The best way to experience the 100 Acre Wood Rally

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01) 03/16/2015 at 13:00 • Filed to: None

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Go without a plan. Seriously. The 100 Acre Wood Rally was on the 27th and 28th of February in Potosi, Steeleville and Salem, MO. I live in St. Louis, had never been, and decided that this was the year I would finally go experience the rally.

On Friday the 27th, I loaded up my Outback with a sleeping bag, pillow, plenty of layers of clothes and my camera gear. I hit the road to Potosi at 9:30 and arrived around 11:30, just in time for the Parc Expose and stage one of the rally.

After checking out all the cars, the rally began. The first stage was just a simple, yet quick blast around the Potosi Lions' Park. I was in the center of the action which made for some great pictures.

After each team took their lap around the park, they hopped on the local highways to haul ass to the next stage.

Mr. Dusty Ventures heading to the next stage and waving to the crowd.

I left the first stage shortly after Dusty and his teammate departed and headed off to stage two. It took about 25 minutes of driving to get to the spectator location and I had to park on a dirt side road with everybody else. This was a great opportunity to see what other people were driving around. There were some pretty Jalop cars, to say the least.

This is how my car looked after just a few hours of driving around on unpaved back roads. Gnarly.

I can only assume that the tape was on there to protect the paint. This STI was brand spankin' new.

After a short hike, I arrived at what I assumed was stage two. I wasn't exactly sure what stage I was at or where I was in general because I went without a plan. Spontaneity isn't my strong suit, but I wouldn't have had it any other way that weekend.

During this stage, I met a group of friendly folks who were more than willing to let me tag along with them to the next stage. They were rally freaks who traveled all the way from northern Wisconsin to watch this rally. Rally fans are truly dedicated. We left that stage and hauled ass over to the next.

After that stage, all the teams made their way to service their cars in Steeleville, MO. I stopped by the service pits for a bit to take a look at cars and talk to a few of the teams.

After service, the teams headed out for more stages. Here are some really awful night shots. At this point, my camera battery was dying and I wasn't too concerned with getting pictures, but I snagged a few of the light set ups on the cars.

This was the last stage that I watched on Friday. After the stage, I drove to Montauk State Park which was about 15 miles from Salem, MO to meet up with a few friends. I camped in the back of my Outback that night while my friends did the same in their cars.

I woke up early on Saturday morning to a thin blanket of snow covering everything in sight. The Parc Expose started at 8:45 that morning so I made my way back into Salem.

After the Parc Expose in downtown Salem, the teams went on their way to the beginning stage of the day.

After this stage, I headed off to stage 14. Stage 14 is one I didn't want to miss because there, supposedly, was a jump at some point during that stage. Cars were going to start racing at 2:20, but because of the massive amount of snow that fell on Saturday, they didn't begin until 5:30. I unfortunately didn't stick around until the rallying started again because I'd promised to meet up with some family in Rolla for the night.

Overally, the rally was insanely fun. I went with no plan of action or any idea of how things were structured, but I had an absurd amount of fun. If you ever have the opportunity to go to the 100 Acre Wood Rally, don't turn it down.

Brian Silvestro > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 11:38

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omg I am in love with this

Dusty Ventures > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 11:45

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W00T!

Dusty Ventures > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 11:48

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Only team driving without pod lights. Got up to 97 mph on icy gravel.

Big Bubba Ray > Brian Silvestro 03/15/2015 at 12:27

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I loved it so much that im ordering a set in gold for my car!

Brian Silvestro > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 12:33

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Yes. Good.

TheBaron2112 > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 13:27

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WANT

I WANT THEM

YES

TheBaron2112 > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 13:31

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Also, I have to know what wheels these are. They look amazing. This will be my winter set next year.

Big Bubba Ray > Dusty Ventures 03/15/2015 at 13:59

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You guys have balls of steel. Any plans to get a light set up?

Big Bubba Ray > TheBaron2112 03/15/2015 at 14:04

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I can't recall what they are! Ask Dusty Ventures. He was actually co driving that Fiesta so he could definitely give you an answer.

TheBaron2112 > Dusty Ventures 03/15/2015 at 14:06

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What wheels do you have on that blue Fiesta? Those are the only wheels I've found that I love enough to explore getting instead of stock.

Dusty Ventures > TheBaron2112 03/15/2015 at 21:59

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OZ Racing rally wheels made for M-Sport. Unfortunately I don't know where to get then. Unless you happen across a rally team that's shutting it's doors and selling all their stuff (it happens) the closest you can get may well be the Sparco Terra or the OZ Racing Legenda.

