| psg | 03-13-2007 11:01 PM |
[QUOTE=bknblk;17345146]Congrats to Travis and Ken for both finishing higher overall than Petter!:banana: :disco: :banana:
What was the final car count for PWRC and Group N? 5th out of what?[/QUOTE]
PWRC had 18 entries, with 14 running at event finish. No clue about Grp N.
What was the final car count for PWRC and Group N? 5th out of what?[/QUOTE]
PWRC had 18 entries, with 14 running at event finish. No clue about Grp N.
| ptclaus98 | 03-14-2007 10:21 AM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster;17339127]At one stage, these Mexican kids were sitting next to us and throwing rocks at each other.
One almost hit my camera, so I yelled: "Listen, you little ****, this camera is probably worth more than your house, so, I suggest you stop."[/QUOTE]
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
One almost hit my camera, so I yelled: "Listen, you little ****, this camera is probably worth more than your house, so, I suggest you stop."[/QUOTE]
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
| WagonMonster | 03-14-2007 12:00 PM |
I think the most memorable thing about the rally was the one radio station that played American music.
101.5 FM, I believe.
They played a weird mash of cheesy 80's & 90's music......
And, the new Modest Mouse single :lol:
101.5 FM, I believe.
They played a weird mash of cheesy 80's & 90's music......
And, the new Modest Mouse single :lol:
| WRXedUSA | 03-15-2007 09:23 AM |
I finished watching the coverage last night.
About the rocks on the roads and the cattle gates shut. They only showed that once instance by Matthew WIlson where he barged through the shut gate. No other mention. It was clear on Gronholm's incar that there were some HUGE rocks placed in the middle of some corners.
No mention of PCWRC either.
About the rocks on the roads and the cattle gates shut. They only showed that once instance by Matthew WIlson where he barged through the shut gate. No other mention. It was clear on Gronholm's incar that there were some HUGE rocks placed in the middle of some corners.
No mention of PCWRC either.
| runnah | 03-15-2007 10:56 AM |
Perhaps all this type of behavior is the reason Mexico isn't on the calander next year.
| OBShahn | 03-15-2007 11:29 AM |
[QUOTE=runnah;17363564]Perhaps all this type of behavior is the reason Mexico isn't on the calander next year.[/QUOTE]
Doubtful.
The previous years events didn't have as many problems.
More likely Mexico is gone because the stage character in Mexico isn't very distinct relative to the other WRC rounds, Mexico isn't a major market for the manufacturers, a lack of local competitors and the fact that most European teams won't make the trip across the Atlantic (this was the first year many US/Canadian teams went, in years previous it has been just a couple of teams at best), and that long haul events have to have more "special" meaning and really add something to the championship one way or the other that Mexico was never really able to generate.
Generally the comments from competitors are that the majority of fans are some of the best in the championship (Argentina and Monte Carlo have histories of issues happening almost every year as well, so an event getting dropped for a coouple isolated incidents of bad fan behavior is not likely to cause an event to be dropped from the calendar). In terms of the FIAs eyes, I think Mexico would have been more hurt by the lack of qualified and experienced marshalls rather than the bad actions of a couple of spectators.
I'd really like to see the championship drop to 14 events with 9 fixed events, and a pool of about or 9 events that the other 5 are drawn from, with mainly different events being selected each year...
Doubtful.
The previous years events didn't have as many problems.
More likely Mexico is gone because the stage character in Mexico isn't very distinct relative to the other WRC rounds, Mexico isn't a major market for the manufacturers, a lack of local competitors and the fact that most European teams won't make the trip across the Atlantic (this was the first year many US/Canadian teams went, in years previous it has been just a couple of teams at best), and that long haul events have to have more "special" meaning and really add something to the championship one way or the other that Mexico was never really able to generate.
Generally the comments from competitors are that the majority of fans are some of the best in the championship (Argentina and Monte Carlo have histories of issues happening almost every year as well, so an event getting dropped for a coouple isolated incidents of bad fan behavior is not likely to cause an event to be dropped from the calendar). In terms of the FIAs eyes, I think Mexico would have been more hurt by the lack of qualified and experienced marshalls rather than the bad actions of a couple of spectators.
I'd really like to see the championship drop to 14 events with 9 fixed events, and a pool of about or 9 events that the other 5 are drawn from, with mainly different events being selected each year...
| WhistlerRally | 03-15-2007 04:04 PM |
[quote]
I'd really like to see the championship drop to 14 events with 9 fixed events, and a pool of about or 9 events that the other 5 are drawn from, with mainly different events being selected each year...[/QUOTE]
This is actually happening. Mexico isn't on the schedule next year, but it is being kept in the rotation for future calendars. The WRC has stated that they want to make it more of an "international" series...thus they are going to start going to countries such as China, South Africa, etc. I think we'll see less Euro rounds and more travel. (What was that I heard about trying to keep costs down? lol) Don't forget that the first time the WRC came to Mexico, the "Star of the Rally" award was given to the organizers for the great job they did. The WRC circus likes Mexico, but there are other markets that need attention too (money talks).
