Any E30 rallyists here?

[psyber_0ptix]

last year NEFR was brutal to many cars, even Bill Caswells. Hope to be there to pound out the dents next time. I'm back sept2, maybe i can accompany in october? :)

[TimKninja]

Any more Pictures??

Glad you got to rally the car Kris!

Looks awesome.

[Ferdinand]

Any more Pictures??

This one is worth reposting because it's so awesome!

Funny thing is, I know exactly where that is. We almost fell off the road at that exact spot two years in a row now.



It comes up very suddenly after a series of fast sixes and fives over crests, then "Brake R4 tightens over big crest loose into L3 no-cut long and deceptive".

By the time you've spit all that out, it's already way too late and you're lucky not to go spearing straight off of the Left-3.

Last year, under panic braking, we very nearly understeered off but Martin saved it and we just ran a bit wide. Start from about 6:30 in this video, NEFR 2010 SS5-(Part 2 of 2), and the Left-3 comes up at 7:00.



This year it was worse because of the dust. We couldn't see anything, ran wide, next thing I saw was branches slapping the windshield in front of me! (I still have to process and post this year's videos...)

[SlapDash]

Yeah, the dust was crazy. No shortage of that. I got passed a couple of times and once passed, there's no seeing in front of you. Like a snowstorm at night with the high beams on. At one point I had to do like 20 mph.

I almost bought it on this turn. The photographers even started running away! After the scene above, I almost lost it, the car whipped back to the other side, but with some fancy moves (yeah, right!) I was able to save it. Not nearly as clean as Martin, but I did pretty well, mostly thanks to my borrowed steering wheel.

Tim, I have more static pics of the car and service, just haven't had a chance to whittle them down. I'll post ASAP (one attached here).

I'll take all the help I can get in October!

[KennyT]

What ended up taking you guys out?

As LSPR gets closer I might be able to offer some tips.

[amcp]

What suspension do you guys run?

[SlapDash]

The biggest unseen rock I've ever experienced in my life.

There was a downhill L3 with a bunch of giant rocks on the right. To avoid the giant rocks, I went to the left side of the "road", where we hit a berm of heavy gravel, which tossed us in the air and then the road dropped away, where we then landed -- pan first -- on a rock the size of George Washington's head on Mt. Rushmore.

The thing almost ripped us out of the seats, knocked our helmets sideways, Bill dropped the notes and I lost the steering wheel.

We were able to finish the stage, but as soon as I shut it down, it bled Castrol by the keg.

We had a heavy skid plate AND a bash bar too.

Other than the obvious, the car held up really, really well. The only other issue was a loose right side windshield wiper, that was easily tightened. Couple of dents in the fuel tank, but nothing serious. And a loose power steering belt. I put a new one on before the event, but the adjustment thing was maxed out, so it squealed a little after a few stages.

The whole car is stock, except for Bilstein HD front and rear. Stock 23-year-old springs. Also IE motor mounts. The cage comes through the fire wall and connects to the strut towers in the front and the shock mounts in the rear (Ground Control shock mounts). Other than that, it's bone dead stock. Even the exhaust.

[SlapDash]

Here are a few more random shots, service, just before my first-ever shakedown, etc.

[SlapDash]

More...

[Ferdinand]

Our stories, photos, and in-car videos of New England Forest Rally day-1 have been posted at SpecialStage.com.



Day-2 still to come...

[blauvelt]

i sold my scooobaru a while back and swore this off. now all i want to do is buy a beater e30 and build a rally cross rig.

[SlapDash]

Ferdinand, great stories! Smuggling chicks across the border. How cool! You're an International Man of Mystery.

blauvelt, do it. You won't be sorry. Join the dark side. It's the only way.

[psyber_0ptix]

can i join?

[SlapDash]

You're already in, fella.

In deep.

[Ferdinand]

Ferdinand, great stories! Smuggling chicks across the border. How cool! You're an International Man of Mystery.

Day-2 stories and videos are up now too.