Sunday, April 26, 2009. Gig Harbor WA. No rain in sight. Rallymaster Mark Weber and members of the Rainier Auto Sports Club, presented their Spring Touring Rally -- Raindrop 2009.
Thirty-Seven cars set out under bright blue skies see the sights of the Kitsap Peninsula. A 20-minute, 10-mile Odo Check, aptly named "Hit the Road Jack" skirted Purdy, and presented a great look at Henderson Bay. Just a few miles later, the first TSD section passed Glen Cove, then the big YMCA Camp Seymour (parking lot packed), and a checkpoint at the access to the Northwest's renowned Minterbrook Oyster Company, oddly on Minter Bay, near Minter Creek, but no Minter Brook. It would be that kind of a day for some. One top Equipped team found computer/odo problems shortly after this and had to resort to their decades of SOP skills to settle for 18th overall, still 3rd in class. Further along, "S at Y" brought confusion for some, passing a checkpoint location for the second time, different direction (unless you missed the turn). Down the hill, forced right, or Vaughn boat launch -- your choice.
A short transit followed North Bay to Grapeview, for "Doin' the Grapeview Stomp" Monte Carlo section. The "Fast, Slow" Regularity featured a tour around picturesque Mason Lake. "Hungry!" Transit afforded great views of Hood Canal, and an opportunity for lunch in Belfair, before returning to the task at hand -- more zeroes, right? "Doin' The Dusty Dune Boogie" Regularity may have been a bit tame compared to 55- and 45-mph roads earlier, but the "dunes" referred to in the title, are in well attended OHV parks along the rally route, and Mason County has seen fit to set a lower limit due to traffic congestion, and the occasional surprise ATV crossing. Great views, to the west, of the Olympic Mountains. Elfendahl Pass Road took the rally into the Tahuya State Forest, and more Off Road Vehicle sites.
The Tahuya River bridge, "Washed Out!" transit, negotiated the detour and set teams straight, for a twisting TSD down the hill and along the tiny Tahuya River, then climbing back to the top for more great views of the Olympics. The "Full Monte" lasted only 4.5 miles, and no one was detained, before the "Days Like This" Regularity, repeating areas of Elfendahl Pass, and the transit through Belfair.
Two miles northeast of Belfair, "Speed Trap" Regularity began with a three mile exercise in patience, CAST 45 in a 50-zone, with local traffic more likely to be five, or more, over the limit. Lake Flora, to Glenwood, to Lake Helena, looped to the Key Peninsula Highway and a "Purdy" little transit back to Gig Harbor.
With Rainier's scoring-on-the-road Sweep Crew, results were nearly complete by the time the first pizza arrived. There was one DIY checkpoint in Section 9; only two cars took "0" -- one UNL (First Overall) and one NOV -- and there were a dozen with "1". Rainier crews staffed 15 checkpoints along the route.
Congratulations to Pat Biggar and Jack Heppes, First Overall and First UNL, with 11. Close on their tail, Oregon's Rally guys, Kevin Poirier and Ben Bradley, with 12. The Rally Buick of Steve Case and Keith Uddenburg took third, with 14.
Claiming "novice standing", Sean Tennis and Amity Trowbridge moved from Stage Rally to Raindrop relaxation, taking First SOP with a very respectable, and "un-novice" 45, for 6th Overall. Second SOP, and 9th Overall, to Scott Margerum and Jeff Delong, with 91. Third SOP to Scott Miller and Karina Miller, with 141.
First Equipped to Glenn Wallace and Jenne Pierce, collecting 102 points, with a pattern of 0 or 1, then 3 or 5, then a lot early, on every section. Driver having too much fun?
Second Equipped to Benjamin Thompson and Eric Hobbs, with 124. Third Equipped, to Mike Daily and Tom Palidar, with 310.
First of the big 16-car group of NOV class went to Janine Galindo and Candy Galindo, with a respectable 290. Dave Pierce and Daphne Smith took Second NOV, with 314. Third NOV, to Mark Russel and Jennifer Geray, with 372.
First Vintage, to Dan Morley and Mary Kay Morley, in a very nice Saab Sonett.