As for the "rocks on the road" in Gronholm's incar...that was likely just caused by the previous cars on the road and not spectators. They reverse the top-10 cars, so on Sat and Sun there had been 8 WRC cars on the road before Gronholm. I cleared a few BIG rocks from the apex of corners myself that had been pulled out by cars.
All in all, the spectators I saw were good natured and having a good time. There was only one group (on shakedown) that were potentially a hazard because they were drunk. We saw many people drinking at 7am :) I look forward to seeing Mexico back on the schedule.
I'd really like to see the championship drop to 14 events with 9 fixed events, and a pool of about or 9 events that the other 5 are drawn from, with mainly different events being selected each year...[/QUOTE]
This is actually happening. Mexico isn't on the schedule next year, but it is being kept in the rotation for future calendars. The WRC has stated that they want to make it more of an "international" series...thus they are going to start going to countries such as China, South Africa, etc. I think we'll see less Euro rounds and more travel. (What was that I heard about trying to keep costs down? lol) Don't forget that the first time the WRC came to Mexico, the "Star of the Rally" award was given to the organizers for the great job they did. The WRC circus likes Mexico, but there are other markets that need attention too (money talks).
As for the "rocks on the road" in Gronholm's incar...that was likely just caused by the previous cars on the road and not spectators. They reverse the top-10 cars, so on Sat and Sun there had been 8 WRC cars on the road before Gronholm. I cleared a few BIG rocks from the apex of corners myself that had been pulled out by cars.
All in all, the spectators I saw were good natured and having a good time. There was only one group (on shakedown) that were potentially a hazard because they were drunk. We saw many people drinking at 7am :) I look forward to seeing Mexico back on the schedule.
| OBShahn | 03-15-2007 07:30 PM |
[QUOTE=WhistlerRally;17367753]This is actually happening. Mexico isn't on the schedule next year, but it is being kept in the rotation for future calendars. The WRC has stated that they want to make it more of an "international" series...thus they are going to start going to countries such as China, South Africa, etc. I think we'll see less Euro rounds and more travel. (What was that I heard about trying to keep costs down? lol) Don't forget that the first time the WRC came to Mexico, the "Star of the Rally" award was given to the organizers for the great job they did. The WRC circus likes Mexico, but there are other markets that need attention too (money talks).
As for the "rocks on the road" in Gronholm's incar...that was likely just caused by the previous cars on the road and not spectators. They reverse the top-10 cars, so on Sat and Sun there had been 8 WRC cars on the road before Gronholm. I cleared a few BIG rocks from the apex of corners myself that had been pulled out by cars.
All in all, the spectators I saw were good natured and having a good time. There was only one group (on shakedown) that were potentially a hazard because they were drunk. We saw many people drinking at 7am :) I look forward to seeing Mexico back on the schedule.[/QUOTE]
It is an it isn't. The FIA seems to want to go to 18 events, they are playing around with including candidate events and dropping the less popular events. The concept of an actual rotation system isn't back, they are auditioning events for weak spots in the calendar...
As for the "rocks on the road" in Gronholm's incar...that was likely just caused by the previous cars on the road and not spectators. They reverse the top-10 cars, so on Sat and Sun there had been 8 WRC cars on the road before Gronholm. I cleared a few BIG rocks from the apex of corners myself that had been pulled out by cars.
All in all, the spectators I saw were good natured and having a good time. There was only one group (on shakedown) that were potentially a hazard because they were drunk. We saw many people drinking at 7am :) I look forward to seeing Mexico back on the schedule.[/QUOTE]
It is an it isn't. The FIA seems to want to go to 18 events, they are playing around with including candidate events and dropping the less popular events. The concept of an actual rotation system isn't back, they are auditioning events for weak spots in the calendar...
| XenoWolf | 03-15-2007 07:38 PM |
I'll be happy as long as they keep Ireland, Great Britain, Germany and Japan on the calendar. Not many of the other events interest me.
| WRXedUSA | 03-15-2007 08:20 PM |
**taps foot loudly waiting for SRT-USA updates***
:mad:
:mad:
| rB5 | 03-15-2007 11:47 PM |
�CIENTO UNO CINCO!
[url]http://www.web-radio.fm/website.cfm?id=11336[/url]
[QUOTE=WagonMonster;17350959]I think the most memorable thing about the rally was the one radio station that played American music.
101.5 FM, I believe.
They played a weird mash of cheesy 80's & 90's music......
And, the new Modest Mouse single :lol:[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.web-radio.fm/website.cfm?id=11336[/url]
[QUOTE=WagonMonster;17350959]I think the most memorable thing about the rally was the one radio station that played American music.
