ONTARIO WINTER RALLY NEWS - January 7/05

On-line registration for the 2005 OWR is up and running.  Just go to http://www.mlrc.ca/owr/index.html and follow the cues.

We are pleased to welcome our friends at Subaru Canada back as a sponsor of the event.  In addition we are excited to announce a brand new sponsor - Clear Water Design Canoes & Kayaks.  See details in the Supplementary Regulations of their great prizes.

For your convenience secure on-line payment by credit card is featured again this year. Almost all entrants used it last year.  When you complete the process,  you will receive confirmation that payment was successfully processed.  If you are paying by cheque,  please send it immediately in the mail.  Remember that your registration is not considered complete and you will not be assigned a Car # until we receive your payment.

Those of you who wish to request a Top 20 start position must do so by contacting Ross Wood at  ross.wood@sympatico.ca or by phoning 705-887-1130.  To qualify you must have finished in the top 10 overall of a previous Ontario Winter Rally,  any Yokohama/Subaru Winter Rally or by special consideration of the organizer.  Requests will be accepted beginning Saturday, January 8th at noon until January 25th at midnight.

Beyond the top 20,  Car # will be set in order of receipt.  Special exceptions may be made by the organizer.

The odometer check will be posted on-line in about ten days.

For further information about the event contact Ross Wood at owr.info@mlrc.ca.  To communicate with Kym McIntosh, our Registrar send your e mail to  owr.registrar@mlrc.ca

Looking forward to seeing you on February 19.

Ross Wood,  2005 OWR Coordinator

At least Choiniere and ACP are breaking the trend.  Sort of.  For now.

*cough*.... Quattro... *cough*....

Ok, I'm not sure about the newer Audi's, with their new electronic awd, but I love how the Quattro II system in my car handles.  I abuse the heck of of this thing, and it's got almost 300k km on it!   Now, to finish repairing the rear differential lock... should be done this weekend.  A Torsen center diff. is nice, but being able to lock the rear would be nice when it comes time to give someone a pull (or get unstuck  ).

Quote:
  What is the most common failure in a subaru thats been beaten on.... transmission/drivetrain failures.  

With my Audi 90, people have taken their stock 130hp 10v (170hp in the 20v version), dropped in a turbo charged, intercooled, cammed 10v or 20v, and put 300-400hp at the wheels, with there yet to be a single drivetrain failure.   Now the automatics.... thats another story (improperly spec'd seal from the factory becomes brittle over time and leaks tranny fluid into the front diff..... not a good thing).

But I digress...... can't wait for this year's event....  gotta get my entry in soon.... there are already 33 entries on the list!

Quote:

It really is amazing, isn't it?  Of the 33 entries so far, 21 are Subarus.  Methinks this is clear evidence that the money Subaru invested in promoting rallying in Canada is paying off big dividends for the company.

Come on folks.  You know you don't actually HAVE to drive a Subaru to enter this event, eh.

Go BMW!

Well, looks like Louis C. is drivng the 85 Tercel that beat a zillion Subies in the 2001 Snowy Safari (when it was 600 km long).  So, he'll kick lots of a** out there.  Look out all you Petter wannabees.  I wanna be Louis!!

Also, the RWD MCO faction is a force to be reckoned with.

question: are passengers allowed for OWR? Pretty pretty please?

I have a friend who's really interested in checking rallying out; she would sign waivers and her soul away no problems - and on the million-to-one chance that we place in the top half, we'd gladly accept any judgement if somehow that's considered unfair advantage or aid (after all, it's another person digging us out;-)).
I'm not sure about the rules - I know passengers are allowed in RallyCrosses, but that's entirely different (even if more dangerous) event. They were also typically allowed in navexes as well (with the caveat that judgement is reserved should we place), so since it's the ORRC rules in OWR as well, maybe same applies?


Thanks

well, on one hand, she wouldn't have to spend the night with her head burried in the notes & calculator - so I doubt nausea would be an issue in the same way as it is for navigators (you never hear of drivers complaining;)).
Also, James, my navigator for the Snowy Safari, had NO problems whatsoever - with no gravol or ginger, and first time navigating. Pretty impressive, actually!  
(Ivan, my regular navigator, had quite a bit more trouble at Lanark)

oh great... now *I* have to break the news to her sad, puppy-face...  




We'll just have to wait for RallyCrosses & regular navexes then