Thanks to Mike, and all of the other event organizers, the Team’s first rally cross at was nothing short of an exciting, mud-filled adventure. For both Jake and Kevin, this was their first taste of real, tire spinnin’ rally in the Neon and proved to be a learning process from start to “fire-dousing” finish.  As is customary for any good team, they spent the majority of the evening before the rally cross “finishing” things up.  They managed to procure a brand-spanking new set of Hankook Ventus Rally tires the week of the event and finished out the final engine break-in miles just a few days earlier.

Glen Helen was an excellent left-foot brake training course, with its tight and technical turns weaving their way across the landscape. The Team threw themselves head long into whatever was around the next turn, regardless of how many poor, innocent cones lay ahead over the horizon. The rally experience continued off the course as the Team discovered they had made a few miscalculations in the amount and quality of their power steering fluid. By the end of Jake’s second run, the fluid was boiling over and tempting fate as it spattered and splashed onto the exhaust manifold. A quick check between runs kept everyone satisfied that the plumes of smoke didn’t mean flames, but that was destined to change. Whether by the mumbled prays of “please God don’t let us burn-up” or simply by dumb luck, the Team finished the entire event and managed to get back to the staging area before the angry reservoir decided to ignite. Thanks in part to the quick thinking of Mr. Dela Cuesta, a bottle of mountain spring water made quick work of the small incendiary and the team rejoiced at their first car fire!! Next time we’re packing marshmellows.