Very Old Juniors

4927 Views 62 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Gary Nolan, Oct 28, 2005

MH622

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2005

While I'm completely in favour of a Junior Section being tagged onto the back of events, it amazes me that they can be headin for the big 30 and still call themselves Juniors?! Come on, in Autograss, they start at 12 and finish at 16, for Gods sake, they start behind the wheel in Rosegreen at the age of 10 and even at Autocross events, age 14 will see you flat out around a quarry. I understand its up to each COC but its no incentive for a youngster of 18 or 19 to enter when he/she knows they will be up against seasoned campaigners who may have been Rallying for anything up to 10 years. Get a grip lads, let the juniors be juniors and anyone over 21 should mix it with their peers.

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fl/c

· #2 · Oct 11, 2005

Well thats all well and good, but how many 21 year olds are able to spend around 7k on a car and then buget for at least 700 euros a rally? And you're gonna have to spend a lot more than that if you want to win.

What do you think the average age of the top three in the West Coast Juniors was? 24 tops? That's not too bad.

Rallying is way too expensive to limit Juniors to 21, and unless you limit the cars in some way, or run it as a one-make like the 205's, then I can't see the age limit changing

Pat Condon

· #3 · Oct 11, 2005

i think it should be base if possible on amount of rallying done, if you have competing in more than 10 rally's. i know it would be hard to keep track of , just a thought

1600

· #4 · Oct 11, 2005

This topic has been brought up before, competitors in the junior section with 10 years rallying under their belt, and sometimes in super 1600 cars. The west coast age limit is 27. I started this season with intentions of doing the junior west coast and expected the line up to be people starting out with limited experience like myself. Then I saw guys with 6-7-8 years rallying done in 200bhp cars!!! I said to myself to hell with this.

Pat Condon

· #5 · Oct 11, 2005

but junior events is about gaining experience not winning.

randompunter

· #6 · Oct 11, 2005

Well you really wanted to emphasise thaty point 1600 didn't you. The reality of it is that its not all about winning now is it. Its about allowing more people the opportunity to start rallying and to get experience.
Also by the way i believe the winner of the west coast juniors was in a 1400 8 valve with nowhere near 200 bhp. And not sure what age he is but i reckon he aint rallying 5 years.

AnnieJ1

· #7 · Oct 11, 2005

Your right randompunter! He is only 21 with only 138bhp, and only rallyin bout four years i think! infact even the second place driver only had a 1300 mk2!!! and is also only 21! It is an excellent oppertunity for young drivers to show their skills and ability!

Gary Nolan

· #8 · Oct 11, 2005

Yes but MH622 is right in saying 27 is not young. There are still events where there are reserves for the juniors and this would be reduced if the age limit is 24 or something more reasonable. S1600 should be banned for the juniors, they were built to contest international championships, and if someone is trying to gain experience in rallying by starting off in a super 1600, they must have a fair outlay of cash, enough to compete in the main field anyway!

jp ruth

· #9 · Oct 11, 2005

i think the juniors should be restricted to under 25 and cars under 1600cc and not super 1600. some of the lads in the juniors are rallying years and their cars are capable of a top 30 result in a national round. like having a super 1600 in the juniors is crazy its supposed to be for loads to get a start in rallying. what hope would a lad startin off in a standard 205 or astra have in the junior section. the top 5-6 junior runners have a lot of experience and it seems unfair on the lads starting off to have to compete against experienced rally drivers

[Edited on 11-10-2005 by jp ruth]

Pat Condon

· #10 · Oct 11, 2005

would argreed with you jp. no way should super 1600 be in juniors

AnnieJ1

· #11 · Oct 11, 2005

Can i just ask what junior s1600 are ye talkin about??? Ive navigated in alot of junior rallies this year and havnt competed against any!!!! Under 25 is a good idea alright!

William Neill

· #12 · Oct 11, 2005

all young drivers should go to the Alltrack events great crack their is even a 1200 Nova junior class! with 10 rounds

Eoiny

· #13 · Oct 11, 2005

The Galway international junior rally 05 was won by a lad in a super 1600 puma!

ski

· #14 · Oct 11, 2005

lot of carlow fans about this thread........

emac-c

· #15 · Oct 11, 2005

Originally posted by Hbx
Yes but MH622 is right in saying 27 is not young. There are still events where there are reserves for the juniors and this would be reduced if the age limit is 24 or something more reasonable. S1600 should be banned for the juniors, they were built to contest international championships, and if someone is trying to gain experience in rallying by starting off in a super 1600, they must have a fair outlay of cash, enough to compete in the main field anyway!

The reason some juniors in S1600 are doing junior events is because they can't get entries for the main rally.I agree a junior in a S1600 must have a budget to run the car but this isn't much good if you can't get an entry.Catch 22,can't get entries,can't get results,can't get entries.

jp ruth

· #16 · Oct 11, 2005

Originally posted by AnnieJ1
Can i just ask what junior s1600 are ye talkin about??? Ive navigated in alot of junior rallies this year and havnt competed against any!!!! Under 25 is a good idea alright!

kerry stages this year there was a super 1600 puma and the galway international section sorry boomerang im not slateing you im making a point thats all there is a proton in the juniors aint that up to ss1600 spec i stand corrected on that

[Edited on 11-10-2005 by jp ruth]

cole2

· #17 · Oct 11, 2005

Originally posted by AnnieJ1
Can i just ask what junior s1600 are ye talkin about??? Ive navigated in alot of junior rallies this year and havnt competed against any!!!! Under 25 is a good idea alright!

Keith Power had S1600 puma in circuit of Kerry this year, Stafford had one on the lakes and Darren Gass had the Saxo on the stonethrowers. There are probably more that I dont know about.... Ive done 1 or 2 junior rallies this year ,Im 24, first year competing and trying to get my licence upgraded, its handy for the likes of that. Once I get my licence Im not doing anymore junior events. as I would no longer class myself as a junior.. I would rather enter main rallies and Let someone else have a chance of an entry. Thats what its all about as far as Im concerned! Just my opinion

jp ruth

· #18 · Oct 11, 2005

yeah cole2 your car is standard enough and you hadnt a hope of matching the times of the other ss1600 in the juniors on the rallies you done

fl/c

· #19 · Oct 11, 2005

I'v done juniors rallies this year and don't find s1600 doing it any problem, how many s1600's have won a junior rally!

jp ruth

· #20 · Oct 11, 2005

keith power won galway in his puma that i do know he was winning circuit of kerry till he slid off the road was young strafford in the top 2-3 in killarney!! its a junior rally section it seems unfair the a ex works super 1600 is classed as a junior car for novice drivers! keith power, Seamus o Grady etc have a lot of rallying done it seems unfair they are left in the junior section with their experience. no disrespect to any of the names above i am not having a go at them its the clubs and organisers that should review this matter

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