Rally Colorado is over! Join us for LSPR  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Teams are in, and the scores are being finalized. Thanks for following along. Please join us for LSPR on Oct. 16-17.

Conley takes third on stage wins  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Nathan Conley and co-driver Todd Moberly came out ahead at Rally Colorado to take third place after finishing in a dead-heat tie with Mark Fox and co-driver Jake Blattner. Both crews crossed the finish line with a time of 1:35:46.0 but, under Rally America rules, a tie is resolved by counting the number of stage wins between the teams and the final spot on the overall podium went to Conley/Moberly.

Dust windows. Seriously.  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
The famously variable weather at the Rally Colorado has done it again. After a dry and dusty Day 1, driving rain forced organizers to cancel two muddy Day 2 stages. The problem on the final stage of the rally? Dust. Cars had to run two-minute windows.

Ken Block, Car 43  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino are confirmed out of the rally with mechanical problems. The car was smoking and the engine may have expired on the 15th stage of the rally.

Colorado Hunting Season Update  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
The 2009 Rally Colorado coincided with several seasons on the Colorado hunting calendar. September 20th, the last day of the rally, was also the last day for Deer and Elk Hunting unless you used a bow and arrow. In that case you had another week of fun at your disposal. Sunday was also the last day for hunting black bear in Colorado.

Driving in the Rain  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
The 2009 Rally Colorado was delayed because of heavy rain on Sunday morning, the second day of the event. After some course restructuring the cars are back out on the Special Stages. During the break, however, many of the driver/co-driver teams wondered about tires for the muddy roads and driving style for the remainder of the competition.


Rally leader Andrew Comrie-Picard talked about the frustration of driving at 50 or 60 percent in the rain and mud and the problems that can arise when you're not going flat out. Super Production driver Pat Moro expressed the same frustrations. Moro even said he has trouble sleeping after an event where he must rein in his talents. Those comments are on the video segment of the Rally America Updates page.


Finally, open class competitor Ken Block expressed a different kind of frustration. Block is known for his highly popular web videos where he excels in high speed gymkhana-style driving. At Rally Colorado, however, Block is driving a slower Super Production class car normally driven by teammate Dave Mirra who's away at an Action Sports event. Block talked about how he had to change his driving style to accommodate the slower car. Those comments are also available in the video segment of the Rally America Updates page.

Driving (in the) rain  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
We caught up with several drivers during today's rain delay. Check it out:

Watch Pat Moro talk about the frustrations of driving in the rain: www.youtube.com/watch

ACP on careful driving: www.youtube.com/watch

Art Gruszka and Andi Mancin find a creative way to pass the delay away: www.youtube.com/watch

Rain delay schedule  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Rally cars are heading out to run two more stages today: SS 17, then SS 16. They will return to Steamboat Springs after that for the finish. It is expected the delay will mean that the podium will be later than originally scheduled. Expect cars at around 6 p.m.

Car 408 retires  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Car #408 Leavitt / Freehill 1985 Volkswagen GTI are out of the rally. The car came back to service after SS 14 on a flatbed. No apparent damage, so it is expected it was likely a mechanical failure.

Stages 15 & 18 cancelled  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Organizers have officially declared stages 15 & 18 cancelled. This morning's rain has rendered them impassable.

Car 47 retires  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Tim Rooney and Piers O'Hanlon are out of the rally on SS13. The team went wide on a corner near the end of the stage and smacked the rear of the car -- apparently damaging a control arm -- and were unable to continue. The team had been in the SP battle this weekend.

Rain, rain, go away  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Rally Colorado is known for its changeable weather and Saturday's dust has been replaced by Sunday's heavy rain. Many of the roads in the area are hard-packed dirt and rain can make them muddy enough that they are not passable. Organizers are considering alternate routing for this afternoon's stages. More details as they become available.

970 is out of the rally  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Car #970 Helton / Butler 1983 VW GTI have withdrawn from the rally. Mechanical. The team came in to service on a tow rope late this morning.

2WD Battle  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Reliable young driver Dillon Van Way has been posting consistent results this year in his debut season in a 2002 Ford Focus. But he's got a challenge at this event from John Conley. Driving a Dodge SRT-4, the Monument, Colorado, local leads Van Way by 3.6 seconds at the start of Day 2. Game on!

