December 2000
Rainier Auto Sports Club
Totem 2000 by Mark Nolte
Shoved out to November 11/12 instead of the usual mid-October date, this turned into a
"snow rally". Not knowing conditions in the Fraser and Okanagan valleys, I considered using
my "gravel tires" rather than the "studs" up until the last day. Sure glad I chose the studs.
The rally turned out to follow the classic B.C. formula- the clocks set to Canadian time, and
using a combination of fine roads that had all seen rally traffic before.
We started within sight of the start, far down across the valley. That snow we'd seen turned
out to be deep powder coupled to, uh, challenging speeds. Careful placing of CPıs meant that
after miles of being on time, the CP around the hairpin rewarded those who danced on the edges.
Although there was a surprising amount of civilian traffic, there weren't the usual "brushes" that I
remember from past B.C. rallys. Speaking of luck, the winners, Glenn Wallace and Richard Squire
spent some time "off road", but there werenıt any CP's to catch them. Except for that, their
scores, using a laptop linked to their Subaru RS's odometer, would indicate superb rallycraft.
I suppose cajones helped, too.
Saturdayıs run started at 11AM, and finished at 9. As car 2, Ed Storer and I wished the car
ahead of us was lower, with an air dam. Russ Kraushaarıs Mazda GTX didn't even provide us
good tracks to follow. At one point, we were sure he and his driver, Dean Kokko, had missed a
turn-until we saw some very interesting tracks avoiding a stump very near the road. Or was that
Paul Westwick, the rallymaster in the Pace car? Watching the rear view mirror for Dean, and
looking ahead for civilians took a lot of the fun out of it. As it was, Kraushaar senior (R. Dale, who
won the Alcan) caught us at about the same moment we met worker John Fouse blocking a
cattleguard. Neither of us wanted to back up, and John is sensitive to hand signals, so it took a
moment for Fouse to volunteer to get out of the way. He then announced that the rally was way
behind us, and to take an additional 30 minutes in the next Transit.
We had lots of time to chat, awaiting the next out time. The main topic of discussion was how
the cars behind us were doing, since many weren't over-prepared. The "hydrophilic" vs. studs
debate raged. Navigator Ed was wearing loafers, a powerful inducement not to get off the lightly
beaten path. As it was, the speeds were doable, except in proximity to the checkpoints. I'd
mounted the dashboard clipboard, so Ed was underworked. The clipboard blocks the heater
controls, we regulated the cabin temperature with the sunroof. At one point, Ed said something
about waking him in time for the next CAST, and I decided it was too warm. Reaching for the
sunroof control as we entered a hairpin wasn't a good idea. The road edges were really slick,
Ed was wide-awake after I left some dramatic tracks for the rest not- to follow.
It got dark, and the oncoming civilians were much easier to see. I still recognized a road from
the 1989 T-Bird, and a CP was in the expected place. It also got colder. The powdery snow went
away at the apex of one turn, and I remarked that the civilian we'd just passed must know the road
very well to be out here in the dark. At which point it became obvious why the powder had disappeared-
it was now shiny, smooth ice. The GTX was quickly no longer ahead of us- they waved as we slid past,
their errant progress into the depths stopped by a tree. There was no way for us to stop, and
Kraushaar (senior) said it took a quarter mile to get stopped and run back to see if they were OK
(They linked up with the civilian, so they didn't even have to wait for Sweep).
The second most memorable drive of the weekend was a lovely descent into Kelowna, the overnight
break. A series of sweeping turns with the lights of civilization in view. Clear and v. pretty. The surface
of the road was glare ice, and the car responded to steering inputs the same way it did to braking
attempts- "maybe, maybe not". By now, I was aquatinted with the ABS, which got me roughly the same
response as locking up the brakes. I was giggling in hysterical laughter as we slid for about 5 miles
at a 37 mph CAST. Ed was strangely silent through this episode, although I donıt think he was
enjoying "the moment".
As usual, the rallymaster had picked a good place for us all to converge for dinner, and it turned out
we'd all shared the same terrors. The scores appeared and the standings were reasonable, if not kind
to us. R. Dale Kraushaar was leading, with Larry Richardson navigating. They'd done the Alcan last
winter, so had this sort of thing nailed. R. Dale reported that Russ's GTX was probably totaled, Dean
and Russ weren't going to join us for diner. There was also some talk of a BMW highcentered out there,
still. Everyone else survived.
