We’ve been back for about three weeks now. The Neon has been quietly parked under her cover in the top parking lot. We took her out last weekend for a drive and the “little oil leak” was smoking a lot more then before. Still stumbling a little when idle. The oil pressure sensor wasn’t getting any better. (see: oil light off and on during our trip)

I’m thinking major repairs here. Did I mess up the head gasket some how? Do I have to take the motor out? Is the stumble more then just the o2 sensor?

I’ve also been worried about the fact that I couldn’t find a garage / shop to work on her. I’ve been trolling the search engines and I think I got real lucky yesterday. There is a garage with spaces for rent in L.A. that is basically a bunch of “carguys.” Access to lift, sandblaster, welder, parts cleaner, etc. For about what you’d pay for monthly parking in downtown Boston. Tine and I went up to check it out today. A handshake was made. Baring some final details and negotiations I will have a shop level garage that I can work on my cars.

When we got back I was feeling good about the Neon. So we changed into some grubby clothes and Tine and I had a look at where the oil was coming from. I can’t really see where it’s coming from but it’s dripping onto the right side CV joint and splattering everywhere.

Since it was bad anyway I decided to replace the oil pressure sender. This baby is buried on the back center of the motor. It’s a pain in the ass to get at, work on, remove, etc. I finally pull off the green plug for the sensor along with a puddle of fresh oil. * Lightbulb over my head. Wow. A known bad oil pressure sender was causing the oil leak as well… Could the fact that oil has been seeping out of the back of the thing have ANYTHING to do with it malfunctioning?!

The new oil pressure sender is in. No more dripping down the wire loom and onto the CV joint. I ran the car really hard on Sunday. A whole ton of oil smoked off the exhaust manifold and then cleared. No more drips under the car. I also have a feeling that having the o2 wiring soaked in oil may have been causing my occasional stumble.

Our goal is to have the car ready for a rallycross / rallyschool at the end of February. Project Rally Neon continues!

I just uploaded the last few pics from my camera when I came across this spectacular shot. This was taken on New Years Eve while heading to Tucson, AZ. I stuck my head and lens out of the car (you can see the fog lights in the foreground) and managed to get a fairly steady, long exposure shot.

We just finished packing everything in the rally car for our trip to Irvine. Yep, my Subaru is gone. Christmas with the family was great. Now it’s time to head out across the planet.

The car has the same electronic setup that we crammed into the Malibu plus a set of computer speakers pushed into the hole where the radio once was. CB, Weather Radio, AC, DC, GPS, MP3, XP… I used a big wire loom wrap this time to keep the laptop wires untangled.

We’re taking the southern route this time. Down the coast. Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix. I’ve been glued to the weather channel for the past 2 days. I know we’ll hit weather – but I hope not too much snow.

Unlike the last trip where we blogged the whole way – I might stop in to post one or two times… This being number 1.

Pictures are up in the gallery.

It looks like some last minute changes forced them to ditch what spectator info they had. (it happens) They want to try harder next year. There is some back story here – and they are sensitive from past experiences.
See how this shook out on SpecialStage.com

I won’t make a retraction. But I want to comment that the Ramada Hotel Casino had many available, clean, cheap rooms (cost us less then camping in Maine), and is very accommodating to this rally. I’m not a “hotel casino” person and I was commenting more on the clientele then the hotel itself. You tend to be a little more sour when you have your weekend fouled up by something trivial like missing information.

On Friday afternoon we drudged through LA traffic and headed east on I-40 towards another time zone. Hotel reservations made, bags packed. We were excited to see what rally is like on the left coast. We arrived around 10:00 Friday night.

I asked the clerk as we checked in. “Does the hotel have a flyer or information about the rally?” “Uh. I don’t know anything about the rally, but there’s stuff over there.” He gestured at a stack of newspapers. “Okay. Great! Thanks.”

I picked up the Colorado River Weekender. The cover page was printed: “Rally at the Ramada Express.” Behind the text, was a picture of a brand new Nissan Xterra on the rally podium. I’ve never seen a rally “Xterra” but – okay. Surrounding this was 4 smaller photos. 2 fuzzy rallycar shots, a couple of scoobies with dust behind them, a Ford pickup, and a Ford Econoline van on the podium. Not sure what they won. Truck of the year or something…

Inside I started to uncover what this rally was all about. Quote from The Weekender: “Viewing of the rally out on the course is tough for the general public [.] For possible spectator points along the courses, ask at the Expo Area [tent in the parking lot.]” “Okay – let’s head over to the tent.”

