Here's my quick recap of Sandblast Rally 2018. I know a few other GRM folks were there, so feel free to add your photos, stories, or comments below mine!
This isn't really an event we want to do in our 2WD low-power car, due to the deep sand that is brutal on drivetrain. So instead, I headed down to crew for Adam Moore's Zero car (the course-opening care), since they had no crew. I hadn't previously been to Sandblast and wanted to check it out so it was a good time to head down. So I packed up the Sequoia and headed south to Cheraw, SC.
On the way I made a stop to visit my sister and also fellow DC rallycrosser Neil Cox, had a few beers and checked out their progress on their rallycross e30 and Neil's 1970 volvo wagon
Got down to Cheraw on Friday morning and we immediately did some work to get the car fully prepped. Zero car is extra important that it not break or crash since it has to open each stage for competition. This is Adam's street/rallycross car (no cage, etc) since course cars cannot have full cages (to discourage drivers from going full-out on course).
Also got to run the practice stage in the Sequoia, heading out to help tow a stuck truck out of the stage. Driving a big truck (fully loaded) at decent speed in this stuff was an adventure
The next morning, due to the complicatoins of running a rally, navigator-extraordinaire Matt Rhoades had to do some organizational and steward work, so for the first two stages I got to jump in with Jeff (I forget his last name), a long-time rallyist running the fast sweep vehicle (the first non-competition car after the racers, meant to see who is off course, help people, etc). Jeff has been rallying since the 1980s in everything from Datsun 510s to Mazda RX-2s to Shelby Chargers, so he can drive. On this day, we were in his first-generation Grand-Cherokee, running in 2WD, and he liked to use the ebrake a lot. I'm pretty sure he was runnign the course faster than many of the actual rally cars....we did a lot of sideways action, bouncing through ruts, and some seriously hard hits – enough that we broke the HAM radio antenna off the roof! I got to call tulips (directional notes) for him, which is new to me since I'm usually on the other side of the car.
After that, headed to the service area to do some crewing for Zero – which thankfully didn't break any thing or crash, so it was a pretty relaxing day.
Not the case for many other competitiors though. Sandblast is BRUTAL on cars....huge sand-ruts, wildly changing surfaces, and hard on the cars. Of the 40-something cars that started I think only about 15 actually finished every stage. There were several rollovers (including Seamus Burke's beautiful $$$$$$$$ Mk2 Escort that often wins rallies and Sergei Grishin's Impreza, which is not too unusual). Lots of blown transmisisons and other issues as well.
Gary DeMasi hit a tree head-on just a mile into the first stage, ending his day early (Gary's photo, by the way)
In the end, just finishing was a good chance at getting a podium spot – proven in the 2WD light class, where a first-time rallyist in a Honda Fit took 3rd in class by driving clean and not breaking.
And there was much celebration
All told, a good time. Still dont' think we'll do this one unless I have a spare engine to swap in, lol....seems like my car would be awful in these conditions. Anyhow, here's some more pics of stuff...\
You all may recognize “The Chief” - Chris Nonack's service/crew/tow rig there with mine. Chris was there as the lone crew member for the 3rd place Fit team, teaching them his tricks.
Cool stuff that was there
McNamara's signature move
Yes, this is a former 24 Hours of LeMons car....and it finished the entire rally!
