The Wishbone Alley Gazette
November, 2003
Rally News
The NW might yet grow away from the SCCA. The latest shot was a letter from
the SCCA Pro Rally Board (PRB) advising John Forespring that Wild West wouldn’t
be part of the 2004 National series. Signed September 28, the given reason was
lack of improvement over last year’s event in some key aspects. It pointed out
that a new schedule was not communicated (after the fire danger level was raised
the prior Tuesday); the Parc Ferme wasn’t up to standards, and other details
weren’t made clear to the competitors. The Board didn’t think the rally was up
to standards.
This, after canceling all Club Rallys on May 13 (which was rescinded June 23).
Only affected one rally: NWR’s Dryad Quest/ Shitepoke. You could conclude that
the PRB didn’t notice. Or not.
The Wild West had problems, no doubt. Most not affecting the outcome or the
competitors. The Rim of the World also had environmental problems (rain, cold).
They only ran 8 of the scheduled 15 stages, and the winner had 87 minutes of
competition. The Susquehannock Trail ran 10 stages, with the winner getting in
115 minutes. Wild West? Also 10 stages, and the winner’s score was 125 minutes.
Someone at the PRB has decided the SCCA doesn’t need the Puget Sound events.
Then there’s the ongoing debate of “FIA system vs. SCCA’s system”. The PRB may
be right, that if it’s a SCCA rally, it’ll follow the SCCA rules, and not
“cherry pick” the ones it likes. The FIA system allows a fixed service time (20
minutes), while the SCCA system also regroups the competitors, resulting, in
some cases, in a front runner having lots of time in Service, and a back marker
rushed. There’s also the “Steward” structure, a sore point after the
speeding-in-service incidents last year.
Which led to a packed meeting room on October 14 in Olympia. John Forespring sat
alone on the dais and led the meeting. He wears many hats, and slipped from one
to another with ease. As Regional Executive for NWR-SCCA, he is supposed to show
support of SCCA and all it represents. As Divisional Rally Steward, he is in the
center of the ClubRally program. As head of the NWR “Rallygroup”, he makes sure
the rallys are put together correctly, and protects the Region’s resources. And
he’s the organizer for a few rallys.
The meeting started by reviewing a meeting of rally organizers in Topeka.
Nothing controversial came of that. The Rally America organization is already
getting a standard scoring system started, along with posting the scores where
the competitors can get to them, for instance.
The sponsors (Subaru, Mitsubishi & Air Force Reserve) are putting together a
deal called the ProRally Partners Program. Maybe $20,000 per event. They have no
interest in the ClubRallys, but want the Nationals to be strong and solvent.
Some of the money would go “to pay sanction fees and insurance”. A media person
would join the organizer in making sure the local media covers the rallys. Which
could leave SCCA in the cold – their sanction fees and insurance were, ah hem,
their “deal”!
Forespring said he had looked at other insurance sources, the NASA group for
one. While their prices are lower, their program is lesser, too.
With little prompting, Forespring explained a bit about how things are done. The
Dryad Quest /Shitepoke ClubRallys make money, Wild West doesn’t. Without those
supporting events, the NWR-SCCA rally fund has been drained. Those two are
organized by NWR-SCCA. Other groups can put on rallys-and take the risk, such as
Rage Racing (the Doo Wops ClubRallys). While the “Olympus” name has passed to
Topeka, Forespring “owns” “Wild West”.
Forespring’s hopes for a North American rally series vanished when the two
Canadian events went bankrupt, and a Mexican event became a WRC rally. The
Kentucky rally (or is it Tennessee?) has problems.
He stated that he’s sure there will be stage rallys, with or without SCCA.
(Everyone calmed down, a bit).
Steve Johnson, President of SCCA, has communicated that he wants to have a
meeting with Forespring, probably just before Thanksgiving.
- This Sunday, November 9, is yet another I-5 cleanup day. The Thurston
County Shops are about 1 mile east of the freeway, meet at 10. Probably
adjourn to pizza at 1.
- The NWR-SCCA Worker’s Party is January 31, the day before Super Bowl.
Its at the Little Creek Casino, which may have it’s motel open by then.