We crossed the empty lot. “Is it even open?” Christine asked. I walked up and opened the door. I was expecting a carnival atmosphere, maybe some enthusiasm. Three dudes playing RB Rally glanced over and continued to play on the jumbo screen that they had it hooked up to. Being savvy people, we looked around for information on stages, times, and spectator locations. Lots of empty tables. A few JAOS catalogs. I found something promising, scanned through it quickly, and got to a page with spectator maps and directions. “Sweet – that’s what I want.” We took our flyers back to the hotel room and began to scour the information. Planning what to do on Saturday.

After having planned what stages to go to, we looked at other things in the flyer. I noticed that they had re-printed a message from the governor from last year. Upon further inspection I noticed that this flyer WAS last years. “Two thousand and three? This flyer is from 2003! WHY DO I HAVE A FLYER FROM 2003?!” Who ever brought these thinking that they might be helpful was terribly wrong. The next morning I told someone with an American Rally Sport Group (ASRG) jacket that this was stupid. “Well, the stages are the same.” He explained. “No. They’re not the same. If they were the same; I could watch stage SS8 at 10:30 and then SS12 at 2:30 from the same place. SS5 is now running there at 9:30 and it’s eighty miles away.” I look at my watch. “Glad we got moving at 8:00.”

Bust up Route 66 to the Indian Reservation in Arizona where the stages are being run. There are 10 cars parked at the finish. A tent, half a dozen marshals, and no one else. I’m thinking about Fish Pond road at Maine Forest. You get there less then an HOUR before the stage starts – you’re done. You’re parking out in a field with like 40 other cars and walking 2 miles through the woods. We pull off to the left and park on the dirt. Stroll up, just as some of the cars (that started at 9:30) are finishing. “Okay… There’s nobody here.” We walk down through the desert on the left of the stage road. We watch the remaining 12 cars drive up a hill and take a left hander into the finish. Two people are clicking buttons when they see the cars take the final turn and a third is writing down car numbers and transmitting them over a radio.

Then I did something I’ve never done. I left. I left knowing that I could get down near this ledge and get a great view of cars coming my way. I left knowing that a rally without spectators is wrong. No cheers from anyone when the Ford Ranger hung it out around the turn, rooster tails high. No silly banter about this little Ford Festiva that motored up the hill. No, this is all wrong. Imagine a football game with no one but you, the officials, and the team there. Scream your fool head off – you’re not going to get the crowd rush when the opposing team misses that 45 yard kick and your team goes home with a victory.

We head back to the WalMart of Casinos. “Now what?” I ponder aloud. “Well, I heard everyone talking about this rallycross online,” Tine says. “Let’s have a look.” Fifteen or so cars are lined up in a deserted lot behind the hotel. It’s just after 3 O’Clock. Some caution tape and some cones are setup. Looks like we have a rallycross. I suddenly realized that they are running the 2 day rallycross concurrent with the rally. Aren’t these the same people who would normally be watching the rally? Or, have they found a way to bottle up some of that newbie excitement? Instead of having these crazy spectators on a stage road, they are safely behind the hotel flogging their new WRX’s. I’ll admit – If the decision to run a rallycross was to squelch the energy of the Nintendo generation while the real rally took place, it’s a smart idea, but it points out the fact that you have no spectators other then the three dudes playing Richard Burns.

Rally without spectators… Interesting. Well, that’s one way to make sure the sport doesn’t grow. I’m okay with the fact that rally is a trust fund club. I’m also okay with the fact that it’s a niche sport. I guess I’m tired of the message that these groups are sending. Don’t bother going to Laughlin as a spectator. They don’t want you there anyway. The super special stage was fun, but the small crowd consisted of mostly crews and family. It’s certainly not ASRG’s responsibility to educate and excite a new generation of rally lovers. Or is it?

I really would be interested in feedback from anyone in the American Rally Sport Group. I am all about open dialogs and other marketing terms that make people get together and fix what’s broken.

UPDATE: Wow. I got a nerve. I have received a bunch of emails! Some that agree with me and some that think I’m the axis of evil. I’m surprised at how divided it’s been. I want to state the following clearly:

If you don’t want spectators at the stages – be honest. I’d rather that then some misinformation that results in people getting lost. Oh, and I’m from the east coast – you can just call me an asshole.

