Event Report: 2001 Wild West ProRally (LAC)

[robert_a_dupree at bankone.com]

Perspective:  Co-Driver
Car#:  288
Make:      Subaru
Model: Imprezza 1.8L NA (110hp) AWD
Class: Production GT
Team:  Cavett Rally MotorSports
Results:  3rd in Class, 19th overall

Well I'm back from the 2001 WildWest ProRally that took place this past
weekend in Olympia, WA.  The was stop number 8 on the Pro tour of which
I've been haphazardly participating.  I got the invite on very short notice
from the driver and after a little communications snafu while finishing up
the LT-1Q deal we got it worked out about 36hrs before my flight to
Washington would leave.

This was a great race.  The conditions are so far different from the
MidWest rallies I've done to date, but thankfully the people that are part
of rallysport are pretty much the same everywhere!  Lots of new friends and
faces to add to the plethora of familiar ones.  While unfortunately I was
not competing in an Audi, the brand has some representation with Mike
Mailman (early Coupe Quattro)and Todd Lengacher (4000 Turbo Q).  It's
unfortunate but Audi's lack of willingness to support ANY rally effort in
ANY capacity means it's getting too tough to keep these cars competative.
(Getting off my soapbox now)...  Anyway I was running with Gary Cavett in
his reliable, sturdy and very underpowered Subaru Imprezza 1.8L AWD.  With
a whopping 110hp the acceleration left me wanting, but to Gary's credit he
can hussle that thing around quite well!

The race started off leaving from Parc Expose in Shelton, WA and took us up
into the hills.  This was going to be the first test of my new in-car video
system and so there was some additional fussing around with gear, belts and
crap as we rolled into the ATC for stage 1 but we got it together before
our start.  Gary worked the gearbox and the 1.8 gerball motor and got us
going at a good clip.  The road surface is a lot mode rock laden than
anything I've been on before and there was a great deal more up and down
action as well.  We posted a respectable time on SS1 and I was thinking it
was going to be a straightforward rally the rest of the way through...  I
couldn't have been more wrong.  As night time descended, and the cabin temp
went up, and whatever other bizzaro factors came into play I fell into
severe motion sickness.  While not entirely new to me (CherokeeTrails...) I
had never had this level of a reaction, and certainly never SUSTAINED for
the length of time.  Gary was unshaken once he knew I wasn't going to die
and kept the car moving at the best pace he dared with me hangning the door
open while trying to get 'stuff' out of the car...  Icccckkkk!  It was
really nasty.  Well we finished the remaining stages that night and had a
couple more problems (with me) and retired for the evening without any
other incidents.  A self imposed fast lessened (not eliminated) the problem
on day 2 and we were really picking up the pace.

Gary chose to opt for carrying as much speed as possible through the course
which most of the time wasn't an issue.  We had minor offs and misses when
the Scoobie would understeer at the braking threshold on gravel but no
damage resulted.  It's a quantum difference in performance.  On the 28mile
long special stage there is a 2 mile straight called 'MainLine'.  We were
able to get to almost 90mph; whereas the top couple cars were hitting
140mph, and the end of this gravel straight is a 170degree swtchback right
with spectators and cameras!  Whoppie what fun!  The car was equip'd with
the DMS 50mm Suspension setup for rally use and man what a great ride.
Kind of annoying on slow pavement (rubber strut tops and bushings, lots of
little bouncy) but at speed on gravel and rocks it was perfect!  It soaked
up big hits and mistakes very well.  I am looking forward to getting it on
my normal ride the 1995 S2.

The race was won but Tuthill in his open-class Mitsu EVO and 2nd place went
to Burke in his open-class Mitsu EVO.  Tuthill attempted his trademark
360's at the finish podium, but his efforts were thwarted by too little
space, and too grippy a road surface; he almost took out a couple other
cars for trying tho...  3rd and 4th went to Scoobie-do's with the top
factory-backed finisher being Karl Scheibel in the 4th place with his
Group-N car.  The John Buffam's Libra Racing Hyundia's weren't having great
days and I think they went down with diff problems...  All in all I really
enjoyed the event, the people and the location.  I hope that Team RallyPlex
will be in attendance next year; provided we can work out the logistics.
If so we'll ask all you Q-Heads to come cheer for us and the other racers.

The next race for Team RallyPlex is most likely going to be the SCCA season
finally at LakeSuperior Oct 19-20.

Rob Dupree
     1984 UrQ
     1988 5kTQ
     Co-Driver - 'For Hire'



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