What car would you drive to the Arctic?

I dunno if I like the bowler or not. Looks like an International Scout, a Ford Bronco, and a Toyota Lancruiser, gang-raped a Lotus Elise, and this was the child.

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---** To be in compliance with the Anarchy **---
Jorden R. Kleier
Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA
1990 Mazdog Protege 4WD
1973

You would LOVE a Bowler if you drove one!

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Robert.

"You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli.

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SgtRauksauff
I dunno if I like the bowler or not. Looks like an International Scout, a Ford Bronco, and a Toyota Lancruiser, gang-raped a Lotus Elise, and this was the child.

It is based on the Land Rover the looks of it anyway.

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Rallymech
You would LOVE a Bowler if you drove one!

I actualy had a chance to have a ride in the orange one in the photo above when I was visiting family in Germany in '08. It belongs to my cousins friend and he bought it at that time to run the Dakar and other rally-raid events with it. He ran a few events in Hungary and one in Romania but never the Dakar yet (not enough funds) and this was a second hand model that he bought from France so it wasn't as expensive as a brand new one. I STILL have a grin on my face from that ride . The acceleration can not be explained and the cornering for such a large vehicle with a relatively high centre of gravity is incredible.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/2011 08:19PM by GB.

Hi Ho everyone. Something I can contribute, too.

Drive any car you want. It is not a speed event. He says while giggling to self.

CAS of 50 MPH. This doesn't allow for gas or meal stops. A 60 average nets several min per hour of driving. On one event I was paired with a driver who got out early and kept a steady speed. We were always near the front of the pack when doing the long transits.

The real competition is living with your partner, in a confined, space for a week... If I hear that story one more time. Farts. Snoring. Hey, I gave them ear plugs.

Space in the car is a consideration. Rent two -40 down sleep bags with compression bags. This get rid of a lot of bulk. But also you will have bulky coats, hats, gloves, and two of each. Cameras, music, books, route instructions, Rally Computer all take space and need to be readily available.

6 tires ALL THE SAME One time tore a sidewall in Frazier Valley, just across the border, on the freeway. The extra spare was a spacesaver. We now had no spare Haka. Had it booted and continued with fingers crossed. Another time broke a tire and the spare was a different size. The next day we found a 16x60 series as replacement. A standard SUV/MiniVan tire. We were still in southern BC. Mount one and have the second tire buried in the bottom of the car, stuffed full of survival stuff. This keeps space and weight to a minimum.

Install a new high output battery for insurance. Don't trust block heaters at motels. 30 cars plugged in, pop goes the circuit breaker.

Basic elect and repair stuff. Voltmeter. Wire. Etc.

A real snow shovel. A plastic CENEX grain scoop is the best, by far. I like the long handled ones, but a bit bulky. In a real off, you will need to move a lot of snow or use a heavy tow rig. And, besure you can get to your snatch strap and hook up point easily. All this may be going down at -20 and 30mph winds. Been there done that. The best setup I saw was the snatch hooked up all the time and draped inside the car thru the trunk lid.

Lots more, but you get the idea.

I'm bored and getting over a cold. So a couple of Alcan "moments".

As navie I get two perfect 0 legs, in a row, against some seriously good navigators.

No-one able to weld a broken stainless header, so here I am in Dawson City at 8:00pm, -20*, laying on my back under the car. I look to the right and see a Yukon Quest musher breaking up dog food with an axe, on main street.

After hitting a RR track the dash warning lights stay on. We fear a damaged charging system. A quick decision to follow the next car to Fort Nelson. Heater fans and all elect off. The Aurora puts on a spectacle and we spend the next 2-3 hours running 70mph thru the night without headlights, tailgating another car. A definite Jack London moment.

I win a TSD section on driving skill. Pure ice, no studs.

Visiting Musher headquarters in Dawson City. Wood heat, yummy brownies, friendlly folks.

Watching poker players at Diamond Tooth Gerties.

Watching a red ball sunrise. The blood red sun hovering on the horizon, for an hour, with verticle rainbows on each side (sundogs).

400 mi in 5 hrs, on snow.

Fresh Halibut fish and chips, at a service station.

Fresh warm spice cake, at a service station.

Grab a bottle of champagne, at a service station. We toast the Arctic Circle, it took us two tries to get here.

Wing out grabs the front tire. Buried to the door handles. Pulled out by a trucker. After breaking the tow strap he pulls out a 3/8 chain. The Camry came out, but I feared a corner might come off first. I swear the trailer skidded sideways a bit. We spent an hour digging out the engine bay. The snow was so tight I smoked the clutch trying to take off. Dig out the fender wells. Not using studs was an advantage.

Stopped in the road, on the Dempster, waiting for a spot of visibility. There it is, a big reflector, 8 feet in the air. Two colors for right and left, 50 ft apart. Nudge ahead a few feet and wait again. We top a hill and lose the reflectors. It turns out to be a landing strip and the reflectors just got real wide. Still interesting to navigate with near zero visibility.

Hustling towards an acute corner with a 30 sign. "Those are KPH" whispers my navigator.

It is a great event, but pretty tame with modern cars and tires. Most of the road has been replaced, and rebuilt, since the 80's. Go, if you haven't been before, the Arctic is stunning in winter. The curves have been straightned and there are mini-marts everywhere, but still a lot of empty up there. The Alaska State Patrol will be waiting for you.