Wild West Rally updates/pics

[outofideas327]

This weekend is the final round of the Rally-America 06 season. Unfortunately, all of the stage roads were canceled due to the amount of mud/snow and trees down. With nearly 40 competitors they had to figure something out quick. It was decided the 'Spectator Stage' would be run multiple times for Saturdays stages. This was a short stage (just under a mile), and to say it was muddy was an understatement.

Tomorrow the competitors will head to Pacific Raceway roadcourse to finish the rally. Most of the teams will only have their gravel tires on, which should make for some entertaining runs on a road course. Here's some pictures from Saturdays stage, taken from http://www.rally-america.com/event.wildwest2006.php?section=photos

Bruce Davis and Jimmy Brandt

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[RonJeremY]

Glad I didn't take time off work to volunteer... Although it sounds like it woulda been more play than work anyways. Like a high powered rallycross with cages...

 

[silvah_gsx]

PLEASE take pics of cars running gravel tires on a roadcourse...I'd love to see how they behave.

 

[griffsfsr]

The gravel tires where real helpful when a few pushed wide in the turns and ended up in the grass. We had one tire separate on the one neon from the heat, and the tore up soft Bridgestone’s did okay when they got hot.

http://www.rally-america.com/event.wildwest2006.php?section=photos

Those are some photos from the event.

 

[outofideas327]

PLEASE take pics of cars running gravel tires on a roadcourse...I'd love to see how they behave.

Here's some great shots from the road course portion (these are not mine):

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More here:http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25041

Compilation video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8461891926675612611
Press stage video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1727612962813373086&hl=en

 

[Slow old poop]

This weekend is the final round of the Rally-America 06 season. Unfortunately, all of the stage roads were canceled due to the amount of mud/snow and trees down. With nearly 40 competitors they had to figure something out quick. It was decided the 'Spectator Stage' would be run multiple times for Saturdays stages. This was a short stage (just under a mile), and to say it was muddy was an understatement.

What's happening to rallyists? Have you all gotten to be candies? Shutting down a pro rally because of a little snow and mud? Unheard of!

Back in the day (1970s), we'd get 75 cars out for a MONY Series rally, no matter the weather. We ran events like the Snowblower, Snowdrift, OSU Winter, 20 Stages and POR from November through March, in the North Woods of Michigan, upstate New York and the forests of Ohio, when snow and black ice were expected. And, except for Henderson's Wagoneers, we didn't have AWD. For most of us, it was a 2WD Datsun 510.

We ran rallies in Michigan in snow so deep that the service crews couldn't get to the service points on paved roads, yet we pressed on through the woods.

I can't recall a single MONY Series event ever being cancelled or altered because of the weather. I remember some stages that had to be tossed because checkpoint workers could not get to their appointed locations, but not an entire event. I remember one year when they considered cancelling the Snowblower rally in upstate New York because it DIDN'T snow. Without snow, the rally was just a very fast TSD with a lot of mud, not the grueling, deep-snow event the organizers expected.

Once, it snowed very badly the night before a local TSD in Columbus, yet we had 100 cars show up from all over Ohio, ready to run. In those days, even TSDers loved to run in the snow.

Sheesh, these days everybody has AWD, and global warming has prit near eliminated the snow. Next thing ya know, you modern-day woosie rallyists will complain about having to run one or two stages at night. We (ahem) ran ALL our 400-mile crash-and-burn, illegal, run-what-you-brung performance rallies at night. Even when it snowed.

*sigh* Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be

Rich/ex-rally driver from the bad old days

 

[griffsfsr]

The short story is the road permits where cancelled due to legislative reasons involving but not limited to the EPA and land owners, it was not the choice of the competitors or organizers.

Sno Drift is still run, and as far as I know the only reason the rally will be cancelled is if the roads are not frozen. They do not want the road surface tore up so they wait till it freezes.

I would agree that the days of old were a very unique and enjoyable time in rally history.

 

[outofideas327]

For most of us, it was a 2WD Datsun 510.

Rich,
Here's an article you might enjoy reading :
http://www.redmistrallysport.com/datsun510.pdf

 

[Slow old poop]

Rich,
Here's an article you might enjoy reading :
http://www.redmistrallysport.com/datsun510.pdf

Thanks. That story brought back a few memories.

Except for a few things -- such as all the mods -- that's what we ran. We had a 1972 Datsun 510 with the African Safari suspension, roll bar, and a bone-stock motor. That car was absolutely bulletproof and the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. The only time I broke it was when I did something stupid--like hitting a buried log in the snow and breaking a tie rod, hitting a deer at 70 mph, or launching it over a blind crest, finding that the road turned while I was in the air, and rolling down an embankment. Still, it never came home on a trailer. We drove it home every time, even with a broken tie rod.

Probably 70% of the cars at every Pro rally in those days were 510s, mainly because of the support from Datsun Competition. They made parts available dirt cheap to racers ($15 for springs, shocks, fenders, door skins, hoods, etc)--many of which had been developed on the team WRC cars. They sold me my African Safari suspension (springs and front struts) for $120 for the set. I ordered a 4:11 limited slip for $100 and they sent me a monster 240Z 4:44 slip instead. Crikies! It was like running a Detroit Locker!

Mitsubishi could learn a huge lesson from Datsun. Instead of stalking us on the internet to find reasons to void warranties, they could support us with cheap parts developed in the factory racing and rally programs. Then, instead of facing bankruptcy like they are now, they might enjoy a strong fan base that would buy Lancers and SUVs in record numbers.

Alas, the execs at Mitsubishi are a bunch of empty suits who can't see beyond their accountant eyeshades.

 

[outofideas327]

There's quite a bit of 510 rally history in this thread here: http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24470
You ought to add your story to the bunch.

Alas, the execs at Mitsubishi are a bunch of empty suits who can't see beyond their accountant eyeshades.

Agreed. Here in the US there is no Mitsu support. They need to take a lesson from Subaru. I'm not a Subaru fan, but with factory parts available at discounted prices, at every event...and a contingency plan like the one below, why would anyone NOT run a Subaru?
http://rally.subaru.com/2006_contingency.html

Mitsu just announced they are returning to WRC with a 2-car team, so it's a start. You would think with ESPN airing the Rally-America series they would get on the ball here in the US, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

[Slow old poop]

There's quite a bit of 510 rally history in this thread here: http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24470
You ought to add your story to the bunch.

Thanks. I dd add my story. After 35 years, the memories remain vivid. They will for you guys, too.

Rich

 

[Jeff91AWD]

Thanks. I dd add my story. After 35 years, the memories remain vivid. They will for you guys, too.

Rich

Wow! That absolutely sounds amazing! I would love to set out on a rally course, knowing its only me and the co-driver against the elements. I have got to get into rallying.

Thanks for the story