101.5 FM, I believe.
They played a weird mash of cheesy 80's & 90's music......
And, the new Modest Mouse single :lol:[/QUOTE]
| bjorn240 | 03-16-2007 07:05 PM |
[QUOTE=WRXedUSA;17370873]**taps foot loudly waiting for SRT-USA updates***
:mad:[/QUOTE]
What do you want to know? Third best weekend of my life? After my wedding and winning the X Games. Maybe better than winning the X Games. Can't really decide.
Sunday - flew to BJX via IAH. Arrived 5pm. 86 degrees out. Picked up rental cars and drove to airport. Had dinner with KB, AG, TP at a (shocking!) Mexican restaurant. Skyped home. Early to bed.
Monday - Up early. Went to Gr.N test arranged by STi. Met Risto Pietilainen and Denis Giraudet. Caught up with Mark Higgins, Dan Barritt, and Nasser. Drove some test stages to test damper and diff settings. Ate hamburgers grilled by George Donaldson of STi and Colin of WRC radio. The boys were slinging 160 burgers in a day; impressive! Back to the hotel. Early dinner. Final prep of notes for recce and discussion re recce support with JB and AG.
Tuesday - Up super early. At first recce stage at 6:37. First car there. Yes! In about two minutes OMV Bixxol Hungary team shows up then KB, AG and all the rest. They let us out at 6:57 and TP and I are first car on SS19. Was first stage we recced in 2006 and we quickly realize notes suck. Ruh-roh! Clean up as best we can and do two quick passes. Also realize that Dodge Durango is WAAAAAY too heavy and crappy to be a good recce vehicle. Thankfully, we'll have a Spec. C recce car in Argentina! Recce recce recce until late in the evening. Meet up with JB after each loop of stages to consume tuna on bread, trailmix, powerbars, Diet Coke, and Red Bull. Notes much better after SS19. Thinking we're not as terrible at this as we thought! Spend all night cleaning up the notes until exactly 0:00. Do not finish. At 0:00 go to bed regardless. This turns out to be the best decision I made all week.
Wednesday - Up super early again. Recce recce recce. All a big blur. Finally recce the SSS. Finish. Good news. It's only 18:00. Go to SWRT PR event with Travis and the boys. Drink bottled water in a corner. Totally excellent. Ditch ASAP to go work on notes. Eat chicken soup at VIPS with AG. Work on notes until 0:00. Do not finish. Go to bed.
Thursday - Up sort of early to get to Shakedown at 10:00. Find out SD is delayed until 10:30. Go through FIA fuel up process and get to SD start at 10:30. Wait to start until 11:45 as WRC cars are cutting in front of the line etc. Hang out and meet Martin Rauam and Kristo Kraag and Andreas Aigner and Klaus Wicha. Seb Loeb comes by to speak to Travis, right as we need to pull forward, so I basically instruct Travis to drive over Sebastien. Oooops. Not good. Marshalls finally get control and send us out in order. Do two quick loops of the shakedown and confirm the following -- 1) The SD is not very representative of the stages and yes, it's a Gr.N car. 2) Boy, we are losing time to the fast boys (Toshi, Mark). Go back to the service park, refuel, the car, waste a few hours there. Get dressed for the ceremonial start. JB drives us to the holding area in Silao. Huge crowd. Sign autographs and pose for photos. Travis disappears to use bathroom. Hang out with the usual kids. Start to wonder where TP is. Hang out some more. Team manager asks about TP. Call TP on mobile. Found out he's ordering a sandwich. Instruct TP to return to car ASAP. TP sad as was hungry. Remind self to pack sandwich for ceremonial start in Argentina. Drive rally car to Guanajuato. Hang out in alley and talk to Rauam/Kraag who are totally cool guys. Go over ceremonial start. See the governor of Guanajuato. See a load of screaming fans. Almost get lost on way to 3rd ceremonial start. Find 3rd ceremonial start. See Wagonmonster. Go over 3rd ceremonial start. Drive back to Leon. Almost fall asleep on transit. Put the thing into overnight service area. Go to hotel. Skype home. Try to fall asleep. Try again.
Friday - Up early. Call TP. Get to service park early. Settle nerves. Review notes, fuel figures etc. Ok, time to go. Get in car. Quick transit to first stage. SS1 - good pace feels good - spin 200 meters from finish line. Go over small cliff. Costs us 17 seconds. Crap! Long transit to 2. Do front to rear tire swap. SS2 - mega fast sorta scary. Decide to ease off a bit. SS3 no issues. Long transit to service. 30 minute service, no drama. SS4 repeat of SS1. Tire swap on the transit. SS5 - mega fast again. Lots of drama. Off in a ditch on the codriver side twice in three corners. Absolute miracle no punctures. Check tires on right side. Front has a sidewall cut, but we leave it on for tire management purposes. Rear has been knocked off the bead but is holding air. SS6 is mega fast, so we decide to change the rear. Put on a spare, which we'll have to run on Sunday, but SS6 is only 17km so no worries. SS6 no drama. Transit to SSS. SSS two runs against Nutahara. Lose both - the bloody Mitsu is fast! Transit back to service. Handshakes all around. Did what we had to to get our feet wet. Dinner at VIPS with Travis. Review notes for Saturday. Off to bed.
