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Correction: Rally racers rough it up on area rural roads
The Idaho Rally returned to Elmore County this year for a two-day race last weekend.
More than 40 rally cars, trucks and motorcycles from the US and Canada registered for the race.
Rally racing is a timed race with the cars leaving in 2-minute intervals.
On Wednesday, at a practice track on Immigrant Road, 11 miles outside Mountain Home, drivers took media and press for rides in their cars and trucks to show how they handle the road.
Going 80 to 100 mph around curves and through straight-a-ways on the dirt roads impressed those who got an opportunity to ride.
"These cars can handle the roads well. We can go up to 130 mph. It definitely takes trust between my co-driver and myself," said Brian Scott and co-driver John Dillon, last year's Idaho Rally Champion and 2008 Nationwide Champion.
Between the driver and co-driver they are constantly in touch over car radio. The job of the co-driver is to call out directions, turn degrees, what is always up ahead -- essentially to be a navigator, reading his notes that he has taken on the practice rides of the race route.
"He depends on me just as I do him," Dillon said. "We constantly talk to each other and if I read my notes wrong or accidently skip a page we could end up in a ugly situation."
Bill Holmes and Sean Gallagher who drives a yellow R-150 and competes in Baja races, said at the sign-in they love the sport.
"Our truck runs differently than the cars. The back end is constantly sliding so controlling is different," said Holmes.
Wednesday evening, drivers had to sign at the Hampton Inn, get their schedules and get familiar with the service area.
The service area for the cars of the competitors was right behind the Best Western. The area is where crews work on their cars and do their pit stops during the race.
Friday was the first day of racing. Drivers drove from the service area to their starting point in the Pine/Featherville area.
There was not a spectator area that day so when the cars didn't return to the El Rancho Parking Lot around 6 p.m. concern could be seen on the volunteers and officials faces.
Word had came in that there had been some accidents. No one was injured but about six cars did not finish the race.
Last year's champions and the favorites to win this year, Scott and Dillon, ended up in a ravine and hitting a tree around Rocky Bar. They were able to get out, but unfortunately the damage to their car took them out of the race.
The Tabor's, a mother and daughter team, had also had an incident. They ended up in the river, however, they made it out without any damage.
As for the other teams, some cars were damaged and did not finish.
On Saturday at 9 a.m. The community was invited to the El Rancho Parking Lot to see the drivers, their cars and the start of a race.
Mayor Rist and event coordinator John Marshall introduced drivers and cars to the public.
During the 10-second starting countdown some of the cars did burn-outs and showed how they can handle going around the quick turn out of the parking lot.
From 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. a spectator area was set-up about 20 miles outside Mountain Home at Cow Creek and Dixie Cut road.
The event was free and open to the public to come watch the drivers navigate around a sharp turn and hit a jump.
Hundreds showed up with their chairs, barbecues, pets, tents, four-wheelers, and even drivers and crews that hadn't been able to watch the race from that view came.
"Not many of the places that we go to have a spectator area set up like this. So it was nice to bring my family and friends to see the race from this aspect," said Brian Scott, the driver who wrecked on Friday.
A whistle blown by race officials, alerted the crowd that a car was coming around the corner.
The crowd would yell and cheer for the drivers to hit the jump fast.
Many cars slowed down but one truck did not.
According to Holmes, the driver of the yellow F-150, he hit the jump at 80-plus mph.
He wowed the crowd as the front of his truck came down and bent his hood and the force caused him to go off track.
He instantly became a crowd favorite. After recovering Holmes continued the race but decided to take it slower the next three times he had to hit the jump.
The racers for that day had to do four stages and after two, they returned to the service area in Mountain Home and than returned to Cow Creek to finish the final two.
Even with the temperature reaching over 90 degrees, a few of the spectators stayed until the last car came through.
Other spectators wanted to get back to Mountain Home to see the winners' champagne spraying and trophy ceremony.
There was a rescheduling due to timing and the champagne spray started earlier.
The trophy ceremony was moved to the Hampton Inn, giving the drivers time to clean up.
To see who won in their categories and their national standings visit www.idahorally.com
After receiving trophies, families, friends and drivers were invited to a pool party.
According to event officials the race went well. They were happy with the support from the community and hope that next year will be as successful as this year's event.
CORRECTION: The other mother and daughter team of Marie and Allie nosed it into a water filled ditch on Friday. The Tabor team did excellent and did not end up in the river.
More photo's available in the Mountain Home News Photo Gallery
In car video from car #1, Brian Scott driver, John Dillon co-driver. (Rocky Bar North)