Olympus Rally

[Jeff Higgins]

First off, big thanks to Curt (CurtEgerer) for informing me that this rally was, in fact, being held once again. My two sons and I, along with one of their buddies, ran on down to Shelton on our Olympic Peninsula yesterday to catch some of the action. It was dry and dusty, but we found a great spot from which to watch. They had never seen a rally in person, so this was a real treat for them.

[Ayles]

Dang!! That looks awesome!

This was always seemed like some sort of mythical event. Id love to see it some time. They could probably do a better job of promoting it.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by Ayles

They could probably do a better job of promoting it.

This ^

If I was still living in Gig Harbor, I'd be there for sure.

[Jeff Higgins]

They could absolutely do a better job of promoting this event. I heard about this through Curt, who lived in Michigan (and I think is now in Florida?), while it is right here in my own state of Washington, kitty corner across the whole freakin' continent from him. Yes, they could do a better job of promoting this event. It's not like I'm disconnected from motorsports events around here.

[LWJ]

That would a great event to watch!

[CurtEgerer]

Awesome that you guys were able to see a few stages! Rally has always been an under-the-radar motorsport in the US. Spectating can be nearly as much fun as racing (and a lot cheaper). You need to have stage maps and start times and figure out how to get to the stage. That usually involves a bunch of twisty back roads and a lot of walking. And then you need to transit to the next stage, etc. Not exactly like buying a grandstand seat and plopping down for the day at a NASCAR oval. You guys have also got Dirtfish Rally School nearby! Owner Steve Rinner has a bunch of vintage Group B cars.

[Jeff Higgins]

The Olympus Rally team did an outstanding job in providing spectator access. Yup, lots of driving on logging roads and then walking after that, but that's all a part of the fun.

I need to sign up for a class at DirtFish. Several friends have done so and have had an absolute blast. They have everything from half day "intro" kinds of classes to full-up licensing classes. One of these days...

I've been to a couple of Rally Cross events that they have held at their site out by Snoqualmie. Lots of fun to watch, and very "watch-able", with everything right there in front of you, like a motocross event. Everything from very professionally prepped cars to zit-faced 16 year olds who borrowed mom's Outback for the day (hope they hit the carwash on the way home... ). Fun stuff.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

The Olympus Rally team did an outstanding job in providing spectator access. Yup, lots of driving on logging roads and then walking after that, but that's all a part of the fun.

I need to sign up for a class at DirtFish. Several friends have done so and have had an absolute blast. They have everything from half day "intro" kinds of classes to full-up licensing classes. One of these days...

I've been to a couple of Rally Cross events that they have held at their site out by Snoqualmie. Lots of fun to watch, and very "watch-able", with everything right there in front of you, like a motocross event. Everything from very professionally prepped cars to zit-faced 16 year olds who borrowed mom's Outback for the day (hope they hit the carwash on the way home... ). Fun stuff.

Definitely recommend one of the Dirtfish classes. I did one with my father-in-law well over 10 years ago and we both had a blast. After the class they have a pro take you around their course. It was amazing to do it at speed.

[MMARSH]

Dirtfish is very cool. A good friend has gone several times and invited me along last month for a 3 day course. Unfortunately my wife just had shoulder surgery and there was no way I could go.

[CurtEgerer]

olympus-rally-highlights

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by MMARSH

Dirtfish is very cool. A good friend has gone several times and invited me along last month for a 3 day course. Unfortunately my wife just had shoulder surgery and there was no way I could go.

Do they have a location in your area, or would you have to come all the way up here to attend?

[Superman]

Dang! I missed that. Jeff, you need to do a better job of informing me about these things.

When we chatted last, I the Isle of Man thing came up (I think...but i was drunk) and I wanted to say how much more powerful those events are when seen in person compared to video clips. Mildly interesting on video. Breathtaking in person. Top fuel dragsters come to mind. Which i think we also discussed while I was drunk. Even 50cc go cart racing in parking lots is stunning.

I'll bet the Shelton thing was very cool. Very talented drivers, I'd guess.

[CurtEgerer]

Rough year in US Rally American Rally - Deadliest Year/

It's the trees. I was the co-driver in the safety-sweep car for several years and we were first on the scene at the accidents. It never ceased to amaze me how much damage occurs from tree impacts. The trees simply do not move, bend or yield in any way. Even a small 6-8 inch diameter tree will total a car out. Cages have come a long, long way but there's only so much they can do. It's an extremely dangerous form of motorsport.

[CurtEgerer]

We also lost Craig Breen in the WRC in 2023.

[Zeke]

Reading that article made me wonder if airbag technology might work in race cars. Let's say the nose is moved forward by a few inches and an airbag is installed in front of the radiator. Or behind, if it works. Possibly a few like the side bags in cars that would be ganged together in order to deploy faster.

I realize that speed is the killer here. However, I think of the speed of the SawStop and I know that is instantaneous. That's why I thought of multiple smaller bags that can fill more quickly than a large one and protect from more angles of collision.

I'm certain that race cars would not have airbags in the driver's cockpit. I'm not quite sure why a different type can't be used that is not in the steering wheel. I know that driver control after an impact is important but many times the driver has no more control after the impact especially if suspension and brakes are compromised.

It's not nearly a perfect idea. A passenger car is a better environment for an airbag, but even a slight mitigation might help. I don't see why side bags can't be put in the door either in the event of a rally car hitting a tree sideways.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Do they have a location in your area, or would you have to come all the way up here to attend?

Sorry missed this. I would have to come up there to attend.

[Jeff Higgins]

It was kind of disconcerting to be standing in the trees watching these cars go by at speed. No protection from the trees for the competitors. I kept thinking "Jimmy Clark". Or "Joey Dunlop". We felt entirely safe watching from mere feet away, but only because there were trees to hide behind...

I really don't know what they can do, though. With the transient nature of the sport, running where they can on no established circuits, there is no way to build in the kind of safety we see today on circuit racing. Maybe something along the lines of what Zeke suggests, with airbags incorporated into the cars in a way that circuit racing really doesn't require. Even if it compromises their performance a bit.

I dunno. Brave men and women. Or maybe, as Sir Jackie Stewart suggested, merely "lacking in imagination"...

[DaveE]

Press on Regardless

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by DaveE

Press on Regardless

Yes!

And the rationale of racing between trees is - 'well, nobody told you to drive that fast'. You don't have to go 90MPH. You could go 45MPH. But racers being racers, it's pretty much going to be 90MPH and "we probably won't go off anyway" ....

One of the most spectacular tree crashes ever. F1 driver Marc Surer behind the wheel of a Group B Ford RS200. He was severely injured and his co-driver killed.