Ok, it is getting close to that time of year. I know there has been some talk about getting a group together to head up to the rally this year. Last year we had a small group (8-10 people?) and we had a good time. I already made my reservations at comfort inn (right next to rally HQ) and they are over 1/2 full for the rally weekend. So if you are looking for something close to HQ, book it now. I am also trying to help out to get another rallyfest going this year. There are a couple of plans in the works right now, and I will hopefully have a little more info this weekend. What I am looking for is some people willing to help out at Rallyfest and making the trip up for the rally. You will have a good time, and to work takes pretty much no work at all. I will get some worker registration links and a link to comfort inn posted up a bit later. The rally is Aug 25th and 26th. If you have any questions let me know. Russ
I'll be there for sure but I'll stay in detroit lakes so I won't have to worry about the hotel situation. For those of you who have never been to one of these, it is a great time.
It is to watch and help out. This rally is one of the national stops, So Travis, Ken Block, Matt Ioreo and all the other big guns will be at this rally. If you work, you do get to drive the stages that you work on tho..... And of course, working really means just standing on a corner to make sure nobody gets onto the road. But since there is desiginated spectator area's now, usually the only people you have at your corner is other course workers and press if it is a good corner. Which means, working will allow you to snap off 300-350 pics. Russ Russ
Hey Russ, this sounds interesting, could you send me some more details on this? I might have a friend interested in going as well...
I went a few years ago - awesome time (even though I broke off 2 wheel studs on the gvr4 on the way up and missed a day sitting in brainerd while tires plus fixed it lol)
Ojibwe Forests Homepage (still shows 2006 information, but stuff like hotels, etc doesn't change). Rally America OFR Event Page Worker Registration (not open yet) I'd love to be there, but I think the odds are poor for Friday (have to ration the days I need to get a babysitter/get my wife to take off work). Might well come up Saturday tho. If you go, definately sign up as a worker. #1, the events depend on getting as many volunteers as posible, and a few extra workers can make the difference between having to cancel stages and running them. #2, it's a lot more interesting, and the "work" is really basic stuff. #3, you get to spectate from your "work" position, not at one of the (unavoidably) limited spectator spots. Workers get the best seats in the house. And if you work a start or finish, you get to interact directly with the competitors (but please, don't bug them for autographs just before they start a stage!).
Yep, if you work as a corner marshal, basically you will meet up before the stage. Everyone trains out to the stage you will work. Once everyone gets to the stage you will get to drive the stage to your working location. Once there, you will have to put up your banner tape to make sure the intersection you are securing is closed and marked for the competitors. They you kick back and wait till the cars start flying by. Snap off a couple hundred pics. After the last car goes by, heavy sweep runs through to pick up any cars that didn't finish the stage. Once they have all gone past, you pull down you banner tape and wait for green light. Once green light comes through, you finish driving the stage to get to stage finish where you meet up with the rest of the crew. From there you either head to the next stage or head back to HQ for free pizza. if you are a first time worker, they can (and usually do) pair you up with someone who has worked events before. Now there is usually one 4-6 spectator points per day, so the likely hood of you getting one is pretty slim. Since I have been working the rally so many years, they will just throw me out at a corner by myself (I always go with my girlfriend). Working is the way to go. if you have seen any of my pics that I have taken from the previous rally's you can see how hard we actually work. If you stay close to HQ, you can check out all the cars up close and personal. You can watch team subaru swap trannies in 15 min, or whatever they are working on. Russ
If I can get a weekend switched with one of the guys here I'm planning on working it. Russ, do you know if there are any medical/rescue spots still available?
They usually have a pretty damn good crew for the rescue group, but I think they are always looking for more help. I know the rally people had a meeting last night and I have been working with a couple of them about rallyfest and such. As I find out more, i will pass that info along.
Thanks. I figure I'd be more use there with the med training/extrication experience that I have. I just hope I wouldn't have to use it.
this is from like 10 years ago, unfortunatly i dont have anything newer on my computer... scanning in old pics and vids... one of the things on my 'to do list'. anyhow stuff happens, a lot of the cars take a beating but they are well built and safe, usually people dont get hurt.
Oooh. I think that's Dan McDonald and the original "Yellow Dog" recovery truck. He's on version two now.
Ive been there for like the past 5 years now, this is a pic I took from my first year there. http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/258000-258999/258390_3.jpg :biggrin: its a fun time
Bump to the top. We need to get more MNS peeps registered. We need to get our own MNSubaru stage. Russ
You guys and reserving rooms and stuff, I just get drunk and pass out on the persons floor I'm partying with. The only time I ever reserved a room was when I was there with my old GF. :laugh:
Nope. She can, but as long as you put her name down everything will be ok. i usually register myself every year, and then just put my girlfriends name down in the notes section and it is all good. The pre-reg is more to give the rally people a list of who is going to make it so they can figure out what will be needed. Russ
I need some people to help with bannering Friday and Saturday mornings, either one or both days if you can. You can still work another position if you help banner. Plus, you get out on the roads before the fun begins. The more folks we have the quicker it goes. So, when you sign up, please also mark bannering if you can help. Thanks! I need at least one person to co-drive/help me banner Thursday a.m. This isn't on the registration, so, if you can and want to help me Thursday PM me and we'll figure something out.
bump, anyone know the schedule for saturday? I want to go but I don't think I can get there until Friday night (unless there is someone going up earlier I can bum a ride off of - can help pay for gas) would like to course marshal as well
Kinda depends on start times, but I would guess that you need to be there by noon both days. I know Friday is always been noon with the newb worker meeting at 1pm, the main worker meeting at 2pm and first car out usually around 5pm or so. Saturdays kinda move around a bit, so it depends on if it is a late night or a early night. Russ
Bump back to the top. Ok, sounds like I might have a bit of a crew following me up. Does anyone want to meet up on the way up?? I have to meet someone in St. Cloud, and I have to make a stop in Pequot lakes (just north or brainerd). Let me know and we can get something figured out. Also, pre-rally lunch. Do we want to do it again?? I am hopeing to be there around 11:30 or so, so maybe plan on meeting at noon at the northern. This time we will wait for everyone. Lemme know. Russ
Say I have a question, I'm going up to camp and dirtbike in the Paul Bunyan but was confused where they do the course. Do they only show the public viewing points or can I get a map of the courses?
russ i can meet you either in brainerd or in pequot whichever works better, i still need to sign up for working but i'll get that done soon.
Maps to spectator points will be available at the event. Sometimes, Rally-America puts maps of the stages online before the event (maybe only a couple of days), but generally the organizers don't release maps of the actual stages publicly for a host of reasons.
I am heading out of the cities around 5am Friday morning. Ryan, I plan on being up in the brainerd area around 8am or so. i will shoot ya my cell number and you can just give me a call. Russ
sounds good, got my car running good so i can bring the fun one:biggrin:. i will be bringing my gf with since she got the weekend off too.
Here are the links to the Public schedule for Friday & Saturday. http://www.ojibweforestrally.com/docs/07_Ojibwe_Public_Schedule.pdf and the spectator maps for Friday & Saturday http://www.ojibweforestrally.com/docs/07_Spectator_Maps.pdf See you there!
