Rallye Star!

	December 9, 2004 Day two of recce began later than day one. There were more people in the recce caravan today and some had started to set up their service areas in the parking lot. The first stage to recce today was only ten minutes away from the hotel parking lot. It would also be the first stage that I would race tomorrow. It would make a good warm-up- the stage had been graded three times and was as wide as a two lane highway. It undulated over large crests and open corners and Leon declared that it would be good for me. The next stage was out in the boonies again. We would be allowed to take our rally cars out on trailers for the transit of this stage, and I took the opportunity to take a great nap. The actual stage was a hill climb. It started fast, but soon I was marking hairpins and exposures in the notes. There were lots of exposures and the falls were very steep and long. I felt confident that my new engine could propel me up through this stage. This was another beautiful stage. As we climbed higher, the vast valley spread out before us and when we reached the top we could see for miles. The sky was clear and I was glad for it. Tomorrow would be a good day. Recce finished early and there was a surprise waiting for me back at the hotel- Big Tom would be coming tonight with Prince! He was going to come tomorrow, but Prince was doing so well that Big Tom figured that he’d bring Prince up for a test drive before tech inspection! So when we got back to the hotel, there was a little blue and orange Corolla peeking his nose out of the trailer looking for me! At last it was time to hear Prince’s new heart beating. After dinner, Leon and I took Prince out to a dirt parking lot behind the hotel for a shakedown of both car and driver. The first thing I noticed was how loud the car was! The new engine made Prince shake and rattle and the carburetors were screaming. The car was 100% better and 100% different to drive! But that meant that tomorrow had to be a learning day. I liked my new car and I was very grateful that so many people had worked hard to give me a nice ride. As soon as I got back, it was time for the ceremonial start. I changed into my suit and put my number sticker onto my car. It was my first real number! No more duct tape for me! I was number 45. Since the start ramp was so close to the service area, I didn’t have to wait very long for my turn. It was dark as I drove up the ramp and the lights were bright. I stopped the car and the MC asked me some questions, but I don’t even remember what I said. There were lots of photographers and I was overwhelmed. I mean, why did they even want to take pictures of me for? I’m not even fast! Driving over the ramp was fun, even though Alex wasn’t there yet. He got there only a few minutes after the ramp ceremony ended. We ate a nice dinner together, planned for tomorrow and shared our pace notes. I was really tired and I didn’t have much time or energy to worry about anything. All I could do tomorrow was drive. The CRS was scoring each day as a separate event, so really this whole thing was only three little rallies so I didn’t worry about one big rally, just what each day held for me. In my head I would only think about those single events instead of frightening myself with the FIA/WRC style of this rally. What could I do now anyway? I’d either finish or DNF. It was as simple as that. Return to Diary of a Driver.

December 9, 2004

Day two of recce began later than day one. There were more people in the recce caravan today and some had started to set up their service areas in the parking lot. The first stage to recce today was only ten minutes away from the hotel parking lot. It would also be the first stage that I would race tomorrow. It would make a good warm-up- the stage had been graded three times and was as wide as a two lane highway. It undulated over large crests and open corners and Leon declared that it would be good for me.

The next stage was out in the boonies again. We would be allowed to take our rally cars out on trailers for the transit of this stage, and I took the opportunity to take a great nap. The actual stage was a hill climb. It started fast, but soon I was marking hairpins and exposures in the notes. There were lots of exposures and the falls were very steep and long. I felt confident that my new engine could propel me up through this stage. This was another beautiful stage. As we climbed higher, the vast valley spread out before us and when we reached the top we could see for miles. The sky was clear and I was glad for it. Tomorrow would be a good day. Recce finished early and there was a surprise waiting for me back at the hotel- Big Tom would be coming tonight with Prince! He was going to come tomorrow, but Prince was doing so well that Big Tom figured that he’d bring Prince up for a test drive before tech inspection! So when we got back to the hotel, there was a little blue and orange Corolla peeking his nose out of the trailer looking for me! At last it was time to hear Prince’s new heart beating.

After dinner, Leon and I took Prince out to a dirt parking lot behind the hotel for a shakedown of both car and driver. The first thing I noticed was how loud the car was! The new engine made Prince shake and rattle and the carburetors were screaming. The car was 100% better and 100% different to drive! But that meant that tomorrow had to be a learning day. I liked my new car and I was very grateful that so many people had worked hard to give me a nice ride. As soon as I got back, it was time for the ceremonial start. I changed into my suit and put my number sticker onto my car. It was my first real number! No more duct tape for me! I was number 45. Since the start ramp was so close to the service area, I didn’t have to wait very long for my turn. It was dark as I drove up the ramp and the lights were bright. I stopped the car and the MC asked me some questions, but I don’t even remember what I said. There were lots of photographers and I was overwhelmed. I mean, why did they even want to take pictures of me for? I’m not even fast! Driving over the ramp was fun, even though Alex wasn’t there yet. He got there only a few minutes after the ramp ceremony ended. We ate a nice dinner together, planned for tomorrow and shared our pace notes.

I was really tired and I didn’t have much time or energy to worry about anything. All I could do tomorrow was drive. The CRS was scoring each day as a separate event, so really this whole thing was only three little rallies so I didn’t worry about one big rally, just what each day held for me. In my head I would only think about those single events instead of frightening myself with the FIA/WRC style of this rally. What could I do now anyway? I’d either finish or DNF. It was as simple as that.
Return to Diary of a Driver.