100 Acre Wood - The Full Writeup

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
02/28/2014 at 10:10 • Filed to: None

"I submit that we don't race for any of these things. We're not addicted to winning, or slavering after fame. We're not even speed freaks, really. We race for one reason: adventure. We race because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that when we tighten the belts and shove on our helmets, when that flag falls or the light glows green, that we'll have to face something we never have before, that we'll have to respond to new challenges, slay new dragons. And we know that when we do, perhaps having won, perhaps not, that we'll be rewarded with new and unforgettable vistas, a peaceful expansion of our empires.

It's adventure, then. Not the thrill of winning, but the thrill of trying. And that's why I love rally. Adventure is built on variables. The more unexpected elements tossed into the pot, the more adventure it will yield. And rally is filthy with variables."

The rest is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (11)

Frosted > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
02/28/2014 at 10:27

Excellent write up. Really wanna see one of these rallies one day. Would like to be in one of these rallies even more.

JApexing > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
02/28/2014 at 10:40

Love this rally... Introduced a good friend and non-car guy to the rally this year and he loved is also. The people (participants and spectators) are great, the roads travelling to the stages are fantastic fun, and this year even the weather was great.

Also, we left Iowa in a blizzard driving an RS4 with new snow tires. Best drive to a rally ever.

Epic weekend for us.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > JApexing
02/28/2014 at 11:34

So awesome! I totally agree about the fans and the roads.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Frosted
02/28/2014 at 11:34

Where do you live? Rally America isn't everywhere , but they have about a dozen events every year.

Frosted > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
02/28/2014 at 13:29

I'm in Jersey. I know they have one in Upstate NY and western PA. I'll make it to one of those.

Dusty Ventures > Frosted
03/01/2014 at 04:35

Empire State Performance Rally in Rock Hill, NY would probably be closest to you. It's the only all-tarmac event in the U.S. and also the fastest rally in the country. That one's in late April. There's also the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally in Wellsboro, PA in June, and Rally West Virginia in [somewhere], West Virginia in July.

Dusty Ventures > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/01/2014 at 05:08

Great write-up. Just a couple minor points.

When you said "some of the stages can last as long as ten minutes" I went "wait, what?" Then I double checked. Totally didn't realize how (comparatively) short the stages at 100 Acre are. Hell, at Pines we did a stage that was over 25 minutes. Perce Neige has one that takes around 40.

(Unless things have changed from last year) Ken's car uses the 1.6 for rally. The 2.0 is strictly a rallycross/Gymkhana motor. I'm pretty sure he's got the standard M-Sport built motor (WRC spec), just like the rest of the car, which means about 315 hp with the restrictor.

SP cars: more like "slightly modified" production cars. There's surprisingly little you're allowed to do with them beyond suspension/tires and safety. You can't build a race motor, you can only do limited engine mapping, you even need to keep the stock dash (though you can ditch things like the radio).

Recce isn't run at "close enough" to full speed. Usually the recce speed limit is around 30 mph. Roads are fully open during recce so we can encounter oncoming traffic at any point. Therefore during recce we're under the same driving rules we would be if on a transit (or if not at a rally). Sometimes there are hidden speed traps on recce and, if caught speeding, you could get hit with a time penalty (or worse, if really speeding, ejected from the rally)

Drivers can't be poor, but co-drivers can. I'm proof of this ;)

Definitely not "fog lights." "Massive, high power auxiliary lights" maybe?

Next year if you get on the forums asking for floor/couch space for sleeping I guarantee a team will hook you up.

It was Block's seventh win, but not seventh in a row. He retired from the rally last year (throttle sensor I think)

Tracey finished second in B-Spec. James won.

Frosted > Dusty Ventures
03/01/2014 at 10:14

I may need to make a trip to PA in June then hmmmmmm.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Dusty Ventures
03/01/2014 at 18:56

Well, dang. I screwed up a bunch of those. Dang. A 40 minute special stage? Awesome. I guessed 10 because most of the stage videos I've seen have been around that.

It's surprisingly difficult to find specs on Ken Block's car. I'll add those in.

I was also having trouble finding the info on SP cars without digging too deeply into the RA rules. Thanks for the clarification. I'll amend that.

Did not know that about recce. I thought it was pretty much at the drivers' discretion based on how quickly they can note what needs to be noted. Noted.

Did I really say "fog lights?" *facepalm*

I actually didn't mind too much sleeping in my car. I topgear'd it into a moderately comfortable bed, and it kept me pretty independent/mobile. I would do it again.

Did I really say "in a row?" BALLS. I EVEN KNEW THAT. *facepalm*

Cool. Amendments shall be made. I've got more video to sift through, too.

Dusty Ventures > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/01/2014 at 19:35

I double checked with one of Ken's crew guys. It is the 1.6L WRC motor. 300 BHP, 332 ft-lbs torque

Can't wait to see the video!

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Dusty Ventures
03/01/2014 at 23:24

You're handy to have around.

It's funny how 300 hp seems like very little for that car.