Rainier presented a scenic drive, with enough twists and character, to challenge even the computer cars. Raindrop covered 157.8 miles (for those who did it right) in just over 5 and a half hours. On checkout, the concern was how to break the expected ties. As it turned out tiebreakers were not needed.
See complete results at www.rainierautosports.com/events/2009/raindrop/
Join RASC in June for No Alibi.
Aberdeen WA. April 17-19, 2009. The Pacific Rally Group presented the Olympus International Rally, sanctioned by Rally America, including the John Nagel and Gene Nielsen Regional Rallys. The event was bathed in sunshine in an area just south of Washington's Rain Forest.
Day One, 33 miles NW of Aberdeen, two runs of Wreck Creek Stage climbed quickly from the beach, through the Spectator Area, topping out with amazing views of the rock spires and breaking surf around Grenville Arch. The stage then dropped through triple-caution corners, with big exposures, and began a flowing run through the trees. The last .72 miles was mainline, top speed, to Flying Finish at 4.09 miles.
Service was based in the fishing town of Taholah.
1.5 miles from town to Taholah East Stage, a flowing narrow 10.34-mile, rise and fall, broken by two barricade chicanes to slow the cars. At 2.94 and 7.69 miles, "Spectator Areas" were packed early, then overwhelmed, and overflowed by stage time. Attendance on Taholah, in the middle of nowhere has been estimated at between one and two thousand. First car on the road posted an average speed of 79.03 mph, just shy of the Rally America limits of 80 mph.
An 11-mile transit led north to 9400 Road. This mainline stage would be incredibly fast if not for FIVE barricade chicanes. The fast time calcs out to 77.88 mph.
Taholah West Stage was another run past all the fans, now densely spaced toward Flying Finish. First cars on the road, with speeds not seen on this stage finish, overran the shut-down area, although "Finish" and "Stop" are well marked on the notes and the route book. For safety considerations, the stage was stopped, with the remaining cars receiving identical times on Taholah West 1.
The second runs of Taholah East and 9400 were smooth, with Ken Block setting top times. Taholah West 2 closed out the day. Brothers Dave and Rick Hintz' Subaru suffered a blown turbo hose on 9400 -- repaired on road -- and then a broken axle on Taholah. Prior to this they had fastest regional times on all stages. Fast time of 7:40.5 was set by Andrew Comrie-Picard's EVO.
Thirty-three cars started the day. Seventeen National and ten Regional teams finished.
Day Two moved South. Smith Creek West starts uphill, climbs rapidly to a tight right at near the highest point on the stage, then twisting roller coaster ride, dropping for five miles to a high-speed sweeping right at Flying Finish. Travis Pastrana's fast time of 4:57.0 was the calculated 80-mph limit. Chicanes will be in order for the next National here.
Into South Bend, teams moved to the 5.72-mile Palix Road stages. Twisting hairpins climb from the start, through "Spectator" to crest at about 2 miles, then falling toward the ocean, through a series of sweepers and short straights, then another pair of hairpins. Pastrana set top time on Palix 1 at 5:09.5. Block was fastest on Palix 2 at 5:06.6.
Transit to Smith Creek East. Pastrana and Picard tied with top time of 5:01.30 at 78.73 mph.
A short transit passed the Historic Brooklyn Tavern to Brooklyn East stage. Both the Brooklyn Spectator Areas were packed, with "overflow" parking, uncomfortably close to the road, well in advance of any stage crew arrivals. Brooklyn's winter washout has been repaired in several places, with big exposures and narrow rocky tracks. Predictions of a new record, beating the old 6:33 time over 7.00 miles, came true with Travis Pastrana posting a 6:27.9 run.
Crowd control and two extractions delayed the Brooklyn West run. Pastrana set fast time of 6:30.3 for just over 64 mph on these technical stages.
Smith Creek West was uneventful.
There were 12 National finishers, 8 Regional.
Congratulations to Travis Pastrana and Christian Edstrom for the National win. Saturday's Regional winners: Brian Svedin and Ben Bradley. Making a comeback from mechanical DNF to win Sunday's Regional: Malcolm Davies and Bruce Parker.
