This 2-day event Subie Gal Racing Secures
Championship at Wild West
Olympia, WA - Subie Gal Racing came into their
home event – the FIA sanctioned Wild West Club
Rallies - knowing things were not 100%. This 3
day event would challenge the team with varying
conditions, rough roads, and lack of experience
with the SCCA provided stage notes - but at the
end of the event, Burnsie the Rally Wagon was
still standing, and the team secured the
Northern Pacific Division Championship in the
PGT car class!
For the second time, driver Jamie Thomas and
Co-Driver Matt Gauger were accepting the trying
task of learning to use stage notes. This has
been a bit of a struggle for the team but
they’re determined to see it through as
eventually the notes WILL make the team faster
overall. This was not the only struggle facing
the Rally Wagon this weekend. Due to unforeseen
circumstances, the team had to begin the rally
with STOCK brake pads – this is not optimum in
any way, especially with a 22mile special stage.
Mid-way into the 22mile stage (ss2) the brakes
were completely gone, making the car much harder
to control and to slow efficiently.
“I’m NEVER doing that again!“ Subie Gal Racing
team driver Jamie Thomas stated adamantly, “If
we do not have racing pads, I’m not running.
It’s simply too dangerous and way too risky. The
stock pads were absolutely worthless and it took
me 2 good “offs” and a spin to figure out how to
slow the car down without them. …too many close
calls.”’
At the first service break, the team located a
set of racing pads provided by another rally
team (Dave and Rick Hintz) which they then used
throughout the rest of the rally without
incident.
Sunday’s stages challenged the team in a
different way – lack of grip. The team ran out
of tires and ran on some well worn out rally
meats. Eventually they paid the price when they
lost grip at high speed, left the road, careened
into a ditch and damaged the passenger side of
the car. Both driver and co-driver were unhurt,
but the rally wagon had suffered his first
significant damage.
“It was a little rough out there, but we hung in
there.” stated co-driver Matt Gauger with a
grin, “I think we can go after this [Western
States] championship, but we have to do it right
with the right equipment!”
The Wagon battled on throughout the weekend to
earn 1st place in PGT in both ClubRally events –
the points earned this weekend have now secured
the Subie Gal Racing team the 2003 Northern
Pacific PGT Championship – as well as moved them
within 30 points of the new Western States Rally
Championship (currently 2nd).
Next Event (tentative) – Colorado Cog Rally –
Sept 19-21
HERE
Subie Gal Racing team thanks season sponsors:
Carter Subaru, www.allsubaru.com,
www.StonGard.com, PerformanceGraffix,
www.AVSport.net, Dave Clark Motorsports, Smart-Service.com,
www.IonPerformance.com, www.Hurrikainracing.com,
www.Rallitek.com, www.WRXtra.com,
www.Grillcraft.com and the Subie Gal Supporters
Very Very Special Thanks to our Crew as
always!!! - Nick, Curt, Mike, Gordon & Beth
Member of the NorthWest Region SCCA -
http://www.nwr-scca.org SCCA Regional
Achievement Award Winner (1996-2002) an SCCA
RECORD SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW!!!
For more information contact:
Info@subiegal.com or
www.subiegalracing.com |
