Hawtcage wants its url back:

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"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

I am the Henry part of the team and need to first appoligize to everyone we might have directly or indirectly offended. It was a big case of engaging the mouth before the thinking. While I might have thought these things, I shouldn't have written them in a public place. Whiny asshats? I agree and have certainly learned a lesson, both in California and here. For making you all be the teachers, I am sorry.

I agree that our welding on the cage is pretty crappy. We are better at it now, but that doesn't make the welds on the cage any better. I do need to point out that the cage has a current logbook. That should account for something. If we end up having to cut it all out and re-do it, so be it, but we really don't want to be forced to go down that road.

The car is running a stock D15B2 with the original DPFI and the DX trans-axel without LDS. While I certainly don't expect glass smooth stages and a service at each stage finish, the roughness and steepness of the stages combined with our lack of driving experience made it very difficult for us and our little car. We were working so hard to just get the thing up the hills, we never got the chance to have any fun or to really learn more about driving. The smooth wide stages in Idaho were much better for us as a learning environment.

This was only our second rally and we still have lots to learn about driving (among other things). Fun is the only reason we do this. We will never be able to do this enough to get any good and hence will always be back markers, so when the fun stops and doesn't look like it will come back, there isn't any reason for us to continue.

As to the heat/sticker bushes/wait time, we probably could have handled 2 of the 3, but given that we weren't really having much fun, together these were more of a challenge than we wanted to deal with. We understand that stuff happens and we need to be flexible. We will try harder the next time.

As to the Denny's breakfast, you eat what you want and we will eat what we want. Not living in California, we aren't used to these kind of prices for a pretty cheap meal. Again, we will try to be more flexible.

Finally, sorry about the douche canoe crack. I was unhappy, hungry and sleep deprived. You were doing your job and I was being a total jackass.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2013 10:04PM by Dirk.

Sets real name for first post and comes in with genuine apology while admitting actions?

I must not be on the internet.

Stick around, you'll meet a great bunch of guys, you can see their passion for the sport. And thank you for your humble introduction. 10 points.

Cheers,
Anders

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

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Anders Green
Sets real name for first post and comes in with genuine apology while admitting actions?

I must not be on the internet. .....

Cheers,
Anders

Holy crap i almost spewed my drink all over my living room!

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Olympus has been reclaimed! Now t.v. needs more rally coverage in general! Watch w.r.c. on mavtv...ratings will keep it airing.

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Erik Christiansen
This amazes me too. Issuing a log book without physically inspecting the car??? Even more reason to check the welds at tech.

When I do tech, unless I know the car, I don't presume that the cage is good. I check for the right bars in the right places and I check welds, particularly the welds in spots that are tricky to get at, like the bars attaching to the top of the main hoop. About half of the times that I do this and the competitor sees me, I get a response along the lines of "that's the first time anyone has ever checked that".

Presuming the cage is good, even if the car got a thorough logbook inspection, isn't a good idea. You (usually) don't know what the car has been through between when the logbook was issued and when you are doing tech on it.

When we got rid of annual inspections, one of the rationales of doing this was that going through tech at the event should be like going through an annual inspection. However, I don't think that has happened in practice.

Then again, because I am usually busy doing other things at rallies, I haven't worked tech in a while. Don't know how thorough things are being checked these days.

alan

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NoCoast
Jeremy Wimpey got a talking to about it at an event, believe it was during a twin powered effort with Josh driving. The rule showed up shortly thereafter.

As the person who wrote the Bulletin, I can confirm that it came about because of Wimpey, not Keith.

alan

Hi Henry,

Well, it takes a lot of balls to come in here and apologize like that. Good balls. I'm glad you did and hope we can have some beers or something at a future event and laugh about the whole thing.

I do suggest you get your cage looked at. If you can tow up to (roughly) the Olympia, WA area, you might be able to get Gene to take a look at it. I'm not saying this because I'm insistent on it, but it might save you some grief in case you run into another scrutineer who asks the same questions I did. In other words, it's probably best to get it all cleaned up and alleviate any further doubts about it.

I totally understand the withdrawing if you're not having fun. That road certainly had some rough stuff, and it took a toll on a lot of people's suspensions. The road they were using on Sunday is much better, but a lot of people (including me) didn't make it that far. I ran it last year and it's pretty fun.

Heat, cold, rain, snow, early mornings, late nights, etc, is all just a part of rallying. Some events are predictable by looking at the forecast, others are not. For instance, last year at Idaho, it snowed on us on one day, and then was about 85 out the second. Rally Colorado used to be notorious for having fickle weather; you'd have to pack both cold-weather gear and shorts, and every possible tire combo you had in your garage.

As for those thorns, they're nasty no matter how you look at it. Getting them in your feet (or socks in my case) is bad enough, but they're actually sharp enough to flat a car tire. Not a rally tire, but a regular car tire.

The event itself had a lot of organizational problems. There were quite a number of people that stepped up at the last minute to make it work, but clearly it still had issues. A number of people are considering ways to, um, how shall I put this?... work with the organizer to make it better.

I'm not offended by your blog post at all. In fact, I think I might get a hat made that says "SRDC" on it. I'm sort of amused by that epithet.

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Self-righteous douche canoe

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tipo158
As the person who wrote the Bulletin, I can confirm that it came about because of Wimpey, not Keith.

Wasn't suggesting otherwise, particularly I never competed in sandals. :-)
I'm sure the situation ws coincidental.

