Kcf3

[99]

Datgirl Racing Report – KCF Rallysport Rallysprint Round 3 - 30th October 2004

 

The final round of the KCF Rallysport Rallysprint was held on Saturday 30th October 2004 in Jimna State Forest. Datgirl Racing preparation had been less frenetic than previous events with only some cooling system issues to sort and replacement of shattered drive shafts (thank you John Spencer!) that I had destroyed at a motorkhana the week earlier. So, thanks to my ever patient and extremely generous partner Paul, lots of the work had been completed on time. The day before the event the Datgirl Racing red rocket spent some time at the Redwarf Motorsport headquarters finalising some issues. Despite the last minute panic, preparation leading up to the event generally was excellent and made for one much more composed driver.

 

Even the morning of the event we got to the event according to plan. However, during the reconnaissance of the rally stages, the temperature shot through the roof along with my heart rate! We pulled over and before we knew it, there were 3 other cars pulled over beside us, the bonnet was up and the problem diagnosed. Very hot radiator fluid pouring out the back of the engine was not a good thing. Viv Gees (living rally legend), Peter Whalley and son agreed that it was nothing more terminal then we by-passed the heating system and we were on our way. Consequently, we were running late and could not check the notes we had written for stages 2, 4 and 6 (which are the same route).

 

Stage 1 – A short 6km FAT stage with heaps of twisty flowing roads. Highlights – the biggest roller coaster hill you could ever imagine into a spectator point and an awesome blind sharp right up a very steep road. We LOVED this stage because the roads were the BEST.

 

Stage 2 – The longest stage of around 12kms – Starts at the top of a mountain and around the side of a very steep hill that you are scared of falling off! Highlight – Ponderosa spectator point, which is extremely difficult to get right and some extremely fast sweeping lefts and rights in the middle and at the end. We started out on this stage okay but had some cooling problems where the temperature gauge was reading 80 degrees but there was hot water spatting onto the windscreen for some reason… we decided to ignore it and press on.

 

Stage 3 – I can't remember anything too interesting about stage 3 except that we decided to do some fun stuff at the spectator point. Apparently we caused a little bit of a stir by waving our arms out the window going down the roller coaster and blowing kisses to our friends and family at the bottom!! Although I do remember that Tracey's notes were extremely good and her on-time delivery was almost perfect. And that we absolutely nailed that blind sharp right up hill!

 

Stage 4 – This stage is almost all I can remember from the rally now! This is because I had the biggest moment in rallying IN MY LIFE. It started with some sweeping lefts and rights that were perfect on the notes. Tracey was calling really well and I must have been committing to the notes more than I thought I was capable. Tracey called a "5 Right" which means is fairly fast (6 being the fastest, don't back off). So I picked another gear and put the foot down. Big mistake!! It was the part of the course that we did not get to check the notes on and the corner was much tighter than it should have been. For some reason (that I still can't figure out), we swung around where it looked like we going to t-bone the bank. My exact sequence of thoughts (yes, it does happen in slow motion) were as follows (excuse the swearing but this is what happened!):

 

· oh no, we're going to crush the front of the car into the bank AGAIN, why do I always do this on the driver's side;

· yay, the bank is sloped enough and we're going up it!

· oh sh*t I'm looking at the sky, my feet are off the pedals and there's only one rear left wheel on the ground

· So this is what it feels like to roll

· This is going to be expensive

· This is going to hurt

· Holey cr@p, we're not going over

· Mel dammit get some feet on the brakes – anything, SOMETHING (NOT the accelerator)!

· Oh no, we're going up the other bank on the other side of the road;

· PHEW, we've washed off enough speed, found the brake pedal and stopped

· Hope those Septators got that on film

 

"Eek eek eek" I squeaked and was about to start freaking out. But then Tracey said (in a dead cool voice): "…. and 3 right into caution dip"….! So I picked first gear and away we went.

 

A friend of mine emailed me later to say, "Saw some action, especially that red Datsun 1600 that came soooo close to tipping over and I didn't even get a photo as I was too gob-smacked to click the shutter!".

 

I have absolutely no memory of the rest of that stage.

 

Stages 5 and 6 – Nothing to report except we decided to flash our lights at the speccy point and that it was so dark on the last stage we needed our spotties.

 

In the end, we had an excellent and consistent rally. We were significantly faster than before – we finished 17th outright out of 25 finishers and came 5th in our class of 7. We beat seasoned rally teams that have been running for years. We improved on every single stage (with the exception of the night stage) and worked together the best we ever had. Tracey was outstanding, the car was great and, because of those factors, my confidence was at an all time high.

 

All in all, the KCF Rallysprint round 3 was an absolute hoot. And, while we're sad that was the last rally for Datgirl Racing for 2004, we're really pleased to have ended on such a high note.

 

BIG huge thanks to our 2004 sponsers Pedders Suspension Geebung, Harts Transmissions, Betta Computers and Redwarf Motorsport.

 

We can't wait for 2005!!

Edited November 4, 2004 by datgirl

[demuire]

Sounds absolutely awesome Mel :thumbsup: Loved the "almost roll over sequence of thoughts" :D I still remember mine very well, except mine did actually roll over! Isn't it funny how everything kinda becomes slow motion for a bit :) Maybe that's why they say that your life flashes before your eyes before you die (or your mind thinks you're going to die)?

[Teddy]

GO MEL !

 

Riding the wall of death ey? Glad to see you are still with us :thumbsup:

 

Will have many questions to ask on sunday :D hehehehe

[Nitephyre]

Stories are cool! :D

 

glad you're OK :thumbsup:

[99]

Now THAT is a navigator !

Yup, it was then and there I decided to sign her up for 2005!! :thumbsup:

 

Re: the almost roll over - it kinda feels like I am telling everyone about this HUGE fish that got away. I still can't believe we got out of that scratch free.

 

I think it happens so quickly but your brain switches into a different mode or something. I just remember the sequence of thoughts so clearly. Especially the "so this is what it feels like to roll" thought.

 

It's funny, they always say that there are navigators that have been in a roll, and navigators that are yet to be in a roll... but I've never even come close as a navigator in 3 years and probably 30 events!

 

Maybe my roll-over karma is reserved for me as a driver then.....oooh scary thought. Then again, Redwarf has never even looked like he was going to crash, let alone roll.

 

I'll just file that incident under E for experience.

[demuire]

Well, like the stats say - 80% of injuries or death is to the navigator, so you've just increased your chances of survival dramatically by jumping in the drivers seat :thumbsup:

[Redwarf]

Some piccies....

DSCF0213.jpe

[Redwarf]

Guess who? :dance:

DSCF0265.jpe

[Redwarf]

And again....

DSCF0124.jpe

[Redwarf]

Getting dark.....

Edited November 17, 2004 by Redwarf

[Redwarf]

The "Fat Lady", Dave Gaines 240K in usual attitude....

DSCF00141.jpe

Edited November 17, 2004 by Redwarf

[Redwarf]

Mick Guest's beautiful TE37....

DSCF00411.jpe

[Redwarf]

All photos courtesy of Marc Austin-Zande.

[Teddy]

:dance: ! Sweeeet !

[trdcamrypride]

nice good piccies there living life sideways in dirt must be fun.