Rally Of The Tall Pines 2009

[Nuwan]

While most of SPDA is packing up their race tires and cars a crazy few of us are doing the exact opposite. It's cold, the weather is unpredictable... yep, it's time for Tall Pines!

[img width=300]http://spda-online.ca/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/album77/untitled.sized.jpg[/img]

Once again for SPDA I'll be running the old trusted Grindstone Motorsports Legacy with co-driver Daniel Buehler. We're hoping for a top 10 overall finish that we were very close to attaining last year except for a slight "tree incident". The car is relatively unchanged from last year but we hope that reliability and consistency will allow us to move up in the field.

[img width=300]http://spda-online.ca/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/album77/tsn.jpg[/img]

Also representing SPDA is the new Gumball team of Richard Burton and Dean Hopkins. You may recognize the names from Targa Newfoundland where they competed in the ex-DC Shoes Gumball Sti in 2007 and 2008. They recently entered performance rallying with a newly built open class 02 WRX, competing in Galway-Cavendish Forest Rally and Defi with some spectacular times for a novice team.

[img width=300]http://spda-online.ca/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/album77/8928_167709586484_509206484_3369806_2980906_n.size d.jpg[/img]

Most recently they cleared a 70ft gap jump modelled after the x-games stadium jump. Don't let the short video fool you as it required a few weeks of car preperation by Ivano, Maurizio and myself as well as several months of planning by Richard and Dean to achieve this small feat.

Gumball Jump View 1

Gumball Jump View 2

Both teams along with the crew of Doug Manninen, Ivano DiPietro, Maurizio DiPietro and a few more hope to repeat this recent success at Tall Pines.

Another SPDA Chris Martin and co-driver Phil Narini should have a very strong finish this year with their E85 fueled Impreza. Spectators are in for a treat when they pass as everything behind the car smells like popcorn. I'll let Chris chime in with his event outlook...

[img width=300]http://spda-online.ca/modules/xoopsgallery/cache/albums/album77/TP8_2305_11.sized.jpg[/img]

Image courtesy of Tom Hayston at Performance Rally Images

Only 2-1/2 weeks of prep time left. Wish us luck!

[JoeT]

During the XBOX event, Richard showed me thos pictures.. He's nuts, you're nuts, we're all NUTS... I think we're in good company... LOL

Fingers crossed for you in Tall Pines, keep the rubber side down and go for the gusto!!

[miatagirl77]

Good luck guys!! Just avoid the trees ;-)

[PaulH]

If I can find a hiding place so my wife will not find yet another car I may have something to play with in the near future.

It is a long shot but you just never know!

Paul

[Daniel_Buehler]

(don't lift)

[STeveD]

Just looking at that TV shot, Nuwan, I was wondering if you need to shorten your last name for TV? Something the announcers can say easily like "Prost" or "Senna" or "Stewart"...?

[Navigator]

Nuwan, get your codriver to call out the proper instructions where you can setup for the corners :P Oh yea and DONT LIFT.

[AlmostHip]

Good luck Nuwan!

[Daniel_Buehler]

I can see it now...

Don't lift R5 into don't lift L6 200/cr 100 braking into don't lift R3<R5

[JoeT]

Daniel_Buehler wrote:
I can see it now...

Don't lift R5 into don't lift L6 200/cr 100 braking into don't lift R3<R5

Hey Daniel,

Make sure that Nuwan is listening to you, and you can navigate like this guy:

http://spda-online.ca/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=5106&forum=2

If Nuwan doesn't listen, grab his stickshift and ballbearings and squeeze, he'll listen.

[Chris_Martin]

Just in from the garage....Tall Pines prep as been going on since we left Defi.

At Defi we destroyed a rim, and tried driving on it, then met with a ditch and small tree. All cosmetic damage which has now been fixed up, and a fresh coat of Aspen White!

At Tall Pines, the OPRC championship is going down to the wire, out of the top 3 now, whoever beats who, wins. It's between Nick Mathew, Peter Thomson and myself. I'd suspect a flat out attack from everyone. We're probably all trying to figure out the possible senarios, but the plan is just go fast.

As always, the car is under ongoing development. i just finished installing a few new shiney (and expensive) goodies. And i think i found some things wrong from Defi....i thought the car felt too much RWD!

Going to be ALOT of fun....

And Nuwan...get it straight, it smells like gramps' moonshine behind the car!

[Daniel_Buehler]

http://www.flatovercrest.com/2009/11/sprongls-to-drive-for-subaru-rally-team-canada-at-tall-pines.html#more

[_sjd]

That's even more of a reason to head up to spectate. Anyone else thinking of heading up?

[STeveD]

I guess that Frank is going to have to stop complaining about Subarus for a weekend. :-)

[dubya_rx]

So that's why 4* was a ghost town when I dropped by last Friday.

[Navigator]

Who wants to be part of a crew. Looking for one or two more people to help with the Nuwan / Burton setup. Mechanical knowledge an asset but not required. If you can use an impact gun and clean windows and check fluids your exactly what we need.

Send me a message if your interested.

[Chris_Martin]

Ivano....

Pit close to us.....or don't be affraid to come over and ask.

I think you know my pops. We should have lots of bodies, and enough tools/parts to fix most anything.

[Navigator]

Chris I do know your Dad and if I need some "emergency" help I will be sure to give him a shout, same goes if you need any parts or help. Thanks for the offer its very much appreciated.

[Nuwan]

Thanks Chris, and like Ivano said if you need anything that we can help with by all means ask!

All that's left for us is some packing and we're leaving thursday morning. The prep went well for both Burton's and my own car including a fun addition for the spectators with Burton's car.

Looks like an awesome field of 54 cars with the majority in open class. Frank and Dan are reunited in a factory Subaru entry of all things, and there are several US entries this year since thanksgiviing is next week.

SPDA members Ivano, Maurizio and Doug will be crewing and luckily won't be freezing this year. It's looking like very mild temperatures so I hope everyone has got their gravel tires on!

[STeveD]

http://www.rallyscoring.com/results/2009/TallPines/Pines2009Press0.htm

Wow, some interesting results!

First, I THINK I can congratulate Chris Martin on his OPRC championship...? Official results aren't up yet, but he beat Martin Donnelly by over 5 minutes, and the Mathews were out with a mechanical...

I hope that Richard and Dean are okay. The results don't just list a roll, they list "Endo".

Nuwan and Daniel out due to tranny failure; sorry guys!

The Laan's were out with a medical. Hopefully not due to a crash, though they suffered with the flu at the last rally as well, didn't they?