So I just got done doing my annual volenteer job in the E-Crew for the 2013 Oregon Trail Rally. They changed courses this year and we ended up loosing 25 cars.
First, I need to brag. This our E-Crew fleet: the Safety Steward from Rally America has been so impressed with our E-Crew program that she is actually getting advice from us how to make the other rallies better!
We are the only Rally America event that has an ambulance that runs all stages behind the sweeps and E-crew. However, we are one of like 10 other areas that has an 4x4 Ambulance, but Rally America is actually considering requiring all rallies under their umbrella to have an ambulance on standby for the event.
So on the first day at Portland International Raceway, Ken Block, managed to drive on 3 wheels. This isn't my video as I was on the otherside of the raceway when it happened.
Then on Day 2:
And then this happened:
According to the co-driver, Natalie Richard, she said they "made the wrong kind of left turn" Thanks to the roll cage and HANS plus seatbelt, helment, etc, they survived without a scratch.
Rally America had one of their videographers cover the crash in slow motion:
Because of this wreck, they had to withdrawl from the next 2 rally events in the series.
Day 3 was more fun, but Ken Block actually made it to Day 3 this year!
These kids crashed a whopping 0.75 miles from START!
Later in the day, we ran into this:
And look what they have inside:
And that will Buff out!
Finally, at the end of the event, we had a flat on the RAT:
Bandi, you are coming out next year with Julie! I will give you VIP seats!
They need to bring back the "Press on Regardless"!
Ha! That had good stages but it was a victim of SCCA neglecting safety concerns but it continued with Rally America for a bit at least before the organizers got cranky.
Olympus Rally isn't being run this year because their organizers tried to tell Rally America to go to hell with their demands but wanted them to sanction them regardless so Rally America pulled their plug. The Nameless Performance Rally is being run this year as a regional rally in its place but the 2014 Olympus Rally organizers are actually looking to use our E-Crew for medical support as safety is one of the issues Rally America is harping them on.
Posted by bandi I'm glad Nat and Antoine are ok- Nat has co-driven for both Ian and Michelle (my former employers who owned the race team) a bunch. Great people.
That was a hell of a crash. Shame that the first WRC Lancer in North America got slaughtered so quickly.
Yes, that was the worst wreck I have seen in rally yet. The roll cage did its job for sure. Nat is good people! Last year she was talking to Antoine in French while waiting at ATC about trying to find liqour store in the Dalles and I ended up giving my two cents. They were laughing at the fact I could ease drop in French over the noise of turbochargers :p
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