Have any of you been to Rally Finland / the 1000 Lakes Rally?

Otter74 · 04-09-2017, 10:06 AM

I really like Scandinavia and my girlfriend adores it. On our last trip I said, "hey how about we go to this rally in the Finnish Lake District?" and she is happy to do it because it's in the Lake District and she can visit the Alvar Aalto house again (I'd like to see that, too) and etc. etc.

The rally seems like fun to me but I have no idea what WRC rallies are like as a spectator experience other than that you spend a lot of time standing arsound in the woods. The only Rally I've been to was whatever POR is called these days, in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan in 1999.

There are some really nice airfares to Finland right now, but I wouldn't mind some beta from people who have done the Rally, or rallies in Europe.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Well, if you are in the area, it's worth a watch, but I personally wouldn't go just for that.
Rally these days is all little hatchbacks.. I find it pretty boring to watch , the days of Grouppe B are long gone.. But if anything, I would think 1000 lakes probably is the more exiting one to go see as it's in very nice scenery, good views, gravel, jumps... You probably should find somebody local who knows where all the good spots to watch are..

Won · 04-09-2017, 10:51 AM

We did Rally Germany last year (Saturday only). We went straight to the service park in the morning for a short team meeting, then hung around until the mid-day service. Afterwards there was just enough time to drive to one of the stages (Panzerplatte). Based on the amount of time I had (read: not much) to follow the rally itinerary, I think the best way to maximise viewing time is to see a stage early AM, get to the service park for the mid-day service, then you would have just enough time to make it to one of the latter PM stages. Of course, if you're there all weekend then you can do service park on one day only, and focus on getting to the stages. On the other hand, considering the spectator traffic in the area, and having to find parking, then actually get to the stages (shuttle may be available if you're lucky), the best approach might well be to pick your favourite spot and stay put for both the AM/PM passes. If you don't know already, forum-rallye.com is a good resource.

I will ask at work tomorrow about any tips for spectating in Finland. If you do go, please drop me a PM and I'll see if I can get you some passes.

Otter74 · 04-09-2017, 11:31 AM

We wouldn't go just for the Rally. She and I both enjoy Scandinavia and I've never been to Finland, so it would be a day or two of a larger trip, likely to also include another country in Northern Europe. We would do other things in the Lake District, too. She got up there and back last time without a car, but a car seems essential for this. Thanks for the forum-rallye.com suggestion

As far as events go, Power Big Meet in Sweden in July is maybe more attractive sounding to me but I don't know what that experience is like either.