Typically changeable weather  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Rain is coming down hard early Sunday as teams take on the opening stages of Day 2 of the Rally Colorado. When teams left here at 8:30, gravel tires were the choice because it was looking like it might be a repeat of Saturday: hot, dry and dusty. But weather at this event is typically changeable and can vary widely over the course of a day. Teams could be scrambling for mud tires at the 12:30 service. Or not. Maybe the sun will come back?

Day 2 scores starting at 12:30 p.m.  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Teams have left for the opening four stages of Day 2. There are 8 stages today, and a total of 45 miles of racing. We will have scores and more updates for you starting at around 12:30 p.m. when the cars return for the first service of the day.

Day 2 begins - Pastrana out  - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom have withdrawn from Rally Colorado at the start of Day 2. Subaru Rally Team USA principal Lance Smith says it was the safe thing to do: Travis has already won the championship, so it's best to preserve the car for the final round. Rally Colorado was the site of Pastrana and Edstrom's infamous 2005 wreck that saw them overshoot a corner and roll seven and three-quarter times. They were unharmed, but the car was a write-off.

Day 1 results change on final-stage chicane penalties  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Many drivers took hefty penalties on the final stage of Day 1 at Rally Colorado. The chicanes, constructed of evenly spaced pylons on a long straight-away on Stage 10, were subject to big penalties. One pylon cost one minute in penalties. Two pylons cost three minutes while three or more cost seven minutes. The biggest loser was Travis Pastrana who dropped from first to 8th place after taking a seven-minute penalty. But Ken Block, Mitchell Williams and Nathan Conley were also among those who were took penalties.

Middle Cog Top 3 (informational)  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
After 10 gruelling stages and more than 60 miles of racing, the scores are being counted for the Middle Cog regional event. Provisional results show Car #202 Jackson / Estepat the top of the standings! Congratulations.

Parc ferme Steamboat Springs  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Cars are arriving at tonight's Parc Ferme in downtown Steamboat Springs. They'll be there until 9 p.m. If you're nearby, be sure to head into town and say "Hi" to the tired drivers after Day 1 of the Rally Colorado.

Matching times for ACP and Pastrana  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Travis Pastrana and Andrew Comrie-Picard have proven great rivals this season. When ACP's car is 100 per cent, he can be counted on to tie stages with Pastrana -- to the 10th of a second. Looks like the battle is back on at Rally Colorado. The two drivers were within 2/10ths on SS4, 4/10ths on SS6 and half a second apart on SS8. Pastrana, who enjoys the thrill of close competition, said earlier he was glad to see ACP back in the series after a two-round hiatus.

Block in 2WD?!  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ken Block started the day in Dave Mirra's Super Production class Subaru -- and ended SS9 in 2WD! The team broke a driveshaft close to the end of Stage 9 and they ran the last mile or so in front-wheel drive only. Lucky for them, a Service stop was next on the schedule, so it cost them just a second or two and it's already fixed.

Follow Rally America on Twitter!  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Rally America is on Twitter. Follow Rally_America and watch for this event's tag: #RA8.

Next scoring update after 3 p.m. (local time)  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Teams are heading out for the next three stages of the day. They'll be back in service at around 3 p.m. Watch for scores and more updates then!

Schmidt out after SS6  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Car #413 Schmidt / Schnell is out after super special with a problem that he says is "not mechanical." Schmidt, who is running this event in an E85-powered Subaru, says he's not sure exactly what is wrong but it might be an issue with the alternative fuel. The veteran isn't giving up, though. He's expected to get the car working and re-enter Sunday's regional event.

SS2 claims cars 419 and 466  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Car #419 McGuire / Kraus and Car #466 Gottlieb / Ruston are both reported out of the rally on Stage 2. It is believed Car #419 McGuire / Kraus crashed out -- no injuries -- while Car #466 Gottlieb / Ruston suffered a broken axle and had to be towed out.

Oval track rally!  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Rally cars are on stage at the Hayden Speedway Super Special before heading in to service. A few hundred spectators are there cheering them on. It's a party!

