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features :: subenet blog
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| Friday, February 23rd, 2007 |
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It's Saturday night in Salem, Missouri and guess what I'm doing?
Sitting at a computer typing this of course, but I'm also on the Internet perusing the classifieds for a WRX STi. After my first rally experience at Sno*Drift I immediately came home thinking I needed 300 horsepower and all wheel drive and preferably in the same shade of blue my first Schwinn bike was. Of course the fact that my wife was out of town - even out of the country no less - made it a perfect time to take a test drive with my son at our local Subaru dealer. I know you can feel the expansion cracks and every last imperfection in the pavement, but you can also feel like a rally star planting all that power on the cloverleaf. Surefooted? Yeah. Capable of causing some consternation with your local constable? Right again.
In fact, I wish I had a WRX STi here in Salem as this area is full of the most amazing ribbons of two- lane highways with dozens of blind rises and drops and whoop-dee-doo's and off camber sweepers per mile. It's fun even in my Outback, but not as much fun as strapping my butt into a Sparco racing seat that happens to be bolted to the floorboard of a rally car. And that is how I started my day as they held some media ride-alongs at a "shakedown stage" about 15 miles outside of Salem. The Production Class Subaru I happened to be in of course couldn't match the power and speed of the Open Class cars, but who cares? It was an outright blast blasting through the ruts and the woods with these guys who really know about vehicle dynamics and car control.
The Parc Expose where all the rally cars are on display happened to be in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart. It wasn't the most picturesque backdrop in the world, but it was a convenient gathering spot for the locals to gawk at guys from Sweden, England, Ireland and Australia. I was speaking with Doug Havir, the owner of Rally America, following the day's first five stages, and we were just kind of awed at the combination of cultures that come together at these events. Certainly no other form of professional motorsport would ever visit a venue this size. The field at 100 Acre Wood certainly is sizable with 52 cars entered and probably 11 capable of winning the event. It's a testament to the growing interest in rallying in general, and Rally America in particular.
When that field assembled at 1:30 p.m. for the start the WR Blue Pearl car belonging to Ken Block of Subaru Rally Team USA was first on the road, and as it turned out he would be first after the first stage as well. And the second. And the third. And the fifth. Apparently the rather unique "reconnaissance" opportunity (a chance to drive the course at legal speeds in rental cars) afforded the competitiors on Thursday suited Block quite well.
The area's winding gravel roads and challenging water crossings known as "low-water bridges" agree with the K&N Engineering Subaru WRX STi of Lauchlin O'Sullivan and Scott Putnam quite well also. Although the pair battled intercom gremlins that made communication in the Prodrive-built CPD Racing 1 car difficult, the pair found rhythm - and speed - with each succesive stage. They were sixth overall after the initial stage and on the final 11-mile stage of Day One they came in third right behind behind Ken Block and defending Rally America Series Champion Travis Pastrana. So after the first five stages O'Sulivan and Putnam are fifth overall; an amazing performance I think when you look at how much money is being spent on the efforts of the guys in front of them.
The event is only one-third over though, as 10 stages are on tap for Saturday. And it could be quite a different rally indeed as thunderstorms and rain are predicted to be the order of the day. Who will best adapt their driving style to the changing conditions? Who will make the wisest tire choices amidst the dozens of compound, size and tread pattern variables? Who will be willing to risk their car - and their rally - as it rains on everyone's parade? The final chapter in the story of the 2007 100 Acre Wood Rally is destined to be an exciting one and the overall winner a worthy one. |
| Scott Putnam on 02.23.07 @ 10:34 PM CST |
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