DirtFish Rally School - Snoqualmie

F.Y.I.

It appears that Greg Lund and partner Steve Rimmer have opened "DirtFish Rally School" at the old Weyerhauser Mill site in Snoqualmie, Washington. (About 35 miles east of Seattle.)

Here's a link to today's article in the local SnoValley Star:

http://snovalleystar.com/2010/10/06/rally-car-course-now-open-in-snoqualmie#more-10374

Rich Smith

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Rich Smith
F.Y.I.

It appears that Greg Lund and partner Steve Rimmer have opened "DirtFish Rally School" at the old Weyerhauser Mill site in Snoqualmie, Washington. (About 35 miles east of Seattle.)

Here's a link to today's article in the local SnoValley Star:

http://snovalleystar.com/2010/10/06/rally-car-course-now-open-in-snoqualmie#more-10374

Rich Smith

Lund, who has the most difficult nick-name in the know world has changed his aims much.
Back when he was in his 323 GTX in the early 90s and decided it was time to pony up so he could (in as serious and straight faced tone as i can muster "Run with the The BIG Boys" he had evidentally sent out detailed sponsorship proposals all over and, strangely, come up dry so he said famously "Nobody wants to give me $4,000,000 to run the National circuit, so I quit" and of course the name stuck .

So now we see Greg "Nobody wants to give me $4,000,000 to run the National circuit, so I quit" is back and well this looks real promising:
Lund and Rimmer said they expect to bring in about $3 million in revenue eventually.

“We’re set up to handle six people a day. As far as revenue, we’re a long way from $3 million,” Lund said.

DirtFish’s business plan is to offer a high-end experience — an introduction to rallying with catered meals. Lund and Rimmer are focused on getting corporate customers looking for offbeat team building exercises.

“We’re expensive. We’re $900 a day to come here. We need to provide the high-end service that someone (?) would expect,” Lund said.

Oh yeah, everybody I know has 900 bucks just laying around to piss away for one day of playing in a big flat gravel lot.....

How could they lose?

Where the fawk is that sarcasm emoticon????

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john vanlandingham
Oh yeah, everybody I know has 900 bucks just laying around to piss away for one day of playing in a big flat gravel lot.....

Ever looked at the cost of similar programs?
BWDS is at least $500+ per day I believe. (Bridgestone Winter Driving School)
Tim O'Neil is around $1000 per day or so if I recall.

I know my cousin that's pretty high up in Haliburton has been to BWDS many, many times on corporate paid driving school days. I can't imagine some of the logging companies won't utilize Dirt Fish.

Team O'Neil.
PRICING
2 day: $1650
3 day: $2950
4 day: $4150

BWDS
$450-1550 depending upon class level. That doesn't cover damage to cars if you happen to slide off course.

Personally, I'd go to Europe for a driving school before doing O'Neil or Dirt Fish classes.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2010 05:20PM by NoCoast.

I was just out there yesterday, there is alot of potential in the site. They have some great instructors, Nate Tennis, Forest, and Don Wooten, to name a few. I was disapointed that they have no rear wheel drive cars. I would think with the lower speed needed to feel like a hero would be a no brainer. The fleet they have now includes 3 Group N Subaru's complete with dog box trans ect, and I think 4 Sti's with simple cages and Tien Rally spec suspension.

The facility is beautiful though.... I think you could make a 2.5 mile hoon course with runs through the 750ft long saw mill building.

Did they just open it to the public today? Their press day was about a week ago, and they've been in the works and news about them has been over on Special Stage for awhile.

They opened to paying customers on the 2nd of this month. I just know most of the guys out there, so I got the $2 tour.

I am planning on taking the class.

$900 for a day of fun is not all that expensive compared to other hobbies.

I did rallys with entry fees over $1000 and I had to supply the car, tires, food, crew etc all for 2 hrs of seat time.

To bad the instructors know me, it would be fun to enter with my wife's last name or something and just show up. I wonder if I can make Nate squeel?

As is the case with all people who take on risk to go out and found a company that pays taxes and wages to locals (and friends in our hobby to boot), I wish them all the best and hope they make their proforma numbers.

