Kamunen Racing

After a few years of fooling around, I decided it's time to start a Team Kamunen page.

Based out of Calgary, we try to do all the events in the Western Canadian Rally Championship, and have also had a few attempts at the full Canadian National Championship. For sure one day soon we'll be doing more south of the border as well I named the team to honor the memory of my mother, Raija Kamunen, and keep the Finnish family name going.

Driver: Eric Grochowski, 49 stage rallies as a competitor so far, and I still feel like a novice. Some good results and titles.

Co-Driver: Leanne Junnila, when she's not busy co-driving for Rocket types. I've also had the pleasure of Keith Morison's and Jaclyn Schofield's co-driving duties. All three in 2011 actually, thanks for the help winning Group 2 in the WCRC with a perfect score this year guys!

Current car: 1996 VW Golf, Group 2. Currently with a 2.0L 16V, mostly stock internals since the good one blew up in 2009 (we'll fix that for '12). SDS engine management. 50mm euro imusarja. Hotbits suspension that have had the life pounded out of them but keep getting rebuilt for more. 020 transmission (close-ratio 16v), 4.81:1 ring and pinion, Kaaz plate diff. Car has bits from everything between a passat and a civic hiding on it somewhere.

Cheers!
-Eric

wow 49? how many per year?

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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

I think the most was 8 in a single season. Time flies I guess. First year driving in pro-rally was 2003, but there were a couple of lean years in there too. Started TSD stuff in '99.

Still, there's guys in N.America that have done 100+ in that time. :0

i suppose it adds up. life gave me a late start for rallying. first one is right before my 26th birthday... but im hoping to make three stage rallies in 2012.

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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

Quote
Gravity Fed
i suppose it adds up. life gave me a late start for rallying. first one is right before my 26th birthday... but im hoping to make three stage rallies in 2012.

I din't start till 34, beeeg deal.
Had 20 years loose surface experience on things a lot quicker than stinkin cars.
I think it helped.

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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.

i always had a suspicion you were involved with the space program....

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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

Eric
it was fun racing and talking again at Big White.
have you ever had an incar camera?
Is the the official news outlet for you?
re match next year.

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"I put the hurt on dirt" - adam crane
http://CraneRallyCrew.com
corolla gt-s "Patches"
Op: S.S.

Thanks Adam, we had fun too. Getting to Big White was quite a fiasco for us, but I'm really glad it came together, it was great to see you again and I'd love a rematch - Next time I might leave the studs in the tires and show up for recce though

We didn't have any in-car at BW, but I have some from several different rallies... I should really get to putting some of it online.

I don't have an official news outlet really, but I'll put news here and I'm going to get a website put together soon with some facebook stuff too.
Cheers!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2012 11:31PM by Flying_Finn.

Tell us about your Toyota RWD adventure!

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"I put the hurt on dirt" - adam crane
http://CraneRallyCrew.com
corolla gt-s "Patches"
Op: S.S.

Yup, story/write up coming It was great, and really really fantastic of Kris to let us run his car for the event. He's got a sweet machine.

In the meantime, a few photos...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2012 04:03AM by Flying_Finn.

Photos by Piotr Leskiewicz, KBC, and this one is from Shawn Bishop.

Well, I sure don't post a lot, but there's no time like the present.

There has been a lot of FWD in my life. Not that there's anything wrong with that... but this is looking to be an all RWD year for me after a few years off the stages.

Since Kris can't run this year, and his car needs a lot of updating and work to make it ready again... I'll make sure it's perfect for when he comes back! In the meantime, I'll need to test it to make sure it's ready for him. First test will be Cochrane in March. More tests in Western Canada to follow. If I can make it work, I'll see if the car is properly functional at a a couple American events as well.

Kris is so awesome for letting me at it again thanks, I owe you huge.

Quote
Flying_Finn
Well, I sure don't post a lot, but there's no time like the present.

There has been a lot of FWD in my life. Not that there's anything wrong with that... but this is looking to be an all RWD year for me after a few years off the stages.

Since Kris can't run this year, and his car needs a lot of updating and work to make it ready again... I'll make sure it's perfect for when he comes back! In the meantime, I'll need to test it to make sure it's ready for him. First test will be Cochrane in March. More tests in Western Canada to follow. If I can make it work, I'll see if the car is properly functional at a a couple American events as well.

Kris is so awesome for letting me at it again thanks, I owe you huge.

Looks like fun!
keep us posted.

---

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.