Lombard Rally 2023

[coppice]

I went to this event yesterday at Duncombe Park Helmlsey , a venue I know well , having been used for the RAC in period . I was attracted by the entry list of about 80-90 cars , including 911s , TR7 V8 and Stratoses , as well as the inevitable Mk 2 Escorts.

Having paid £14 I was extremely annoyed that there were only about 25 cars in total , including only the odd interesting one like a 240Z . No Stratos , 911 etc and about 60 fewer cars than in the entry list . The same few cars made three or four runs in the four hours I was there. It felt much longer ... Not impressed - it'd have been fine for a fiver but 14 quid is a full day club or drag racing, or hillclimb. With a lot of cars

[andy97]

Have you contacted the organisers?

[coppice]

I intend to . Posted here to see if anyone had different experience elsewhere, as the rally started in Bath I think .

[LastPoster]

I don't think it started at Bath, looks to me like a one day thing just at the venue you went to. I live near Bath and some old mates did one of the first events running from Bath, they had a good time and it seems the organisers are trying to recreate at a few venues.

From the info I can find, it looks like they were looking for 50/60 entries (their own website and Facebook page plus a ticket selling website) not 80/90 but the entry list published on Facebook a few days before only shows 30ish. Probably as disappointing for the organisers as the spectators

[LukeBrown66]

These events I am afraid a destined to fail over here, it is the same few people who organise and do them, and unless you are in Europe you do not get big entries or interesting ones, for a first timer yes, but we do not have the numbers to make events like this work, they are just marketing gimmicks in many ways.

And even in Europe in the past Spa classic got great numbers and cars, that has died off, only really Eifell and Italy late in the year are truly wirth the effort.

[Maxdecel]

Think you've seen an entry list from a previous event held elsewhere ?
Here's the entry from yesterday:-
Top runners on April 1st:
1. Bob Bean Ford Lotus Cortina
2. Peter Ellerby Mini
3. Duncan Pearcey Datsun 240Z
4. Gareth Davies Chevette HS
5. Chris Common Chevette HSR
6. Justin Lawson Escort Mk2
7. Adrian Lloyd Chevette HS
8. Graham Wingfield Escort RS2000
9. John Senior Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV
10. Jim Patterson Opel Ascona 400
11. Bob Dennis Subaru Legacy
12. David Thirlwell Escort RS
13.
14. Jimmy Knox BMW320
15. David Matthewson Escort Mk2
16. Darren Wilson Toute Terrain
17. Anthony Raylor Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
18. Neil Brighton Peugeot 206WRC
19. Jack Matthewson Fiesta
20. Howard Staves Escort
21. Philip Ashworth Volvo 142S
22. Martin Ibbotson Peugeot 106
23. Jamie Hyde Peugeot 205
24. Andy Ace Harrison Morris 1800 "Landcrab"
25. Andrew Storr Sunbeam Talbot Lotus
26. Jake Wilson. Vauxhall Corsa
27. Martin Pierson. Talbot Sunbeam
28. TBC. VW Golf
29. TBC. Mini
30.
31.
32.
33.
34. Chris Rae. Toyota

https://www.facebook.com/lombardrallyfestivaldunco... See More *
Didn't see anything of Bob Bean so assume DNS.

[Drumroll]

to me the "Lombard" events have turned into money making events for the organisers. Few seem to have lived up to the "hype"

[coppice]

I saw the entry list on their website. Who knows, I may even have misread it but 14 quid for 30 cars. come on ...

[LastPoster]

The website is awful, you may have seen the entry from the Bath based event last year. Whilst it looks like they were hoping for £14.00 for 50-60 cars, I'd still agree that's not VFM

[Maxdecel]

Some of the "Festival"


And a bit more - https://www.facebook.com/lombardrallyfestivaldunco...

[velocemitch]

Drumroll said:

to me the "Lombard" events have turned into money making events for the organisers. Few seem to have lived up to the "hype"

Not sure about turned in too, they always were.
They just seem to be lost somewhere between a demonstration event and an excuse for some owners to go and play.

Anecdotally I believe the organisation leaves a lot to be desired too.

[Wingo]

There appears to be a few versions of this type of event about, not cheap, but I doubt the venue hire is.

Stage Rally car owners who just want a no pressure skid about have few options available to them.

The cars on the event at Duncombe looked to be a very mixed bag, R5 car to what looked to be some lightly modified cars, all sorts in between.

I know one or two who use this type of event as a shakedown type of event for an opportunity for some "relaxed no pressure, less costly " seat time away from MSUK sanctioned rallies.

Not sure I'd go and watch unless there was some very tasty machinery on the final entry list, quality and quantity.

[LastPoster]

Pretty much that

I know a few people who do these events. They are very capable drivers and have decent cars. They have done loads of competitive events (numbered in the hundreds each) and now just want a laugh where they can take a few different co-drivers and/or fling the car around a bit. Sometimes it's 20 miles around a country park, sometimes it's closed roads on the continent supporting an International rally

[Drumroll]

LastPoster said:

Pretty much that

I know a few people who do these events. They are very capable drivers and have decent cars. They have done loads of competitive events (numbered in the hundreds each) and now just want a laugh where they can take a few different co-drivers and/or fling the car around a bit. Sometimes it's 20 miles around a country park, sometimes it's closed roads on the continent supporting an International rally

Are you thinking of the HERO events?

[LastPoster]

Drumroll said:

Are you thinking of the HERO events?

Is Lombard Rally Bath a HERO event, I don't know. I'm referring to stuff like to demo runs at Race Retro and other show events, some of the historic demo runs running alongside WRC/ERC events. I don't know what HERO organise

[fttm]

LastPoster said:

Pretty much that

I know a few people who do these events. They are very capable drivers and have decent cars. They have done loads of competitive events (numbered in the hundreds each) and now just want a laugh where they can take a few different co-drivers and/or fling the car around a bit. Sometimes it's 20 miles around a country park, sometimes it's closed roads on the continent supporting an International rally

Ditto , mostly older drivers wanting a bit of fun without causing too much damage , nice dinner ,and a catch up with old rivalries/friends .

[velocemitch]

LastPoster said:

Drumroll said:

Are you thinking of the HERO events?

Is Lombard Rally Bath a HERO event, I don't know. I'm referring to stuff like to demo runs at Race Retro and other show events, some of the historic demo runs running alongside WRC/ERC events. I don't know what HERO organise

They are nothing like HERO events..... At All!

[Penny Whistle]

LastPoster said:

Drumroll said:

Are you thinking of the HERO events?

Is Lombard Rally Bath a HERO event, I don't know. I'm referring to stuff like to demo runs at Race Retro and other show events, some of the historic demo runs running alongside WRC/ERC events. I don't know what HERO organise

Definitely nothing at all like HERO events, which are far from demo events. HERO events are historic road rallies, very professionally organised and very competitive (if rather expensive to enter). See here. You don't have to pay to spectate at HERO events. Those Lombard events are not road rallies and have a dubious reputation.

[coppice]

I certainly won't be going anywhere near another Lombard rip off any time soon . I was appalled at paying £14 to see , basically , f*** all.

A big contrast to HERO stuff indeed - I remember spending a freezing but stunning morning at Ribblehead watching such an eclectic set of cars heading north to JOG . Ditto VSCC trials - foc and a hoot to watch