Oh, what an event...... The frustration, the anger, the happines.......
Pre-Event I didn't do a lot of practice as I know the stages well enough to feel somewhat confident in my ability. Still did a bit of practice on the problematic ones where I know there is dangers to double check my notes for the stages, most of it worked, only one big misstake on my part when I was doing this
SS1 - Rally School:
Had a calm and steady run through the stage.
No major misstakes, a resonable time with the Celica
Service
SS2 - Hualapai Nation:
Don't like this stage and the wheather didn't help either. No confidence, made an early misstake of taking a bit too much speed with me into one of the left-right combinations and the road dissapeared from us.
Got back going and took it easy for the rest of the stage, an allright time, not happy with the run but the time was allright.
SS3 - Diamond Creek II:
Made a few misstakes here as well, very similar to the misstake at Hualapai and two major spins in the last few corners hitting the stones with the rear end....
SS4 - Rally School:
Pushed a bit more this time 'round and went a second slower than the first run but I put that down to the lesser grip.
Service
SS5 - New Bobs:
I like this stage but made an early misstake rolling the car. Pushed hard and gained some time back but 20 seconds lost in the first K was too much to gain back in the end....
SS6 - Hualapai Nation:
A second run and after a few small fixes to the notes after the previous run to bring in a bit more confidence in my driving and the lack of grip suited me better, no misstakes, a bit more hard driving and a much better time
SS7 - Greenhills:
Don't like this stage at all and a lot of small misstakes combined with those suicide photographers in the last quick right hander saw me having to use a CFH without me wanting to.
A lot of anger but Johan managed to calm me down but a lot of time lost on this stage unfortuntately
Service
SS8 - Fraizer Wells:
Don't quite like this stage either. Never seem to nail the stage but this time I did actually, near enough, nail it. PB with the Celica and second ever best time on the stage for me so very happy with that run
SS9 - Prospect Ridge:
Prospect Ridge, one of my personal favourites but the run went wrong everywhere and I cap-ed it off by misscalculating the speed through the - cambered right at the end of the stage and damaged the radiator hitting a tree almost head on......
SS10 - Diamond Creek II:
Another run through the stage and, apart from a misstake in the last corner loosing us about 15 seconds, we both enjoyed the run through the stage.
A bit safe at a few dangerous areas but went fairly quick.
Service
SS11 - Greenhills:
Took it easy this time around and did my best to not loose time while taking it easy. No major misstakes, almost equalled Balasz' time on the stage so we were both happy with that one
SS12 - Prospect Ridge:
Power stage and full attack was on the agenda.
Took no prisoners, had one incident after the bad road in the dipper early in the stage loosing us a couple of seconds or so but other than that, and a kangaroo-y rear end on the 6th gear run into the last set of turns of the stage, it was one hell of a quick run. PB with the Celica so happy with that one
Overall it could have gone better but considering the amount of stages in the rally which I don't like, I'm happy with the event
Hoping that I might get another podium in Retro country and maybe a top10 in RDRC-2 to get my championship going, finally
Good luck to those yet to run