The Wishbone Alley Gazette May, 2011 Rainier Auto Sports Club Rally News *Raindrop (April 17) turned out just dandy. 30 entrants paid their $35 ($45 late) for the 205-mile, 6-hour tour around Centralia. It turned out to be a typical entry mix with 8 Unlimited, 5 Equipped, 11 SOP, and 6 novices competing in their classes. RASC scored 24 checkpoints for the 135 miles (66% of total mileage) of TSD's. That was a result of having 9 checkpoint teams. That works out to average a passage control every 5.6 miles. Rallymaster Robert Golbright got the weather he prayed for, having experienced some miserable stuff while writing it with Ron Sorem. Even with all that, there were tie scores. Due to scoring complications, the 10 point totals of April & Marcus Song and Dan Comden/Renee Damm got settled with a coin toss. Third o'all went to Pat Biggar/Jack Heppes with 15 points. 70 points earned Sue & Bill Colisch first in Equipped class; the 2nd/3rd tie (at 132 points) was settled with Larry LeFebvre/Reid Trummel beating Teresa Davenport/Yulia Smolyansky. In SOP, Joel McLaughlin/Chris Ringhofer scored 2 seconds better than Scott Margerum/Jeff Delong. Top Novice was the sleek Porsche of John Powers/Chrissy Lewis with 16th overall. 219 points behind, and 21st overall, was the red Audi TT of Thomas Lindmark/Michael Hammond. The trophies were constructed by Jim Breazeale, and handed out two-deep. Time allowances were expected for the three crossings of train tracks; Robert and Ron took the chance since the train traffic was short Amtrak trains. The other TA's were, uh, amusing. One was to get gas! I heard rumor of a TA submitted for being early, along with discussion of whether the TA rules mentioned granting early requests! The Workers got into the "hidden CP" spirit of things. Anton Damm (Marinus' brother) is supposedly new at this, but managed to hide out of sight. Marinus Damm/Hans Adomeit parked out of range, then stood in the bushes, which was the same scheme Jeff McMillen & Joe Grosbusch used. Next time they'll wear camo shirts rather than the yellow and red that revealed them? Steve Perret and Kathryn Hansen split up, with Steve able to hide from the Pace car even when they knew exactly where to look. With the inability to correct within sight of CP's, it looks like there is no way to prevent ties. We tried. Jim and Cristy Breazeale concluded that at an 18 mph CAST, they might as well be in sight; Brian Cary/Julie Guthrie had scarcely 10 minutes to survey their second CP site. GPS locations helped them get to their CP's. The last TSD's were on a highway. Steve Richards concluded that at a fast CAST, being in plain sight wasn't going to allow competitors to adjust to zero his control. Using gravel roads was much discussed beforehand. It turned out to be a non-issue since the chosen roads were merely unpaved. Part of rallymaster craft is to use slow speeds to try to trick the rallyists into early points. Yet another non-issue as scored were tight despite using the unpaved roads for s-l-o-w CASTs. Hopefully the fondest memory of this Raindrop will be the view of the dormant volcano on a sunny day. -MN No Alibi (June 4-5) by Rallymaster Dan Comden No Alibi's traditions are simple: two days of rally on some of the finest, smoothest and most scenic of central and eastern Washington's roads. As a new rallymaster, I wanted to revisit some of my favorite sections from the southeast corner of the state, so we'll be starting in Moses Lake with an overnight in Lewiston, ID. Sadly the road over the ridge from Dayton that drops into the Tucannon drainage has experienced the dreaded speed limit drop, so we are not going to use that road again. Instead we have routemaster Marvin Crippen's impeccable planning that will get us through the rolling hills and coulees to our overnight destination at the Lewiston Red Lion. At this time we have a solid start on entries: 21 teams have signed up, covering all but the vintage class, a mix of old hands and new faces. Plans are in place for a catered dinner on Saturday night as well as a tasty barbecue feast at the finish. Course measurement is planned for the weekend of May 6, and select checkout crews will be testing the route the following two weekends. As always, we will be asking for RASC members to turn out for worker duties. No Alibi's reputation as a well-run event is a direct result of the experience and dedication of the club's members. If you are interested in working checkpoints for the event, please contact me directly via email: dcomden@gmail.com -- as many of you know, the "secret workers rally" can be just as much fun as competing. More detailed information, including photos from past events, current entry list and supplemental instructions, can be found at: http://www.rainierautosports.com/events/2011/noalibi/default.htm Look for the survey photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcomden/sets/72157624925149025/ * The Olympus RallyCar (formerly Rally America) National had something like 54 entries. RASC people showed up in various jobs, with Ron Sorem/Jim Breazeale in the "00" car, Steve Perret/Kathryn Hansen in "000". Nolte doing Ham duty on a high point of Smith Creek (Stages 3/6), his usual stage if there ever was one. Cristy Breazeale teamed up with Canadian Tony Latham to work the "Brooklyn end" controls of the famous Brooklyn stage. Scores (that's hundreds!) of spectators showed up, causing the not-unexpected shenanigans on Brooklyn stage. Spectating with Janice Damitio and Sean Tennis on Smith Creek West, Amity Trowbridge grabbed her ham radio and broke in that car #65 was off bad, and