Waterworks  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
The water truck is out and wetting down the dirt oval at the Hayden Speedway where teams will run SS6 and SS7 early this afternoon. Rally cars will run a .69 mile Super Special that runs on and around the dirt track. Cars are expected here for SS6 at about 12:15 and the locals are planning some Stock Car action to keep things going until the rally cars come back at 1:30 for SS7. It's dry and dusty here in the high desert!

High times - tough times  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Altitude is a difficult thing for a race car. It saps power and everybody is feeling like they can't go as fast as they'd like. It's especially evident in the Production cars, who are dropping to 2nd gear just to negotiate the hill at the Stage 2 spectator area.

Matt Johnson spectating this weekend  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Super fast Super Production driver Matt Johnson is sitting out the rest of the season. After a tough X Games event that saw lots of damage to his competition car, he says he remains dedicated to the sport but is still looking for support to wage a full, competitive season. Expect him to be around though. He can't stay away -- even if he'd rather be driving. Watch him tell the tale here: www.youtube.com/watch

Score one for the old man  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Veteran rally driver Larry Schmidt, who's been rallying for 38(!) years, is running this weekend in his son's Subaru. His son is away in school! Good one, Dad. Larry's old 1977 Dodge Colt is also on entry list. Larry, by the way, is using E85 in his competition Sube.

ACP is back in action  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
After missing Ojibwe Forests Rally after X Games, ACP is back at Rally Colorado -- along with guest co-driver Jeremy Wimpey. "There's going to be some great racing in the final two rounds," said Andrew Comrie-Picard. "We're playing catch-up to the other guys, but we're going to make every round count this season and claw up the rankings."
Rally America allows two event drops in the season, counting seven of nine rallies toward the championship. While some teams, like the factory-backed Subaru Rally Team USA, run all nine events, the ACP Rally Team is able to contest seven rounds in 2009 -- so every rally counts for the team's points standings.

Rally Colorado: Into thin air.  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Rally Colorado event poses unique challenges to rally teams. The high altitude and subsequent lack of oxygen at this event saps the rally cars' power. Despite this drain, the event has a reputation of being a one of the fastest in the Series featuring many high-speed sections on flowing roads. Organizers have added several high-penalty chicanes to the course to increase the technical challenge. Expect variable weather and some dust if it is dry. The high altitude, coupled with fast straights places the high horsepower Open class cars at a distinct advantage.

Team orders to Travis Pastrana: Don't crash  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Subaru Rally Team USA's Travis Pastrana has already won the title, so he's planning to have fun this weekend.

But not too much fun: "The team says enjoy, and bring the car back missing corners – but if I crash, they're going to shoot me," he said Saturday.

Rally Colorado was the site of the infamous 2005 crash that saw then-rookie Pastrana slide wide off the road and roll over seven and three-quarter times. He and co-driver Christian Edstrom were unharmed, but the spectacular wreck was caught on video and has been played countless times on the Internet and television.

Six stages until scores!  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Cars will take on five mountain stages and a Super Special at Hayden Raceway in Hayden, Colorado, before we'll really get a feel for how the event is shaping up. Check in at about 12:30 local time for the first scores.

Pro skier Peter Olenick in Rally Colorado  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
X Games medalist Peter Olenick is the latest pro action sports athlete to make the jump into rally car racing.

The skier-turned-rally driver is contesting this event in a 2002 Subaru WRX. The vehicle is prepared conservatively -- with safety gear, but few of the performance goodies found in the top Open class cars -- to help the developing driver get a feel for the rally competition environment.

He's running under the coaching of Salta Motorsports rally team.

Olenick is a decorated professional skier with multiple X Games medals and successful appearances in the inaugural Winter Dew Tour in 2008/2009. He is most famous for his invention of the Whiskey Flip trick -- a double flip in the halfpipe that made waves across the freeskiing community. He is also a regular in skiing's top movies from Poor Boyz Productions and Teton Gravity Research.

Rally Colorado begins.  - Saturday, September 19, 2009
Cars headed out for the first stages of Rally Colorado this morning under cool, sunny skies. During the morning driver's meeting, officials warned drivers of rough roads early in the contest: expect some flats.