Club News
Meeting: October 13, 2003
Secretary was absent, Dan Comden took minutes. (bless him…ed.)
Treasury: Treasurer was absent, Mike Jones reported: $2858.24. Friday Nighter
brought in $390.
“No Alibi” Report: Roy and Kirk have been driving around. Start (tentative)
Matterhorn Inn in Ellensburg. This may also be the finish. Dates for the event
were discussed -- current tentative date for next year is June 19-20 [changed in
WAG for web -sw]. Overnight
in Clarkston.
Alcan Report: Start location will be the Silver Cloud in Kirkland. Feb 17 will
be 8pm reception. Start on Feb. 18. Hotel provides breakfast, so box lunches
will be provided to teams for first day. There are Subaru and Mitsubishi
entries. More entries are needed -- at least 22 would be good.
Alcan article has been published in Road Runner magazine (www.rrmotorcycling.com).
Jerry has created a Yahoo group mail list for summer event. He is also
investigating satellite phones, as a safety item.
Christmas party and December meeting: simultaneously, on December 14. Jerry is
checking on viability of holding at his house again. Nominations/election will
happen then.
Speaking of nominations, Eric, Ed and Jim are the nominating committee (since
they couldn't make it to this meeting).
Ron Sorem is considering putting together a January rally, not necessarily in
2004. Something akin to a winter Raindrop.
The meeting was adjourned about 9 pm or so.
Trivia
*Ed Storer is preparing for radiation treatment after a biopsy on his throat.
All this activity makes it difficult for him to talk. Monday: Begin 5 days of
chemotherapy and radiation.
*Work in the winter so to play in the summer: Mike Jones got some fancy shocks
for his Sube RS, while Ron Sorem is sizing springs for his RX. Ron chose October
21 to do some work on his car, outdoors. You may recall that was the date of the
great rainfall.
FOR SALE / Wanted:
- Lucas' 1994 Ford Explorer XLT is for sale. It's a 4WD 4-door with brand
new automatic trans & brakes, looks & runs great. Factory alloy wheels, tow
package, tinted glass $3450 J. Hines 425-823-6343.
- “At this price, get two”: Compaq Proliant 6500 Server. Quad processor,
redundant everything, 256MB RAM, weighs 120 lbs. Cost $30K 11/97, now $100.
Jerry has 10 to offer. Cell: 206-227-6343
- ’96 Town & Country, white. (Need to pick out a new ride for the next
Alcan.) New heads (they crack, Chrysler is in denial.) 119K miles, loaded –
leather, trailer hitch. 7 passenger. $4950 Jerry Hines 425-823-6343
- Wanted- Canopy for ’88 Ford P.U. (8 foot) The cab-high one is too short,
want something taller. If this works out, Jerry will have a canopy for sale,
soon. 206-227-6343.
- ’74 Italian Moped. Runs. $300. On display at Café Veloce. Jerry Hines
425-823-6343
- Future Classic: TSD rally-ready 1983 Audi Turbo Quattro Coupe. Mars red.
170K miles. Lots of goodies, well maintained by owner (retired mechanic) $
7,500.00). E-mail Peter Linde at pjnconn@yahoo.com <mailto:pjnconn@yahoo.com>
.
- For Sale: JVC CH-PK 210 AM-FM-Cassette-12 disk CD changer. 160 watts
(40x4) new in box. Single-DIN size, removable faceplate, remote mount CD
changer. Make offer Roy Ward, 425-485-6225 roy.ward@verizon.net
- Icom IC-25 25 watt 2 mtr, about 20 years old, works great, big red LED
readout, $75.00 Roy Ward, 425-485-6225 roy.ward@verizon.net
- King VHF FM handie-talkie, no programmer or charger, but otherwise
works, $50.00 Roy Ward, 425-485-6225 roy.ward@verizon.net
- Uniden VHF FM handie talkie, 6 ch crystal controlled, fairly new battery
pack and desktop charger, $50.00 Roy Ward, 425-485-6225 roy.ward@verizon.net
- Icom 2AT thumbwheel handie-talkie, 2 battery packs, $50.00 Roy Ward,
425-485-6225 roy.ward@verizon.net
- Set of GTX wheels with studded Hakkas on them as well as a set of steel
rims for the GTX. The tires went the first two days of the last Alcan and
have been stored ever since. Asking $500 for all. Ken Lingbloom 360-733-8897
or slingbloom@nas.com
RASC Calendar
€ Call the NWRC Hotline (206) 256-9627 for latest info on Puget Sound TSD
events. NWRC Friday Niters start at the Eastgate (Bellevue) Park and Ride. Reg
opens at 6:45, FCO 7:31
NW Rallys- TSD & stage
Nov. 1 – Armageddon XXII, POSTPONED due to deteriorating weather
Nov. 15-16 Totem TSD, Cache Creek, B.C.
