Hole Shots on the Oregon Trail and other fun things…
By David Gee
When was the last time you heard rally drivers comparing reaction times and ET's and complimenting each other on their "hole shots?"
That won't be all they're talking about in Hillsboro, Oregon during the first stages of the Oregon Trail SCCA ProRally, but drag racing rally cars are sure to provide plenty of conversation fodder.
"We will be running three short spectator stages on Friday, April 23rd, at Portland International Raceway for the ProRally entrants," says Rally Chairman Ben Bradley. "The stages will have different surfaces such as tarmac, gravel and grass. One of the stages will in fact feature a 1/4-mile drag race with rally cars running in pairs and using a Christmas Tree light start."
How this all started I'm sure is a story in itself, but the event organizers just say "the opportunity presented itself and we decided to give it a try to see how competitors and fans liked it."
I'll tell you what I like about it already, an organizing group willing to try something different to create some crowd buzz.
And that won't be the only thing different about the 2004 version of the Oregon Trail.
"The forest stages are almost completely changed from last year," continues Bradley. "To be specific, there is only one stage that is even remotely similar to last year. The Sunday final stage roads haven't been used since a club event back in 1999, and teams will really have to keep their wits about them as they make their way through the Silicon Forest, because there are a bunch of varying surfaces. Some clay bases will be very slippery if it's raining, and some new gravel will get marbly in places. I think it will be a challenging event."
One of the competitors challenging the best of the Pacific Northwest will be former Canadian champion and FIA WRC Production Cup competitor Patrick Richard.
Richard rocked the rally world during SCCA ProRally Round #1 when he drove his Group N 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX with Brian Maxwell aboard to an overall victory at Sno*Drift in Hillman, Michigan.
"It's my first National win and I'm proud of that," Richard said following the event on January 31st. "It's also the first National win for Brian and the first overall win by a Group N car in a while."
And it may not be his last if some of his fellow competitors have any prowess in the prediction department.
"I think Richard is the guy to keep an eye on," states veteran Christian Edstrom, who unfortunately couldn't pull the financing package together to run at Oregon, but will be back at the Rim of the World event. "I would also watch out for Seamus Burke and co-driver Charlie Bradley in the Open Class. The Oregon Trail has those classic forest stages, as well as lots of surface changes, so it should make for a very exciting rally."
Providing some of that excitement no doubt will be local legend Paul Eklund who will bring co-driver Jeff Price and the Primitive Racing Team 2002 Subaru WRX.
Even though they will miss the drag race because they are entered only in the ClubRally (as part of the Western States Rally Championship), Eklund and his blaze yellow Subaru are always crowd pleasers, despite the fact he claims he gives away a lot of power and trick bits to his competitors.
"Our WRX is mostly stock, with only an upgraded turbo and STi 5-speed transmission, but we're still able to keep up with most other Open Class cars. Our car is not even as prepared as most of the Group N entries in terms of horsepower, tuning, suspension and tires. We still even have the power windows in our car!"
I don't know if he was driving with his windows down in the Arctic, but Eklund did manage to contract pneumonia at the end of the 5,000-mile long Alcan Winter Rally.
Oh yeah, he also managed to win the event as well.
Also possibly coming to Oregon with victory on their minds is the Carpe Per Diem Racing Team of Doug Havir and co-driver Scott Putnam. They took their 350-hp ProDrive-prepared Subaru WRX to a 6th-place finish in last year's Oregon Trail, and are anxious to test their skills on the mixed-surface rally again.
They are also hoping to have a second car ready for Lauchlin O'Sullivan, who drove his Mitsubishi to a second-place finish in last year's ProRally Championship standings.
"I feel very fortunate to help the CPD team and possibly get in and shake down their 'new car,'" said O'Sullivan said. "They are a great bunch of people and have made me feel very welcome. Since I have not driven in about six months, I'm also looking to get that feeling of speed back again as well."
O'Sullivan won't see the car until just before the event at the earliest, but he says they will test the car during the Thursday practice stages and make the necessary adjustments to start the rally.
"I really enjoy the Oregon event. The roads are quite technical, but they really flow and allow the drivers to build up quite a rhythm. However, you have to respect the trees and the ditches on the outsides of the road, or it could mean trouble."
A lot of people in the sport thought it spelled trouble when the manufacturers announced they were pulling their factory-sponsored teams from the SCCA ProRally series for at least this year, but as with most changes, there are positives to go with the negatives.
"Personally, the factory departure was a big hit, as I thought I was set for a couple of years with a sponsored ride," O'Sullivan says. "But on the bright side, you have the independent guys able to show their wares and there should be some great battles this year, with different names on top of the leader boards and on the podium. That's all quite exciting for a fan of the American rally scene like me."
"I think the sport ultimately needs factory efforts and television coverage to grow," opines Paul Eklund. "But I think growth is much less important at this point than consolidation, continuity and quality events. We need to get to the point in this country where communities are asking us to come, rather than tolerating an event."
And of course, dollars are always part of the deal, as Eklund continues.
"I think the privateer effort will be good this year, but it will ultimately come down to who can afford to run every event and then not fall off the road and lose a points-paying finish. The Pikes Peak International Hillclimb event in June may make or break the season and determine who will become champion."
Oregon Trail Rally Chairman Ben Bradley isn't looking nearly that far ahead, but he is looking forward to a field of 60 or so quality cars to line up for the first stage at his event on April 23rd.
"I miss the flash of the factory teams and teams certainly, but it has made life a bit easier as an organizer. And it's great to see some privateers who might not otherwise have run the entire season put efforts together. All that being said, we still have fast cars and great competitors, so it will be a great show for the fans."
And at least one rally car manufacturer is still involved in the show.
"We are very pleased with the results and response to our Subaru Rally Support Program, and will continue with the contingency payouts as well as provide the Subaru Rally Parts Support Truck at events," states James Han of Subaru of America, and the former manager of Subaru Rally Team USA. "We want to support privateers and rally fans and are looking for strong Subaru results at Oregon Trail."
With lots of stage miles, mixed surfaces like asphalt, grass and gravel, the drag races, an improved service area, and even an upgraded banquet at a local brewpub, there is a lot to look forward to at the Oregon Trail SCCA ProRally.
"We are always flattered when the competitors, crews and crowds come to our event," says event organizer Ben Bradley. "They will all get to experience great scenery, fast driving on fun roads, and hopefully just enjoy a great visit to our beautiful spot here in Oregon."
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