EDIT: I'll ask around though. One of the Fiesta teams may be able to help me find a source

Dusty Ventures > Big Bubba Ray 03/15/2015 at 22:00

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We actually had a light pod, but the lights were aligned so badly we decided not to use it.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 13:08

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new colors?

MonkeePuzzle > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 13:11

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while I'm sure they are noticeably more efficient than the older large lamps, I think the LED bar just doesn't look as good on the front of a rally car

MonkeePuzzle > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 13:11

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dig those old SI wheels

Dusty Ventures > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/16/2015 at 13:16

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New body

OPPOsaurus WRX > Dusty Ventures 03/16/2015 at 13:19

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um shit!?! i'm guessin thier alright?

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 13:19

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The best part about 100AW is racing the rally between spectator areas. Such a blast. I really wish I could have gotten out there this year.

Dusty Ventures > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/16/2015 at 13:26

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Yeah, that was way back in June. Destroyed every body panel except the passenger front fender.

Scary__goongala! > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 13:38

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Sweet pics man. Vibe and Tiburon rally cars.....interesting. Flying Moose rally team is awesome. If I was rallying my NA I'd probably name it Hairdressers of America Rally team or something for lols.

Dusty Ventures > Scary__goongala! 03/16/2015 at 14:22

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I really dig FMRT's new logo

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 14:27

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I definitely want to go to a rally this summer. Hopefully get my buddy to tag along with me.

Scary__goongala! > Dusty Ventures 03/16/2015 at 14:58

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awesome

Big Bubba Ray > Scary__goongala! 03/16/2015 at 17:54

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Haha that would be a great name for a Miata team. And thanks! I'm glad the pictures turned out decently.

The Flying Moose was by far my favorite team. The Volvo was too cool!

Big Bubba Ray > MonkeePuzzle 03/16/2015 at 17:55

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I agree. They dont look that great, but holy hell are they bright. I was on the ouside of a corner on the night stage and was blinded by alo the LEDs the teams were running.

Big Bubba Ray > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 03/16/2015 at 17:55

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So true. You gotta go next year if you can!

Big Bubba Ray > wunderwagen wants a longer roof 03/16/2015 at 17:58

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If you've never been, I highly recommend it. The whole weekend was a blast. Everyone was nice as can be and there because they're huge rally fans.

Big Bubba Ray > MonkeePuzzle 03/16/2015 at 17:59

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Shoot, good eye. I thought those looked familiar but I couldnt put my finger on it.

MonkeePuzzle > Big Bubba Ray 03/16/2015 at 21:19

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I've had a few sets, would get another set for my winters if I could again

Dusty Ventures > Big Bubba Ray 03/18/2015 at 20:22

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Since you like rally Volvos

ProSimian > Big Bubba Ray 03/20/2015 at 21:47

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First year that we've missed 100AW in a long time—thanks for the pics!

Slowkiwi > Big Bubba Ray 03/24/2015 at 16:04

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nice pics.

Me and a mate of mine used to follow the rally of New Zealand. We would spend a nght or two drinking beer and planning out which corners we were going to watch on which stages. After a couple of years we really had it down. We would park the car as close as we could than ride in on Mountain bikes, watch the cars we wanted to see than race off to the next stage we wanted to see.

Big Bubba Ray > Slowkiwi 03/24/2015 at 16:12

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Thanks! And that sounds like a lot of fun. A mountain bike would have been great instead of hiking to the various stages from where I parked, but I slept in my wagon and wouldn't have had room!

Stef Schrader > Big Bubba Ray 04/04/2015 at 16:47

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Hi.

Big Bubba Ray > Stef Schrader 04/05/2015 at 03:24

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I think you need to do this to your Mitsu!

And thanks for the share to Black Flag!

TheRallyStache > Big Bubba Ray 04/05/2015 at 10:13

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I spy Dusty.

TheRallyStache > Brian Silvestro 04/05/2015 at 10:17

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They're surprisingly cheap. Ordering a set at some point for my wife's Mazdaspeed to use for winter tires.

Wilky Way > Big Bubba Ray 04/05/2015 at 21:08

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I worked stage 14. It was absolute hell. It ended up being shut down because a Jeep said FUCK YOU to my friends working the finish and drove onto the course in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF RALLY CARS coming right at him....We didn't leave the stage till 9.... and by then all the beer was gone from the volunteer party :(

Big Bubba Ray > Wilky Way 04/05/2015 at 22:25

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Holy shit that's stupid. I heard something like that happened but wasn't sure of the details haha

I think I left the stage right before 5 to head to Rolla. It took me four hours to get from Salem to Rolla cause of the snow.

Wish I could have stayed til the end but it was time to go. How did you like volunteering? Think I might give it a shot next year!