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First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

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john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

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Erik Christiansen

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Eddie Fiorelli

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webkris
Logbook by Mail?!
http://homegrownrally.blogspot.com/2013/03/we-are-legal-sort-of.html

Rally America - OMFG - What are you doing?!

That is certainly surprising. I'll second the WTF.

It also gives me an idea for a new profitable venture. Get your cage pics right here -> hawtcage@gmail.com.

This amazes me too. Issuing a log book without physically inspecting the car??? Even more reason to check the welds at tech.

Even more reason to avoid the foggy thinking that characterizes the cluster-fuck 2 bit operation known as Rally-America.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

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hoche
In fact, I think I might get a hat made that says "SRDC" on it.

Oh yes you will! Folks, I welcome you to the newest entry in our rally lexicon!

Dirk/Henry/Asshat..thanks for stepping up and apologizing for the error of your ways. Really. Michel is a great guy and an excellent scrutineer. Every event can at a moments notice have issues. Roads get rough, dusty and crappy with little or no notice. Some events just seem doomed from registration. I've been pretty mad at more than one event over roads or organization...maybe both. You have a right to an opinion and do not have to accept stuff you don't care for. You are the end user. Just be aware that behind every event is a buttload of good people working their asses off to make it happen. that alone never makes a shitty event acceptable (not saying Mendicino was shitty here) . I've loaded good cars on a trailer at events I wasn't having fun on. my money, my car, my choice. You're entitled. Always best to sleep on it for a day or two tho...

Now lets all have a log book conversation. I can and have pulled log books for shitty welds or damage or rust.. A log book isn't a get out of jail card. It is an indication the car passed the minimum requirements of a sanctioning body and a record of the cars history. I have both RA and NRS logbooks in my possession and can issue and confiscate both also. NRS appoints scrutineers based on experience in the field. RA licenses scrutineers based on an open book test. Those scrutineers don't have log books to issue but can examine a cage and that allows a log book to be mailed . That is done because sometimes here isn't a scrutineer at an event that can issue a log book. The car still has to pass tech and it isn't an evil system. We do keep a very close eye on construction and safety and the system within both organizations works. I have found substandard construction (with log books) at both RA and NRS events, both new construction and veteran cars. I'll 100% defend the RA system that has been in place for years and overseen by Mike Hurst since the beginning.

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Dirk
Finally, sorry about the douche canoe crack. I was unhappy, hungry and sleep deprived. You were doing your job and I was being a total jackass.

+Kudos for immediately addressing it here. Internet argument surprise!
You two were the talk of Tuesday for sure and this thread and your post was a hell of a way to introduce yourself to (just about) everyone involved in Rally in the US...

My first rally sucked and my second rally was awesome.
Looks like your first rally was awesome and your second rally sucked.
All of us have been stuck in he back - and we all have had highs and lows - it's how it goes.
It sucks when you're not having fun, but this is rally. It's amazingly rewarding when you overcome a number of those challenges and finish.

See you on the stages.
- Kris

Hey Henry!

Glad to see that your getting involved, and moreover your attitude is not as I first thought! Idaho is almost a spoiler as far as the roads are concerned so i can see how coming from that event to another event can seem, different. Few other events come close in terms of overall smoothness.


SRDC is now the official acroymn of Hoche.

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First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023

well its nice to see them see the error of their ways.. even if it took some brow beating..

also I've driven uphill sandy washboard stages with an open front diff in a 2wd car.. where you rev it drop the clutch and your car hops and actually moves backwards... it does suck but its also valuable learning experience.

BTW you guys missed the day 2 stages which are Really awesome, super duper fun , esp if you liked Idaho stages, even more twisty (yes a little rougher) but totally doable on stock suspension even. i wasn't there , was a little offended, but at least in my small part apology accepted. (not that its my place to say so)

and hey , i hate the California government / prices too. But i think it has awesome topography and people. you should really return they have great rallies , and damn damn damn the day 2 roads are fricken awesome...

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Eddie Fiorelli

Not sure where to go with this, not sure if it's worth trying to fix this with donor parts or just starting all over again with a clean shell. What I really want is to drop off the car somewhere and it get it back relatively clean. Cutting a shell in half is more than I am willing to do myself, I'd rather get some on it who can do it relatively cleanly.

I know a guy who could do it for you for sure... probably 2. but the location would suck for you (tahoe/reno) good pricing too. but probably cheaper to avoid a long tow or repairs.

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Erik Christiansen
Oh, and maybe I'm in the minority, but I prefer turn arounds to long transits. It gives us a chance to socialize with other teams and work on the car if necesary. In my case, I owe Sarkis huge thanks for hotwiring my car at the first turn around on Sunday solving my ignition switch issue.

I don't think you are in the minority.. anecdotal evidence seems to indicate you are correct. I actually enjoy having a few long transits, but i'm a weirdo .. i honestly really loved the super long idaho transit the last year jens ran it. long drive by the river followed by goat trail adventure ..

But i also do really enjoy having a few turn around stages.. for the same reasons you pointed out. actually i had to fix my radiator fans at the last mendocino rally, and my car was running way too hot before that..

turn around just dont work well if the entries ever reach "normal" good for sustaining a rally levels, like 30.

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First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
Organizer (3), Volunteer (3)
Cars Built (2.5), Engines Blown (2) Cages Built (0) # of rotations (3.5)
Last Updated, Apr 9, 2023