Mt Hood 2010 Recap

DNF'd after a few stages. James wrote up a brief description of our run on his blog: http://hardrowracing.blogspot.com/2010/10/mt-hood-run-but-dnf.html

Here is a slideshow of the pictures I have of us from the event:

Wild West Rally 2010

UPDATE: Wild West Rally 2010 has been cancelled. Few competitor entries, not enough volunteers, and a late harvest in Pomeroy are the main causes. The event is planned to be in Pomeroy again in 2011.

Preparations are underway for Wild West Rally 2010 in Pomeroy, Washington on September 25th and 26th. Just swapped in the new engine and transmission, replaced steering rack bushings with urethane ones, and replaced a two torn CV boot[s]. Everything looks good, but the suspension is a bit tired in the front.

Stay tuned for updates as we get the rally car ready to race!



UPDATE 9/1: Got the Saab 99 EMS rally car started this afternoon and went on a test drive to Key Center and back. Stopped in Glen Cove and took a few pictures really quick, near the Historic Glen Cove Hotel. Although running on a stock camshaft, the car feels great and the 4-speed gear ratios are much better suited to rallying than the previous 5-speed 900 turbo gearbox we were using.



The Wild West Rally website can be found at http://www.wildwestrally.org/.

Olympus Rally 2010: Recap

Rough roads, washouts, rain storms, rollovers and big ticket breakdowns. Olympus Rally can be one of the most extreme stops on the Rally America Championship.

For the Northwind Racing Team, things started off good on Saturday with finishes on each of the tough stages near Ocean Shores. Our main concern was preserving the car for the smooth, fast roads that Sunday offers. We had no major setbacks, offs, or anything really too bad. A vacuum hose popping off and a sick co-driver were the biggest two issues we had until the second running of the Tahola stage.



During the Tahola W 1 stage the Saab 99 EMS started to make a really bad noise from the engine. We finished the stage under our own power (even though this isn't reflected in the results online) and made it all the way to service (after a little pushing). We were able to do some troubleshooting but the problem was terminal and we withdrew from the race. I suspect the problem was oil-pressure related, but it sounded like the timing chain and gears were having the biggest amount of trouble.



Since we were out, we packed the car up and headed back to Ocean City State Park where we were camping. We tried to relax and get some sleep. On Sunday James took the car back to my house and then went home; I took off at around 8:00 and headed to Smith Creek to spectate at Instruction 6 (W) / 14 (E) on Smith Creek Rd.

After we ate some sausages and fried prawns (huge damn prawns), we got our drinks and settled in on the hillside over instruction 6/14 and waited for the cars. The pro cars put on a good show on this corner, with quite a few of the regional guys not taking any chances with the corner: the route book note describes it as a "Double Caution Medium Right; Drops, Tightens, and Narrows Over Crest, Exposure Left." Most people slowed down; one of the regional guys hit the forest wall on the inside pretty good, nailing a crash cam placed there by one of our "drunk rednecks." I haven't seen the footage yet.

Dillon Van Way came into this corner (Instruction 6, Smith Creek W) really hot, with us cheering him on, but wasn't able to negotiate it - he ended up having some understeer issues and rolled off the "Exposure Left" and down a ravine, coming to rest upside down with the nose of the car pointing down the hillside (See video below.) Thankfully everyone was alright! The co-driver did have a laceration to his ankle from kicking out the window. Our drunken medic team administered first aid and secured the scene, all without spilling a drink. A few hours after the roll the amazing Northwest E-Crew got Dillon's car out of the ravine, and the car fired up without too much trouble. I hope they can get the car put back together in time for Oregon Trail Rally... Dillon is a very good driver and I hope he keeps racing and doesn't get discouraged!



Congratulations to Travis Pastrana on another hard-earned win. I assure you that victory at this rally does not come easy with the rough roads near the Washington Coast on Saturday, contrasted by the fast, smooth county roads near Brooklyn, WA.

Good job to everyone that finished! You earned it.