Saturday - We know our notes this day are not as good as our notes on 1/4, 2/5 and 3/6, so we expect to fall off the pace a bit. Also, we know the front runners will push hard. Do 9,10,11. Car feels perfect. See Andrew Harvey on SS10 on a cliff side. Cool. Go into midday service. Service. Eat at PWRC catering. It is awesome. Awesome. Come out of midday service and have a wicked loud banging on front right. Call the boys on the mobile and talk. Have to stop immediately and investigate. Full spanner check at a Pemex on route. No issues found on front right, but now well late. Drive like bat**** to get to control, but encounter traffic and check in 1m late. Hey - I've taken roadpoints at a WRC event. Sa-weet. Absolutely soaked in sweat, start stage 12. Decent time, all things considered, but we're swamped now.
Finish SS12. Have a look at the car before 13 and realize that one of the bolts holding the rotor to the hat has sheared and is hitting the caliper intermittently. Remove bolt. No more noise. Excellent. Run SS13 and SS14 and SSS. Start hearing bad chatter from rear of car. Frankly, at this point, the car is making all sorts of noise we've never heard in a rally car before. And we've now blown the 2nd damper of the event!!! Call boys. Go to service. Boys service car - decide to replace rear diff. Put car in Parc Ferme. With Nutahara having to take SupeRally to change the gearbox, now have a lock on 5th with an 8:47 lead down to Vojtech and a 2:34 deficit to Mirco Baldacci if we can nurse this thing to the finish. Oh, yeah, talk to Kristo and find out that he and Martin are out. Bad diff, I think. Too bad, as they are super nice guys and deserve a good clean run. Definitely guys we will enjoy hanging out with for the rest of the year.
Sunday - Bad dreams, nay NIGHTMARES all night. Totally stressed out. Must get car to finish. Awake early. By now, checking in and out of controls at WRC level is just as second nature as at Ojibwe, for instance. Pull up to start at SS17. Huge clump of Travis fans. One girl wants to kiss Travis for good luck, while one kid who runs toward the car is so enthusiastic he scares a cop and gets pummelled in a ditch. Once he's up and the cop let's him go, he's at the window too. Run SS17. No drama. SS18, no drama. SS19, no drama - except we see a naked guy 800m from the end. Wow, didn't need that. Finish SS19 with brakes on fire, though. Road section to SSS. Loooooong wait at SSS where we hang out with Stepan Vojtech and Michal Ernst (who looks a lot like Ralph Fiennes). Nice guys and terrors on tarmac, but this wasn't their weekend, for sure. Michal and I extend mutual invitations to NYC and Prague. Drivers talk about... well, whatever those types usually grunt about.
Run SSS against Vojtech (I think). On second lap, braking from tar into gravel, Travis mis-shifts, and we get a wicked noise from the rear. Rear diff or driveshaft definitely gone. Nurse the car through the SSS, losing by 40 seconds (not that it matters). Ease it back to service, talking to boys on phone all the way. This should have been a triumphant transit - instead it's worry worry worry about if we get car home. Get car into service. Get weighed. Go over ceremonial finish ramp. Wave to fans. Put car in Parc Ferme. Go sign autographs and hang out with marshalls, teammates, new friends until 4pm. Can't believe it's over. Review split times and recognize exactly what we have to work on for Argentina. Return to hotel and realize laptop, video camera, and $400 in cash gone missing from room. Resolve with hotel, credit card companies for 3 hours. Go have a drink with the team. Go to rally party. Have a few drinks and talk rally technology with a bunch of British men (Hi Reg and Johnny - good to see you!). Return to hotel. Sleep. Pack. Breakfast with Mark Williams and TP. Drive to airport with MW, TP, and Brian Scotto, our embed. Suffer long wait in BJX for delayed flight to IAH. Sit with Scotto on flight to IAH and laugh ass off as usual. Seriously the funniest man in America.
YOU: Subscribe to "0-60" magazine. Brian Scotto is going to remind you why you loved car magazines. Seriously, it's going to be different. And it's going to be right. Like 1987 Porsche 911 Club Sport if you were born in 1976 right. It's going to celebrate all that's good about cars now, and why the car you loved at 13 is still alright. It's going to be the best damn thing ever.
Get to LGA uberlate. Get home around 1am. Talk to wife for 15 minutes. Fall asleep. Get up. Pack for Sweden. Go to Sweden.
