February 21, 2004
From Dawson -- Fresh and Hot!
Here's how much things have changed on the Alcan: TeamD and Friends writing, editing, and sharing photos in the El Dorado Bar just two minutes ago:
Ice and Snow and Day 4 Scores
After three and a half rally days of temperatures around 40F the cold Alcan Rally weather finally arrived today. We have ice and snow at 3 degrees farhenheit and fresh scores on hand! Today we had only one TSD section and our second ice race but changes were dramatic. First, the TeamD news of course...
At the ice race on Fish Lake (a fabulous temporary venue constructed by Porsche as a destination for journalists to test drive the Porsche Cayenne) Eric threw his BMW 325iX around the 0.7 mile course third fastest, behind only the Subaru Baja Turbo #2 driven by hotshoe Jake Engstrom and the Subaru WRX STi #10 piloted by Greg Hightower. Not bad for a 16 year old bimmer with 240,000 miles. It is A testament to the strength and longevity of the BMW 325iX that it stands up to the shiny new technology. Oh, not to mention that it was faster than all three new BMW X3's.
Rob Dunn was "going for smoothness" and handily drove his trusty Mazda 323 GTX to victory in the non-studded tire group at the ice race beating both brand new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO's. Are his Hakkapellitta Q snow tires better than the Blizzaks on the EVO's? Is he just 'smooth'? Whatever it is he got the job done.
Dan and Jim didn't hit their marks on the ice course and took the maximum 10 point penalty but Jim gets congratulations for confidently getting back in the saddle after cramming his Subaru WRX into the snowbank on the outside of the super slick hairpin that sat at the far end of the track.
The TSD gave all the teams a smattering of points and TeamD didn't make major gains or take major losses during the TSD section.
The most dramatic effect today came from the score reductions each team got as they get to throw out their worst single checkpoint score from days 2, 3 or 4. That scoring benefit shaved 35 points from Eric and Steve, 169 points from Jim and Dan and 188 points from Rob and Nick.
So...overall. Eric and Steve move back up two postions to fifth overall and to first in class. Jim and Dan move up one position to 8th overall and hold at 3rd in class. Rob and Nick stay firm at 3rd in class and 10th overall. TeamD is still second team in the race for the team trophy but the gap is now very small between us and Team Challenge Driving.
Here are the full scores. Note the changes again in the top contenders. Car #4, running with no rally computer have moved into third overall. Very impressive.
1. Car #1 Ahearns, Schneider, Webb (class II) with 31.5 points 2. Car #3 Carlson, Joy, Kraushaar (class II) with 35 points 3. Car #4 Eklund, Rounds, Reid, (class III) 55.2 points 4. Car #2 Kraushaar, Engstrom, Richardson, (class II) 69.7 points (Best overall studded tire at ice race) 5. Car #7 Horst, Willey (class I) with 73.4 points 6. Car #10 Wallace, Hightower, Carozza, (class I) 82.3 points 7. Car #12 Miller, Duchene, Wood (class II) with 102 points 8. Car #11 Hogan, Comden with (class I) 135.1 points 9. Car #8 Bornhop, Kott, (class III) 177 points 10. Car #6 Dunn, Marcuse, (class III) 234.5 points (best overall unstudded tire at ice race) 11. Car #9 Wright, Fuhrman, (class II) 521 points 12. Car #16 Brown, Morris, (class I) 574.1 points 13. Car #13 Gilland, Boyd (class II) with 592 points 14. Car #14 Weaver, Weaver, (class III) 816.3 points 15. Car #5 Elder, Elder, (class III) 847 points 16. Car #15 von Richthofen, Touring Class
Oh, and this last note for Amanda: Jake says "I actually have a slight buzz". He had wine with dinner. Says you'll never believe it.
Klondike Kars
Moving further into the Yukon, we are now in the town of Dawson City, site of the big gold rush in the late 1800's.
Started the day with a short TSD outside of Whitehorse, then off to a new location for a slalom on a lake outside of town. The event on the Yukon was cancelled due to lack of freezure. (is that a word). Anyway, the ice on Fish Lake was quite froze, and very very slippy. Imagine an ice rink after it's been zamboni'ed and you'll have an idea.
We had a great time trying to get around the single lap with some amount of grace and style. Style points were available for nearly every car and we had some good hoots and hollers on the last sharp corner before the finish line. Ask to see Jim's in-car video some time.
We don't know yet if we'll have to decide to take the penalty points or pony up cash to avoid the points for the tug from the snowbank...
Scores are in now, and Car 11 maxed the slalom (i.e. too slow). Car 6 got best time of the unstudded cars and Eric managed 3rd fastest in the BMW in the studded entries. Yesterday's scores will soon be posted by Eric (if they're not already there). Jim and Dan moved up a spot in overall, Eric and Steve continue to lead Class I and Rob and Nick are poised to make a move as well.
Drive up along the Yukon and Klondike Rivers today was fantastic -- sun was out and the roads were just a little slimy. Once past Carmacks (named for the guy who pretty much discovered the gold that started the Klondike Gold Rush), we saw quickly dropping temps and more snow on the road. The surface was pretty nice, though, and the drivin' was good. Cars 6 (Rob and Nick), 7 (Eric and Steve) and 11 (Jim and Dan) did the convoy thing and had a great time chatting over the radio and keeping each other safe. We drove with Car 13, a Mitsubishi Montero, for a while 
It's amazing the amount of infrastructure and work that goes into keeping a road up here in drivable condition. Consider that we're well north, in (usually) very intense weather conditions with little population. yet the roads remain in nice shape, well signed, and lost of fun to drive. We're loving it!
Here's a parting shot of Eric looking over the hamlet of Pelly Crossing, where the Pelly River joins the Yukon: 
And, of course, what he was looking at: 