Damp Tempest Rally

Each year I go to the Tempest Rally, each year there is  blue skies and sunshine, luck had to run out at some point and it was this weekends event. Parking in the usual place for the nearest stage to home at Warren Heath there was rain in the air, we waited until the last minute to hike across the ditch to the corner we normally watch from as the rain stopped and the first 2WD cars came blasting through.



















With a few cars left to run we high tailed it over towards the service park. Changes in the stage schedules have now made it tricky to see different stages, but we thought we'd try. A run round Rushmoor gave us a look round the 2WDs being fettled, some more than others!













With time ticking away it was back on the road and over to Pavilion, a stage just round the corner where the 4WDs were due. As we arrived it was clear there was a mistake in the program as the 2WDs were already under way. The stage had also been reversed and the churned up soil at the tight turns bogged the cars down before a slower crawl up the hill afterwards.















Another quick turn around was needed as we headed back to Rushmoor Arena for the 4WD stage and service. The viewing area offers a distant look compared with the extreme closeup of other stages, but seeing the gravel flying and the water splashes I was glad to be at the top of the hill!















Up in service we watched the various teams clean and prep the cars ready for the afternoon stages.











What would be our last stage of the day was at Warren, we headed over to the carpark and found another change of route, the usual huge carpark with two viewing areas had become one and we ended up parked up a tree and running down the road to the corner. It offered a great spot to watch as the 4WDs came hurtling round it and blasted down the straight.















As the last of the Army LandRovers came wobbling past the rain began to fall again, much heavier and within seconds we were soaked and running through the trees for home. We hung around to see if it would clear in time for the last Warren runs but the skies had darkened and we called it a day. It was still a blast and a great way to end another varied year of motorsport.

Steve.