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View Full Version : Aug 22-23 Ojibwe MN Rally!!!


jody-z
07-20-2008, 02:39 PM
OJIBWE FORESTS RALLY COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU!!!

Mark your calendars! In one month from now, the best rally drivers on the continent will be blazing through Northern Minnesota’s lake and vacation country. The 22nd running of the Ojibwe Forests Rally is based out of Bemidji, MN, and with the exception of local Motocross, there is no other motorsport of this magnitude within a mere four hours of Winnipeg. It is round#7 of the Rally-America national championship, and takes place on August 22nd & 23rd (Friday/Saturday), followed by a complimentary after-party/supper for absolutely everyone. If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience a rally first hand, now’s your chance…there is no other rally in the year that is this close to Winnipeg, it has received the “Rally of the Year” award numerous times in its 22-year history, the most recent being 2007, and the roads among the four state forests that comprise the Ojibwe Forests Rally are considered some the best rally roads in the entire country. As an added bonus, the event features both day and night stages, running until midnight in years past. As thrilling as it is to watch the daytime stages, there is nothing like a rallycar roaring towards your location, in the dead of night, in the middle of the forest…brakes and tailpipe aglow. It is an experience that you will remember for years to come…who knows, maybe you too will get hooked like the rest of us!

On that note, if you’d really like to see the action up close, as opposed to being limited to the crowd controlled spectator areas, sign-up as a Course Marshal, and you’ll be guaranteed a number of stage-side locations to call your very own, and have the chance to drive the actual rally roads yourself. For those that can get away, working with the bannering crews on Thursday and Friday morning is highly recommended as well, and for those that can stick around, de-bannering crews head out to the battlefield again on Sunday at 10am and are typically done by 3pm. Both Manitoba crews will be helping-out with the de-bannering effort as well, as it’s very interesting to see the carnage left behind…annihilated trees and vehicle parts are usually abundant. The worker sign-up page is available at http://www.ojibweforestrally.com/workers.php ...work as little or as much as you’d like.

With our mid-season break coming to a close and the event drawing ever closer, both Manitoba based teams are prepped and “ready to go”. Teams will begin arriving in Bemidji on the Tuesday, in preparation for registration, scrutineering, the shakedown stage and recce. There will be a number of female competitors on hand as well…so, to all significant others, come-out and show your support:

She Calls Shotgun
http://expn.go.com/expn/story?id=3456315
“Behind every successful Rally racer is an ace co-driver with a level head, an eye for the road and a Magellan-like sense of direction. That said, allow us to introduce you to Chrissie Beavis, Nathalie Richard, Jen Horsey and Brandye Conley”

Pictures from Ojibwe Forests Rally 2007:
http://www.rally.subaru.com/event_2007_ojibwe_gallery.html

Original ESPN2 broadcast of Ojibwe Forests Rally 2007:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cdKOwtsszck (segment 1)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vupc5kimUsY (segment 2)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XZ0AtSt2m9E (segment 3)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-f_ZavplhEM (segment 4)

Additional event information is available at the following links, with further details being posted in the coming weeks. Please be sure to book your accommodations soon, as the nearby campgrounds and hotels/motels are booking-up fast:

http://www.rally-america.com/event.OFPR.2008.php

http://www.ojibweforestrally.com

Whether you’ll be spectating or working, email us at dchernick@westco.ca or zedrilracing@shaw.ca and we’ll provide you with a recommended movement schedule and some first time tips as the event draws closer, which will make the first time experience all that more enjoyable. Hope to see you there!

In the meantime, these same professional drivers and co-drivers are currently preparing for and are on their way to X-Games 14, which will be televised live on ABC, Sunday, August 3rd.

And, if you’d like to learn a little more about the sport of Rally, http://www.wrc.com has just released an excellent set of “What is WRC/Rally” video clips (latest videos in the WRC TV section), which explain some of the important/interesting elements of the sport, technical and otherwise.

