Last weekend, I made a trip to Ste. Agathe, Quebec to attend the Rallye Défi – Round 4 of the 2011 Canadian Rally Championship.
I can understand that rally races don't mean much to all those fans who like to watch cars on road courses or oval speedways. It's a unique, complex motorsport that involves navigation, a co-driver, roads that are open to traffic, a service area, precise time tables, scoring and much more.
You have to be there to appreciate what rallying is all about. First, in the liaison stages, all the cars sport a licence plate and other necessary equipment to drive legally on public roads.
Then, in the special stages, the roads are closed and the real action takes place, with drivers putting the pedal to the metal and the co-drivers shouting instructions based on the road book, including the types of corners and the ideal speeds to attack them.
From inside the cars, man, what a show! You probably spend more time driving sideways than in straight line!
Braking from high speeds on gravel surfaces is no picnic. And twisting a one-tonne machine around the bends demands finesse along with exceptional control of the steering wheel and pedals. Rally drivers are virtuosos who swiftly waltz and toy with their cars, regardless of road conditions – mud, dirt, asphalt, snow, ice, etc.
The people involved in the sport are so passionate and dedicated that those around them can't help but catch the fever. Walking around in a service area is considerably more pleasant than touring a regular road race or stock car paddock where everyone usually minds their own business.
With standard roads and street-legal, albeit heavily-modified cars, fans can easily associate themselves with their favourite brands. I have never seen so many Subarus of all sorts per square metre!
During the special stages, families, kids and enthusiasts together stand on the very side of the road and flock to the service area to get up close to the cars, watch the mechanics at work or chat with the drivers. You don't just do a rally; you live and breathe the rally. It most definitely is a way of life.
''Crazy'' Leo Urlichich, who finished second in Ste. Agathe, had warned us the week before: ''I simply crave speed. What I love about a rally is to be able to drive at full throttle on ordinary roads, no matter how slippery they are. And it's all legal! What an exciting sport!''
Just go and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed!
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I can understand that rally races don't mean much to all those fans who like to watch cars on road courses or oval speedways. It's a unique, complex motorsport that involves navigation, a co-driver, roads that are open to traffic, a service area, precise time tables, scoring and much more.
You have to be there to appreciate what rallying is all about. First, in the liaison stages, all the cars sport a licence plate and other necessary equipment to drive legally on public roads.
Then, in the special stages, the roads are closed and the real action takes place, with drivers putting the pedal to the metal and the co-drivers shouting instructions based on the road book, including the types of corners and the ideal speeds to attack them.
From inside the cars, man, what a show! You probably spend more time driving sideways than in straight line!
Braking from high speeds on gravel surfaces is no picnic. And twisting a one-tonne machine around the bends demands finesse along with exceptional control of the steering wheel and pedals. Rally drivers are virtuosos who swiftly waltz and toy with their cars, regardless of road conditions – mud, dirt, asphalt, snow, ice, etc.
The people involved in the sport are so passionate and dedicated that those around them can't help but catch the fever. Walking around in a service area is considerably more pleasant than touring a regular road race or stock car paddock where everyone usually minds their own business.
With standard roads and street-legal, albeit heavily-modified cars, fans can easily associate themselves with their favourite brands. I have never seen so many Subarus of all sorts per square metre!
During the special stages, families, kids and enthusiasts together stand on the very side of the road and flock to the service area to get up close to the cars, watch the mechanics at work or chat with the drivers. You don't just do a rally; you live and breathe the rally. It most definitely is a way of life.
''Crazy'' Leo Urlichich, who finished second in Ste. Agathe, had warned us the week before: ''I simply crave speed. What I love about a rally is to be able to drive at full throttle on ordinary roads, no matter how slippery they are. And it's all legal! What an exciting sport!''
Just go and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed!
 |