Within the culture of Performance Rallying there are certain rights of passage that differentiate rallyists. On July 27 and 28, 2001 the Maine Forest Rally was held in the vicinity of Rumford, Maine. John Buffum put together the routes and course notes for this event. His presence alone adds to an already prestigious event. Being able to enter such an event is one of those rights of passage. But it still does not place you among the "true rallyists". There is a saying that was repeated time and again from the classroom to social gatherings. It states: "There are rallyists who have rolled and those who will roll".
In this his first year in Performance Rallying Randy Zimmer has made great strides in establishing himself within the culture of North American Rallying. His progress in the sport has been quite remarkable. From a novice out of school in January, to an overall win in an event, and now a level three ranked driver. Meaning his times and finishing positions have placed him in the position of having a starting position in the rallies he enters. His participation in the Maine Rally was another step in his progression in Performance Rallying.
Western Maine in July is a very scenic place. Although the foliage is most know as an autumn viewing activity it is an impressive sight combined with the rocks, mountains, and various lakes, streams and rivers. The roads built through the woods by the loggers provide a very demanding place for a rally. With surfaces that vary from bedrock to soft and sandy, but always gravel and rocks mixed in. Daunting as the terrain is, the event was made more of a challenge by the course laid out and described by John Buffum. It was a commentary on what he considers important. Road features that might be noted by other Rally masters are not mentioned in Buffum’s course book. When Mr. Buffum does note something in the book it is worthy of note. Having all these factors combined in one event make for a very memorable competition.
Randy went into this event with a thirty-third place seeding out of one hundred twenty three possible starters (and others on a waiting list). It was with confidence that the event was begun. One of the pre event pieces of advice was to take day one’s stages with due caution. Learn how the car reacted to the surfaces and how best to approach the course. It was also stressed that there was more than likely going to be the need to change a tire on stage due to a puncture. To this end a tire change was planned as a practice with it being video taped for critiquing. Practicing did improve the time it took to change the tire with the video showing areas that could be improved. As an aside the tapes also showed that the co-driver is never going to be an Olympic runner.
With a pre race gathering in the center of town the start of the event was underway. All the entered cars were lined up in a closed off section of Rumford. Without vehicle traffic on the streets people were allowed to wander around the cars and talk to the drivers. For participants it was a time to mentally prepare for the stages to come. At three o’clock the parade of vehicles started. Winding through town it was a memorable sight, both visually and viscerally. The cars with their bold paint schemes and graphics for various sponsors provided for a moving rainbow. While the barely muffled engines sang their songs as they went through the gears winding through Rumford’s streets. It was lightening and thunder under a very clear blue Maine sky.
Stage one was the shortest stage of the event and maybe of any event. Around a half mile long it was planned to allow spectators the chance to see the cars doing what they normally do in the remote areas that are the standard venue for rallies. It snaked through a recreation area on gravel roads. Spectators had the opportunity to be very close (in terms of a competitive event) to the cars as they negotiated the course. From the standpoint of the navigator it was a nightmare. Trying to read directions, call them out, and reset the computer in such rapid succession was a demanding task. Allowing the driver to drive what he saw without interference had a great deal of merit. For Randy the entire stage was done in a minute.
Transiting to another area of the recreation area a service period was afforded. Having only been on a single special stage it seemed initially to be somewhat out of place. But with the advantage of hindsight it was one last chance to make sure everything was properly in place and secured. The next stage would begin the true test of equipment, preparation, and the human element.
Stage two showed what would be to come on the increasingly long stages and their greater difficulty. Gaining speed from the start of stage two showed the nature of the roads that would be transversed. The rocks had been talked about, and those comments were not understated. Most of the surface had a hard pack to it, but with loose gravel and stones strewn over the top. As more cars were sent on course more and more rocks were brought to the surface. Combined with this were the larger rocks embedded in the roadway. This stage claimed several tires and a few competitors who over drove the course. Randy headed the warnings and drove a very controlled yet determined stage. It was indoctrination into how rough the surfaces to come would be.
The first day’s stages were not as long as day two’s would be. They did provide a test of each team and their readiness for the remainder of the event. It also pointed out what can happen in rallying. An Audi had an off course excursion that resulted in the entire car being consumed by fire. A small group of rally drivers question the need for fire resistant suits. This should make them think twice about their position. In retrospect it is comforting to have a well-prepared car with safety as much a concern as performance.
Day two dawned with temperatures starting out in the forties but climbing to the seventies. Another day of Maine’s blue sky with some scattered white clouds making for very pleasant weather. Having checked the car out and done the needed service on the Subaru Randy was ready to go out for the day’s challenges. Prior preparation makes the job at the rally much easier. Combine that with the reliability that the Subaru has shown over the season and concentration can be directed to driving the course. With confidence gained from the car performing and completing the prior day the second day began.
With the first special stage of the day underway the roughness of the roads was made clear. Even with the loud exhaust the dominant sound was that of the stones hitting the underside of the car. The sound has an intensity that might be likened to being in a severe South Georgia hailstorm while sheltered in a metal roofed building. Charging through the course it was clear Randy was intent on improving his position from day one. This is not to say he was driving in a reckless manner, but it was clear he had confidence and had a rhythm going. His intersection turns were done with a smooth and controlled style that lost little momentum. Several cars had been passed on the side of the road. So even without his driving efforts it was clear positions were being picked up. Within a mile of the end of the stage the first problem occurred. Something in the road’s surface caused a left front tire failure. The decision was made to continue to the end of the stage. It was a decision that proved to be sound. A good time was posted.