Be sure to check out the Rally America Website for results and stage times. For regional standings, select 'Regional Events' and choose John Nagel Rally / Gene Nielson Stage. Stages can be reviewed individually and times compared for both National and Regional events.



EDIT: Found this Video of Dillon's treck into the ravine on YouTube:

Olympus Rally 2010: Out after day 1

The Saab 99 EMS survived the treacherous roads yesterday, but towards the end of the day we succumbed to engine failure. There were some very loud noises coming from the motor during Tahola W, and they got worse, eventually slowing our progress. We made it into rally service, but pushed the car the last few hundred yards to preserve what was left of the engine. After some troubleshooting we realized it was a catastrophic failure and withdrew from the event. Crane creek was a fun stage, Tahola was smooth and fast, and wreck creek was bad ass. Overall, day one makes you feel lucky to have a car left at all. We had a good time, and as always, learned a lot.

Today for day two Jens and I will be heading to Smith Creek stage to watch with some friends that I met at Doo Wop Rally last month.

Olympus Rally 2010: One Weekend Left!

Just one weekend left before Olympus Rally 2010, but we've almost got the Saab ready. It was leaking coolant from the intake manifold, so I removed it and got everything cleaned up before using a new gasket and anaerobic gasket sealer. I even used the anaerobic activating spray so it sets up stronger.

We've got a lot of cleaning left to do, and just some other general things. I was hoping to fix the fuel gauge and temp gauge but I don't think we have enough time to pull the dash apart and create a wiring mess.

The car feels solid but I am still concerned about gear ratios. The transmission we are running is out of an '83 Saab 900 Turbo and it's geared for freeway cruising. I'd like to either get an older box out of a 99, or change the ratios in a newer box with different primary gears. Either way, that's a summer project. 

Here's the list of stuff that we have left to get done before the rally:

• Spray paint roll cage
• Reinstall SFI Roll Cage Padding
• Clean car inside and out, clean glass
• Rebuild a spare slave cylinder
• Secure rear brake line (hose clamps)
• Temp gauge / fuel gauge
• Spare hose to heater / engine / reservoir
• Fix wiper washer motor
• Insulation around spark plug wires

I can't wait to head out to Ocean Shores and teach this car another lesson or two at Olympus Rally!

UPDATE 4/15: Washed the rally car today. Intake manifold is still holding, haven't ran it with the cooling system under pressure though. Things are shaping up, almost ready to go race in Ocean Shores.

First Test Drive Before Olympus Rally

Got the rally car running and went on a test drive today.  Runs slow, suspension is tired and the gearing is terrible.  All in all it's doing pretty good, and I've still got a lot more to do before the race.  It always makes me feel better when I have a car that runs and drives, though.  A few timing and mixture tweaks and it should be running pretty good.  For now, though, cleaning the garage is the priority!

Olympus Rally 2010: Getting the Saab Ready

Pictures and more updates now on the main blog page.

Getting the rally car ready for Olympus Rally 2010.  I've been taking my time and trying to do a good job on everything.  Last weekend James and I got the doors on, put the back window in, and got the exhaust on.  I might fire it up tomorrow and go for a test drive, or I might wait until Monday.  It should run good because this engine was a strong runner in another Saab 99 of mine.  We put the 287-302 camshaft in, and this motor already had an adjustable cam gear installed.

Here is the list of things we have to complete before the Olympus Rally:

• Rebuild a spare slave cylinder
• Secure rear brake line
• Install Rear bumper / extraction point
• Learn how to wire fuel gauge into rally computer (or fashion a measuring stick)
• After market temp gauge
• Pop dents out of front drivers side fender. (with 2x4's)
• Reverse light switch
• Heater fan motor switch
• Fix wiper washer motor
• Slot hood

After the race I want to pull the engine again because I'm not happy with the gear ratios.  I feel I will be OK on the roads here, but I don't want to do the Oregon rallies or Wild West Rally without lower gearing.

UPDATE 3/29/10:  Took car for a test drive, we installed the new (old?) rear bumper, got the doors working good, popped some dents out (as good as they are going to get). Can't wait for Olympus Rally!