The end.
:mad:[/QUOTE]
What do you want to know? Third best weekend of my life? After my wedding and winning the X Games. Maybe better than winning the X Games. Can't really decide.
Sunday - flew to BJX via IAH. Arrived 5pm. 86 degrees out. Picked up rental cars and drove to airport. Had dinner with KB, AG, TP at a (shocking!) Mexican restaurant. Skyped home. Early to bed.
Monday - Up early. Went to Gr.N test arranged by STi. Met Risto Pietilainen and Denis Giraudet. Caught up with Mark Higgins, Dan Barritt, and Nasser. Drove some test stages to test damper and diff settings. Ate hamburgers grilled by George Donaldson of STi and Colin of WRC radio. The boys were slinging 160 burgers in a day; impressive! Back to the hotel. Early dinner. Final prep of notes for recce and discussion re recce support with JB and AG.
Tuesday - Up super early. At first recce stage at 6:37. First car there. Yes! In about two minutes OMV Bixxol Hungary team shows up then KB, AG and all the rest. They let us out at 6:57 and TP and I are first car on SS19. Was first stage we recced in 2006 and we quickly realize notes suck. Ruh-roh! Clean up as best we can and do two quick passes. Also realize that Dodge Durango is WAAAAAY too heavy and crappy to be a good recce vehicle. Thankfully, we'll have a Spec. C recce car in Argentina! Recce recce recce until late in the evening. Meet up with JB after each loop of stages to consume tuna on bread, trailmix, powerbars, Diet Coke, and Red Bull. Notes much better after SS19. Thinking we're not as terrible at this as we thought! Spend all night cleaning up the notes until exactly 0:00. Do not finish. At 0:00 go to bed regardless. This turns out to be the best decision I made all week.
Wednesday - Up super early again. Recce recce recce. All a big blur. Finally recce the SSS. Finish. Good news. It's only 18:00. Go to SWRT PR event with Travis and the boys. Drink bottled water in a corner. Totally excellent. Ditch ASAP to go work on notes. Eat chicken soup at VIPS with AG. Work on notes until 0:00. Do not finish. Go to bed.
Thursday - Up sort of early to get to Shakedown at 10:00. Find out SD is delayed until 10:30. Go through FIA fuel up process and get to SD start at 10:30. Wait to start until 11:45 as WRC cars are cutting in front of the line etc. Hang out and meet Martin Rauam and Kristo Kraag and Andreas Aigner and Klaus Wicha. Seb Loeb comes by to speak to Travis, right as we need to pull forward, so I basically instruct Travis to drive over Sebastien. Oooops. Not good. Marshalls finally get control and send us out in order. Do two quick loops of the shakedown and confirm the following -- 1) The SD is not very representative of the stages and yes, it's a Gr.N car. 2) Boy, we are losing time to the fast boys (Toshi, Mark). Go back to the service park, refuel, the car, waste a few hours there. Get dressed for the ceremonial start. JB drives us to the holding area in Silao. Huge crowd. Sign autographs and pose for photos. Travis disappears to use bathroom. Hang out with the usual kids. Start to wonder where TP is. Hang out some more. Team manager asks about TP. Call TP on mobile. Found out he's ordering a sandwich. Instruct TP to return to car ASAP. TP sad as was hungry. Remind self to pack sandwich for ceremonial start in Argentina. Drive rally car to Guanajuato. Hang out in alley and talk to Rauam/Kraag who are totally cool guys. Go over ceremonial start. See the governor of Guanajuato. See a load of screaming fans. Almost get lost on way to 3rd ceremonial start. Find 3rd ceremonial start. See Wagonmonster. Go over 3rd ceremonial start. Drive back to Leon. Almost fall asleep on transit. Put the thing into overnight service area. Go to hotel. Skype home. Try to fall asleep. Try again.
Friday - Up early. Call TP. Get to service park early. Settle nerves. Review notes, fuel figures etc. Ok, time to go. Get in car. Quick transit to first stage. SS1 - good pace feels good - spin 200 meters from finish line. Go over small cliff. Costs us 17 seconds. Crap! Long transit to 2. Do front to rear tire swap. SS2 - mega fast sorta scary. Decide to ease off a bit. SS3 no issues. Long transit to service. 30 minute service, no drama. SS4 repeat of SS1. Tire swap on the transit. SS5 - mega fast again. Lots of drama. Off in a ditch on the codriver side twice in three corners. Absolute miracle no punctures. Check tires on right side. Front has a sidewall cut, but we leave it on for tire management purposes. Rear has been knocked off the bead but is holding air. SS6 is mega fast, so we decide to change the rear. Put on a spare, which we'll have to run on Sunday, but SS6 is only 17km so no worries. SS6 no drama. Transit to SSS. SSS two runs against Nutahara. Lose both - the bloody Mitsu is fast! Transit back to service. Handshakes all around. Did what we had to to get our feet wet. Dinner at VIPS with Travis. Review notes for Saturday. Off to bed.
