TeamD Adventures

Here’s the punch list that came out of Thunderbird 2008 for our WRX Team (Jeff and Marvin). It was compiled during the long drive back from Merritt Sunday afternoon/evening. Long because Highway 5 was closed so we needed to reroute around the closure via 8 and 1. We were a bit bored and a bit jazzed from the fun weekend and still bubbling with ideas about how to make things run smoothly on Alcan. We came up with this list… (more…)

The Portland area is home to some rally-crazed folks, including 2000 Alcan winner Paul Eklund. Way back in December ’06, Paul hosted an “Alcan Seminar” at his house, and out of curiosity Renee and I attended. Russ K. was there, and the veterans talked “of many things”, both scaring and encouraging us novices. [Narrator: As our tired rallyists fall asleep, we see the task gnomes hard at work, discovering new things still-to-be-done… will Zeno’s paradox hold this time, or will the car just go north on Feb.

I know I’m not the only one who got video. But there are clips in today’s release of Eric capturing motion.

On day 2 of Alcan, we had a brief stop at a school outside Quesnel, BC where the kids got to check out the cars and learn a bit about rallying.

This article from the Quesnel news was just brought to our attention by a fellow Alcan entrant. Here is the text in case the article doesn’t stay available

Rally rookies Parkland students experience Alcan Winter ralliers first hand

By Annie Gallant – Quesnel Cariboo Observer – February 24, 2008
What started as a regular Monday morning for Parkland elementary school students turned into a hastily organized assembly where they met 24 Alcan Winter Rally teams who were passing through Quesnel during their cross-country trek to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. The Alcan Winter Rally tests the endurance of participants over snow- and ice-covered roadways in British Columbia, the Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory and Alberta, Feb. 17 – 26. Students learned about how the rally is run with each vehicle arriving at designated check points at a precise time. Besides keeping the car in good condition, making certain they are prepared for the weather, have snacks, fluids and other personal items, many cars have a rally computer installed. Each evening they check their scores, catch a few hours sleep and plot the next leg of the rally. The Alcan 5000 rally began in 1984 as a summer event that traditionally starts in Seattle, traverse the Alcan Highway and other roadways, ending up in Anchorage, then returning to the Puget Sound Area. It’s not a race, but one of the most demanding of time-speed-distance rallies staged in the world, and it take skill and patience to survive. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first winter rally.

Finally getting rid of some of the backlog Day 1 Video: Day 2 Video, Dan at the helm: Day 4 at the Ice Slalom: And as always,