Courtesy of Team Rally Manitoba

Ken Block & Co-Driver Alex Gelsomino jumping over the late/great Colin McRae at X-Games 13 (2007):

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xgames1.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xgames2.jpg

jody-z
07-26-2008, 03:14 PM
X Games Update
************
Live qualifying is 2:00-2:30pm (Central), and the competition rounds will be broadcast at 3:30-5:00pm

jody-z
07-29-2008, 04:48 PM
Dave Mirra during yesterday's practice:

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/dmxjump.jpg

jody-z
08-04-2008, 12:13 PM
For those that missed the live airing/production, here's the run with ACP's crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H532YJ0qdfU

No worries though...they'll have it fixed and ready-to-go for the Ojibwe Forest Rally in 2.5 weeks time.

jody-z
08-05-2008, 11:19 AM
http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/flyer2008.jpg

jody-z
08-08-2008, 11:06 AM
http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/acp1.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/acp2.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/acp3.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/acp4.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/acp5.jpg

jody-z
08-08-2008, 11:07 AM
http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/block.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/bartram.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/xg14/tanner.jpg

jody-z
08-08-2008, 11:07 AM
And, here is a fresh video from Rally Finland (held this past weekend) that will get everyone in the rally spirit for Ojibwe...for those that aren't already :)

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/WRC-Rally-Finland-08_175872.htm

jody-z
08-11-2008, 11:28 AM
On Thursday, August 21 at 7pm, “Cowboy Kenny” Bartram will be hosting a freestyle motocross exhibition at the Bemidji Speedway:

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/bartram1.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/bartram2.jpg

jody-z
08-12-2008, 01:49 PM
Spectator Areas just announced (PDF Reader Required):
http://www.rallymasterpro.com/downloads/Spectator%20Maps.pdf

Locations pinpointed on Goolge maps:
http://www.rally-america.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2461

jody-z
08-15-2008, 12:09 PM
Pictures and Videos of the roads (taken yesterday):

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs1.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs2.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs3.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs4.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs5.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs6.jpg

http://www.roostercomputer.com/hidden/brs7.jpg

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Texas-Rd-Recce_177279.htm

http://upload.streetfire.net/video/Texas-road-Rd-Recce_177300.htm

http://upload.streetfire.net/video/Texas-road-Slow-Recce_177301.htm

sirr0bin
08-15-2008, 01:21 PM
Awesome shots! Looks like a lot of fun.

NevadaJoe
08-15-2008, 01:26 PM
Awesome shots! Looks like a lot of fun.

You should come!

sirr0bin
08-15-2008, 02:10 PM
You should come!

Would love to, just clear it with my boss ok? :D

917guy
08-17-2008, 12:01 AM
One day off work (the 22nd) and you can be in the middle of things. Take 2 vacation days and join our wpg teams. You can head to Brainerd later Saturday, camp free there, and see MRA racing for Sunday.

See the links in your Aficionado.

SmoothSTi
08-19-2008, 10:45 AM
2 days to go, so is anyone coming out?

jody-z
08-19-2008, 10:55 AM
FIRST TIME TIPS:

1) If you have access to a scanner, definitely bring it with you, or pick-up a cheap ham radio scanner at RadioShack/TheSource, as all rallies are run via ham radio communications. It makes it ten times easier and more fun to keep track of the event...you'll get to hear everything going on while you're waiting in the forest for the cars to speed by...crashes, mechanical failures, rowdy spectactors, etc. Net Control frequencies are announced/available at Rally Headquarters and are always in the 146-147mhz range.

2) Print off a copy of the start order and entry list so you know who's who, as the organizers don't typically provide that information at the various spectator points. Don't forget to print all of the schedules as well.

3) The weather is looking great, but come fully prepared, bugspray, drinks, food, powerful flashlight and all. Area maps and/or GPS, etc.

