Rallye Star!

	March 18, 2005 It's 4:30 AM- do you know where your rally car is? Actually, I do. He's right below my window in the parking lot of the Days' Inn in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I'm heading in for a shower, but I had to sneak a peek at my great little red Corolla. I've got to hurry- we've got to finish registration and make it out to recce (reconnaissance) by 7 AM! Last night I met with my new co-driver Casey Blust. He's experienced and prepared and I'm relaxing as he navigates Leon out to recce. As we burst through the fog, I scanned the landscape. We were in the Appalachians, old eastern mountains worn down by time. I took what I saw and in my mind I built a twisty road that rose slowly up and down the hills and sped through open river valleys. Everyone seemed to be getting lost in the morning fog, but we made it out to the first stage of recce with only a few wrong turns. Leon was still at the wheel (most drivers like to drive during recce but I liked having Leon drive so that he could give me pointers), Casey was riding shotgun and I was peeping out of the back seat in between. Leon would occasionally stop to point things out in the road- where to drive, what things could catch me out, and where I could make up time. It was all very educational and I was quickly getting the hang of the swish and swoosh rhythm of the long stages. They looked exciting! As we finished recce, we headed out towards the service area stopping along the way to check out some local attractions- a beautiful waterfall and an old Confederate camp site. It was nice to have some time to relax (and to wake up!) before the race. When we arrived under the big red rally arch in the service area several teams were already setting up. When I saw the Libra Racing Hyundai Tiburons of Seamus Burke and John Buffom, my heart sped up a little bit. These were the big names and this was the national series and I'm a part of it! Prince we're not in Gorman any more! Big Tom, Aaron, Gwen and Josh arrived soon after we did, ready to help fix any wounds and to man the service area. Prince was in tow, bouncing along in his little trailer as Aaron parked in our service spot. He was so beautiful, all full of black, white, yellow and chrome stars and high contrast sponsor stickers. Along with Prince came Craig Hollingsworth's blue and yellow Jetta. Bruce Davis' ex-works Dodge Neon joined us. Laengworks would be servicing all of our cars and ironically, we were all competing against each other in the USRC's Group 5 class. Nevertheless we're all friendly and busy chatting as we unloaded our cars. Everyone's excited. Before the drivers' meeting, I leave to change, but being the only girl driver I'm not about to change in the rental car. Luckily, there's a restaurant close by and the bathroom was open! I came out to find Casey waiting for me. The start list is up and we're running last. He ushered me out to the driver's meeting which was short and sweet. We were out on the road heading to SS 1 (special stage one) in no time! The road was cleared when we hit the start line. Casey told me to take it easy and warm up as he read the first few corners. So I listened. Things went smoothly. Casey was on top of the notes and on my case to shift (could I ever get away with anything?). The weather was great and the roads were dry. The fast cars had blazed a path that I followed for this stage and through SS2. I was gleaming when I got back to service, although I was well aware of the dangers present in these idyllic roads. I'd seen too many triangles on these two stages and had some moments myself. But if you focus on those, you'll completely miss what's in front of you. At service everyone made me eat. I've never been one to eat much when I'm performing, being it playing my French horn or rallying. I get sick! Leon however, took care of me feeding me a banana and a sandwich. He asked me about the stage- How did it feel? How was I driving? I was a bit overwhelmed, but I told him everything. He was very motivating and I left for SS 3 and SS 4 feeling confident in my car, my co-driver and myself. The stages were great, but the sun was setting fast. SS 3 and SS 4 were a repeat of SS 1 and SS 2, so I went out looking to improve my times. Things went well until I began to crawl up out of the valley where we started. I came up over a blind crest and the sun smashed into my eyes! I couldn't see anything! Nothing! I hit the brakes and Prince hit some loose gravel. I slid and Prince's wheels locked up, stopping only inches away from a drop off and some trees! The car stalled, but Casey walked me through the mini disaster and we made it out of SS 3 and very slowly through SS 4. A similar incident happened as we made it back to service. With the sun in my eyes, I hit the brakes and slid again, nearly getting stuck in the lose stuff. I really had to thank Casey for getting me out of that one! He was very patient with me. Back at service Leon was waiting, proud that I had finished day one! In fact there were a lot of people who were glad to see me finish, most of whom I didn't even know. It made me feel good about my driving, my goals and myself for this rally. At the end of the day I had a lot of people to thank for getting me out here and for getting me through today. I left service happy that Leon had given me the means of running the national series and for believing that I could do this rally. I came here with a lot of reservations about my car, my skills and my own self. Being the only woman driver put a lot of weight on my shoulders and people had a lot of expectations of me, but Leon and Casey kept it all from being overwhelming. And luckily, all Big Tom and Aaron had to do today was to wash my windows and keep the water bottles stocked. The intimidation factor of the rally was much diminished and I was looking forward to day two. But the night wasn't over. Earlier that day I met up with my Internet buddy Charles, who I'd met on the wrc.com message boards. He lived a few hours’ away and liked rallies and was excited that he'd get to come out and cheer me on. I was happy to meet him and glad to have another person out there cheering for the oldest and slowest car out there and the newest rookie driver. When the rally was over, he took me, Leon and Casey out to dinner. I was very tired, but the company and food was great. I was thinking about tomorrow, about how I'd attack the corners, what I'd do to drive better, faster, smarter. Tomorrow would have twice as many stages as today did, which meant twice as many chances to make mistakes, but also twice as many chances to make up time. But like every rally, the road to the finish is paved with adventure, danger and success! Back to Diary of a Driver.

March 18, 2005

Casey ready to go.