The prior day’s tire change practice was put to a test. Because this tire change was being done on a transit the sequence and jobs were not as rehearsed. One glitch did occur; the roughness of the course had rearranged the tools. So when the tool bag was opened they were not readily at hand. Despite this setback the change was done, the tire and jack were secure, and the car was back underway to the next time control station without incurring any time penalty. Arrival was right on the minute. NASCAR may do their tire changes in less than fifteen seconds, but they have five people, the tires and jack outside the car, high-speed air guns, and do not have to replace and secure the equipment and tires in the car. Rallyists may not post the fastest stops but they are very efficient.
These stages were winding through the forests and mountains of western Maine and Eastern New Hampshire. With the course notes setup the way they were, the length of the stages, and the confidence being shown by Randy there were brief moments to enjoy the scenery. John Buffum in his notes pointed out some of the scenic overlooks. At this point in the event it was a very enjoyable ride. The Maine Forest Rally was living up to its billing as a challenging yet enjoyable competition.
Another stage had been started with the Subaru still performing well. Other than the punctured tire the roughness had been handled without much trouble. There had been spark plug wires coming lose but nothing that could not be fixed between stages. The stage being contested was the longest yet and would show how the effort was going to fare. Cars were on the side of the road with various problems; some apparent, others not so easily determined. Each of those was another step up in the standings. Dust clouds lingering on the roadway were an indication of another car being closed in upon. As the dust intensified it became evident that another competitor was just ahead. After a series of turns the other car was sighted. Along a straight section of road a pass was made of another competitor while he was under power. This was further confirmation Randy was gaining in the standings on time as well as due to attrition.
The Subaru had a spark plug wire jostled loose creating an off and on power situation. A rock caused a puncture of the left rear tire. Despite these complications the computer was showing good speeds were being maintained. Evaluation of the information gave a sense of security that pressing on would still be the best avenue. Almost seven miles remained in the stage, which should have been considered when making the decision to dance on the fine edge created by the "complications". Entering a named right hand turn (named turns tend to be significant in nature) the sum of the elements became very apparent.
The car was sliding wide and onto an embankment. On this embankment was a very large rock, maybe better described as a boulder. While still trying to extricate the car from this predicament impact was made. A pirouette ensued, then impacting on the passenger’s side with momentum carrying the car over onto its roof and then onto the driver’s side. Coming to rest crossways in the road. Both driver and co-driver were uninjured, although a reminder was needed to turn the car off. With the car on its side both occupants were suspended by their seat belts. Randy being on the low side could release his harness and not fall. As opposed to having the weight of the co-driver fall onto Randy it was determined that Randy could squeeze by and out the passenger’s side window opening (the impact had broken the glass on the passenger’s side). He then ran to the start of the corner to warn oncoming drivers of the hazard. In the mean time the co-driver extricated himself and took a warning triangle to the corner entrance and remained there warning oncoming cars of the problem and pointing the suggested route to get around the Subaru.
In these moments Randy decided and attempted to right the car. Summoning his co-driver the two of them rocked the car back onto its wheels. With the competitive spirit still intact and a quick look at the car the fateful decision to attempt to continue on was made. Buckled back in, the worse for ware Subaru was started and driven back into competition. The haste at getting started was shown to be ill thought out in about a mile and a half. With noises that were clearly not the stones hitting the underside of the car copious amounts of smoke billowed from under the crinkled hood. What had not been considered or noticed was that while the car was on its side the crankcase oil had drained out. Only due to the quality of the oil that had been used and Subaru’s build quality did the car make that extra mile. This time the competition was over; one last effort took the car to the extreme shoulder of the road to allow as much passage room for the competitors that were still to come. The OK sign was taped to the back of the car and the long wait for the stage to finish started.
It was about noon when the wait started. By the time drivers were cleared from the course, Andrew (who was crewing for the weekend) had brought the service truck and was waiting at the end of the stage. Due to the continued use of the road the Subaru was stranded on for another stage the wait continued. The afternoon passed watching the remaining cars finish the stage. Extricating the car and getting back to where the trailer was parked took the remainder of the evening. This was an indoctrination to rallying that was quite different for the drivers who had been accustomed to road racing. No tow off the course immediately after the competition session stopped, no trailer close at hand to load the car on, no early departure for home to lick wounds and begin the repairs. It had been talked about as part of rally lore but now its full impact was being understood.
Among the discussions that go on, is the matter of where the most damage occurs on rally cars. Many co-drivers point out that the most extreme damage occurs on the passenger’s side of the car. In looking at car 891 after it had its problem in Maine it should be noted the impact from the rock occurred on the passenger’s side. The right side door had the most damage including its window smashed in. On the roof the right side was most compressed and the windshield damaged the worst. Although the car ended its roll on the driver’s side door the window was still intact and functioning. Evaluating this data only adds to the further passage into the rally culture and lore.
Rallying is an enjoyable competition and a demanding sport for both driver and co-driver, and it has its own set of indoctrinations. The Maine Forest Rally was yet another right of passage for Randy and to a certain extent his novice co-driver at this event. Randy had been keeping a running commentary going after his participation in each of this year’s events. Giving a point to the Subaru for completing the event and no points to the trees that had not been hit. In strict context, the trees still do not have any points, but there are now two large boulders in Maine where there was only one. Within the culture of Performance Rallying another stage has been completed. On the drive home there were varied discussion on what the next step would be. The hope is to have the opportunity to continue to gain a greater understanding of the culture and lore that are part of Rallying.
by Russell Strate, Jr.
strate16@frontiernet.net
Randy Zimmer
221 Westminster Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14215
716-835-5064
randyzimmer@compuserve.com
www.randyzimmer.com/video