Also, dont stare at something you think you’re going to hit it, because then you definitely will.

Damn, i wish that there are still 93’s versions around when i’m 18 =D

I think that the cars in the South West are what’s different then what you see from “typical” Rally America events. The F150 of Bill Holmes has run RA events out here - Desert Storm and Quartzite, and has a long history in the SCCA ProRally.

For more watching at home fun - check out the “rally car tracking” link on our site on Saturday!

I’m also going to have the handy-cam handy - for hopefully some interesting behind the scenes video.

Live scores will be here:
http://rallydata.com/Results/Gorman_2008_NatScoreBoard.htm
Wish us luck!
- Kris

Subaru Brat.

The more flexible ECUs are there. Mega/Microsquirts is an opensource version that does a bit of neat stuff. Autronic, GReddy, etc… are all adding to the wonderful world of ECUs.

I’d have to go with a 2008 Porsche GT3 RS.

If I could have several, well… the list is long… mighty long.

Though those cars would be fun, you have to stick to the road with that. I actually want to give the new WRC STi a spin more than anything else, bring it through some grassy fields and make up a little course. That would be a blast.

Thanks Kris!

One of the benefits of not having a sway bar is you keep the independent suspension - more independent. Think for example your left wheels going over a huge bump. Massive sway bars would effect both the left and right hand suspension in that case. Potentially upsetting the car.

It is certainly driver preference. I prefer a car that is a little “looser” then most - but what you should strive for with you sway-bar (or anti-roll bar) setup is a car that is truly neutral. When you drive it - can you make it understeer? Can you make it oversteer? Shoot for being able to do both and you won’t get surprised during those high speed off-ramps :)

Keep up the good work guys!
- Kris

I need to find some rallies in your neck of the woods :P

Im eager to see the new top gear, and I hope they can offend their sponsors and still be on the air.

Good race, though!

It’s great to get a candid behind-the-scenes look… and they’re so nonchalant about it all, too their “mobile workplace” is like a cross between Disney World and Toys R Us for people like us!

Let me know when you’re in my neck of the woods - Carolina Barbecue for you both!

1) Be careful with caffeine - it constricts capillaries and hampers circulation, as well as acts as a diuretic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diuretic) which will cause you to flush out important electrolytes.

2) Sun=bad: Bring shade for pit areas… get an EZ-UP tent or something to provide shade in the paddock, if allowed

3) Hydrate+ : Don’t over-do the sports drinks… they’re loaded with sugar and often just cause you to go to the bathroom and further flush critical electrolytes. A couple gatorades with a LOT of water and a bannana will go a long way…

4) Don’t push yourself - recognize the symptoms of heat fatigue and heat stroke. http://www.dcdoctor.com/pages/rightpages_healthconditions/sportsinjuries/prevention/si_prevent_heat.html

Don’t miss it! Ill be there watching live, but i have my Tivo set to record it! :)

OTHER GAS SAVING TIPS

Remove airbags and seatbelts. Getting rid of that extra weight will surely net you some more efficiency.

Fill in all your cylinders except 1. The notoriously efficient 1 banger will reap fantastic awards in both highway and city driving.

Lose weight and/or tell your girlfriend to lose weight. Or just don’t date a fat chick.

Put a fairing over your car to turn it into that aerodynamic wonder that is the teardrop shape. Sure, you’ll look like a fool and your car will be fifteen feet long, but you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank at 7 mph.

Pretend you’re Sammy Hagar’s evil (or good) twin and ONLY drive 55. You may get yelled at on residential streets and honked at on the faster highways, but you’ll be getting optimal gas mileage in record time!

Make your friends drive every time you go get fast food. If you never drive, you never use gas.

Open a gas savings account at your local bank. With a good interest rate, you can get a fantastic return on all gas you deposit. Online bankers will give you an even better interest rate, netting you even more gas!

Siphon gas from your neighbors. Sure, YOU’RE still using the same amount of gas, but THEY can’t get to work in the morning. So, you ride cheap and you can rest easy knowing you’re doin’ right by the environment.

Lasso larger, faster cars and let them pull you until you get to where you need to go. Or hell, just do it for fun.

In fact, 1/2 the world is “below average” but nobody wants to be in the bottom half!

Just because YOU may be a good driver does not mean that someone else can “read” your action and not cause trouble, or even an accident - tailgating, passing on the right, taking that hole shot in traffic can all have disastrous results because not everyone knows how to react - on the track there are a lot of rules for overtaking, passing, wheel-to-wheel conduct, etc. It’s all for safety. On the regular road, those rules aren’t enforced, just left up to common sense and the appeal to everyone to share the road and be courteous… which, they usually are not.

When you get jammed, boxed in, etc…. take a couple breaths, maybe turn on some music (or listen to the engine thrum) and just find your happy space, there in the cockpit of your beloved car. Just consider it a little more “quality time” with your steed.

The one that comes to mind was a Honda Prelude from the 80’s, but I know there are others. The rear wheel steering is only to augment/compliment the main steering of the vehicle (in the traditional front).

GM (I think it was GM) had a pickup truck with RWS to a point, too - supposedly to give it a tighter turning radius as well as make backing a trailer easier.

There have been a few experiments with 3-wheeled cars that used RWS, but they were quite unstable, and basically widow makers in any sort of congested area.

It was a long time ago that I checked, but last time I ran 87, I found that for that particular tank compared to my usual mileage with 93, the 87 was more expensive. Of course, this varies with every car, how you drive, the weather, etc. :P

Dan, im working on the stickers.

Let’s not forget some of the high tech solutions to keeping the driver cool like wicking fabrics (i.e. under armour heatgear) and super deluxe cool suits (http://www.fastraceproducts.com/page/fastraceproducts/CTGY/coolsuit)

Systems usually don’t wear out just a part, it is usually a collection of components that work in concert that wear out over time, so freshening up the complimentary items (when feasible) is always wise.

If it helps, consider the children’s song “The hip bone’s connected to the leg bone, the leg bone’s connected to the knee bone…” stress and strain on one part is rarely isolated, and if you only replace the broken widget, the parts the widget interacts with (or counteracts) is usually worn as well and will now reach a failure point sooner as the new part will be resilient and often passes strain on to the surrounding components.

FYI, some of the better rally games for console systems have navigator instructions spoken to you (some have optional HUD instructions, too) but it takes a bit of getting used to.

NASCAR at the glen is much better than the ovals.