It's 4:30 AM- do you know where your rally car is? Actually, I do. He's right below my window in the parking lot of the Days' Inn in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I'm heading in for a shower, but I had to sneak a peek at my great little red Corolla. I've got to hurry- we've got to finish registration and make it out to recce (reconnaissance) by 7 AM!

Last night I met with my new co-driver Casey Blust. He's experienced and prepared and I'm relaxing as he navigates Leon out to recce. As we burst through the fog, I scanned the landscape. We were in the Appalachians, old eastern mountains worn down by time. I took what I saw and in my mind I built a twisty road that rose slowly up and down the hills and sped through open river valleys. Everyone seemed to be getting lost in the morning fog, but we made it out to the first stage of recce with only a few wrong turns. Leon was still at the wheel (most drivers like to drive during recce but I liked having Leon drive so that he could give me pointers), Casey was riding shotgun and I was peeping out of the back seat in between. Leon would occasionally stop to point things out in the road- where to drive, what things could catch me out, and where I could make up time. It was all very educational and I was quickly getting the hang of the swish and swoosh rhythm of the long stages. They looked exciting!

As we finished recce, we headed out towards the service area stopping along the way to check out some local attractions- a beautiful waterfall and an old Confederate camp site. It was nice to have some time to relax (and to wake up!) before the race. When we arrived under the big red rally arch in the service area several teams were already setting up. When I saw the Libra Racing Hyundai Tiburons of Seamus Burke and John Buffom, my heart sped up a little bit. These were the big names and this was the national series and I'm a part of it! Prince we're not in Gorman any more!

Almost done!

Big Tom, Aaron, Gwen and Josh arrived soon after we did, ready to help fix any wounds and to man the service area. Prince was in tow, bouncing along in his little trailer as Aaron parked in our service spot. He was so beautiful, all full of black, white, yellow and chrome stars and high contrast sponsor stickers. Along with Prince came Craig Hollingsworth's blue and yellow Jetta. Bruce Davis' ex-works Dodge Neon joined us. Laengworks would be servicing all of our cars and ironically, we were all competing against each other in the USRC's Group 5 class. Nevertheless we're all friendly and busy chatting as we unloaded our cars. Everyone's excited. Before the drivers' meeting, I leave to change, but being the only girl driver I'm not about to change in the rental car. Luckily, there's a restaurant close by and the bathroom was open!

I came out to find Casey waiting for me. The start list is up and we're running last. He ushered me out to the driver's meeting which was short and sweet. We were out on the road heading to SS 1 (special stage one) in no time! The road was cleared when we hit the start line. Casey told me to take it easy and warm up as he read the first few corners. So I listened. Things went smoothly. Casey was on top of the notes and on my case to shift (could I ever get away with anything?). The weather was great and the roads were dry. The fast cars had blazed a path that I followed for this stage and through SS2. I was gleaming when I got back to service, although I was well aware of the dangers present in these idyllic roads. I'd seen too many triangles on these two stages and had some moments myself. But if you focus on those, you'll completely miss what's in front of you.

At service everyone made me eat. I've never been one to eat much when I'm performing, being it playing my French horn or rallying. I get sick! Leon however, took care of me feeding me a banana and a sandwich. He asked me about the stage- How did it feel? How was I driving? I was a bit overwhelmed, but I told him everything. He was very motivating and I left for SS 3 and SS 4 feeling confident in my car, my co-driver and myself.

Prince's all about arches and ramps!

The stages were great, but the sun was setting fast. SS 3 and SS 4 were a repeat of SS 1 and SS 2, so I went out looking to improve my times. Things went well until I began to crawl up out of the valley where we started. I came up over a blind crest and the sun smashed into my eyes! I couldn't see anything! Nothing! I hit the brakes and Prince hit some loose gravel. I slid and Prince's wheels locked up, stopping only inches away from a drop off and some trees! The car stalled, but Casey walked me through the mini disaster and we made it out of SS 3 and very slowly through SS 4. A similar incident happened as we made it back to service. With the sun in my eyes, I hit the brakes and slid again, nearly getting stuck in the lose stuff. I really had to thank Casey for getting me out of that one! He was very patient with me.

Back at service Leon was waiting, proud that I had finished day one! In fact there were a lot of people who were glad to see me finish, most of whom I didn't even know. It made me feel good about my driving, my goals and myself for this rally. At the end of the day I had a lot of people to thank for getting me out here and for getting me through today. I left service happy that Leon had given me the means of running the national series and for believing that I could do this rally. I came here with a lot of reservations about my car, my skills and my own self. Being the only woman driver put a lot of weight on my shoulders and people had a lot of expectations of me, but Leon and Casey kept it all from being overwhelming. And luckily, all Big Tom and Aaron had to do today was to wash my windows and keep the water bottles stocked. The intimidation factor of the rally was much diminished and I was looking forward to day two.

My sexy helmet.

But the night wasn't over. Earlier that day I met up with my Internet buddy Charles, who I'd met on the wrc.com message boards. He lived a few hours’ away and liked rallies and was excited that he'd get to come out and cheer me on. I was happy to meet him and glad to have another person out there cheering for the oldest and slowest car out there and the newest rookie driver. When the rally was over, he took me, Leon and Casey out to dinner. I was very tired, but the company and food was great. I was thinking about tomorrow, about how I'd attack the corners, what I'd do to drive better, faster, smarter. Tomorrow would have twice as many stages as today did, which meant twice as many chances to make mistakes, but also twice as many chances to make up time. But like every rally, the road to the finish is paved with adventure, danger and success!

Back to Diary of a Driver.