Sunday morning started with the same hill we'd skated down last night. It was easier in daylight and
uphill, enough to put us "zero" at the CP at the top. More of the roads looked familiar from past events,
not that it helped out scores. I recognized the road where I did a superb bit of driving at Mountain Trials;
lovely controlled drifts, expert ditchhooking and generally the stuff that WRC "highlights" films are made
of. I also remember the lady in the Suburban saluting me with a single finger that day, not sharing the
glory of the drive, nor much of the road. Later, I pointed out the spot to Ed where the farmer pitched the
roll of wire onto a rally car, cracking the windshield. Ed didn't seem to share all the memories, pointing
out that we were getting later and later. As it was, we challenged a truck towing a horsetrailer for space
on a cattleguard; he apparently wisely recognized the situation and parked until the rest of the rally went
by.
The most memorable section involved a single lane road, clinging to the side of a hill. Tire tracks meant
that it was not for our exclusive use, and there was only one lane closely adjoined by thin air. Being first
on the road, we tried to stay on time, while praying that there wouldn't be any oncoming traffic. After all,
we never passed a wide spot, and if we met someone, the only thing to do would be to push the car over
the edge, watch it bounce, and walk out. A large rock was unavoidable, clunking and banging the length
of the car. Not knowing when it would widen, I could only hope we'd be on time when we passed the
inevitable CP. It never opened up, and we passed the CP maybe 15 late.
This was cleverly followed by another CP. In this case, a couple were walking their dogs, and its
considered bad form to run over a puppy in front of the owner. At least where I come from. So we took
another mass of points at that CP. Ed asked if I wanted to write up a Time Declaration, since it was
obvious to the CP crew why we were late. Since Time Decs are alien to these people, I told him not to
bother, reminding him that's why I run so few B.C. rallys.
The Finish was where it all started, four hours from home. We got dinner and watched while the scores
were efficiently tallied up. Great food, good stories. No more DNF's!
Cajones prevailed as the Subaru RS of Glenn Wallace/Richard Squire turned in a stunning 52.
Kraushaar/Richardson (Sube RS) were only 12 behind, and my Subaru showed 86 (the last CP was
thrown for "dog blockage") for third. Kisela/Jensen got 136 points in John's Legacy, for 4th. Not that far
back, considering their pencil-and-paper navigation method, was Ron and Josh Sorem in a Subaru
wagon, 7th with 348 pts. There were 21 entrants.
Armageddon by Mark Nolte
Ken and Sue Lingbloom keep putting on this rally in Bellingham despite being the only active
rallyists within 60 miles. The Chuckanut Sports Car Club has people to man enough checkpoints,
but its purely a labor of love to keep doing this year after year. Its worth the trouble, and they were
rewarded with 31 entries. The best news: most of them were local people.
It was the kind of rally that gets newcomerıs "hooked". The weather was perfect; against the
odds for November 18. (I remember snow one year, floods another). We showed up early, since
I didn't know where the Alaska Ferry Terminal was. There was Sue, ready to do Registration.
Lunch? She said to go to nearby "Winn's", then come back and register. The drive-in restaurant was
a good choice. Sue was remarkably composed, considering that Ken's mom had passed away the
preceding weekend, and there isn't a lot of spare time to be had during a pre-rally week anyway.
She got us registered and handed over a large door number on magnetic backing. "If you don't give
it back, we'll come looking for you!" she warned.
This was a little Sunday-afternoon rally, on Saturday. The route took advantage of the farmland
roads north, right up to the Canadian border. From this side, Mt. Shuksan was lovely, to the point
that I had the camera pointing out the window to catch it while doing a 33 CAST. I suppose I
should mention that the rally route went over Nolte Road, although the Lingblooms should have put
a CP close by- to catch me after taking pictures!
Speaking of schemes, Ken is on good terms with the Furness Motor Club in England. That club
volunteered to pay the entry of any team willing to write an article for their newsletter. I think they
were bemused at the low entry fee. So we were presented with the sight of the PB (Powerful Blue)
MGB of Gary Reid/ Steve Richards, doing their darndest to look like they were transplanted from
merry olde England.
As it was, Steve cranked the Curta into an absurdly low score, the duo clearly spent most the drive
staying on time, while, ahem, some of us enjoyed the drive.
It was a nice way to end the rally year.
Club News
Elections at the November meeting: Kirk Simons, Pete Shelton, Gretchen Jones, Eric Horst are
the new Board members. Terry Simmons and Ed Millman continue as Board members. They will
meet before the December meeting to divide up the duties.