4) If you can stick around and help-out with the de-bannering that takes place Sunday morning, you'll get to drive the majority of stages yourself and see exactly what it's like. You can work for an hour if you like, or 4+ hours.

jody-z
08-19-2008, 03:01 PM
Here is our recommended spectator movement schedule for the weekend:

Thursday
7pm Kenny Bartram Freestyle Motocross Exhibition

Friday
3:30 Bemidji Speedway Park Expose
4:20 Bemidji Speedway Super Special begins
4:45 Leave for Spur1
6:15 Spectate at Spur1
6:45 Leave for Akeley Service
7:30 Akeley Service
8:15 Leave for Spur1
9pm Spectate at Spur1
9:30 Leave for Steamboat
10:30 Spectate at Steamboat
11:00 Leave for the Curling Club Pizza Party

We'll put together a recommended spectator movement schedule for Saturday upon request.

RallyFan
08-19-2008, 08:25 PM
Thanks for all the info, Jody. Much appreciated.

I'll see you on Friday and good luck to both teams.

Pedro

SPIN MD
08-21-2008, 10:49 PM
This was published in today's Sun:


August 21, 2008
Brothers geared up for adventure of road rallies
By JIM BENDER, SUN MEDIA

Brothers Jody (left) and Jan Zedril are racing today in the Ojibwe Forests Rally which starts near Bemidji, Minn. COURTESY ZEDRIL RACING

It all started when they were watching The Dakar as young Motocross racers.

The off-road rally was just as much a test of endurance as it was a race. And that revved the motors of brothers Jody and Jan Zedril of Winnipeg.

"We were fans of The Dakar as boys and that (rally race) was our big dream," Jody Zedril said on the eve of competing at the Ojibwe Forests Rally that starts near Bemidji, Minn., today.

But since they are a rather long ride away from Europe/Africa where the most popular rally race in the world is held, the Zedril boys discovered rally races across North America, where they have been competing since last year.

A rally is where cars race against time on closed-off sections of real roads, which are usually dirt or gravel and can be intimidating when you are travelling at speeds of up to 240 km/h. Races are held in stages and can take several days to cover hundreds of kilometres in all kinds of weather during the day and night.

Each car consists of a driver and co-driver, or navigator.


"It's not so much the speed of the race but the adventure," said Jody Zedril, his team's navigator. "It's the adventure, hands down."

As the navigator, Jody has to warn Jan, 31, about hairpin turns just over the crest of a hill and other immediate dangers just around the corner while manoeuvering through the courses at top speeds. On the Ojibwe course, they will be tearing through a forest that includes an S-curve on a lake.

"We both know that I'm not the safer driver but I'm the faster driver," said Jody, 33. "Almost everyone goes off-road at some time but we've been extremely fortunate. This is our 15th event and we've finished every single one. We rolled on our side during one race last year but never rolled all the way over."

All competitors wear fire suits, head restraints and helmets. Each car has a roll-cage and contains a fire extinguisher and a seatbelt cutter.

"Getting hurt badly is extremely rare," Zedril said.

The Zedrils, by the way, are not the only Manitoba team entered in this weekend's rally race. Joining them in Bemidji will be Daryn Chernicki and Joe Czubaty, who will be driving a 1985 Volkswagen Golf GT1. All cars, by the way, must be street legal so they can be driven from one stage to another on regular roads.

However, there is no money on the line for any of the winners and spectators are not charged any admission fee.

"That's where it is quite a bit different," said Zedril, who will be guiding his brother in a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer ES. "Rally teams pay entry fees and the only way to make money is through partnerships and sponsorship ... Mitsubishi is heavily involved with us."

Although the Zedrils also have several local sponsors, it cost them about $33,000 to compete in 11 events last season.

"We cover the bulk of that," said Zedril, a self-employed computer specialist (his brother is a CNC machinist). "But you never know where this sport's going to take you. The sky's the limit."

In fact, rally racing is now part of the X Games "and we just missed getting our invite there this year," Zedril said. "We hope to make it next year."

Both Zedrils, by the way, are single.

"That's probably the only reason we are able to do this," Jody said.

don4501
08-27-2008, 06:59 PM
Here's a picture i took from Perfect 10 in fargo.

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/Perfect10show/p10814.jpg

NevadaJoe
09-08-2008, 09:06 AM
Some shots of Ken Block's race ending crash

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/kbcrash/index.html