Saturday - We know our notes this day are not as good as our notes on 1/4, 2/5 and 3/6, so we expect to fall off the pace a bit. Also, we know the front runners will push hard. Do 9,10,11. Car feels perfect. See Andrew Harvey on SS10 on a cliff side. Cool. Go into midday service. Service. Eat at PWRC catering. It is awesome. Awesome. Come out of midday service and have a wicked loud banging on front right. Call the boys on the mobile and talk. Have to stop immediately and investigate. Full spanner check at a Pemex on route. No issues found on front right, but now well late. Drive like bat**** to get to control, but encounter traffic and check in 1m late. Hey - I've taken roadpoints at a WRC event. Sa-weet. Absolutely soaked in sweat, start stage 12. Decent time, all things considered, but we're swamped now.
Finish SS12. Have a look at the car before 13 and realize that one of the bolts holding the rotor to the hat has sheared and is hitting the caliper intermittently. Remove bolt. No more noise. Excellent. Run SS13 and SS14 and SSS. Start hearing bad chatter from rear of car. Frankly, at this point, the car is making all sorts of noise we've never heard in a rally car before. And we've now blown the 2nd damper of the event!!! Call boys. Go to service. Boys service car - decide to replace rear diff. Put car in Parc Ferme. With Nutahara having to take SupeRally to change the gearbox, now have a lock on 5th with an 8:47 lead down to Vojtech and a 2:34 deficit to Mirco Baldacci if we can nurse this thing to the finish. Oh, yeah, talk to Kristo and find out that he and Martin are out. Bad diff, I think. Too bad, as they are super nice guys and deserve a good clean run. Definitely guys we will enjoy hanging out with for the rest of the year.
Sunday - Bad dreams, nay NIGHTMARES all night. Totally stressed out. Must get car to finish. Awake early. By now, checking in and out of controls at WRC level is just as second nature as at Ojibwe, for instance. Pull up to start at SS17. Huge clump of Travis fans. One girl wants to kiss Travis for good luck, while one kid who runs toward the car is so enthusiastic he scares a cop and gets pummelled in a ditch. Once he's up and the cop let's him go, he's at the window too. Run SS17. No drama. SS18, no drama. SS19, no drama - except we see a naked guy 800m from the end. Wow, didn't need that. Finish SS19 with brakes on fire, though. Road section to SSS. Loooooong wait at SSS where we hang out with Stepan Vojtech and Michal Ernst (who looks a lot like Ralph Fiennes). Nice guys and terrors on tarmac, but this wasn't their weekend, for sure. Michal and I extend mutual invitations to NYC and Prague. Drivers talk about... well, whatever those types usually grunt about.
Run SSS against Vojtech (I think). On second lap, braking from tar into gravel, Travis mis-shifts, and we get a wicked noise from the rear. Rear diff or driveshaft definitely gone. Nurse the car through the SSS, losing by 40 seconds (not that it matters). Ease it back to service, talking to boys on phone all the way. This should have been a triumphant transit - instead it's worry worry worry about if we get car home. Get car into service. Get weighed. Go over ceremonial finish ramp. Wave to fans. Put car in Parc Ferme. Go sign autographs and hang out with marshalls, teammates, new friends until 4pm. Can't believe it's over. Review split times and recognize exactly what we have to work on for Argentina. Return to hotel and realize laptop, video camera, and $400 in cash gone missing from room. Resolve with hotel, credit card companies for 3 hours. Go have a drink with the team. Go to rally party. Have a few drinks and talk rally technology with a bunch of British men (Hi Reg and Johnny - good to see you!). Return to hotel. Sleep. Pack. Breakfast with Mark Williams and TP. Drive to airport with MW, TP, and Brian Scotto, our embed. Suffer long wait in BJX for delayed flight to IAH. Sit with Scotto on flight to IAH and laugh ass off as usual. Seriously the funniest man in America.
YOU: Subscribe to "0-60" magazine. Brian Scotto is going to remind you why you loved car magazines. Seriously, it's going to be different. And it's going to be right. Like 1987 Porsche 911 Club Sport if you were born in 1976 right. It's going to celebrate all that's good about cars now, and why the car you loved at 13 is still alright. It's going to be the best damn thing ever.
Get to LGA uberlate. Get home around 1am. Talk to wife for 15 minutes. Fall asleep. Get up. Pack for Sweden. Go to Sweden.
