Honiton Hill Rally 2015.
 

Can anyone tell me what is new at Honiton Hill this year, please?

Why not go there and see?

I am hardly likely to waste three gallons of diesel and £17 admission for two of us and spend 3 hours driving only view engines that I have seen before. I have done that in the past. I once drove for two hours each way to go to a rally only to find that with the exception of one engine that I had seen them all before.

You John possibly live closer to the rally than I do and possibly you get paid for your services for the day. I do not and I have to be careful what I spend.

Thomas,

I usually ignore your posts because, frankly, you irritate me. However, on this occasion I thought I would reply with a few observations.

i. "4040" and others went to great lengths to entice you to the WESES event, but nevertheless you didn't attend (you missed a great show, by the way).

ii. Google Maps indicates Honiton Hill ("HH") is a 110 mile round trip for you. You must drive very slowly if this is going to take an hour longer than Google Maps indicates it can be achieved in.

iii. If your diesel vehicle only manages such a low "miles per gallon" figure, you should think about procuring a replacement.

iv. HH is a 300 mile round trip for me. I will be going rain or shine (and regardless of the engines which are expected to attend). Why? Because I know it will be a brilliant day/weekend whatever.

I look forward to seeing you there. :rolleyes:

This summer I have been to Abbey Hill, Nutwell, Langport, Boconnoc, Stithians and will be going to Honiton Hill and the Great Dorset. I have never asked for payment for any of the commentary that I have done since 1989, and have only been given help towards my expenses on two or three occasions, again not asked for. In all other cases I have covered my own expenses. I attend rallies and do the commentary because I enjoy it. This summer I have received a lot of help, particularly from friends at Boconnoc and Stithians, for which I have been very grateful. Oh, and so far as health is concerned, I suspect that my current position is rather worse than yours. I'll say no more.

Why is it people are always looking for something "new". and then when someone turns up with a new build, they are up in arms about it. Don't they realise that there are only so many engines in existence, there's not some great factory churning them out for the benefit of the armchair enthusiast.
For my money its great to engines in steam, no matter how many times I've seen them before. They are all unique, as are their stories and histories. And for me, that's good enough!

John no need to explain yourself to a certain person we all know what a brilliant job you do when you are in the commentary box :) as a hobby not a job!
There's always one that has to moan about EVERYTHING !!

agree entirely John if we were to charge for our commentating services we would never do another, we enjoy doing the job!!

There's a shuttle bus? That's new http://forums.pcpitstop.com/public/s...ault/shrug.gif

Who cares if its the same engines as elsewhere, you don't attend that many rallies as it is!

As for travel, Mum travelled all the way to Engine hill the other week by train & bus from Torbay & back again, on her own & she's in her 60s!

Wow we :o, There will be the "usual" local engines in attendance + 3 engines new to HHR and 3 returning to HHR (not there last year) 17 engines booked at present + a car or two!

I am sorry Tom but people like to see ALL/ANY engines, and maybe something different from just steam engines!. To get lots of new and never seen engines is very expensive - we are not predominantly a steam rally, we have lots of working displays and commentry & we also have had a few wet years causing funds to be limited - although we like to think we pay engines as fairly as possible and NO-ONE would ever leave site without their agreed payment!. We are also not a business so its not run purely to maximise profits which is what hopefully makes it fair, friendly & laid back.

In light of this you appear to begrudge paying admission & even fuel & time to get there!, remember if all the helpers/organisers got paid (& comentators!!!) no-one would afford the entry fee's involved.

Wayne

Quite right, Wayne. HHR is one of the friendliest and most enjoyable rallies that I attend - a great team to work with, and always a great atmosphere.

Another point so far as I am concerned is that all rallies are not just exhibits, but people too. Over the years I have been lucky enough to make a lot of really good friends on the rally circuit. Some I meet most weekends others perhaps a couple of times in a year, or even less often, and not just from the UK. Rallying is what you make of it, but of course, you have to get there!

I can see demands for live streaming web cams at events coming soon!

Ah - copyright on my commentaries, then Adrian!!

Tom, I don't wish to be rude, but it was only the other day that you were commenting on another thread how Honiton Hill was a brilliant rally and well worth the visit last time, and that you hoped to be able to go this year!

It's one of the most laid back and enjoyable rallies we do, very little hi viz and nobody ever on our back, given our own section of field and our own ring to do what we want with when we want, whether that be divising our own games to play, timed three point turns for example, or putting on displays for the public such as winching. It's definitely a rally where there's always something to see happening.

In my opinion they have some of the fairest and most generous methods of contributing to transport costs around, it's just a shame it doesn't attract more engines due to a lot wanting to get to Dorset so early. Having said that there are still a few engines for which it is only the first or second event they've attended this year, so although not perhaps new out, there's still always something different to see.

Hello George, thank you for your comments which were of a polite nature not like some other members who should know better.

I have only been to one rally at Honiton Hill so far and that was in 2013 when I did see some new engines and I agree it is a laid back rally.

Due to a change in circumstances this year I have not yet been able to attend a single rally, due to ill health I find it difficult both in getting to rallies and in getting around them and from past experience I know that parts of the rally field at Honiton Hill are quite rough owing to them appearing to be used for farming. I now have to be careful where I go for obvious reasons and this year I have been largely housebound. However, I am determined to get out this weekend and try and attend Honiton Hill. It was only out of curiosity that I was interested to hear what was new at the rally, unfortunately, there are those who should know better and they only come out with stupid comments.

I understand that being so close to the dates of GDSF that it can be difficult getting engines to attend. However, am I right in saying that some owners go to Honiton Hill on their way to GDSF?

Regards,
Tom.

So, I ought to know better for replying factually to this?

You either get some real kicks out of being a pest or just thick. No one wants to hear about your ailments and excuses -
Now just go to a few rallies, post a few pictures and let people appreciate your posts rather than despise them.

The latter

Don't forget - Tomorrow and Monday and well worth a visit. Heading up there later this afternoon. Look forward to meeting many of you. I will be in the commentary box as usual - "The one above sees all"!

Me too *slaps wrists* ;)

'Twas a bit moist there today! Didn't really take any photos. It was nice to see Wallace dressed up with showmans fittings. And to see sheaf of arrows as well. To be honest it was lovely to see all the engines up there this weekend. I'd also like to thank the guys with East Lothian Star for letting me up on the footplate to see what a single Wallis is like compared to the expansion. Was nice to have a chat with a few people again. Hope it dries up again for the rest of the weekend!