TeamD Adventures

Before leaving Anchorage, Eric answered questions from throngs of curious citizens. They were very interested in TeamD and all the cool technology in our sharp looking rally car.

We’ve eaten and packed here at the Millenium Hotel in Anchorage. TeamD is heading out for some quick sight seeing and gift buying before hitting the road again for the 2500 mile drive home. All three cars are traveling home together by way of the Cassiar Highway and hope to be home Monday. Along the way we’ll get to enjoy a bit more scenery and who knows, if there’s time we’ll stop back at Barnes Lake in British Columbia for one last go at an ice covered lake.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and support during the rally. We appreciated the feedback and hope you enjoyed our coverage. After we get home we’ll finalize our stories, post our pictures, analyse our GPS data and wrap up our coverage of the 2004 Alcan Winter Rally.

We knew this was going to be a tough finish. Going into the last day, finish positions third through sixth were up in the air, spread across only four points. Being so close it would be anybodys guess.

The final ice race was very fun but Paul Eklund was so much faster than everybody that all cars got the 10 point maximum penalty. That was somewhat of a relief for Eric and Steve since they find the ice racing most challenging. With everybody getting a max score it meant that the ice racing would not impact their position. Eric was third fastest on his first run at the ice race and had the ‘prettiest’ run, doing a perfect controlled slide around the spectator end.

Results were kept secret until the award banquet and the results were announced. Eric and Steve finished 2nd in class I and 6th overall. Their hopes of a final-day victory were dashed. Jim and Dan finished 3rd in class I and 8th overall, quite happy after their trouble with the WRX alternator. Rob and Nick finished third in class III and 9th overall. Rob and Nick relished their three victories in the non-studded tire class at all ice racing venues.

TeamD took second place in the team trophy competition. Subaru Challenge Driving took the trophy home. Third place team was Mitsubishi (car 5, 8, and 13). Contrary to earlier reporting, BMW was not declared as a team, lacking a rookie car.

Here are the full results as presented at the awards banquet:

NOTE: THESE HAVE BEEN SUPERCEDED

 1.   Car #1   Ahearns, Schneider, Webb (class II) with 47.5 points
 2.   Car #3   Carlson, Joy, Kraushaar (class II) with 56 points
 3.   Car #4   Eklund, Rounds, Reid, (class III) 76.2 points
 4.   Car #10 Wallace, Hightower, Carozza, (class I) 82.3 points
 5.   Car #2   Kraushaar, Engstrom, Richardson, (class II) 85.7 points
 6.   Car #7   Horst, Willey (class I) with 87.4 points
 7.   Car #8   Bornhop, Kott, (class III) 242 points
 8.   Car #11 Hogan, Comden with (class I) 392.1 points
 9.   Car #6   Dunn, Marcuse, (class III) 465.5 points
10.  Car #9   Wright, Fuhrman, (class II) 724 points
11.  Car #16 Brown, Morris, (class I) 751.1 points
12.  Car #14 Weaver, Weaver, (class III) 1024.3 points
13.  Car #5   Elder, Elder, (class III) 1275 points
14.  Car #15 von Richthofen, Touring Class
DNF  Car #12 Miller, Duchene, Wood (class II) with 1336 points (donated parts to car #3)
DNF  Car #13 Gilland, Boyd (class II) with 1602 points (engine failure)

All three cars from TeamD have completed the 2004 Alcan Winter Rally and are ensconced at the Millenium Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska.

After two TSD sections and an ice slalom between Fairbanks and the finish, we received an excellent reception at Continental Subaru in Anchorage. Many thanks to the friendly folks there (and for the alternator help as well).

We’ll be off to the awards banquet in a few moments and will report on the final results when they’re in. Stay tuned!

Dan and I were heading west out of Whitehorse last evening when a message popped up on our Kenwood radio that said “Welcome Back!” It was from Eric and Steve miles away in Haines Junction. They had seen APRS* packets from Car 11 showing that we were once again underway….
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