Last week I was itching for a stick shift. It was (as usual) a great day here in So-Cal. Just the basic driver need to hop into a car, tack it up to 6K and shift into 3rd, watching the speedometer climb.

I needed something. I can’t rallycross or autocross the Malibu. The next TSD is a month away and no matter how many roller coasters I go on – it’s not quite the same rush as I get while driving fast.

Thankfully Karting has caught on. No, not the little kiddy places with the arcades. I’m talking helmet, fire suit, neck brace, karting. These are 9HP carts with slicks and good brakes. You’re only doing maybe 20MPH max, but your 2″ off the ground on a vehicle that weighs a little more then you do. 9HP is more then enough.

$25 for a 5 lap qualify, and 20 lap race. A buck a lap. Not too bad for this type of seat time. I found that I had a lot more late brake confidence then other drivers but some poor line choices in one or two of the corners. As usual they frown upon LFB (left foot braking, or power braking) but this tends to happen when you put a brake under the left foot and you drive a FWD rally car.

So, I got the blood pumping. I didn’t hop in the car all charged up and race home. I stayed to watch a veteran pull some fast laps. Watching and learning is always good. I’ll go back in a week or so. Turn some more.

Just an update for you loyal fans of mine. Ze’Neon is tucked away now in New Jersey. I sprayed joints with grease, WD-40, and some silicone for the door rubber. I wrapped a nice soft car cover over her for the winter.

I shall return in December. In the meantime, Christine’s Dad will start her up every few weeks. I put stabilizer in the tank, and she’s on a fresh oil change.

I decided not to remove the fog lights. After slipping the cover on I noticed that it looked like some kind of Lotus, or Lancia under there. I moved the Corvette out of the garage in order to do an oil change on the Malibu. A few minutes later a pizza dilevery kid showed up. “What’s under the cover?!” “A rally car.” I snickered. If the Corvette is out in the sun – one can only imagine what’s under the cover. “Just a little Doge Neon.” I remarked.

So, I have to get the cage somewhat redone if she’ll ever really race. A call to Don Taylor before we left revealed that the main hoop supports need to be changed. Add that to the list… In the meantime, my Lancia Stratos is waiting for me in New Jersey.

I had a good time with friends in the woods of Maine this weekend. Christine didn’t feel 100% on Thursday, and on Friday she awoke with a large swollen lump in her throat. “It feels like strep,” she said. Calling in a perscription for some antibiotics became the fiasco of the weekend. Getting a doctor to call you back while on your cellphone in Rumford Maine should be the next challenge on “The Amazing Race.”

Maine had a 45 car ProRally field on Friday and another 20 cars added for the ClubRally on Saturday. Not a lot of spectator problems, as there were not a lot of spectators. Somewhat disapointing now that the big manufactures have pulled out. We had a fun weekend helping out where we could. I twisted my right foot when it folded over a rock while sprinting up the road.

My photos are posted up in the motorsports gallery. If you are a team and you would like to use a photo (hi-res available) just drop me an email with your team name and car number. As always – they are free as long as you notify and credit me.

To quote Tim O’Neil – “The best that I ever did in rally was to get most of my expenses covered. Most of them.”

In late April I lost my job and thus all funding for project Neon was canceled. There were hopes that a decent unemployment turnaround and savings could carry me long enough to compete in July, but I have to be a realist. I’m scrounging money to make car payments. How the hell can I go rally? Let alone ignoring the fact that I don’t have health insurance.

Right now the sport of rally is in a lull. The freight train of manufacturer support has whooshed through town and we’re back to a basic grassroots effort. I hope to re-join that effort in a year or so.

But for now. I’m on hold.
What looks good to me is for about $2000 I can go rallying. I have a car. That’s the hardest part. I finally feel that project Neon is somewhat finished. Except for the rally part. I thought that I wouldn’t get the car done in time for me, and now it looks like the car is waiting for me to catch up.

Updates will be few and far for a while. Feel free to see what I’m up to over at planetkris.com if you like.

I’m heading of to California to start what you could call a new chapter. Ze’Neon will be in Jersey in storage. Maybe we’ll pick her up on an already planned return trip this December? “Cross country in a rally car.” Who knows?

Once again I’d like to thank all the people who have helped make this dream of mine possible and help to keep it alive. I especially want to thank the Wittish family for putting up with a Neon in the driveway while I’m gone. – Kris