Well the rally preps started well....um ages ago and every event in some way was a warm up for this. The car has had a few up grades like going to 15's and a new LSD and we were all hopefull of a good finish and a fun event.
First day - was pack the car, trailer, parts trailer and bags and drive to Lakes. The trip down was exciting going over Falls Creek (throwing some snow) and getting to Lakes just on dark.
Second Day - after a few small jobs like weld on a new section of exhaust, boot straps and paint touch ups it was off to the media day. Wow what a selection of fantastic cars and how good did they all sound. It was a real thrill to see so many different strong cars race up the road and did I say the sound??? Wow. The car felt great from the start even if it was on shagged rubber. Due to a few delays I only got 2 runs but it was enough to settle my self ready for the following day.
Third day - first day of competition. All lined up at Forestec excited out of my brain, Anna included, as we waited for the start. After the drivers brief I raced off and got changed into my suit and raced back awaiting the start. Car 6 started up and Kari was jumping in to get ready so I reached for the keys to find an empty pocket Naaaaaa what-tha, what-tha?? We quickly searched the car as Kari started next to us and no keys to be seen (heart beat around 200BPM) Anna quickly called Spac to see where he was to find him at the Triton. Off I went putting Forest Gump to shame in a cloud of shoe dust to the Triton, only to once again not find them (SHIP, SHIP, SHIP, SHIP (swap P's for T's)). Now in almost a mental implosion I remembered I threw my shorts in the back of the Triton, and BINGO!! there they were. This time making the fastest Indian look slow I made it back to the car and up to the start with seconds to spare.
Transport there was calm down time for me but we missed to intersections thankfully not causing any problems.
First stage went well but I though I may have jumpped the start trying to not spin the wheels but no penalties came up, so must have been stressing about no wheel spin.
Second stage also went well and the tight section towards the end favoured the Datto but with its new 15's and LSD handled the tight stuff with less snappy driveability. Out of corners there is more grip but entering and going through the old set up was more suited??? At this stage all I could care about was we were at and running in the Alpine Yeeeehar.
After another wash and a few small packing jobs we were ready to go the next day. Adding to the excitement was finding we were car 4 on the road.
Forth day - second day of competition. What a buzz standing there looking at my peice of the Rally World sitting between 112 of the best 2wd rally cars (had to be the best!! its Alpine) It was just awesome looking at all the people and cars awaiting the action of the biggest real rally Australia has.
Off to the 3rd stage with 1 min gaps made the action fast paced. Starting all felt good but I did enter the spectator point a little fast and almost took out the hay bales. The rest of the stage felt fast but slippy. The 4th stage was much like the first but faster and in the dry conditions suited a high powered car.
First service was just a slap and dash with fuel and a quick check of the wheels then back out. 5th stage last Alpine was where we broke the clutch, so I was looking forward to a clean run to see how the stage was, and fun it was. The start was loose but then went into tigh and windy which I loved and the Datto went well. We finished the stage and I was sure we had done a good time but found out the Porche had got us by 7, Portman by 3 and Kari by 4, Dam what am I doing wrong?? Well nothing but they were bloody fast. A short transport and we were at stage 6.
This stage started smooth and very fast but the surface quickly changed as Swill said earlier it was like golf ball size rocks. For the first time this stage gave amazing braking performance with the car stopping on a dime when the brakes were applied. All was going strong and I felt comfortable in the car until my corner revealed the kick A55 tree that was very close to the swept line. As you can see in the in car the rear quarter hit pushing the back out and the front towards the trees. The first thing Anna and I could see was the next huge tree. Its funny how the brain can make a decission in a split second with out thinking about how to do it. All I wanted was to not hit that tree so we steered slightly left towards softer looking bush. At the speed we were doing we quickly mowed down the small trees and then hit another huge tree behind which twisted and rolled the car on its side. The final part was another log at about waist height that stopped the car from rolling any further (caused huge dint in roof).
Our next concern was getting out and away from the car as the next 4 or 5 cars almost did the same thing with the first tree. We tryed to get the car back on its wheels so we could get to the triangles and stop the fuel leaking on the red hot discs. In fact Goldy would have had about a bees Dick/Millipoof between him and the tree. The only thing that stopped others hitting the tree was we did it first and then there were triangles out for others to slow down!
Crashing out running car 3 on the road in a 113car feild sucks as it make for a long day of sitting, waiting and thinking. Thanks to Ethan for organising water to be dropped off, and Thanks to Matty T and Kirrilee for throwing some water bottles out the window for us.
The next day we all jumpped in the service cars and went out to do our contracted officials job. Turnned out a fair few people didn't turn up so we got split up to do a road closure, Michelle Lobby and Shell did a road closure and Mum, Dad, Trav, the boys and I did the finish control of stage 25. It was great to see everyone from the other side, but at the same time heart breaking that my car was all smashed up and that we wern't out there doing the same. After the last car came through and we packed up I went for a walk down the road and looked out at the forest. This forest that had been alive with rally cars for 4 days and was now silent in a way dead. From this time on I felt a great empty feeling that the last 2 years of hopes, dreams, planning, money, work and effort were all over and I got little out of it, well not as much as I had hoped.
The next few days were the same and the worst thing we could have done was stay another day, as once everyone had left I felt even worse and all I wanted to do was leave the place.
Its a funny addiction as all I can now think of is 2011.
I would like to thanks Stuart and his amazing team that put Australias best event together, it is fantastic and im hooked.
Also thanks to everyone like Trav, Simone, Lobby, Shell, Mum, Dad, Michelle, Wes and Adam for making the huge trip down and helping us to get there and make it another great event even tho I stuffed it.
Another big thanks and sorry got to Anna for a fantastic job. So much planning and enthusiasim had been put into this event. Sorry for throwing the event away so early and making you wait in the forest with out a view
Carl S
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