Stage times at www.Rally-America.com
More Olympus at www.olympusrally.com
Its not too late to secure motel rooms for the weekend. A list is available at the RASC Web site. Roy Ward reports that he tried "Priceline" and got a good room rate.
May 8- Friday Nighter, by ORCA, Bellevue, WA
May 31- All City Rally, Corvettes de Olympia,, (gimmick)
June 6-7- No Alibi TSD by RASC, eastern Washington
June 12- Friday Nighter, by ORCA, Bellevue, WA
July 10- Friday Nighter, by PSRC, Bellevue, WA
July 18- Sno-Git VI, TSD by ORCA, Marysville, WA
July 25-- Gold Digger TSD, Whistler, B.C.
Aug 14-Friday Nighter, Bellevue, WA
Aug 28/30- Crestline Trail, IRC, BC
Sept 11 -Friday Nighter, Bellevue, WA
Sept 19- 'Heart of Darkness", Kamloops, BC
Oct 3- Night on Bald Mountain, ORCA
Oct 9- Friday Nighter by RASC, Bellevue, WA
Oct 31- "Midnight" by IRC, Vancouver Island, BC
Nov. 7- Monster's Revenge" by Chuckanut, Bellingham
Nov 21/22- Totem , Cache Creek, BC
May 3- Oregon Rally Group Rally Cross, OR
May 29- Primitive Rally School, OR
May 31- Oregon Rally Group Rally Cross, OR
June 14 - Father's Day RX, ORV Park, PRG
June 26- ORG & SCCA National RallyX, WA
Aug 8 - PRG, "Ray Rambler" & "Janice's Jaunt", Montesano
Aug 23- Oregon Rally Group Rally Cross, OR
Sept 20-Oregon Rally Group Rally Cross, OR
Oct 11- Oregon Rally Group Rally Cross, OR
May 3- AROO TSD, Sylvan, OR
May 31- AROO TSD, Sylvan, OR
June 5- Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie, OR
July 3- Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie, OR
Aug 1/2- Oregon 1000 , SCCA, Portland
Aug 14- Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie, OR
Aug 15- "Rally Against Parkinson's", PIR, Portland, OR
Aug 22- Mountains to the Sea, CSCC
Sept 4- Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie, OR
Sept 19-"Oregon Trailblazer", CSCC, Milwaukie, OR
Oct 2- Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie, OR
Oct 31- Ghouls Gambol, Portland
May 15-16- Oregon Trail, Hillsboro, OR
June 13/14-Mountain Trials, Merritt, B.C
July 9- Idaho Rally/ RallyMoto, Mountain Home, ID
Sept 24/27-Wild West, PRG, Pomeroy, WA
Oct 1/3- Pacific Forest Rally, Merritt, B.C.
Oct 24 -Mt Hood/moto, Odell, OR
May 23-28 -Targa Canada West; www.targacanadawest.com
June 20-21- Columbia Gorge Classic Rally & Tour, Portland, OR
June 25/28- Classic Motorcar Rally, Victoria, BC
July 3-6- Historic Races, Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA
Aug 6/9 - "Northwest Classic Rally" by AROO, pre-1981 cars, Portland, OR
Sept 12/19- Targa Newfoundland, St. Johns, NF
Rainier Auto Sports Club will meet this coming Monday, May 11 at 7:30 PM at Cafe Veloce at the Totem Lake shopping center. Best way I can think of to get there via 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 Cafe on your right at that point.
Monthly meetings are the second Monday of each month. Past Members, visitors, and spectators are welcomed.
Agenda: Gathering resources for No Alibi. Also detailed reports on road conditions in the rally's area. Dan Comden will read minutes of the April meeting. Treasurer Steve "Mats Mats" will be able to report the profit from Raindrop. A poll of members not present to determine who'll chair the Friday Niter.
The Wishbone Alley Gazette is published for the members and friends of Rainier Auto Sports Club. Subscription price is $10 per year (paper), free e-mail.
The editor is Mark Nolte, ph. (425) 226-3155. View back issues at http://www.rainierautosports.com/wag/default.htm Contributions and paid/unpaid advertisements eagerly sought: e-mail: mnolte@blarg.net