First off, I am not the kind of person to float my own boat (this post is me sharing my excitement, not being a dink)...I had an opportunity this weekend that I will never see again, and boy was it insane. I am the manager for an import shop here in Fargo, ND, and I am the show coordinator for a "HIN" style show our shop hosts. This year I organized a booth for Rally America, and a rally car to be setup to help promote the Ojibwe Forest Rally. All went well at the show, and last Monday I received a call from a Rally America contact asking if I would be able to make a 'Shakedown Stage' on Thursday where I could meet and hang with Pastrana/Block/Bartram/etc... I was eager to accept and was at the shakedown stage this last Thursday bright eye'd and bushy tailed. As the rally cars/crews came rolling in, I was getting more and more excited to be a part of this 'behind doors' type event. It was closed to the public and everyone present was either VIP or racing in the event. After a few hours of hanging out, I met Ananda Siverts (Marketing Director for Rally America) and he asked if I was interested in going on a full force run in Block's STi.... OH BOY. Obviously I got in the damn car and experienced something I only wish every Subaru enthusiast could. 70-75mph in some of the skinniest paths/roads/ditches I had ever seen. Anti-lag popping, dogbox whining, cam buckle mashing my nuts against my leg....It was the most insane/amazing/terrifying time of my life. I will stop with my rambling, but thought I would share my luck of an experience with other Subaru fanatics! Cliffnotes: 1) Promoted Rally America 2) Was asked to attend VIP Shakedown Session 3) Went to session and was asked if I wanted to take a run with Block 4) Went on ride of my life 5) Cleaned out pants and looked at Rally in a completely new respect Here are some pictures of the Shakedown session: I would love to see pictures of Blocks car after the massacre! I ended up with a piece from the car, but didn't get a chance to see it in proper Rally form
wow thats great man iam galde you enjoyed it. i was getting excited just reading the dang thing. hopefully one day.
Do you have a nice in-car video of yourself screaming like a little girl? Something like: [youtube]YuB9hah3TwA[/youtube] I guess you should be glad you weren't in the car with Ken on Sat eve! Seriously, all those guys are great people, and I'm envious of your ride in one of the top cars in the US. There are a bunch of post-crash images of ken's car here: http://xterraownersclub.com/ofpr08/index.html taken by a Nissan guy, of course
Yes I am grateful that the ride didn't end in a tree! There were a few times I was very concerned, but Block just drove right out of every corner. The car is setup amazingly, and his skill is obvious. It sucks that he was 22 seconds ahead of Pastrana going into the final stage, then lost it I asked him if he loved Ojibwe, and he actually said he doesn't care much for it, as he doesn't have much luck....I guess this year was no different
over on the tintmasters site people were asking about the tarps. let them knwo that they are used so stuff doesnt get lost, spilled on the ground and so the crew doesnt have to lay down in the dirt. i would post that over there but my account hasnt been activated yet on the forums. sounds like you guys had some big fun. i know co driving in an old p class s-10 seemed fast to me i cant imagine what it would be like to ride with ken.
I replied with that answer (as an assumption). Thanks for the help, and although an old p class s-10...you are still participating in an unbelievable sport! Best of luck to you!
yeah it was pretty cool, i have only run OFPR once a few years ago now. i want to get back in the right seat again soon but now i need a HANS. i have to say that it was easily one of the most exciting and terrifying things i have ever done and i loved every minute of it. i talked to shane about rallycross in fargo a bit on wed. i think we could definatley make something work out back if he wanted to.
And how about the rest of the story with Shane. Because that is some funny stuff. Even a pic or 2 of the prize afterwards. Russ
I don't know which story? I haven't even had a chance to talk to him about the Course Marshal job, but I hear he had a rock thrown at him from Block on one of the stages and later had Block sign the rock :laugh:
ouch, that is pretty cool that he got ken to sign it. i got nailed by a rock from lageman in the forehead a while back. stung like a mother... any of you guys get sprayed by Utecht in the mustang?
I was smart and did not stand in a spot where he could spit rocks unless something really bad happened.
Of course. He thought we were a little close to the road so he down shifted, flicked it sideways and floored it.
Actually it was Travis that threw the rock at him. Travis signed it "My Bad". Some funny stuff. Then the bummer part about Shane being to big to fit into any of the co-driver race seats.:emo: Russ
Oh it was travis....well I look forward to all of his stories from the weekend. And yes, I felt pretty crappy after the head of Subaru Rally came over and said 'uhhhh yeah, you aren't going to fit in any of our cars'....then he had the opportunity to ride along with Jan/Jody Zedril and they offered the ride, but then had fuel issues and he couldn't go with them either... I just told him the ride was boring and he wouldn't have liked it anyways :laugh:
