We had an awesome time rallying this year. From the rough bumps and jumps of Gorman Ridge to the twisty woods of International Rally New York. The goal was to run 5 events, win the regional championship, and win the national championship. What a ride! We invite you to enjoy our 2008 Season Finale Video, and read our end of season wrap up.
Prescott Rally: We had a really strong showing again at Prescott this year. Every time we run the event we step up our game. First year it was handling the speed – “Yep – that’s 100MPH Kris… Get over it.” In 2006 it was absolutely trusting my co-driver at speed (and in life). 
In 2007 it was the realization that we stay focused and relaxed for 22 miles, setting ‘an out of nowhere’ seventh fastest on the long stage. This year it was an absolute commitment to stay flat out, foot to the floor. The car can literally not go any faster as I had it pinned for 5 miles of First View. Be Smooth. Don’t Lift.
As events go, it is our well documented favorite, and we had a great time again this year. We had some more of our close rally friends attend (probably after hearing us talk endlessly about the event): Eddie & Erik were out in Eddie’s G2 Golf and I was looking forward to trading some times, they unfortunately had some brake pad failure on day two. Luckily they were able to settle the car into a spin to slow it down before a tight right hand turn. Dick & Marie came down from Idaho and set 2nd in Production AWD and 12th overall – even after having some problems on Saturday. We would like to thank Brian & Vanessa, as they make this rally a commitment every year.
Speaking of that long stage. It was a turn around stage – 22 miles out – stop – 22 miles back. Well, we set this crazy 21:12 going out on SS5 and a whole bunch of 2WD cars behind us set times in the 21:30’s. Mike Masano driving a production Focus at the event starts this wager for a select group of the 2WD cars for the stage going back. At first, Larry, Mike, Jon, and a couple of guys are like – “oh – 21:12… I don’t know if we should let him in on this.” I shrug my shoulders and Larry Gross is like “Sure – let’em in on it.” The wager: Five bucks from everyone to the winner of SS6. Okay – I’ll take your money. We come in to the finish and Christine tells me it’s a 21:05. Seven seconds faster, not bad. Well, with beer money on the line – Larry Gross sets a 20:48. Maybe the ‘hotshoe’ in me will think twice next time. 
International Rally New York: I wasn’t trying to psych anyone out during the Parc Expose’, but showing up with street tires on your rally car, California plates, and complete lack of crew sorta worked. “Who the hell is that crazy team from California?” I chuckled every time I got the – “Have you seen SNOW before?!” question. The crew didn’t realize that we were kind of in the middle of nowhere. It all worked out in the end: “Yep, I spent 3 years ice racing when I lived in New Hampshire. Oh – there’s my crew back from dinner with my Hankooks. Let’s Rally!” 
I was really excited that our friends and family had a great time. I can tell they had a great time, because you can tell the difference between (I showed up at your thing) & (I got to see a rally car go by me doing 120) The comment I got from Christine’s Dad was something like – “Holy shit those cars were friggen flying! I don’t know how they made it around the next corner and didn’t just go off into the woods!!” Good times. 
We knew our plan to just drive the rally car home to California when we finished the rally. When asked it was like – “So, you guys shipping it back now?” “No – we’ll come out in December for Christmas and drive it home.” “Oh… Rent a trailer?” “No. No. We have street tires. We’ll just drive the RALLY CAR home.” 
We’ll have pics – and we’ll keep you posted!
Thanks everyone!
– Kris & Christine
What a great write up. I remember meeting you guys for the first time in Prescott back in 2005. Actually, I remember meeting Ze’Neon before I met you guys. You just can’t miss a red and white Neon with a roll cage and stickers all over it. I was immediately impressed and, since I just *had* to peek in the windows before tracking you down in person, I saw the phrase which has always, to me anyways, signified the entire rallynotes.com philosophy: Be smooth. Don’t lift.
Every time I’ve touched that rally car as it’s come into service, I’ve made a point of checking out the decal on the instrument cluster. It hasn’t always been the full phrase, but it was really cool to see that, after three years, you were finally out there proving that, “When you can run the whole event with your right foot flat on the floor, that’s when it’s time to start thinking about more power.”
I can’t wait to see what you guys are up to next time out. (And hoping to be able to post pics on my own site of the real rally car parked in MY driveway in the coming month or so.)