Since the events of 9-11 2001, many changes have affected everything related to insurances and risk management. Canadian rally sport, having not escaped these changes, is forced to increase stage security and safety in order to meet insurance company’s requirements. The Canadian Association of Rally Sport had to create a safety plan which must apply to all rally events in Canada.
With the new standards imposing perfect control of all spectators along timed stages, it became impossible for our organization (taking into account its financial and human resources) to ensure adequate safety in all locations of a special stage.
For these reasons, we’ve adopted a whole new approach in 2003 which offers spectators something much more spectacular in a practical and safe way. Thus, the public is invited to use buses to reach the ‘spectator zones’ on Friday night to see the PALOMINO stage. Why complicate your life trying to find the ideal place to watch the competition, finding a place to park close to the stage area and walking many kilometers for nothing, when you can use our great bus transit system?
We’ve thought of everything, or almost. Park your car on Friday afternoon at the Notre-Dame-de-Fatima Church, 50 Corbeil in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, J8C 1X2, save gas, time, the walk, and go directly to the good spots in the PALOMINO stage. We will have spectator zones on Friday night. All spectator locations will be indicated in the special edition (spectators guide) of Pole-Position magazine or under “Spectators / MAPS” on this website.
And for you ladies, listen to this comment from Mrs Gabrielle Fortin, spouse of Sylvain Erickson, well-known rally driver: “For years, I’ve been following Sylvain around the country to the rallys. The last two years at Defi, I was able to safely park my car at the parking lot in Ste-Agathe, use the free bus system to go directly to one of the best spots of the rally. As a bonus, there were portable toilets installed by the rally committee at each location. How great is that?!!!”
During the presentation of the special stages, we ask that you respect all the safety instructions, particularly the ones prohibiting spectators to place themselves at certain areas. Keep a good distance from the road to be certain that a vehicle in loss of control cannot reach you. Stay courteous with the marshals in charge of safety. The people assuring your safety are volunteers. The coordination center of the rally will be in radio communication with all the marshals on site. If they judge that part of the crowd does not behave in a safe way, the course clerk will order the cancellation of the special stage in question. We know that you are responsible rally fans and that you will help us present the best show possible.
Rally organizers can’t think of every detail concerning the safety of your children. Even though rally drivers are highly qualified drivers, mechanical failure could occur at any moment causing loss of control. PLEASE keep an eye (preferably both of them) on your children at all times.
When attending a rally stage, spectators usually stand on someone’s private property. These property owners generously accept that their land be walked on by many spectators. We count on your politeness and good judgment to protect the physical integrity of all objects like trees, shrubs, traffic signs or other. We do our very best that the owners of the land and/or objects found on them are satisfied of the behavior of crowd. Therefore, we invite you to collect all your garbage before you leave from all spectator sites and hand them to the volunteers that have garbage bags in their possession.
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