Also: Kirk Simons proposed placing No Alibi on the June 2-3 weekend.
Raindrop will return on April 29.
TRIVIA:
* The Okanogan valley becomes the Okanagan valley in Canada. And you thought only the dollar
was different.
*Peter and Connie Linde sold the Auburn house, moved out toward Buckley
*Correction: Roy Ward's new ride: it is a Malibu, not a Monte Carlo.
For Sale:
*98 Ford F150. 4WD, XLT, Supercab Green, Alloy wheels, bedliner, running boards AT, AC,
Power windows & locks. Factory tape & CD changer, power driver's seat. 44,000 miles, runs
like new. Bargain at $17,900 Jerry Hines 425.823.6343 / 206.227.6343
*Nice House (Shoreline)- Recent improvements. Want to move to Phinney Ridge/Greenlake.
$225K Pete & Amy Shelton (206)365-4173
*RX3, 170 hp, street car, needs paint real bad. Driveable. $950. Moving, must sell.
Pete Shelton (206)365-4173
*'88 Cavalier, Burgundy over grey, 4 cyl/auto. 120K mi. $800 obo (!), Pete Shelton (206)365-4173
RASC Calendar:
Call the NWRC Hotline (206) 256-9627 for latest info on Puget Sound TSD events.
2001 Pro-Rallyist's Calendar
12/10 - Adopt-a-Highway Litter Clean-up (Our section of northbound I-5, MP 99-101)
1/20 - NW Region SCCA Awards Banquet - Emerald Downs Racetrack
1/27 - Workers Party, Location TBA
1/26 1/26 SnoDrift PRORally
2/10-11 - Doo Wop I & II, Capitol Forest - (Tentative)(ClubRally)
3/10-11 - Doo Wop III & IV, Montesano Brooklyn Tavern/Smith Creek (Club Rally)
3/15-17 - Cherokee Trails, Tennessee (WRC?)
4/7-8 - Oregon Trail, Tilamook (PRORally)
4/14 - Divisional Runoffs, Paris, TX. (ClubRally)
4/22 - Adopt-a-Highway Litter Clean-up (Our section of northbound I-5, MP 99-101)
5/4-5 - Rim of the World (PRORally)
6/1-2 - STPR (PRORally)
6/9-10 - Shitepoke/Dryad Quest (ClubRally)
6/24 - Adopt-a-Highway Litter Clean-up
7/27-28 - Maine Forest (PRORally)
8/4-5 - ORV Rally Sprints (ClubRally)
8/17-18 - Ojibwe (PRORally)
8/26-00 - Adopt-a-Highway Litter Clean-up
9/7-8 - Wild West (PRORally)
10/5-6 - Prescott Forest (PRORally)
10/19-20 - Lake Superior (PRORally
10/28 - Adopt-a-Highway Litter Clean-up
RASC-
4/29 Raindrop TSD
6/2-3 No Alibi TSD
Canada (British Columbia)
2/17/18 Thunderbird
4/21/22 Heart Of Darkness
5/19/20 Big Horn stage
5/26/27 Rocky Mtn stage
6/16/17 Mt. Trails stage
9/15/16 Pacific Forest stage
11/3-4 Totem TSD
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Rainier Auto Sports Club will meet this coming Monday, December 11, 2000,
at 7:30 PM at CoCo's in Bellevue, (520 112th Ave., between the "NE 8" and
"NE 4th" Exits of 405 on the west side of the Hwy.) We have a meeting room
set aside in the back. Monthly meetings are the second Monday of each month.
Past Members, visitors, and spectators are welcomed.
Agenda: The new Board will take over the meeting, highlighted by the
touching and reverent ceremony of the "Passing of the Gavel" to the new
President. Then the usual chaos will resume.
There'll also be discussion of events for 2001.
Nolte will plead and beg for help putting together Raindrop.
2000 Board Members:
President: Terry Simons- 425-806-1741; Vice-President: Jerry Hines (425)
823-6343 Secretary: Pete Shelton- 206-365-4173; Treasurer: Ed Millman
(206)361-7389
The Wishbone Alley Gazette is published for the members and friends of
Rainier Auto Sports Club. Subscription price is $10 per year.
The editor is Mark Nolte, ph. 425-226-3155. Contributions and paid/unpaid
ad eagerly received at 2108 NE 12Th. St., Renton, WA 98056 or e-mail:
mnolte@uswest.net
Rainier Auto Sports Club, P.O. Box 852, Kirkland, WA 98134
Merry Christmas, Best Wishes for 2001
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