2004 Calender (under construction….)
- Jan 31- NWR Rally Banquet, Little Creek Casino
- Jan 30-31- Sno*Drift, SCCA ProRally, Atlanta MI
- Feb 13 ? Friday Nighter, Bellevue WA Feb 14-15- Thunderbird, BC TSD
Winter Rally
- Feb 18-26- Alcan Winter Rally, Kirkland WA – Inuvik NWT -- Anchorage AK
www.alcan5000.com <http://www.alcan5000.com/>
- Feb 29 - Ketchum (Monte Carlo), Tarmac Series (150 mi), Puget Sound
Rally
- Mar 12- Friday Nighter, Bellevue WA
- Mar 19 - Friday Nighter , Portland OR
- Mar 20-21- Performance Rally School hosted by Oregon Rally Group tba
Portland OR
- Apr 9- Friday Nighter, Bellevue WA
- Apr 16- Friday Nighter, Portland OR
- Apr 17-18- Oregon Trail SCCA ProRally
- Apr 24-25- Heart of Darkness, Hope BC
- May 7-8- Rim of the World, SCCA ProRally, Palmdale CA
- May 14 - Friday Nighter , Bellevue
- May 21- Friday Nighter, Portland OR
- May 22-24 ? Makita Canada BigHorn Rally
- Jun 5- Susquehannock Trail, SCCA ProRally,Wellsboro PA scca.org
- Jun 11- Friday Nighter, Bellevue WA
- Jun 12-13 - Pacific Forest Rally, Merritt BC
- Jun 18- Friday Nighter, Portland OR
- Jun 19-20- No Alibi, Rainier TSD gravel EllensburgClarkston-Ellensburg
WA
- Jun 24-26- Pikes Peak Hillclimb SCCA ProRally www.ppihc.com <http://www.ppihc.com/>
Colorado Springs CO scca.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rainier Auto Sports Club
will meet this coming Monday, November 10 at 7:30 PM at Café Veloce at the Totem
Lake shopping center. Best way I can think of to get there is north on I-405,
take the "NE 124th" exit, then keep right under NE 124th and straight at the
signal. This puts you on Totem Lake Blvd, not whatever the frontage road is next
to I-405. Then right first poss, with the Café on your right at that point.
Monthly meetings are the second Monday of each month. Past Members, visitors,
and spectators are welcomed.
Agenda: More of the same. Scheduling meetings are coming up, and RASC has to
pick some dates. Bring your calendar. Report from the nominating committee, if
they are back from their research visit to Wales. (Why yes, there was a WRC
there. Why do you ask?)
Rumors of rallys to be run, too. Alcan and Totem.
Uh, need new pictures for the web site- got any to be scanned?
2002 Board Members:
President: Steve Willey – (206) 417-8517; Vice-President: Jerry Hines (425)
823-6343; Secretary: Eric Horst (206)363-9752; Treasurer: Ed Millman
(206)361-7389; Members at Large:, Mike Jones- (425)823-8329, Mark Nolte-
(425)652-3578
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)652-3578. View back issues at
http://www.rainierautosports.com/wag/default.htm
Contributions and paid/unpaid ad eagerly received at
2108 NE 12Th. St., Renton, WA 98056 or e-mail: mnolte@blarg.net <mailto:mnolte@uswest.net>
Rainier Auto Sports Club, P.O. Box 852, Kirkland, WA 98134
|
