Three Plus Three Hundred: Car 9’s Thunderbird Rally Report
Jul
2011
(Dan’s photos are here) (Warwick’s photos here , and Event web site will have results and links) First I want to thank co-driver Hans for all the help prepping the car. After doing such dirty jobs as installing the power steering pump and bathing in PS fluid, he went on to navigate us to the smallest amount of points we have ever scored on a two day event. Well, it would have been the smallest score … 48 cars entered the event and all finished. I think that may be a first. Of those who went into a snow bank or ditch, all were extracted with little or no damage. Probably the most harrowing experience was had by the Sonnet and 240Z with windshield wiper problems that made proceeding in the blowing snow and then later mixed rain/snow more than a slight problem. Always good to think about those ancillary systems and how they can shut you down if not working properly. We left Seattle for Merritt, B.C. on Friday afternoon. With the car properly timed and running well, along with clear roads, the climb up and over the Coquihalla pass was uneventful. That would change in 24 hours. In Merritt we connected with event teammates in an ’01 Subaru WRX (Jeff & Marvin, winners of last year’s event, Unlimited, car#1), an ’83 Audi Quattro (Steve and Eric, Historic, #8) and an ’05 Subie Impreza (Steve and Kathryn, Paper, #17). To round out the team Jeff signed up a novice class car from BC, a 2011 Subaru STi (Scott and TJ, #38). Jokes about them sailing off the first curve proved unfounded. We were assigned #9 and were happy to be behind our friends in their loaner Audi. Dale (Subaru Forester). The four (or was it five?) way tie for third was decided in the same fashion. The team prize is still undecided, but we know that with the Audi’s mechanical and the Saab’s operator problems, Team Rainier is not a contender. And the Saab’s score? 303. We scored 3 points on Saturday and I scored 300 on Sunday. Those points are mine, all mine. The Thunderbird Rally is the premier BC event. We never know what the weather will throw at us, and that’s part of all the fun. Thanks to Paul and his crew for another primo rally.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
You fergot to mention that next year we’re gonna pick up a couple hoes off Aurora and bring ’em along.
Perhaps the off was due to no more than xylene levels going critical in yer brain right at that corner. I’ll be leaving The Magnum home next time…
February 17th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
…so how come you got stuck in a snowbank for 28 minutes and lost 300 points, but car #6 got stuck in a snowbank for over half an hour and lost zero points for the entire event?
February 18th, 2011 at 4:42 am
My understanding is that Car #6 was able to self-extract within the 9:30 time declaration window, hence no penalty. I’m not sure where information about them being stuck for longer comes from.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
My son was in car 30, and they were still stuck when he passed. 30-6=24 minutes.
February 20th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Had breakfast with car #6 this morning. Brandon said they took at 7.5 time declaration for their off. Appears to be a misunderstanding.
February 20th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Trevor might have passed car “2”6 or 27 in front of them, as they were off at one point.
We had one hoe and one shovel and only had the right tires off in the snow. Back on the road in about 5 minutes, but then had to go get the triangle and secure the gardening implements back on the roof rack. No outside help was necessary.
It sucks that Car 9 couldn’t get back on the road in time – would have been 6 cars tied at 3 points and Dan/Hans are more than worthy for a trophy.
Nice pictures by the way, Dan.