To say that I love rallying is an understatement. For me, its something that is in the very essence of my soul. I have honestly tried not to think about rallying. Indeed, as Im just a fan working the daily grind trying to pay bills, be the best father that I can, enjoy the work that I do, I will never likely drive the roads of Monte Carlo, with its spectacular vistas, or tackle the jumps on the Ouninpohja stage as the views of the many lakes and treelines blur by, or slide in the mud of the Rally of Great Britain, where some of the greatest names in rallying have found victory, and in lesser moments, the crushing blow of a defeat so very close to victory. But try as I might, I just can't give it up. It means so much to me. But what is it about rallying that moves me so deeply? Is it just the exploitive car control of some of the very best drivers on the planet? Is it the seductive lines of a Lancia Stratos, the backfiring growl of a Cosworth Escort, or the calm controlled cadence of Nicky Grist passing the notes to Colin Mcrae as he drove for all he was worth on just about any rally he entered? I think that it is this, and many other things about the sport that inspire me. That for one week on a rally, so many different types of people and cultures set aside their differences, and find a common passion in the different towns and cities that rallying travels through. I have been to a number of rallies here in the US, and you can always hear a strange accent, from polish to british, italian to australian. Each of these voices has a story you remember as you make the drive home, with the scents of high octane fuel, the pictures and hats and shirts you clutch in your hand, all memories you treasure, a moment in time. You stand at a spectator point high-fiving a stranger and you both feel like children again as a car comes sliding around a corner, you await your turn to talk to your heroes, and revel in the satisfaction that something was shared for only a moment that you will remember forever.

Its hard to put into words these feelings I have for something so reckless as grown men driving around deserted roads in over powered machines in the worst of conditions, but you have to respect anyone that tries in their life to live what little time we have on this earth to its very fullest. That alone is something that should motivate all of us to be the best that we can be, no matter what we do.

In 2000, National Geograhic did a piece on rally great Ari Vatanen entitled, 'Beyond the Limit. If you have ever seen the short film, 'Climbdance', then you have seen his driving skills at their best. His love of rallysport is unparalelled, indeed his driving antics inspired a young Scot by the name of Colin Mcrae to become a world champion, but greats like this inspire people they will never meet, from Japan to Spain, from Sydney to Memphis.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZppZGKSLWg

I don't know wether to clap or cry....
I haven't got the bandwidth to watch the YouTube link right now, but I have got Climbdance on my PC, and watch it regularly, and OMG!!!!

Nice little write up there!

Nice video. Definitely convinced I need to see Climbdance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKd8ojppFPU

I'm working on getting a more high-def version. Want the full experience, ya know?

I got it, but I have no idea how to upload it

Its not that hard to post on YouTube. Id really like to check it out.

I'm going to watch these, as soon as I get my own internet. The school-provided internet sucks big, sweaty, monkey testicles.

I love watching WRC. Even though it's a bit crappy these days with Loeb dominating everything, it's still the most entertaining racing format to watch IMO. I love the drivers (they're all really cool, unlike the douchebags that populate F1 so heavily) and the driving, just by itself, is breathtakingly awesome.

I'd love to try my hand at rallycross someday. Probably never will, but I want to try it.

definitely rallycross. i want to do it as well, looks awesome. and the more the merrier.

It's too big to upload to youtube, and if you want a youtube video of it there is plenty, there is the full length: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8MtoKDBEO0...feature=related

I heart hillclimbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU9mQ7z5JVQ...feature=related

I have done rallycross (SCCA), and Im not really crazy about it. Helped to organize their events here in Memphis. But honestly the SCCA is the last place to go for anything in the realm of rallying. A course last all of 40 seconds if you are lucky, but I guess its cool if you wanna stick your foot in the water.

I would love to try my car and my luck at rallycross but i am too lazy to drive to austin for it.

Here in california we have this:

http://www.californiarallyseries.com/home/index.aspx