The end.
| Jay911 | 03-16-2007 07:15 PM |
[quote=bjorn240;17382849]Seb Loeb comes by to speak to Travis, right as we need to pull forward, so I basically instruct Travis to drive over Sebastien.[/quote]
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: !!! FTW man! :)
Seriously though, good job and good effort. Best of luck next time and nice to see you guys on that BFG commercial too. :)
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: !!! FTW man! :)
Seriously though, good job and good effort. Best of luck next time and nice to see you guys on that BFG commercial too. :)
| lummer shawn | 03-16-2007 07:32 PM |
[QUOTE=bjorn240;17382849]What do you want to know? ....
The end.[/QUOTE]
great story christian!
bummer about all the stuff going missing in the hotel
otherwise sounds like you guys had a good time!
hopefully see ya at either OTR or Olympus.
-shawn-
The end.[/QUOTE]
great story christian!
bummer about all the stuff going missing in the hotel
otherwise sounds like you guys had a good time!
hopefully see ya at either OTR or Olympus.
-shawn-
| Easy Rider | 03-16-2007 08:42 PM |
Awesome recap Christian.
Yes, Scotto is the funniest man in America - or at least the Leon Airport - on a Monday.
Hey - did your dry cleaner come by for a pick up? :)
I need you to email me for . . . you know . . . stuff. You have my card!
Yes, Scotto is the funniest man in America - or at least the Leon Airport - on a Monday.
Hey - did your dry cleaner come by for a pick up? :)
I need you to email me for . . . you know . . . stuff. You have my card!
| chimchimm5 | 03-17-2007 02:03 AM |
[quote=bjorn240;17382849]What do you want to know? [/quote]
Wow. Thank you so much for posting this...
I feel sorta like we just got a virtual "back stage pass". I read every word carefully.
Wow. Thank you so much for posting this...
I feel sorta like we just got a virtual "back stage pass". I read every word carefully.
| bjorn240 | 03-17-2007 05:21 AM |
[QUOTE=Easy Rider;17383622]
I need you to email me for . . . you know . . . stuff. You have my card![/QUOTE]
Warren, I'll email as soon as I'm back stateside. I have 240 messages waiting and I can't bear to look at them. Hence wasting time on NASIOC. Back in US on Monday - I'll mail you then. And yes, stuff. Found out that the flight to Argentina is going to be like 25 hours door to door, so stuff is critical! :)
It was a pleasure(!?) hanging out on Monday. My best to your dad, too!
- Christian
I need you to email me for . . . you know . . . stuff. You have my card![/QUOTE]
Warren, I'll email as soon as I'm back stateside. I have 240 messages waiting and I can't bear to look at them. Hence wasting time on NASIOC. Back in US on Monday - I'll mail you then. And yes, stuff. Found out that the flight to Argentina is going to be like 25 hours door to door, so stuff is critical! :)
It was a pleasure(!?) hanging out on Monday. My best to your dad, too!
- Christian
| Easy Rider | 03-17-2007 09:46 AM |
[QUOTE=bjorn240;17386853]Hence wasting time on NASIOC. - Christian[/QUOTE]
Gee I don't know what you are talking about???
I managed to make it out of Customs in Calgary at about 11:30 PM - then had to drive through a snow storm for 2 of the 3 hour drive home!
I have another "stuff" on it's way to me now - and yes I used mine all the way home.
Gee I don't know what you are talking about???
I managed to make it out of Customs in Calgary at about 11:30 PM - then had to drive through a snow storm for 2 of the 3 hour drive home!
I have another "stuff" on it's way to me now - and yes I used mine all the way home.
| WRXedUSA | 03-17-2007 12:37 PM |
[quote=BCE]What do you want to know? Third best weekend of my life? After my wedding and winning the X Games. Maybe better than winning the X Games. Can't really decide.[/quote]
That's what I wanted to hear!! :banana:
[quote=BCE]Return to hotel and realize laptop, video camera, and $400 in cash gone missing from room. Resolve with hotel, credit card companies for 3 hours[/quote]
That's upsetting.
Enjoy Sweden!
-chad
That's what I wanted to hear!! :banana:
[quote=BCE]Return to hotel and realize laptop, video camera, and $400 in cash gone missing from room. Resolve with hotel, credit card companies for 3 hours[/quote]
That's upsetting.
Enjoy Sweden!
-chad
| LastResort | 03-17-2007 01:37 PM |
Great review Christian, thanks.
| fliz | 03-19-2007 09:19 PM |
Great writeup, Christian!
[QUOTE=dwmoss_68;17338978]how about the gate that was closed on day 2, had to be a spectator playing games right??
dm
[/quote]
The WRC Review show had more details on the gate. The competitor in front of Wilson (Jari?) slid into the gate and knocked it loose.
[QUOTE=dwmoss_68;17338978]how about the gate that was closed on day 2, had to be a spectator playing games right??
dm
[/quote]
The WRC Review show had more details on the gate. The competitor in front of Wilson (Jari?) slid into the gate and knocked it loose.
| allmotorking | 03-20-2007 04:51 PM |
I was out on the stages on day 2 and the officials kept driving by and warning people not to throw stuff at the cars or else they were going to cancel the stages.