to stop the stage. That saved a few precious minutes when the Start stopped the rally and sent in Sweep. It turned out to be fatal. The rest of Saturday's event was canceled, and RallyCar decided to end the event, at 5 of 12 stages, while Olympus officials carried on Sunday with the John Nagel Memorial stages. * Less than a year until the 2012 Alcan (Feb. 23>March 2). Entry is already up to 17 teams. http://www.alcan5000.com/ Club News * April Meeting notes: Started on time. No Alibi news from Dan Comden saying the second day was done. He'll be measuring in early May, and scheduled the checkout for May 21 weekend. Entry fee will be $175 plus dinner =$205. President Robert talked about Raindrop, since he's rallymaster. Ron Sorem has the RI's done. Jim Breazeale showed off a trophy prototype. All followed by ongoing pain about Time Declarations and how "no fault" shouldn't be. Robert announced that he had accepted a job in Prudhoe Bay. A quick count of Raindrop CP crews, followed by conjecture about putting together a sentimental Nor'Wester in 2012. TRIVIA * What with the Alabama tornados and Japan earthquake, being "prepared" is no longer to be mistaken for paranoia. Steve Richards did a bit of research and bought a $200 food supply kit from "foodinsurance.com". It includes a water purification kit in the backpack. Their website points out that MRE's are intended to store for 3 years, while their freeze dried menu's last much longer. For Sale/Wanted *Nokian Hakkapelliita 185/65R15 13/32 new, have 9/32 now and good studs, on dual pattern steel snow wheels 5on100(Subaru/Chrysler)/5on115(GM) --- 4 for $250 ronsorem@gmail.com *1960 Bugeye Sprite project car. The car is unassembled. Great project to restore or hot rod. Many $ spent restoring the sheet metal. New door posts, floors, rear spring pockets, etc. Interior surfaces and engine room in black. Exterior in gray primer. Three engines. Two 948 cc and one 1275 cc. Numerous spares. Several conversion kits: Rear tube shocks, Panhard rod, front discs to MGB calipers, dual brake master cylinder, Datsun 210 5-speed adapter plate. Best offer over $2500. Bring a trailer! Ken LIngbloom (360) 733-8897 kslingbloom@comcast.net *For sale: 1997 Subaru Impreza with a newer 2.2 ltr. engine with only 60k on it. Very good condition, in fabulous teal green. $2500 Co-worker at Glasair. Email Jim at Blackholeracing@gmail.com for more details. *Microsoft "Office 98" for Macintosh, Upgrade Gold Edition, still in shrinkwrap! $200. Mark Nolte, mnolte@blarg.net. * 15" wheels, steel, fits Subaru OBS. Bolt pattern is 110mm (Subaru) and 112mm (fits ?). Black $40 for both, $25 each. Steve Richards, 425-337-0232 (Everett) *'04 Volvo XC70, lightly used, 113K miles, $9900 Jerry Hines, cell: 206-227-6343 *HT 2-channel radios, used for Alcans, $80 inc batteries/charger. Many available. Also mobile Kenwoods for $100."these are the bigger ones". Jerry Hines, cell206-227-6343 RASC Calendar (The WAG staff includes TSD's and stage events; no rallycrosses, hillclimbs, Solo's, races, and restricts to somewhat reasonable driving distances) Events of interest April 30-May 7- One Lap of America, Indiana Jun 26 - Columbia Gorge Classic Rally & Tour, MGA club, Portland July 28-31- Monte Shelton Northwest Classic Rally XXIII, Portland Sept 10-17 - Targa Newfoundland, St. John's, NF Washington and British Columbia May 13 -NWRC Friday Niter by FOOTZ June 10 -NWRC Friday Niter by ORCA June 4-5 - No Alibi by RASC July 8 - NWRC Friday Niter by PSRC July 16- Sno-Git VII TSD by ORCA July 23 - Gold Digger, B.C. August 12 -NWRC Friday Niter by ORCA September 9 -NWRC Friday Niter by PSRC October 1- Night on Bald Mountain by ORCA October 14- NWRC Friday Niter by RASC October 29- Monster's Revenge by Chuckanut SCC November 11- NWRC Friday Niter by ORCA November 12-13-Totem, B.C. Oregon TSD June 10- June Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie June 11 - Oregon 500/500 "2-day beater tour" July 1- July Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie July 23 - Mountains to the Sea, CascadeSCC Aug 5 - August Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie Aug 13 - The Road Not Taken, by TRRG, McMinnville Sept 9- September Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie Sept.10 - Rally Against Parkinson's (Rally Round PIR), Portland Oct 7 - October Friday Night Road Rally, Milwaukie Stage (Dates not firm: Hood River) May 13-15 - Oregon Trail, RA/ORG, Portland/Dalles June 10-11- Mountain Trials, Merritt, B.C. Jun 18-19 - Idaho Rally, USRC/CRS, Boise Aug 6 - Mendocino Rally, CRS, Ukiah, CA Sept 30-Oct 1- Pacific Forest Rally, CARS Nat'l, Merritt, B.C. Rainier Auto Sports Club will meet this coming Monday, May 9, at 7:30 PM at Caf‚ 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 Caf‚ on your right at that point. Monthly meetings are usually the second Monday of each month. Past Members, visitors, and spectators are welcomed. Agenda: No Alibi dominates, with fresh news as result of the measurement. The Board may have something to say if Robert can't make all the meetings this year (from Prudhoe Bay). If he's in attendance, many congratulations on a successful first "rally mastering". Hear about Olympus. 2011 Board Members: President, Robert Gobright, Fundimech@gmail.com Vice President, Cristy Breazeale, blackholeracing@yahoo.com Secretary, Jeff McMillen, jeff@somepants.com Treasurer, Steve Mats Mats, willey@selby.com At Large, Marvin Crippen, mandos@gmail.com At Large, Dan Comden, dan@comdens.com 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 Rainier Auto Sports Club, P.O Box 25574, Seattle, WA 98165