Sounds nice. 900 doesn't sound terrible to me, and location is nice and close

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-Jason

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Lund has rally in his blood. In the 1980s and ‘90s, he and his wife drove together. At one point, they sold everything and quit their jobs to become drivers for Ford Europe, but their dream jobs fell through at the last minute, he said.

Gee, that's not how I remember it and I was certainly involved with that "program".

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He never got back into rally driving, but has stayed around the sport. It was too expensive to put together another car, he said.

Yet plenty of people with less disposable income than him (though I'm not trying to imply he's rich) somehow managed to do it.

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Lund and Rimmer said they expect to bring in about $3 million in revenue eventually.

“We’re set up to handle six people a day. As far as revenue, we’re a long way from $3 million,” Lund said.

Hmm. Good luck with that.

It's too bad they can't have any actual events there.

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Doivi Clarkinen

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Lund has rally in his blood. In the 1980s and ‘90s, EDIT: 80s --plural? Did he marry his brother? Cause that's who drove the one NW regional season they did before they ran out of Credit Cards...and 90s??? plural--he and his wife drove together. At one point, they sold everything and quit their jobs to become drivers for Ford Europe, but their dream jobs fell through at the last minute, he said.

Gee, that's not how I remember it and I was certainly involved with that "program".

Oh....my..Gawd. Didn't read that part...
I wonder if Ford knew anything about that?
Wonder if anybody knew about that?

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He never got back into rally driving, but has stayed around the sport. It was too expensive to put together another car, he said.

Yet plenty of people with less disposable income than him (though I'm not trying to imply he's rich) somehow managed to do it.

He did? I don't think anybody saw him in the last 12-15 years...
And expensive?
Well if he thought that you need to pay what was it Dave---$14,000 for a basically barely warmed over GTX motor I could see how he'd think it's too expensive..

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Lund and Rimmer said they expect to bring in about $3 million in revenue eventually.

“We’re set up to handle six people a day. As far as revenue, we’re a long way from $3 million,” Lund said.

Hmm. Good luck with that.

It's too bad they can't have any actual events there.

John....you better make sure Lund never sees your comments on here....he might get mad at you and then you'll never be able to go to his school


but seriously....Group N cars w/dogboxes? now THAT I'd pay $900/day to do (assuming there's a, "you break it, you don't buy shit" policy).

I paid around $400/4hrs when I was in Ireland to tool around in a RWD Escort and an EVO 4.

Of course, a mid-profile-norcal-mid-middled-aged white male rally driver like me would command a significant discount (NOW who's shoveling it? haha)

I wish Greg and his partner all the best in this business venture.

They have certainly put a lot of effort into it. Good for them in thinking big and reaching for it.

Considering what it costs per mile to go rallying.... $900 a day is not so bad for a conveneint location; close enough to nice restaurants and lodging.

I could put on one helluva Rallycross on the 14 acres I have. 300 acres..... Likely no whiny neighbors.... Sounds like a recipe for some good times.

Those who have nothing nice to say..... Relax. You are not the target audience.

I know that I could make Nate chafe on seat cushion!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2010 11:41AM by JohnLane.

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JohnLane


Those who have nothing nice to say..... Relax. You are not the target audience.

Lol, exactly. It's a business opportunity to exploit a growing/more publicly recognized sport. Just like how Microsoft constantly holds go karting parties at K1 Speed in Redmond (and had OK drivers too, lol), I can see some corporations coming to hold events there.

It's all about your targeted demographic. I think this place has a shot.

after being out there, I think a seasoned rally guy would get bored quickly with the available terrain. It would take awhile for the Group N experience to get old though.....

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JohnLane
I 300 acres..... Likely no whiny neighbors.... Sounds like a recipe for some good times.

Actually, they have plenty of whiny neighbors, apparently. Which is why they can't have any organized events there. Whcih is a shame, really, since it would be the perfect venue for a rallysprint.
But I remember reading in a previous article they had to mindful of the neighbors as far as noise and what not.