPL Cricket, B & I Lions Tour, Confed Cup and we are going to host the Champions Trophy, the English Cricket team is coming to the end of the year!!!!

[jimmy]

I asked the TRAP guys, but it'd be nice to get some real-world photos of the area in / around the track and places that people might want to visit etc. Not sure if anyone on here is from Pretoria or not?

[Nick Goodall]

Completely off-topic but whenever people mention Pretoria i can't help but get that damn Peter Griffin song out of my head - the Family guy episode where they discover their house isn't actually part of America so Peter sets up his own country "Petoria" - Anyone else have this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inPpTI4P0P0

[Lee Martin]

hahahahaa!!!

i dunno what SA's like - anywheres is ok if your careful.......
but i know my friend is from SA and petoria - and he said its not 'great'.....

[blue_pinky]

It's hosting the 2010 World cup too, so it can't be that bad can it?!

I'm not disputing anyone's experiences and don't know much about SA myself, but I do have a few friends who travel there or have lived there.

Sounds to me like it has it's good and bad, like every other country. The good bits sound awesome, and the bad bits that have reached the general pubic domain do sound pretty scary to me, but my guess would be, if your careful and aren't looking for trouble then you'd have a great time!

It's a pity the entry list is so short though...probably a combination of things...money, this "alledged" reputation, etc, etc. But a little sad if the official world body for RC racing has placed the event there and the manufacturers and racers don't feel they can support it, afterall it's these events and this exposure that help to shape and change the general publics feelings about places.

The host's are obviously putting a lot of time and effort in, firstly to get the event in the first place and secondly to actually hold it, like all venues do. It's a shame they may not be rewarded with the event that we'd all like to attend or here about, but if it doesn't live up to everyone's expectation it won't be their fault so they should stand proud that they've put the effort in

Good luck with it I say!

[Mielie]

www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/pretoria-metro.htm

Pretoria is a very nice place. We have the University of Pretoria and all the students hang out in Hatfield quite close to the track. And the women......

[Alfonzo]

SA has the best and some of the worst.

The weather, scenery, food, beer and women are excellent. The service is good. The people friendly. SA is not 3rd World, but very wealthy & modern in many ways. There's many aspects which easily put UK to shame (I know - not that hard).

Then there's the bad bits.

Just don't go looking for the bad bits

[stegger]

A couple of links that could help people

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-af...uteng/pretoria

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-...a/south-africa

[Lee]

Only 48 deaths last year thats not bad, thats only all the drivers and most of the mechanics

[jimmy]

Watch out Lee, in the same period deaths (152 cases) - in the USA! wow. Stay at home!

[Panic]

Only 24 entries?!? Its sad and disappointing from all aspects,,,,and I wonder how the winners will feel i for sure wouldn't like it...

[MikePimlott]

Originally Posted by Panic

Only 24 entries?!? Its sad and disappointing from all aspects,,,,and I wonder how the winners will feel i for sure wouldn't like it...

It would deffinatley be a hollow victory.

[Lee]

One thing though, if the worlds was held in the uk, lets say in sunderland, so were on the same level as pretoria, if we could not get 150 people from the rest of the world to come surely we could get a few more locals??


I will stay away from the US till december jimmy, i have to try my luck in Jo'burg and Singapore before then. Obviously ill be staying in the Haven as much as i can

[chris68nufc]

Can anybody stop Lee swearing on this Forum. He has said the 'S' word far too many times for my liking.

[bondy]

Originally Posted by blue_pinky

It's hosting the 2010 World cup too, so it can't be that bad can it?!

I'm not disputing anyone's experiences and don't know much about SA myself, but I do have a few friends who travel there or have lived there.

Sounds to me like it has it's good and bad, like every other country. The good bits sound awesome, and the bad bits that have reached the general pubic domain do sound pretty scary to me, but my guess would be, if your careful and aren't looking for trouble then you'd have a great time!

It's a pity the entry list is so short though...probably a combination of things...money, this "alledged" reputation, etc, etc. But a little sad if the official world body for RC racing has placed the event there and the manufacturers and racers don't feel they can support it, afterall it's these events and this exposure that help to shape and change the general publics feelings about places.

The host's are obviously putting a lot of time and effort in, firstly to get the event in the first place and secondly to actually hold it, like all venues do. It's a shame they may not be rewarded with the event that we'd all like to attend or here about, but if it doesn't live up to everyone's expectation it won't be their fault so they should stand proud that they've put the effort in

Good luck with it I say!

Yes and can you imagine the security level when thats on ?/ Copper in every bar !!! on every corner !!!! in every hotel !!!!! Plus most of the shanty towns will have been demolished for roads and stadiums by then !!

A few foriegn people fly in for a visit with £1000's worth of gear ! The coppers are more likely to be phoning there crooked mates and telling them were your going !!!!!!

[Lee]

Very true bondy, i know people who have had to give the coppers 20 notes just to get their bag off the carousel at the airport

On a positive note its 50 in Nigeria

[Mielie]

Bondy & Lee you will have a good chance of survival. Only 1/5 murders are crime related the other 4/5 is due to lovers quarrels, family feuds, ect. So don't worry we don't kill tourists, we kill our own!!!!! But getting back to the Worlds it is sad to see only 12 international entries. The organizers put in a lot of money to make sure the facilities are up to standard. Hopefully there will be a few more entries now that the event is going ahead and was not cancelled as everybody was hoping for.I can't understand IFMAR stance regarding the Li-po's can anybody give us information why it was not voted in. What I heard is that EFRA put forward the proposal and it was backed by ROAR.I have entered to race in the Worlds and if we are only going to be 24 drivers then so be it, at least we going to make new friends....