Nico's Rally Car goes racing. Rally Minnesota Weekend.

[IanS]

Our inaugural run was a huge success. It was an incredible weekend, and you can read all about it on the home page. I wrote a story detailing some of the events from our trip.

Realizing a Dream

There are some pictures there, I will post the rest here.


Some people have asked why I did not explain the experience of the actual racing more. The answer is, there is no way to explain it. It was over so fast I hardly remember it, all I am left with is a deep need to do it again. Rally is unlike any other form of racing, and if anybody ever has a shot to get into either seat of a stage rally car, TAKE IT. It is the wildest ride you will ever go on.

On to the pictures. I got these from a few different sources, and they are credited as such.

Photos courtesy of Tighe House flickr.com/photos/T_House














Photos courtesy of Amanda Ingle http://www.flickr.com/photos/manders1/s ... 10820508/


IMG_0043 copy by amandacingle, on Flickr


IMG_0132 by amandacingle, on Flickr


IMG_0159 by amandacingle, on Flickr


IMG_0245 by amandacingle, on Flickr


IMG_0247 by amandacingle, on Flickr





IMG_0473 by amandacingle, on Flickr


Photos Courtesy of Chris Tuominen











They are going to kill me for posting this one. They fixed the intercom, and were testing it out.



Awesome sweep truck.







I want this sticker.



























Andrew had some engine issues. We towed his car home, an I drove the race car.



















Pictures I took, and a few of Jen's







































So we shall.



In car video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo0p-EexcvM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plPfwWRac0g[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVX1c1LE ... re=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcuqQ8txnz0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F8Kt8xW ... re=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ntKe-Bc ... re=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgw1TE4A ... re=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJtw_9_vgZQ[/youtube][/quote]

Chris taking a corner on Stage 5.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HswlnkM ... re=related[/youtube]

The buildup of car #240 topic457229.htmll

Thank you to everyone who helped get the car together, and make the weekend possible. We couldn't have done it without you.

[sbird1]

Looks like a great time. Way to get that thing nice and dirty!

[Ajax]

Congratulations man. Its been awesome to see this project develop- I feel pretty lucky to have seen its progress and to be a small part of the build. I'm looking forward to watching you and the car develop.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Videos would have been better with your partner screaming turn notes in your ear.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

<---------LOVING IT!

[Gold Digger]

I read the article on the home page. GREAT READ!!! Absolutely loved every word of it.

The story of why Jen was with you was very touching. I think it may have been very...therapeutic?...for her from the way I read things. Either way, congratulations for achieving a dream.

[Razi]

Amazing story.

Your shocks (and your car) got so dirty!

[GrilledCheese33]

EPIC. Glad the rally car finally got to see an event!

[IanS]

Videos would have been better with your partner screaming turn notes in your ear.

For stages 1 - 3, she was. From what I could tell, she was belting her heart out just to stay above the engine note. But when you add in the noise of the drive line, and the noise of all the rocks and dirt hitting the under side of the car, there is just no chance any speech is making it to the camera. I hope to have an input cable from the intercom to the camera for the next event. That way you get clear audio of the cross chatter between driver and codriver.

I read the article on the home page. GREAT READ!!! Absolutely loved every word of it.

The story of why Jen was with you was very touching. I think it may have been very...therapeutic?...for her from the way I read things. Either way, congratulations for achieving a dream.

Thanks Neal.
I cannot speak for Jenny personally, but I wrote things the way I experienced them, and therapeutic is the best word to describe what I saw happen to her that weekend. I sure hope I was able to help, even a little.

[hannibal]

I had to bump this. I just read the story in the articles section.

Great work guys!

[Dattebayo]

The concept of "turn notes" fascinates me. WTF is that all about? What are they exactly?

[bigbadberry3]

I like the time elapse ones at night.

[IanS]

The concept of "turn notes" fascinates me. WTF is that all about? What are they exactly?

It boils down to a code. A string of numbers and phrases that paint a picture for the driver. It fills the gaps in what the driver is seeing, because you can't see around corners.

A typical string would go something like this:

Right 3 over crest caution stay inside, into left 4 50 tightens then opens.

Corners are all denoted a number, 6 being flat out WOT, and 1 being a pin turn, or 180.

A right 3 would be a mid speed corner. Crest means that the corner is just after a crest, so it may be invisible. The caution is just that, somthing makes the road dangerous at this point, possibly rocks or a wash out. The left 4 would be a faster corner. The 50 is the distance from the last call in meters. The last part is self explanatory, the corner tightens, then opens.

There are many more words and phrases, but those are the most common ones.

[Dattebayo]

There are many more words and phrases, but those are the most common ones.

No sh*t.

That's technical as fu*k, I had no idea...

[skydragoness]

SO AWESOME!

Thanks for posting videos!