No word on whether WRC will be back next year and I suspect that this is going to be a last minute decision for them. Stay tuned for more detail on this matter.
No word on whether WRC will be back next year and I suspect that this is going to be a last minute decision for them. Stay tuned for more detail on this matter.
| WagonMonster | 03-20-2007 04:55 PM |
No, the word is that WRC will not be back next year.
As for 2009, maybe.
As for 2009, maybe.
| chimchimm5 | 03-20-2007 04:56 PM |
[quote=fliz;17412575]The WRC Review show had more details on the gate. The competitor in front of Wilson (Jari?) slid into the gate and knocked it loose.[/quote]
Oops. Then the spectators were unfairly blamed for the gate.:o
Oops. Then the spectators were unfairly blamed for the gate.:o
| Slick33 | 03-20-2007 06:13 PM |
[QUOTE=WagonMonster;17423216]No, the word is that WRC will not be back next year.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that word came out at the end of the season last year. :)
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that word came out at the end of the season last year. :)
| AngryBlueRS | 03-21-2007 11:19 PM |
[QUOTE=chimchimm5;17423232]Oops. Then the spectators were unfairly blamed for the gate.:o[/QUOTE]
Yes and no as the spectators earned some of their bad rap. I too saw spectators throwing rocks at cars, but also saw quite a few big ones get pulled into the road by the first cars through. Think it was a bit of both.
As for the spectator's reaction to Loeb, let's just say that as he climbed onto the podum the audience was shouting "Marcus! Marcus! Marcus!". That's gotta tell you something. ;)
Mexico's biggest problem was the police. Saturday they took over the prime viewing area in front of the big jump and would not budge off of it. I was there as a guest of Ford (Subaru had little showing for hospitality & Ford was a major sponsor), and even they were banned from the area. The FIA even talked to them without luck. That's when the police started holding up the initial drivers on the start of the stage for not having the proper "pass". :huh: When the FIA threatened to close the stage, the police walked off the job and the army had to step in.
So spectators can be jerks anywhere, but Mexico had some core organizational issues. Based on what I heard 2009 is not looking too good. :(
On the plus side, it was very cool to watch Travis work his magic. Being there its obvious that Loeb and others are happy to perform when there is a camera on them. With Travis its obvious that he truly cares about his fans. Kind of funny, as he was waiting in line for the finish ramp I was giving him the thumbs up for such an awesome finish. His hand gesture response was that he thought he just did OK. When ever I saw him on stage he was tidy and right on the perfect line. His time did not do his driving style justice (6K ft saps a lot of power from a group N car). Only problem area I saw was consistently early apexing the final tarmac turn on the super special. Then again he was not the only one (fastest guys stayed wide and turned early to keep out of the dirt on exit).
Stayed in the same hotel as the Ford team so I was lucky enough to get some hang time with Gronholm & Hirv. Think Gronholm is the first person I've met that's more into pizza than I am. :lol:
Next one for me will be Rally GB. Should be a blast!
Yes and no as the spectators earned some of their bad rap. I too saw spectators throwing rocks at cars, but also saw quite a few big ones get pulled into the road by the first cars through. Think it was a bit of both.
As for the spectator's reaction to Loeb, let's just say that as he climbed onto the podum the audience was shouting "Marcus! Marcus! Marcus!". That's gotta tell you something. ;)
Mexico's biggest problem was the police. Saturday they took over the prime viewing area in front of the big jump and would not budge off of it. I was there as a guest of Ford (Subaru had little showing for hospitality & Ford was a major sponsor), and even they were banned from the area. The FIA even talked to them without luck. That's when the police started holding up the initial drivers on the start of the stage for not having the proper "pass". :huh: When the FIA threatened to close the stage, the police walked off the job and the army had to step in.
So spectators can be jerks anywhere, but Mexico had some core organizational issues. Based on what I heard 2009 is not looking too good. :(
On the plus side, it was very cool to watch Travis work his magic. Being there its obvious that Loeb and others are happy to perform when there is a camera on them. With Travis its obvious that he truly cares about his fans. Kind of funny, as he was waiting in line for the finish ramp I was giving him the thumbs up for such an awesome finish. His hand gesture response was that he thought he just did OK. When ever I saw him on stage he was tidy and right on the perfect line. His time did not do his driving style justice (6K ft saps a lot of power from a group N car). Only problem area I saw was consistently early apexing the final tarmac turn on the super special. Then again he was not the only one (fastest guys stayed wide and turned early to keep out of the dirt on exit).
Stayed in the same hotel as the Ford team so I was lucky enough to get some hang time with Gronholm & Hirv. Think Gronholm is the first person I've met that's more into pizza than I am. :lol:
Next one for me will be Rally GB. Should be a blast!
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